A province of Türkiye · Ege Bölgesi
Muğla
Türkiye's southwest corner, where Aegean and Mediterranean coasts meet: Bodrum, Fethiye, Marmaris, ancient Caria and pine honey.
The Turkish name
Muğla
The place
Muğla is the province at Türkiye's southwestern corner. The Aegean Sea lies to its west and the Mediterranean to its south, and most of it belongs to the Aegean Region, with a small part in the Mediterranean Region. Its coves and resorts, among them Bodrum, Marmaris, Datça and Fethiye, sit between pine-covered mountains and turquoise water, and inland there are two large lakes, Bafa and Köyceğiz.
In ancient times the north and west of the province were part of Caria, home of cities such as Halikarnassos (Bodrum) and Knidos, while the Mediterranean side around Fethiye belonged to Lycia. The Lycian sanctuary of Letoon, in the Fethiye area, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the thirteenth century the region came under the Menteşe Beylik, based in Milas, and later passed to the Ottomans.
The capital, also called Muğla, lies inland at about 670 metres. Its old quarters are known for two-storey courtyard houses, double-leaf kuzulu kapı gates and chimneys capped with tiles, the symbol of the city; around 400 buildings aged 100 to 300 years are protected. The province is also known for its pine honey, olives and almonds.
At a glance
- Capital
- Muğla (Menteşe district)
- Region
- Mostly Aegean, partly Mediterranean
- Districts
- 13
- Neighbours
- Aydın, Denizli, Burdur and Antalya provinces
Where to go
- BodrumThe most populous district, a major holiday centre built on the site of ancient Halikarnassos.
- DalamanHome to Dalaman Airport, with the Dalaman Stream forming much of its western border.
- DatçaCovers almost exactly the long, narrow Datça Peninsula, with the ruins of ancient Knidos near its tip.
- FethiyeA tourism centre known for Ölüdeniz, the bays of Göcek and Saklıkent Canyon; its old name was Meğri.
- KavaklıdereA small upland district in the north, about 70 percent forest, whose walnuts carry a geographical indication.
- KöyceğizNamed for its lake, it is also known for its coves and the ancient city of Kaunos, and joined the Cittaslow network in 2019.
- MarmarisA port and resort on the Mediterranean, a centre for sailing and known for its honey, with ferries to Rhodes.
- MenteşeThe central district that holds the city of Muğla, named in 2013 after the medieval Menteşe Beylik.
- MilasA former capital of ancient Caria and of the Menteşe Beylik, known for its carpets and lively çarşı.
- OrtacaA farming district between Dalaman and Köyceğiz that includes Dalyan; its name means roughly the town in the middle.
- SeydikemerCreated in 2012 from the town of Kemer in Fethiye, it reaches east to the border with Antalya.
- UlaThe district closest to the city of Muğla, named after the ancient Carian town of Ula (Oula) and bordering the Gulf of Gökova.
- YatağanAn inland district far from the coast, known for its lignite reserves and coal-fired power station.
What to eat here
- Çökertme kebabıStrips of beef over thin fried potatoes with garlic yoghurt and tomato sauce, found especially around Bodrum.
- Muğla çam balıDark pine honey made from the honeydew of an insect living on red pines, registered as a designation of origin in 2018.
- Datça nurlu bademiDatça's almond, grown on the peninsula and registered as a geographical indication in 2023.
- Muğla göce tarhanasıTarhana made in summer, dried on rooftops and windowsills and eaten as soup in winter; geographical indication since 2019.
- Muğla saraylısıA syrup-soaked pastry with local walnuts, once a fixture of Yörük engagement visits; geographical indication since 2018.
- Kavaklıdere ceviziWalnuts from the upland district of Kavaklıdere, registered as a geographical indication in 2020.
- Bodrum mandalinasıBodrum's fragrant mandarin, a protected designation of origin since 2012.
- Milas yağlı zeytiniSplit black Memecik table olives from Milas, cured in brine and kept under olive oil and lemon.
Words you will hear here
iskelepier, landing stage
The centre of Datça town is a quarter called İskele.
iskele
koycove, small bay
Köyceğiz and the Fethiye coast are known for their coves.
koy
guletwooden sailing boat
The traditional gulet is built in Bodrum and Marmaris.
gulet
limanharbour, port
The province's main ports are Bodrum, Marmaris, Fethiye and Güllük.
liman
kalecastle, fortress
Bodrum Kalesi, the castle in Bodrum harbour, was built by the Knights of St John.
kale
adaisland
ada
göllake
Köyceğiz takes its lake's name, Köyceğiz Gölü.
göl
yaylahighland summer pasture, summer retreat
In Muğla people simply say Yayla for Karabağlar, the old summer-house area south of the city.
yayla
zeytinlikolive grove
Olive growing is widespread across the province.
zeytinlik
çarşımarket quarter, bazaar
Milas is known for its lively çarşı.
çarşı
