Bedri Rahmi Bay
A quiet cove on the Göcek coast, known for a fish painting on the rocks by artist Bedri Rahmi Eyüboğlu. You'll need a boat to get here.
Tucked into the coastline between Fethiye and Göcek, Bedri Rahmi Bay is a regular stop on the Twelve Islands boat trips. Its name comes from Turkish painter and poet Bedri Rahmi Eyüboğlu, who, during a sailing trip in the 1970s, painted a red fish onto the rock face. The artwork has survived decades of sun and saltwater and feels more like a small act of mischief than a gallery piece.
The cove itself is small, with pine-covered slopes dropping straight into clear turquoise water. Boats anchor just offshore; you swim from the ladder or dive right in. There's a narrow strip of pebbly beach, but it gets crowded quickly, so many visitors prefer to float nearby and just take in the scene. Snorkelling is decent around the rocky edges.
Mornings are best: the light hits the painting directly, and you'll beat the heaviest tour-boat traffic. By midday the bay can feel like a parking lot for yachts, though the water stays inviting no matter what.
“To see a genuine Bedri Rahmi painting in the wild while swimming in clear turquoise water.”
The fish is on the rocks to the right of the tiny beach, about a metre above the waterline. Morning light makes it easiest to spot.
Only reachable by boat; requires using a ladder to enter the water. Not wheelchair friendly.
Good to know
- Is Bedri Rahmi Bay free to visit?
- Free. Boat access; often on Twelve Islands day tours from Göcek.
- How long should you spend at Bedri Rahmi Bay?
- ~1h
- When is the best time to visit Bedri Rahmi Bay?
- Morning
- Is Bedri Rahmi Bay wheelchair accessible?
- Only reachable by boat; requires using a ladder to enter the water. Not wheelchair friendly.
