Gocek is an upmarket resort located on the Meditteranean Coast along the Turkish Riviera between Dalaman and Fethiye. According to legend, it is in the Gocek area that Icarus landed in the sea after his famous winged flight trying to escape imprisonment.
Today Gocek hosts six marinas and is a very popular stopping-off point for the yachting community due to its archipelago of picturesque islands housing fragments of Byzantine ruins, coves, secluded bays and stunning onshore scenery.
Its popularity as a holiday destination is ever-increasing but Gocek still retains an element of peacefulness. The permanent population is only about 4500 people but this swells to over 7000 during the summer months. The local villages who gain their income from tourism describe visitors as “Guests from God”.
The promenade area around the marina has a lovely array of restaurants, cafes and bars where you can sit, relax and enjoy the warm Turkish hospitality and gentle sea breeze. Slightly inland and life resolves around the attractive market square that is lined by pretty little shops selling various crafts, gifts and jewellery.
The gulf of Gocek provides a good base from which to visit local cultural sites such as Telmessos, Tlos, Xanthos, Letoon and Patara. The main commercial centre of Fethiye is about a 20-minute drive away where you will find a large selection of shops, bars, restaurants as well as banks, other commercial services and hospitals.
In recent years Gocek has seen an increase in building projects. Today it is possible to buy a villa or apartment of your choice but due to the popularity of the area prices tend to be higher than many of the other areas along the Turkish Riviera.
