Patara is probably best known for its beach, which spans eighteen kilo-meters of soft white sand, backed by majestic dunes. Patara beach is an ideal place to enjoy idyllic seas for swimming and a majestic landscape as backdrop. It is a national park, home to many birds as well as being the breeding ground of the endangered Loggerhead turtle.

There is still evidence of its former glory as the principal port for Lycia and ruins of a Roman town can be seen.

The Hellenistic oracle of Apollo was to be found here and a further claim to Patara's fame is as the birthplace of the third century St. Nicholas.