Hello everyone. Today I want to tell you about Mersin, a rising star among Turkey’s vacation spots. Mersin is a large city located in the southeastern part of the country along the Mediterranean coast. It is the 11th largest city in Turkey by population and has the longest coastline in the country. Mersin used to be a quiet vacation spot known mainly to locals. But its popularity is growing every year. It stands out not only for its modern infrastructure but also for its affordable living and real estate prices.
Because the city is large and stretches along the coast, there are many beaches one after another. We visited one of the most popular ones: Soli Beach. It’s not too crowded and rarely visited by tourists. So you can swim in a peaceful and quiet setting. The most striking feature of this area is the dark, nearly black volcanic sand. While some Turkish beaches can be rocky and uncomfortable for walking, this one is perfect for families with children. Give the kids a bucket and they’ll happily build sandcastles for hours.
For now, the beaches here are mostly frequented by locals. Weekends can be busy, but during the week you can easily find a sunbed and relax with a cold drink in the shade at one of the cafes. When you arrive, you quickly realize Mersin is more than just a vacation town. It’s a vast metropolitan area. There are thousands of buildings and an expansive city view. Especially in the central areas you’ll notice high-rise complexes with large turquoise pools. The climate here feels similar to Antalya.
There are many large supermarkets and shopping malls, but our favorite was Migros, a Swiss-origin chain. The more M's in the sign, the bigger the branch. We went to the largest one and it was almost impossible not to get lost inside.
Later we visited the city center and the marina. Locals pronounce the name Mersin with an emphasis on the first syllable. Throughout history, Mersin has been one of Turkey’s important seaports. The marina here is one of the country’s biggest and most comfortable yacht harbors with space for 1000 boats: 500 on land and 500 in the sea. It’s surrounded by walking paths, shops, boutique stores, cafes and restaurants, all with beautiful views. That’s why it’s considered one of the city’s most popular and scenic areas.
There are fountains, green spaces and a European feel everywhere. To be honest I didn’t expect it to be like this when we came. Visiting the marina in the evening is best. The air cools down and the atmosphere becomes more pleasant. But we came during the day.
We walked along the main seaside boulevard in the city center. A long and wide pedestrian zone has been created. There are bike lanes, running tracks and sports areas along the way, even weightlifting equipment. A nice breeze was blowing and it felt refreshing. Cafes and parks are integrated into the coastline. There’s no beach here, but the shore is reinforced with large rocks.
The family beach I mentioned earlier is located a bit outside the center. The central area mostly offers places to sit and walk. Right now it’s mid July, the temperature is 35 degrees and it’s really sweltering. Fortunately the city center has plenty of shaded seating areas and gazebos. Taking an evening walk here would be wonderful.
People are also buying property in this area because a new airport is being built and a new highway is coming. As transportation improves, this place will become as popular as Alanya. Right now it’s hard to reach, so the beaches are calm and property prices are still affordable.
We climbed a hill across from the city. The cicadas were chirping like crazy in the mountains. The view was absolutely breathtaking. A stunning scene of mountains all around. Imagine this, friends: even the bees seem to live better than us. Did you know that? Each one has its own high-rise, its private villa with a view like this. While we were thinking that, the bees attacked us. Yes, they attacked. One stung me right on the forehead. It was wild. It came at us, pulled out two massive stingers, must’ve sensed danger and died here. As you know, when a bee stings, its back part comes off with the stinger and it dies. So strange.
Still, it was nice to see small shops way up in the mountains, far from the city. We stopped at one roadside place just like the old days. We grabbed two cold Red Bulls to fuel up and continued our climb. This was an unknown viewpoint we found on Google. From there you could see the whole city.
A bit past the viewpoint there was a magnificent canyon. It was so beautiful that I wore a mask to protect my face from the wind. A path ran along the canyon and we walked a bit further to find a better view. The mountain range ahead of us was stunning. We had never seen this side of Turkey before. Beyond the mountains, the city stretched out with fields and villages. People were planting crops and raising animals. Life continues even behind those mountains. Everything looked so artistic. Wildly beautiful nature.
There’s a 40 meter high waterfall located 23 kilometers from the canyon, but we didn’t go there. From the mountain we were on, we could see how the local people live. We parked near their homes, which were right next to a mosque with a breathtaking view of the mountains and valley in front of us.
By now we’ve become experts in Turkish restaurants and cafes. We found a really tasty place called Sabah Et Lokantası. A lovely restaurant with excellent food: rice, chicken, beef, all for 205 lira. They served fresh hot flatbread too. We’re not huge fans of Turkish cuisine in general, but meals like this show that it’s not just about ingredients. You need to know how to cook. When meat is done right and still juicy, that’s when it becomes a joy to eat.
To reach places like this from central Mersin, you often need to travel 100 to 200 kilometers. But only 50 kilometers away is a legendary beach called Kızkalesi. It has stories tied to it. About 200 meters offshore on a rock in the sea stands a castle that looks straight out of a Game of Thrones scene.
But be prepared for crowds. Even on weekdays the place is packed with sunbeds, umbrellas, changing cabins, showers and toilets everywhere. There are also many restaurants and cafes. The sand is soft and yellowish. Most beachgoers are locals. The water is crystal clear. The sand feels soft at first then firmer as you walk. It’s a bit strange to look around and realize there are no tourists at all, only locals.
If you want to enjoy the beaches in Turkey, the best months are September and May. The weather is nice and there are fewer people. On the beach here, inflatable swim rings are sold and the streets feel touristy. But again, it’s almost entirely locals because the area isn’t fully developed yet. Tourist numbers are still very low. Keep this in mind. This is a great opportunity for anyone thinking of investing or starting a business. No one realizes its value yet. To be honest, the beaches themselves aren’t that special. The real charm lies in walking along the coast and discovering hidden coves.
To find the most beautiful beach in the area, we hiked over rugged mountains like goats. But it was worth it. Walking among the rocks, we saw the deep blue sea below. A few local homes nearby with people grilling meat and relaxing under the shade. My friend said this might be the most beautiful place we’ve seen and I agree. And it’s just 55 kilometers from the city.
Something interesting happens when you enter the water. It feels cold at first but then suddenly it gets warm. It’s like there’s a hot spring underwater. My feet felt like they were in boiling water while the upper body stayed cool. It was very strange. Like swimming in two layers. The water looked a bit murky, probably because the warm water was rising and giving it an oily look. But it was a fantastic experience. There were shaded spots under the trees and places for barbecues.
There are hidden paradises like this all over Turkey. It just takes a bit of effort. Otherwise, it’s always the same crowded public beaches. Of course, those are necessary too for people who want sunbeds, showers or toilets. But I believe there’s something special about peaceful natural places like this. Only locals come here or those willing to make the journey.
Very close to the beach we swam in, there are the Heaven and Hell Caves. These used to be important religious sites believed to be places of miracles. First we visited the Hell Cave, which is a massive sinkhole. Entry to the bottom is not allowed. You can only look from a glass viewing platform. Admission is 150 lira per person.
You can go down into the Heaven Cave though. There are 450 steps leading down. Luckily you don’t have to climb back up because there’s an elevator now. While it was 35 degrees outside, the inside was very cool. The cave is huge and impressive. We went all the way to the bottom. Looking up from inside was incredible.
To prevent slipping, the entire floor is covered with a special net. The air is very humid and everything is wet. It feels like the air conditioner is blasting. The only thing missing was bats. Overall it’s a beautiful place. We’ve seen bigger caves before, but this one is definitely worth seeing. It consists of a single large chamber with no tunnels or branching corridors. You can go in and out in about five minutes. But that one chamber is vast and spectacular.
We were exhausted after leaving the cave, so we decided to get something to eat. This coastal area with the caves stretches along a scenic road. There were many small cafes by the roadside. We randomly chose one. It was called Ihlara Restaurant. It had no menu, no price list. We just said we wanted meat. The owner said no problem. They brought us tea, olives and a flatbread filled with meat. Completely homemade and delicious. Even the tomatoes were peeled with a special technique. The pastries were fresh and steaming hot. One of the most consumed foods in Turkey, and the cheese filled one is the most popular. We paid 240 lira in total. It was a proper home-cooked meal. We found it by chance and were very happy with it.
On the way back to Mersin city center, we passed by many beaches again. There are many sandy beaches in the area, all well-equipped typical urban beaches. Maybe you wouldn’t vacation at these, but locals enjoy them a lot. Looking at the horizon, the sea was filled with swimmers. The sand is a bit dark, but the water is still very clean. I wanted to stop and swim, but we didn’t have time.
Just outside Mersin, about 40 kilometers away is the old town of Tarsus. But the road there was terrible, full of trucks and heavy vehicles. It felt like driving on a port road. If we had known, we might not have come. But eventually we arrived. At the entrance stands Cleopatra’s Gate. According to legend, Cleopatra met Mark Antony here, which is why the gate bears her name.
After such a rough road, the town felt like a European village. Palm trees, lots of greenery, small squares. The historic center of Tarsus is protected by UNESCO and is truly beautiful. Cobblestone streets, old but well-kept houses. Most of them are uninhabited now, doors closed. It feels like an open-air museum. But some are still lived in. You can hear sounds from the windows.
The city feels like an ordinary town. Roads, cars, people... all natural. What makes Tarsus special is its historic character. There’s a large covered market called Kirshi Bazaar. It’s small but lively. On both sides, handmade goods like ceramics, woodwork, copper, silver and leather are sold. There are plenty of magnets and local souvenirs too. It’s hard to leave empty-handed. I bought a handmade beaded accessory I really liked. Elegant and clearly made with care.
There’s also the Tarsus Waterfall in the city center. You don’t have to go far. It’s in a lovely park within the city. With small bridges and walking paths, the area is beautifully landscaped. There are cafes right by the waterfall. It’s a great place for families. There’s even a small stage where events are held. Despite the 35 degree heat, the coolness of the waterfall and the natural feel of the park were incredibly refreshing.
One more thing I noticed in Mersin and Tarsus is the huge shopping malls. These cities are big and modern. International brands like Starbucks, McDonald’s and Burger King are everywhere. Outside of Antalya and Istanbul, you don’t usually find malls this big in Turkey. Mersin is definitely one of the key cities in this regard.
Our trip was packed with activities. Afterward we headed to Antalya. The drive took about nine hours.