The centre, Eski Datça, or one of the Three Beauties? Every part of Datça has its own character, distance from town and season. This guide puts the regions side by side so you can pick the right base.
Restaurants, shops, banks, pharmacies and the minibus stop are all within walking distance. The most practical base if you arrive without a car, and the only area that stays open all winter. Kumluk and Taşlık beaches are a short walk away.
Stone houses, bougainvillea, narrow lanes and boutique hotels. For those after a romantic, bohemian and quiet base. Open in winter too, but you need a car to reach a beach.
Plane tree shade, a mosque courtyard and a village coffee house make this one of the quietest spots on the peninsula. For getting away from crowds entirely; a car is essential.
A village known for its windmills and almond groves. Close enough to town to combine village calm with everyday convenience.
A sheltered bay shaded by eucalyptus trees. Close enough to town that you stay connected to both the sea and the centre.
A wide sandy beach where the water stays shallow for a long way out, ideal for families with children and beginner swimmers. Busy in summer, silent in winter.
A tidy, quiet area of holiday complexes and campsites, known for its Blue Flag beaches. It sits on the northern shore, so it can catch the wind.
The best known bay on the peninsula, with glass clear water and fish restaurants along the shore. The seabed drops away quickly. Most places close outside summer, and a car is essential.
A pleasant bay with a mix of sand and pebbles and a handful of beachfront places. The water deepens fast and can get choppy, so it suits confident swimmers.
The most sheltered of the Three Beauties. A fully sandy shore, calm water that deepens slowly and a sunset view make it the easiest choice for families.
The village above Ovabükü and Hayıtbükü. A quiet base surrounded by nature with plenty of guesthouses and small hotels, and the bays are a few minutes away.
Every bay, beach club and restaurant is open. Rooms are hard to find in July and August, so book early. Roads and car parks get crowded.
Perfect weather for walking, the sea is still warm in October, prices drop and the bays are calm. It is also the best window for hiking the Carian Trail.
Most places in the bays shut down. The centre and Eski Datça stay open all year, so pick one of those two if you are coming in winter.
Outside the centre and Eski Datça you will want a car almost everywhere. Minibuses run to the bays frequently in summer, but services thin out in winter.
The peninsula is windy. The northern shore is cooler and breezier, while the southern bays are usually more sheltered. Look south if you want flat water.
The roads down to the bays are narrow, winding and steep in places. There is little lighting after dark, so take your time and fill up before you set off.
Guesthouses and boutique hotels in the bays have very few rooms. Book months ahead for July and August, and a few weeks ahead in the shoulder season.