Cleopatra Beach is one of the most gorgeous spots on the Aegean coast. It’s just 15 kilometres from Marmaris, and it’s been drawing in tourists for ages with its ancient sights and picture-perfect views. Cleopatra Beach, located on the island of Sedir, has even made it into the top ten most romantic beaches on our planet!
The beach got its name from the absolutely gorgeous love story of the Egyptian queen Cleopatra and her sweetheart Mark Antony. He gave this island and the beach as a symbol of everlasting love to the famous, free-spirited beauty. Cleopatra’s Beach was a wedding gift and the spot where the young couple enjoyed their honeymoon.
How to visit Cleopatra’s Beach
The beach got its name from the absolutely gorgeous love story of the Egyptian queen Cleopatra and her sweetheart Mark Antony. He gave this island and the beach as a symbol of everlasting love to the famous, free-spirited beauty. Cleopatra’s Beach was a wedding gift and the spot where the young couple enjoyed their honeymoon. If you’re lucky enough to be staying in one of Marmaris, Bodrum, Fethiye or Turunç’s lovely hotels, you’re in for a real treat! You can join one of our fantastic excursions to visit the incredible Cleopatra Beach, with its gorgeous white sand. To book your spot on an excursion to Cleopatra Island, simply head to the Excursions section and choose from the options available from Marmaris, Icmeler or Turunç.
Cleopatra’s beach and white sand
Another lovely romantic legend is also connected with the unique sand that covers the famous Cleopatra’s Beach. According to legend, the lovely Cleopatra agreed to accept a gift from her sweetheart, but on one condition – he had to deliver to the island the famous Egyptian sand, which was so soft that it would not scratch the delicate skin of the queen. Mark Antony was happy to do this and ordered to bring the sand here on 10 huge galleys from the coast of Egypt itself. The sand grains are hollow inside, resemble small beads in their shape and have special cosmetic properties.
Kedrai Island, Temple of Apollo and theatre
Long before the reign of the great commander Mark Antony, the ancient city of Kedrai was located here. It’s so lovely that the ruins of this ancient city have survived to this day! Its name means ‘cedar’ in Greek, which is very symbolic, as these trees grow in large quantities on the island to this day. The city was really important for ancient trade and was surrounded by fortress walls. The lovely temple of Apollo, built in the Dorian era, was considered the symbol of Kedrai. This amazing structure has seen it all! Despite wars and natural disasters, it has stood the test of time. Today, only the foundation and a few columns remain, but they are a testament to its incredible history. You’ll love visiting the ancient amphitheatre too! It’s really special because it was built in a way that meant the audience in the upper rows could see enemy ships coming and give the army defending the city a heads-up. If you’re really into history, you’ll be thrilled to find the famous stone slab with the names of Cleopatra and Mark Antony on it. It’s been preserved since the ancient city days!
