Last updated on December 19, 2023.
The most enjoyable time I had on my visit to Datça was exploring the coves and villages on Datça Peninsula. To thoroughly explore it, you need a car and can’t rely on public transportation.
Villages
We drove through most of the villages and stopped in a few – namely, Mesudiye, Palamutbükü, Çeşme Köyü and Belen. Mesudiye’s Hayıtbükü and Ovabükü, and nearby Palamutbükü, have some lovely pensions and nice beaches to spend time at, although I wasn’t too impressed with Palamutbükü. In some of the villages, it’s also possible to buy some local products – fresh fruits, olives, olive oil, almonds, and thyme honey (I was told the village of Sındı had the best honey!).
There really isn’t much to see and do in the villages. They’re great places to sit back and pass the time away. If these villages have a draw, it’s the people. We stopped for a glass of tea a few times and met some wonderful, laid-back people with unmatched hospitality. That says a lot, because Turkey is a very friendly country to begin with. We were there in the low season, so it was completely dead and nearly everything was shut. The locals told us even in the summer, it doesn’t get overly crowded like the city of Datça or Marmaris.
Driving Around
Driving through the peninsula, take your time and enjoy the scenery. The mountains and the coves along the coast are gorgeous. Also, the roads aren’t always that great so taking your time is of the utmost importance.
At the very end of the peninsula, about a 45 minute drive from Datça, are the ruins of the ancient Greek city of Knidos, which we visited on the second day. We also found the ruins of an old church. The land around it was turned into a Muslim cemetery.
If you find yourself on the peninsula for sunset, enjoy it!
Conclusion
Overall, we had an amazing, relaxing, and refreshing two perfect days exploring the peninsula. Of course, we didn’t have time to stop in every village or wander down every road, so I’m sure we missed a lot of interesting things. Also, a day cruise from Datça would have been really nice, especially to see some coves that are inaccessible by car. If I ever return to this part of Turkey, I will definitely stay in Ovabükü.