Akyaka is a place that manages to attract you with its cultural and historical texture. We said culture and history, but perhaps the most important feature that makes Akyaka Akyaka is its forests. Those lush green trees are in such a beautiful harmony with the blue of the sea! When you add the clean air into the mix, this place becomes a great vacation spot.
It was a small fishing town until a few years ago. However, over time, especially in the 1970s, it became a much more attractive vacation destination because it was close to nature. In 2011, this small town was awarded the well-deserved title of Cittaslow, meaning “calm city”. Cittaslow is an international movement that protects regional heritage and promotes community culture by supporting calm and sustainable living. As of 2022, there are 21 cities in Turkey that have been named Cittaslow.
Reminder: To explore Akyaka step by step with your digital tour guide, don’t forget to download Piri Guide! 
Where is Akyaka?
Akyaka is a coastal town in the Ula district of Muğla. It is located at the very end of the Gulf of Gökova between Bodrum and Datça peninsulas. There is Marmaris to the south and Köyceğiz to the east. Although it is small, it is a very important tourism center.
P.S. On the way to the town you will see small tents that have turned from green to yellow. Can anyone guess what these are? These are sesame seeds used for making tahini. Sesame is one of the most grown plants in Akyaka. They are harvested in October and November. So if you come here, don’t leave without sesame seeds!
How to Get to Akyaka?
You can reach Akyaka both by land and by air. Those who prefer air will get off at Milas-Bodrum Airport or Dalaman Airport. Our recommendation is Muğla Dalaman Airport because it is 70 kilometers away from Akyaka. Milas-Bodrum Airport is about 100 kilometers from the town. After landing at the airport, you can take MUTTAŞ buses and get off at Gökova Dörtyol. From there you can take a taxi to Akyaka, but you can also go to the bus station and take the minibuses departing from there.
Best Season to Visit Akyaka?
First of all, let us state: Akyaka is a region with a Mediterranean climate, but most importantly, it is famous for its winds. These famous winds have made it the center of many outdoor sports such as paragliding, sailing or rock climbing. This wind starts at 11 in the morning and continues until 5 or even 6 in the evening. And from May to November it blows very intensely.
While this is good news for sports enthusiasts, travelers who don’t like the breeze may be uncomfortable. Traveling in the summer heat, especially visiting ancient cities, is tiring and challenging. But the breezes do help to disperse the Akyaka heat a little. Our suggestion is to go when the weather is good, get plenty of fresh air and ride a bike. Piri travelers will not collapse in the face of the wind, we are sure!
Akyaka Places to Visit
Azmak River
When we say Akyaka, the Azmak River immediately comes to mind. Azmak River is actually a very large underground water. This water is as clean and clear as the town itself. You can even see the bottom directly. You will see this clarity while walking along the Azmak or crossing the river with boat tours. You may even come across fish, turtles and otters.
So, where does the name of Kadın Azmağı come from? Let’s start with the “woman” part. Women used to gather here when there was no running water. They would both chat and wash their clothes. That’s why it was called Kadın Azmağı. “Azmak” is derived from the root “az”. Az means to separate, deviate or exceed. In other words, azmak is a name given to the flood state of water. Another theory is that it is called the Azmak River because the water comes out of the ground.
Idyma Castle
On your list of things to do, make sure you go up to Idyma Castle and watch the Gulf of Gökova.
The green area you will watch from above was once the sea. As you can understand, the castle was built right on the shore of the sea. Idyma Castle was named after an ancient city with the same name in the past. The remains of the stone walls on the eastern and western parts of the castle already point to the Ancient Period. But the castle was built during the Byzantine period. It is quite well preserved, but it is not known exactly where the entrance is.
There is a possibility that even Evliya Çelebi and Piri Reis may have been here in the past. Evliya Çelebi mentions a ruined and uninhabited castle called “Gökova Castle” in his Seyahatname. They say that this castle was actually Idyma Castle.
Inisdibi Water Cistern
In the past, cisterns were used to store clean water. They also played a very important role in times of drought and sieges. These cylindrical cisterns covered with a dome are actually not very new. It all started in the 1520s, when Suleiman the Magnificent was about to embark on the Rhodes expedition. The risks and threats on the expedition route were being identified. Since the water in Muğla was low in July-August, it was thought to build water reservoirs for the army’s water needs. Since the water in the large pools would evaporate in the summer heat, Mimar Sinan came up with the idea of this cistern.
İnişdibi Water Cistern was not built during the reign of Mimar Sinan, but it was built in the 1800s thanks to the project he realized years ago. It was designed to store rainwater. Some of the stored water is still used for garden irrigation.
Rock Tombs
The famous rock tombs in Akyaka were created by the fine carving and processing of the rock. One of the tombs also has two carved columns. However, one of these columns is unfinished and the other is completed. It has a mystical appearance as if someone had stopped time.
The surrounding quadrangular spaces are actually tombs. These are dated to the 4th century BC and show the socio-economic status of the societies. For example, tombs embroidered like lace show that the level of prosperity was high at the time, while those with a simple design reflect the difficult times society went through.
Lovers' Lane
In the past, Gökova was a big swamp. The swamp brought with it a serious mosquito problem and mosquitoes brought malaria. When the situation became unbearable, the people went to the mayor of the time. Mr. Recai decided that the solution was the eucalyptus tree. However, in the early 1900s, this tree could only be found in Australia.
At this point, Cevat Şakir Kabaağaçlı, the Fisherman of Halicarnassus, came into play. Thanks to his connections, he had hundreds of eucalyptus trees brought to Akyaka. The trees were planted in an area of 3 kilometers. As the trunks of the eucalyptus trees absorbed the water, the swamp dried up over time and the malaria disease left the city. What was left of the swamp was a natural wonder created by human hands. Now it is called the Lovers’ Road, a famous road with trees stretching for meters and attracting attention even with its story.
Kedrai Ancient City
Kedrai Ancient City is located on Sedir Island. The island got its name from the cedar trees that used to be in the region. But now the cedar trees have been replaced by olive trees. At the same time, this is one of the rare islands that is completely protected. So please do not smoke as soon as you enter the island.
Kedrai comes from the words Kedros in Greek and Kedre in Latin, meaning cedar. The agora, theater and temple of the ancient city remain. The theater seats 2500 people and olive trees grow out of the seats. There are a few remains of the Temple of Apollo. There is even an inscribed stone among the ruins. Although it is not known exactly what it says, the name Cleopatra immediately stands out. One can’t help thinking that even Cleopatra might have passed through these roads.
🏝️️ You can take boat tours departing from Akyaka to get to Sedir Island. Another option is to go to Çamlı, 20 kilometers from Akyaka, and take the minibuses from there. If you choose the Çamlı direction, don’t forget to stop by the famous Incekum Beach! 🏖️
If your trip to Akyaka is over, start exploring other beauties of Muğla with our Datça travel guide!
