Suluada Island

## Overview Suluada Island is a two-hectare limestone island off Adrasan, nicknamed the 'Maldives of Türkiye' for its turquoise shallows and white pebble coves. This is one of the essential sights in Antalya and rewards visitors who arrive with a little context and a full water bottle. ## A short history Standing on the site today, it is easy to forget that Suluada Island has survived earthquakes, empires and centuries of neglect. What you see is the accumulated work — and loss — of Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman hands. Nineteenth-century travellers wrote of overgrown ruins reclaimed by pine forest; modern excavations, most of them Turkish-led since the 1940s, have brought the site back to life while preserving its patina. ## What to see, section by section - **the north cove with a shallow sandbar.** A highlight of any visit, and worth pausing for photographs and a moment of quiet. - **the south cove with sea caves.** A highlight of any visit, and worth pausing for photographs and a moment of quiet. - **the drift-through arch between the two bays.** A highlight of any visit, and worth pausing for photographs and a moment of quiet. - **the Adrasan harbour boats.** A highlight of any visit, and worth pausing for photographs and a moment of quiet. - **the pine-scented Adrasan beach for the return.** A highlight of any visit, and worth pausing for photographs and a moment of quiet. Give yourself at least 90 minutes to walk between these areas without rushing; two to three hours if you photograph seriously. ## Best time to visit June–september for calm sea; strong meltem winds can cancel trips in july afternoons. Shoulder-season months (April–May and September–October) combine mild weather with thinner crowds, and the low-angled light in those months flatters every marble surface. ## Photo spots The most rewarding frames are the sandbar from a drone or the boat's mast, and the arch swim-through with side lighting. Bring a wide-angle lens if you have one, and consider a polarizer to cut the Mediterranean glare. ## Tickets and hours - **Hours:** day boats depart 10:00 return 17:00; no overnight access. - **Admission:** day boat from Adrasan €25–35 including lunch and swim stops. The Museum Pass Antalya is almost always worth it if you are visiting two or more sites — it pays for itself quickly and lets you skip the ticket queue. ## How to get there Suluada is accessible only by boat from Adrasan harbour; Adrasan is 90 km south-west of Antalya, and most visitors book a hotel-pickup boat tour rather than driving. If time is short, a private guided tour with hotel pickup removes every logistical headache — see our related tours below. ## Insider tips - The pebbles are hot and sharp — pack reef shoes. - There is no shade or shop on the island; bring extra water. - Choose a smaller 20-person gulet over the 80-passenger party boats.