Around the Aegean and MediterraneanCoast, Central and Eastern Anatolia and the Black Sea Coast
Margaret and Barry Williamson
June 2008
The campsites described below are listed in sequence following our journey through Turkey in the spring of 2008. For a detailed and illustrated travel-log of this journey, click:Turkey 2008.
We travelled anticlockwise from Istanbul, along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts to the Syrian border, then north via Nemrut Dagi into the heart of Turkey, returning along the Black Sea coast.
The list has been developed from our own experience and the Dutch ACSI guide. We also thank fellow motorhomer Malcolm G Hill, and the President of the Turkish Caravan & Camping Club, Koray Teczan, for their helpThe price given is for 2 adults and a motorhome, electricity included. Sometimes a small discount is given for the Camping Card International.
Exchange rate at the time of writing is €1=2 YTL (New Turkish Lire).
At Kum Limani beach, 4 miles south of Kabatepe on the west coast of the peninsula.
General Info: Adjoins a hotel, restaurant and swimming pool complex. Well placed for visiting the battlefields. Basic facilities with hot showers but no laundry.
Number of touring pitches: 20 Total area (in hectares): 1.2
(+90) (0)266-4261310 (+90) (0)266-4261418
Burhaniye: Altin Camp & Park Motel, Oren, Burhaniye
Open in summer from 1/05
In Burhaniye turn towards the coast, following signs for Altin Camp/Park Motel, for 2 miles to seaside village of Oren.
(+90) (0)266-4163732
General info: Definitely no admission in April, despite a resident German-speaking manager and a caretaker – we tried! Not friendly.
Ayvalik: Camlik Camping, Ayvalik
*Bergama: Caravan Restaurant & Camping, Izmir Yolu Uzeri, 35700 Bergama
Opening period: All year
Price: €10.00
Number of touring pitches: 35 Total area (in hectares): 10
Email:
(+90) (0)232-6333902 Fax: (+90) (0)232-633 1792
From E87 Canakkale-Izmir, take exit Bergama. The camp site is located on the left of the road, approx 2 km before the centre, behind the Caravan Restaurant.
General info: Good facilities with hot showers, washing machine (€2.50) and swimming pool. Restaurant sometimes has good lunchtime buffet meals.
Izmir: Oba Mocamp, Mithatpasa Cad, Guzelbahce, Izmir
From Selcuk drive towards Kusadasi, but at the junction with traffic lights drive straight ahead to the coast for Pamucak. Then follow the sign; turn left, approx 50 metres before the beach.
Number of touring pitches: 70 Total area (in hectares): 2
Email:
(+90) (0)256-6181516 (+90) (0)256-6181560
Coming from the north, the camp site is located on the left of the waterfront boulevard, 1 km before the centre, opposite the yacht marina, just before Camping Onder.
General info: Basic facilities (no hot water if the sun doesn't shine!) Small pitches. Does have a restaurant, swimming pool and washing machines.
Coming from the north, the camp site is located on the left of the waterfront boulevard, 1 km before the centre, opposite an Opet petrol station, just past Camping Yat.
General info: Basic facilities (no hot water if the sun doesn't shine!) Does have a restaurant, swimming pool and washing machines. Marginally better with more space than its neighbour, Camping Yat.
*Seljuk: Garden Motel & Camping, Isabey Mahallesi Alti no 4, Seljuk
Opening period: All year
Price: €16.00
Number of touring pitches: 100 Total area (in hectares): 1.2
Coming into Seljuk from Kusadasi/Ephesus direction, look for left turn signed 'Isa Bey Mosque', before you reach the Museum. At the mosque, keep straight on following signs for a short distance to the campsite.
Coming into Seljuk from Izmir motorway, there's a right turn signed 'Isa Bey Mosque', but that is a narrower busier road past the Basilica of St John. Better to continue to the traffic lights, turn right for Kusadasi/Ephesus, past the Museum, and then turn immediately right for the mosque, as above.
General info: A large flat grassy site with tall shady trees. Good facilities, including washing machine (€5.00) and outdoor pool and sports. Restaurant and carpet factory/sales open in the season. Easy walk to city centre (less than half a mile): Isa Bey Mosque, St John's tomb, Temple of Artemis, Museum, pedestrianised shopping. Ancient Ephesus (Roman capital of Asia Minor) less than 2 miles away. A much better site than those at Kusadasi, though more expensive.
Number of touring pitches: 40 Total area (in hectares): 5
(+90) (0)536-3657006
The camp site is located on road 525 from Milas to Söke, at the Bafa-Gölü Lake.
Bodrum: Zetas Camping, Gümbet, Mahallesi Etem Kaptan 10, 48400 Bodrum/Gümbet
Opening period: All year
Price: €12.00 - €14.00
Number of touring pitches: 80 Total area (in hectares): 1.2
Email: ,
(+90) (0)252-3161407 (+90) (0)252-3165741
Bypass Bodrum resort, past the Roman theatre and over a hill topped with a windmill, to Gumbet, the bay just west of town.
General info: We stayed there in 1997, when it was Bodrum's only campsite and rather unkempt. It may have improved. 'Lonely Planet' says there are several campsites on the northern side of Bodrum peninsula.
Akyaka on Gökova Bay: Picnic & Camping
Opening period: All year
Price: €6.50
Coming south from Mugla on the Sakar Pass (road 550), just before the junction with road 400 to Marmaris, turn right (sharply downhill) for 3 miles to the village of Akyaka on Gökova Bay. About half a mile beyond the village there is a municipal picnic and camping site with very basic facilities.
(+90) (0)252-2434398
*Köycegiz: Camping Köycegiz, Lake Köycegiz
Opening period: All year
Price: €5.00
From the main Mugla-Fethiye road, take either of the two right turns signed 'Köycegiz', through the village to the large lake. Turn right, along the lake, on the Ekincik road, and the municipal picnic/campground is on the right after about a mile.
(+90) (0)252-2624090
General info: A simple campground with basic facilities, including hook-ups, potable water and solar-heated showers. Popular picnic site and bar. Residents include ducks, chickens, peacocks, turkeys … Excellent position by the lake (boat tours in summer). Easy walk to the village, with several waterside restaurants (and cafes with wireless internet).
*Dalyan: Dalyan Camping, Maras Cad 144, Dalyan
Opening period: March to December
Price: €12.50
From road 400 (between Köycegiz and Dalaman exits) turn off at Ortaca for 8 miles to Dalyan. Go through the town, then look out for a sign to the camping, just off to the right, on the river bank.
(+90) (0)252-2844157
General info: A small campsite with simple facilities, hook-ups and solar showers. Washing machine (€2.50). Wooden cabins to rent. Café/bar with superb view of the Lycian rock tombs on the opposite bank of the Dalyan River. Landing stage for boat trips.
Oludeniz/Fethiye: The Sugar Beach Club & Camp, Oludeniz Caddesi, 48300 Oludeniz/Fethiye
Opening period: All year
Price: €12.00 - €14.00
Number of touring pitches: 50 Total area (in hectares): 10
Email: ,
(+90) (0)252-6170048 (+90) (0)252-6170752
General info: 15 permanent annual pitches, bungalows, beach bar and café.
Number of touring pitches: 5 Total area (in hectares): 0.5 Altitude: 300 m
Email:
(+90) (0)258-2722090 (+90) (0)258-2723082
On the left, just off the road coming from Denizli.
General info: A small area for campervans or motorhomes (with electric and water available) at a friendly guesthouse in Pamukkale village. Outdoor pool. Meals available to order. Very convenient (walking distance) for the Travertines and Ancient Hierapolis. En-suite double rooms cost €25.00 a night, including 2 breakfasts.
Denizli: Termotes Camping & Motel, Denizli
At the motel on the 320/E87 Aydin-Nazilli-Denizli road.
(+90) (0)258-2714066
*Manavgat: Bey Pet MoCamp, Manavgat, Antalya
Opening period: All year
Price: €5.00
On left of dual carriageway D400 from Antalya, 10 miles before Manavgat. The campsite is not signed, but is just behind the Bey Pet services (restaurant, shop and petrol station). Travelling east, turn left at a junction just before Bey Pet (crossing the dual carriageway) and use the side road to access the petrol station.
General info: A large picnic/camping site with pool, generous well-marked pitches but sadly neglected since our last visit. Basic facilities and hook-ups. Road noise. Pay at the petrol station.
Kizilot: Osay Camping, Kizilot, Manavgat
On the coast between Antalya and Alanya, 9 miles east of Manavgat, just off the D400.
(+90) (0)242 7482878
General info: By the beach, with easier access lane than Nostalgie (see below). No-one there to ask in April 2008. Couldn't see any electrical hook ups.
Kizilot: Nostalgie Beach, Kizilot, Manavgat
Opening period: All year
On the coast between Antalya and Alanya, 10 miles east of Manavgat on D400, just east of turn for Konya.
General info: Very small Swiss-run campsite by the beach, with narrow access lane. Too tight for larger motorhomes/caravans – park on the main road and check.
Alanya: Perle Camping, Alanya
Opening period: All year
Price: €8.50 - €12.00
On the coast 10 miles east of Alanya, before Gazipasa, on D400.
(+90) (0)242 5262066
General info: A small noisy campsite by the beach, crowded with German-speakers on our previous visit. Buses to Alanya. We prefer Sedre (see below).
*Alanya: Sedre Camping, Demirtas, Alanya
Opening period: All year
Price: €5.00 winter (1 Nov to 30 April) €10.00 (1 May to 31 Oct)
On the coast 13 miles east of Alanya, before Gazipasa, on D400.
General info: A new well-run campsite right by the beach with very good modern facilities. Excellent restaurant, mini-market, washing machine (€2.50) and free wireless internet. Buses to Alanya every 15 minutes. The President of the Turkish Caravan & Camping Club spent the winter here and was our helpful neighbour!
*Anamur: Dragon Restaurant/Mocamp
Opening period: All year
Price: €5.00 - €10.00
4 miles east of Anamur, before Camping Paradies (see below).
(+90) (0)324-8271355
General info: Small site with very basic facilities between restaurant and beach. Short walk to Mamure Castle.
Anamur: Yali Hotel & Mocamp, 33640 Siteler-Iskele, Anamur
Opening period: All year
Price: €8.00
Number of touring pitches: 30 Total area (in hectares): 3
In the town near the sea-front. Bungalows to rent.
(+90) (0)324-8141435 (+90) (0)324-8143474
Anamur: Camping Paradies, Anamur
4 miles east of Anamur, just before the castle, between coast road and beach.
General info: Basic facilities. Closed when we passed in May 2008
Anamur: Pullu Forest Camping, Anamur
Opening period: All year
Price: €7.50
About 5 miles east of the town (and a mile or so east of Mamure Castle).
General info: A well-run campsite right by the pebble beach, with good facilities and a fish restaurant. Laundry done for €5 per load. Free use of wireless internet. Tasucu is the port for the city of Silifke, with vehicle ferries crossing from here to Girne (Kyrenia) in Northern Cyprus.
Kizkalesi: Club Kervan Mocamp, Kizkalesi
Opening period: All year
Price: €10.00
On right of coast road D400, 1 mile east of small resort of Kizkalesi (16 miles east of Silifke). Look for the sign and entrance at an Opet fuel station.
General info: Campsite covers a large area behind the fuel station, down to the sandy beach, with a view of the castle. Static caravans. Very few level places for tourers. Basic facilities.
*Kahta: Zeus Hotel & Camping, Mustafa Kemal Cad, Kahta, Adiyaman
Opening period: All year
Price: €12.50
A large modern hotel on right of main road from Adiyaman, half a mile before Kahta town centre. Turn right into main entrance.
General info: Camping area on gravel car park behind the 3-star hotel, screened from road by tall buildings. Electric hook-ups and fresh water, with a small new toilet/shower block for campers. Hotel has restaurant/bar, outdoor pool and garden, WiFi internet and English-speaking manager. Day trips to Mt Nemrut National Park (30 miles away) in hotel mini-bus. Laundry by arrangement.
Kahta: Kommagene Hotel & Camping, Mustafa Kemal Cad, Kahta, Adiyaman
Opening period: All year
Price: €7.50
A smaller hotel on left of main road from Adiyaman, just past Hotel Zeus, less than half a mile before Kahta town centre. Turn left into car park.
(+90) (0)416-7259726
General info: Camping area on gravel car park at side of hotel, facing the road. Electric hook-ups and fresh water, with a small toilet/shower cabin for campers. Restaurant and English-speaking manager. Day trips to Mt Nemrut National Park (30 miles away) in hotel mini-bus.
Note: We found no campsites to the south or east of Kahta (for example, in Sanliurfa or Diyarbakir), nor on our route north via Erzurum and Artvin (with the possible exception of Yusufeli – see below) and none on the coast between Hopa and Trabzon! We overnighted mostly on petrol station forecourts, plus an occasional restaurant car park, and were always welcomed – often with glasses of tea. We would buy fuel or a meal to say thank you.
Yusufeli: Greenpeace Camping, Yusufeli
From the Erzurum-Artvin road D950, turn left (west) at a point 15 miles north of Tortum Falls. Yusufeli is 6 miles along. Go through the town and across the river, then take the first right, a narrow road. Look for the sign for Barcelona Hotel or Greenpeace Camping. The campsite is on a rough track along the river bank, past the Barcelona Hotel.
(+90) (0)466-8113620
General info: A very basic grassy campsite, with some tree-house accommodation. Access road difficult. Entrance too narrow and trees too low for larger motorhomes.
Macka: Macka is 16 miles inland from Trabzon, south on D885. Here a minor road turns off to the village of Cosandere and the Sumela Monastery beyond. Along the 4 miles to Cosandere lie several trout farms/restaurants which advertise 'camping'. In order from Macka, on the right of the road:
1. Verizana Camping, 2 miles after Macka. A small sloping field with no sign of life in May 2008 - and no reply on the phone: (+90) (0)462 5124062.
2. Sumela Restaurant/Camping. A trout farm/restaurant. We were offered a place in the car park with toilets (showers out of order) and some kind of hook-up, overpriced at €12.50 per night. (+90) (0)462 512581.
*3. Altintas Alabalik (trout) Restaurant. A new restaurant with trout farm behind. It has a caravan on its sign, along with a fish, a knife & fork and a cup of tea! Altintas family very welcoming. We stayed in a corner of the level car park, with electric hook-up and access to modern toilets and water. €5.00 per night. (+90) (0)462 5121708.
4. A sign for a second Sumela Camping pointed along an unsealed track to the right. It was a lovely walk up a fresh green valley along a tumbling stream, though the track got narrower and rougher. After the best part of a mile, a narrow wooden bridge crossed the stream to a trout hatchery/simple campsite with cabins - OK for a car or small light campervan, perhaps.
5. The Cosandere Pansiyon and Restaurant (smart new hotel) in the hamlet of Cosandere no longer has 'camping' (despite being listed in some guides).
Ünye: Gülen Camping-Plaj: Café/Restaurant/Camping, Devlet Sahil Yolu
About one mile west of Ünye, on the coastal highway towards Samsun. Situated between the noisy road and the beach, next to Uzunkum Camping.
(+90) (0)452-3247368
General info: The camping area here is shrinking, as more wooden bungalows are being built. Possibly space for tent or small van.
*Sinop: Marti Camping, Sakarya Cad, Gundogdu Pasaji, Akliman, Sinop
Opening period: 1 April to 15 September
Price: €15.00 (less 10% CCI discount)
Number of touring pitches: 80
On the coast near Sinop Airport, 5 miles west of Sinop.
General Info: Large grassy campsite with adequate facilities and hot showers. Café/bar. Bathing beach. Washing machine (€5).
*Cide: Mocamp Tesisleri, Limanici, Cide
Price: €10.00
Turn down past the Yali Hotel to the harbour. The campsite is alongside a small restaurant on the right, about a mile from the town centre.
(+90) (0)366 8661065
General Info: Simple camping in the garden of a restaurant/bar/tea-room. Electric hook-up, potable water and toilets available (no showers). Possible disco noise at weekends!
Akcakoca: Hamburg Camping, Kale Yolu, Akcakoca
Price: €7.50
Coming west along coastal highway D010, ignore signs for Akcakoca town centre. Continue for 5 miles, then take first right after passing a Shell petrol station (signed for Akcakoca and 'Gurme' Fish Restaurant). Campsite less than a mile, on the right. Some signposting for 'Hamburg Camping'.
General Info: Basic grassy campsite with hook-ups, toilets and solar-heated showers. German-speaking owner. Wedding party with amplified music caused our hasty departure, but better value than Nejat!
*Akcakoca: Nejat Camping, Kale Yolu, Akcakoca
Price: €10.00
Coming west along coastal highway D010, ignore signs for Akcakoca town centre. Continue for 5 miles, then take first right after passing a Shell petrol station (signed for Akcakoca and 'Gurme' Fish Restaurant). Campsite about a mile, on the left. Opposite Hamburg Camping.
General Info: The German-speaking owner is in the process of building a 'boutique hotel' next to his swimming pool and bar, adjacent to the beach. He also plans to upgrade the campsite facilities with new showers, etc. Meanwhile, there is camping with one electric hook-up, potable water, modern toilets and pool. No showers. Restaurant at Günbatimi Hotel next door. A one-mile walk into Akcakoca, past 2 internet cafes.
Akcakoca: Tezel Camping, Esentepe Mevkli, Istanbul Cad, Akcakoca
Price: €18.00 (less 10% CCI discount)
Coming west along coastal highway D010, ignore signs for Akcakoca town centre. Continue for 5 miles, then take first right after passing a Shell petrol station (signed for Akcakoca and 'Gurme' Fish Restaurant). At T-junction (about 2 miles), turn left towards town centre. Tezel campsite on left, less than a mile along.
General Info: A small ADAC/ACSI-listed campsite on two small sloping terraces above the beach, near town centre. Full facilities, French-speaking owner, too expensive.
*Edirne: Grand Ömür Camping, Kirklareli Kavsagi, Edirne
Price: €15.00 (No discounts, just supplements – for caravans, dogs, swimming …)
Grand Ömür Camping in Edirne is 5 miles east of Edirne, along road D100 (the old main road for Istanbul). About 1 mile after passing the junction for the Istanbul motorway, look for a left turn signed for the campsite, which is half a mile along this lane, on the right. If coming by motorway, take exit 3 on the east side of Edirne, turn left at D100 for 1 mile, then as above.
Phone: (+90) (0)284 22260036 (or 7)
Email:
General Info: Grand Ömür Camping in Edirne is our very worst experience of camping in Turkey (and the second most expensive). German-speaking warden (as in prison). List of things 'Verboten' displayed at entrance, plus several more as the whim takes her – but they don't apply to her. You have been warned! Facilities adequate. Washing machine (€5) and grubby swimming pool (€5 per person). Unfortunately, it's the only campsite convenient for the lovely city of Edirne, now that Camping Fifi has closed. Bus into city passes the gate. Taxis Verboten.
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