The Greek philosopher and geographer Strabo said, “God sends those he wants to live long and healthy lives to Datça.” And he was right. Datça’s soil and water are like medicine for people. If we say it is a mini paradise with its pine forests, almond trees, and more than 50 pristine coves, we wouldn’t be exaggerating. Here, you can take peaceful walks in nature and escape the noise of the city.
In this town where the Aegean and the Mediterranean meet, there is also an abundance of oxygen. According to one legend, Spanish pirates used to leave those who contracted leprosy on their ships on the Datça peninsula. The lepers were left to their fate here. However, interestingly, Datça’s water and air would heal them. We don’t know how much you believe in this legend, but after your Datça vacation, you will see how much you have physically and mentally relaxed.
Reminder: To explore Datça step by step with your digital tour guide, don’t forget to download Piri Guide! 
Where is Datça?
Datça, a district of Muğla, is a 70-kilometer peninsula stretching from Marmaris to Cape Tekir. It was part of the Carian Civilization in the 2000s BC. Caria was located between the Menderes River and Dalaman Stream in Western Anatolia. Today’s Datça has the Aegean Sea to the north and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. The settlements in Datça are mostly concentrated inland in the region where the Mediterranean coast is located.
How to Go to Datça?
There are direct flights from Istanbul and Ankara to Bodrum Airport almost every day. The flight takes about 2 hours. The easiest and fastest way to get from the airport to Datça is to take the MUTTAŞ ferries. We can say that your ferry journey also takes 2 hours. On the other hand, travelers who prefer land transportation can take the city buses from Marmaris to Datça. You can also rent a taxi and a car.
Datça has beautiful bays on both the Aegean and Mediterranean sides. You can reach some of them by car. However, some of them you have to leave your car and walk on footpaths. So make sure you choose your shoes well. Those who do not come by personal vehicle can join the daily boat tours departing from the center of Datça.
Best Season to Visit Datça
Datça’s famous bays and crystal-like waters attract travelers from different cities every year. When you come here, you forget the honking horns. They just want to listen to Datça and live Datça. So if you come to Datça, make sure you come in hot or mild weather. Not because most of the places you will visit and see are outdoors, but because you can experience the streets and weather of Datça best outdoors.
🍃 Since the summer breezes blowing in the city take away the hot air, you will not be overwhelmed even if you come in June-August. But the bays and beaches are a bit crowded during these months. This may not be to the liking of those looking for silence. There is a solution for that too: Come in May and September. Because that’s when the weather is mild and a different serenity envelops the city.
Datca Places to Visit
Kizlan Historical Windmill
Are you ready to meet the Datça wind?
Sometimes it blows when you are overwhelmed on a hot day and you sigh. Other times it comes and finds you between two strokes and fills your nostrils with salt water. Datcans used this famous wind to grind wheat in the past. Nowadays, one of these 6 windmills you will come across in Kızlan Village, lined up side by side, is a cafe. The others belong to individuals and one of them is used as a house. These windmills on the hill were built by well-to-do Greeks in the early 1900s. When the population exchange took place with the Lausanne Treaty, they migrated to Greece. They left behind these wonderful stone mills.
Attention Wine Lovers!
Datça Şarapçılık has established a facility here. It is inspired by windmills and is located right next to the vineyards in Kızlan Village. It is a great spot to watch the sunset on the terrace and taste local wines made from the grapes of Datça vineyards.
Old Datça
Old Datça is a place where you will find peace in its cobblestone and bougainvillea streets. It is like a hidden treasure. When you see the colorful, single-storey houses with gardens, it makes you want to leave everything and settle here. We agree with Can Yücel. The water is different and the air is different in this city. When you arrive in Old Datça, be sure to stop by the stalls selling local products and handicrafts made by Datçans. Don’t forget to taste Tekin Usta’s ice cream made with 100% goat’s milk on Çarşı Street! 🍨 We also recommend you to visit Can Yücel Street, where Can Yücel lived with his wife and full of poetry.
UKKSA
UKKSA (International Knidos Culture and Art Academy), which you will come across on the way to Knidos, is a magnificent area where nature and art meet. It is almost a museum hidden in the forest. You can walk among the artworks or sit on the amphitheater steps at the end of the road and take a breather. The Academy hosts seminars, talks and exhibitions throughout the year. Maybe you will come across one during your visit.
Even the founding story of UKKSA goes back a bit to Can Yücel. Nevzat Metin, the founder of the academy, was a family friend of Can Yücel with whom he came to Datça. Mr. Nevzat is one of the most important art gallerists in Turkey. He is a true lover of art. He founded UKKSA by investing all his wealth and savings to pave the way for young artists. It is now a meeting point for artists from all over Turkey and the world.
Ancient City of Knidos: Temple of Dionysus and Small Theater
The Temple of Dionysus shows that the Dionysian culture was dominant in Datça in the Ancient Period. Dionysus is the child of Zeus from his mortal lover Semele. Unlike other gods, Dionysus, the god of wine, did not live on Mount Olympus but mingled with the people. When he discovered wine, he shared it with humanity. Since he was a god of nature, festivals were organized in his name in the fall and spring. Thanks to these festivities, the first seeds of theater were sown. Therefore, it was not a coincidence that a theater was built next to the temples of Dionysus.
While you are in Knidos Ancient City, do not leave without seeing the Temple of Apollo and the Temple of Aphrodite. If you want to listen to their stories, you can download the Piri mobile application and listen to our Datça audio tour!
If your trip to Datça is over, start exploring other beauties of Muğla with our Bodrum travel guide! 😊
