Göcek is a small town in Fethiye district in Muğla Province, Turkey.
Göcek hosts four significant marinas that serve the yacht tourism in the region. A prominent characteristic of the town is the fact that it harbors islands and coves located in a large and secluded bay. Due to its location, it naturally enjoys a high potential for yacht tourism. Since Göcek is a Registered Area of Special Protection where multi-storey buildings are not allowed, the boarding facilities are two-storied hotels, motels, apart-hotels and pensions situated in the town center and its periphery. Göcek has all the necessary infrastructure, capacity and spaces expected in a tourism center, yet it is renowned as a much more peaceful and quiet settlement compared to other tourism areas.
Göcek is situated on Dalaman – Fethiye highway. Until 2006, it was necessary to drive through a relatively narrow and winding road to reach Göcek from Dalaman. The 980 meters long Göcek vehicle tunnel completed in June 2006 has significantly increased the accessibility of the town. The vehicle tunnel is the first example of build-operate-transfer model and provides paid services.
The permanent population in Göcek is around 4,500. This number exceeds 7,000 during the summer months. Since Göcek is a departure and arrival point for Blue Cruises, there is heavy yacht traffic in the town. With its secluded bay, Göcek is a quiet and safe harbor, especially for long distance travelers arriving from international waters. Göcek coves and the 12 islands that are described as a hidden paradise, with clean Mediterranean water, green pine forests and beaches, have rendered Göcek an indispensable destination for seafarers. High quality boarding facilities, daily boat tours, entertainment facilities on the seaside and numerous beaches and coves in its vicinity provide various alternatives for local and international tourists traveling by road to spend their vacation.
Göcek, named “Kalimche” in ancient times was located between Telmessos – today Fethiye and Caunos – today Dalyan. According to the legends, it is in the Göcek area that Ikarus landed in the sea after his famous flight trying to escape from the tower where he is imprisoned. Göcek was used as a harbour, for the ships loading chrome ore collected from the mines in the mountains around during the Ottoman period.
Göcek started to be known by group of artists and poets and some fisherman from Bodrum by their cruising along the Turkish Turquoise Coast, later called the “ Blue Voyage”.
This region, has been declared a special environmental protection areas with strict building regulations since 1988.
The gulf of Göcek and Fethiye provides many opportunities to visit cultural sites as, Caunos, Telmessos, Fethiye Museum, Tlos, Pınara, Letoon, Xanthos and Patara.
There are many restaurants, cafés and bars at the promenade.
Guests come to Göcek either for the yachts and boats in the harbour or boutique hotels and villas in the region. It is a mixture of all nationalities who are out of “package tourism” concept. Therefore, services given is with a view to quality but not to quantity.
Göcek is the gateway to the wonderful unspoilt islands in the gulf.
Because Göcek is a sailing base, there are four marinas and one boat yard. The marinas are under the name of: Club Marina, Skopea Marina, Municipality Marinas and Port Göcek Marina.
There will be a construction of the fifth marina for mega yachts and also construction of a second boat yard in the near future.
There is one beach belonging to Swiss Hotel which you can enter by paying daily price or you get a seasonal membership.
There is Inlice Beach out of Göcek which you can reach within 10 minutes drive, running by the municipality of Göcek.
Also the main island beach is reachable by water taxi from the harbour.
Other beaches are easily accessible by car or taxi. Amongst these is Sarigerme which is a long sandy beach. Beyond Sarigerme is the fabulous protected beach of Iztuzu in the Dalyan Delta. In the opposite direction the famous beach at Oludeniz is only forty minutes drive away.
Göcek is settled in a position which you can make Twelve Islands Tours by all manner of boats which are available for private charter, simple fishing boats and wonderful yachts – something to suit in every budget.
There is about twenty sailing and motor yacht charter and brokerage aftersails companies which makes Göcek a high class sailing place. Accordingly, there are several technical yacht services and chandleries and maintenance services.
There is a well maintained 24 hours open Sanitary Office with five doctors and three pharmacies in the town.
There are two big grocery shops and several other small ones, selling all the luxury food products. Besides the groceries, there are two butchers only selling meat products.
Although many locals now earn most of their income from tourism, in Göcek, life continues much as it has done for centuries. The phrase used by villagers to describe guests/foreigners as “guests of God”.
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