Göcek
Göcek is a town in Lycia, Turkey. The gulf on the tip of which Göcek is located in known as one of the most beautiful yachting areas in the country, or even in whole Mediterranean basin.
Understand
Most of what you see today as "Göcek" is actually a town built on a grid plan in late 1980s/early 1990s to boost and serve then newly-emerging tourism in the area, on what was then the coastal plains of the village of Göcek. Up to that date, much of the plains was covered with marshes and some farmland, along with a small port used for exporting logs harvested from surrounding forests for paper-milling and chromium ore, found abundantly and extracted since late 19th century in the surrounding mountains and the reason of many men from surrounding towns—who are now commemorated by a bronze mine worker statue at the town plaza—immigrating to look for a job at a time when, in the absence of tourism, there were little alternative ways of earning livelihood in this hilly region unfit for large agricultural operations.
The "real" village of Göcek, lying about 2-3 km uphill from waterfront and north of main highway, is still extant and retains its village atmosphere to some degree, with freely roaming sheepdogs and roosters here and there, and omnipresent mulberry trees casting their deep shadows much needed in this sunny and hot climate—quite a different world from the town centre, in short. However, the village itself is now being slowly engulfed by summer villas of urban dwellers from elsewhere.
Climate
Göcek experiences an average of 300 days of sunshine annually—you will indeed be hard pressed to find a single cloud formation in the skies in long summer, when temperatures constantly range between 35°C and 40°C during the day and no lower than 27°C during the night. Average winter—which, in fact, would be called "spring" really, in more northern climates—temperature is +17°C.
Water temperature at the bay is more or less around 25°C on the average during summer.
Get in
By air
Nearest airport is located in Dalaman, which receives domestic and international flights. From Dalaman Airport, you can take service shuttles run by Havaş to Fethiye and get off at the junction of Göcek town centre - from there, it's about 10 minutes of walk to the town centre.
By bus
Buses heading for Fethiye from major cities of the country pass through Göcek.
By car
D400 connects Göcek north and south. When coming from north (Dalaman, Gökova, Muğla), you may take the tunnel to avoid the very winding and narrow road over the mountain, which is 5 km longer than the route via tunnel. However, this option has a price: Tunnel costs 3 TL/car/one-way and accompanying pessengers won't be able to enjoy the scenery of the mountain road.
There is a car-park at the entrance of the town.
By boat
Göcek has at least three yacht marinas, located in town centre.
Get around
Göcek is a very walkable place, with the distance from one end to another not exceeding half an hour's walk.
See
While the town of Göcek has very little to see, its major draw is the coves and isles—which are collectively called Oniki Adalar, i.e. "Twelve Islands"—of the Gulf of Göcek, surrounded by mountains and pine forests rising right from the coastline.
The beautifully-landscaped and palm lined waterfront promenade can be a sight in itself.
The pleasant Central Mosque (Merkez Camii), just behind the waterfront at the side of town plaza, with its non-traditional red-tile roof and colourful tiles with illustrations relating to Göcek's history and seafaring on its outside fountain, might be worth a check.
Do
- Yachting. This is the best way to explore the coves of Göcek. If you don't own one, you can rent a yacht in town monthly or weekly. If doing that leaves a hole on your wallet, then you can join hordes of families taking a daily cruise around the gulf. They depart from the promenade on the coast.
- Swimming. While heavy yachting together with little environmental regulations make it unpleasant to swim directly in the town centre, outer coves still (partially) retain their former beauty—well, the land is as beautiful as it could be, but it is not very uncommon that the yachts directly dump their bilge water, especially in the evenings, and even at outer coves. One of the easily accessible coves is İnlice, run by town council, east of the town of Göcek, with dolmuş services from town centre. Travellers preferring to head their beach on their own stream may check out Ayten, about 6 km west of the town (also attainable by car). Start your walk from in front of the factory with a big "Mopak" sign, then walk past the marshland (don't worry, you'll be walking on a wide tarmac road through it) and then the Club Marina. If Ayten is far too crowded for you, keep walking to find a secluded little cove. You'll come across one soon! Behind Ayten beach is a black hose with very cold water coming from the top of the mountain. It's possible to take a free -and quick- shower there.
Buy
Most of the commerce in town takes place in and around Okaliptüs İş Merkezi in the centre of the town. Banks (and their ATMs) are located there, as well as a number of stores offering stuff related to yachting.
Some national and international grocery store chains, such as Carrefour, Migros, Tansaş, and BİM, have stores in the town. Most have free deliveries to the marinas, however, the delivery is usually made by local youngsters with no affiliation to the stores and in the expectation of a tip, so even the smallest tip will be welcome by the delivery boys who receive no salary from the stores.
Eat
Drink
- Dice Cafe (on the coast, past the second wooden bridge over the creek from the town centre). An open-air cafe/bar on the coast. One of the cheapest places for a drink in Göcek. 5 TL for a bottle of 'Efes' beer.
Sleep
Many guesthouses, mostly occupying two-storey buildings with little gardens, can be found around the town and in İnlice, a nearby beachfront village to southeast, off the highway to Fethiye.
Stay safe
Göcek is a very safe place, with local jandarma (Turkish military police responsible for rural safety) officers doing fairly regular patrols along the waterfront, town plaza, and main shopping street. They also have a station in town centre, a block inland from waterfront just on the bank of a creek, where you can file a report should you encounter any problems.
Connect
The telephone code of Göcek is (+90) 252.
Internet
- Elit Internet, Çarşı Yolu Caddesi 41 (upstairs) (on the main shopping street). Internet cafe. 2 TL/hour. 1 TL during the first 30 minutes (no matter how long you stay online) and then 0.50 TL for each 15 min.
Go next
| Routes through Göcek |
| Marmaris ← Dalaman ← | W  |
→ Fethiye → Antalya |