The beach at a glance
White sand set in the rock among pine wood and scrub, with small bays up to the Alimini and the little cove of Toraiello.
- Type of coast
- Mixed
- Sand 736 m
- Rocks 2,067 m
- Cliff 245 m
- Length
- 3,049 m
- Seafront
- 42% free
- 431 m free598 m leased to beach clubs
- Water quality
- Excellent · classification 2024
- Off season: latest samples of the 2026 season
- Latest samples:
- Tue 7 Jul: within limits
- Tue 9 Jun: within limits
- Tue 12 May: within limits
- Thu 16 Apr: within limits
- Natura 2000 network
- ZSC Alimini (IT9150011)
- Coastal erosion
- medium
About the beach
The Baia dei Turchi is a beach of white sand set in the rock, amid the scent of Mediterranean scrub and the shade of the pine wood. The stretch also includes the small cove of Toraiello: sand and stretches of rocks, with other small bays that reach north as far as the Alimini beach. A beach club takes up much of the main beach; the rest is free.
According to legend, the Turks heading to conquer Otranto landed in this bay in 1480. The area is part of the Laghi Alimini oasis. You get there by leaving the car in the car parks on the coast road, a few hundred metres away, and continuing on foot through the pine wood, among dunes and scrub; in high season shuttle buses also run along the coast. Near the shore the water is shallow and the sand is good for children; on the rocks you will need water shoes. It is part of the Alimini Natura 2000 site.
The bay faces north-east: with south-east (scirocco), south (ostro), south-west (libeccio), west (ponente) and north-west (maestrale) winds it is sheltered, with north (tramontana), north-east (grecale) and east (levante) winds the sea gets rough.
On the map
Stretch of beach
Events nearby
In the coming days within 5 km.
No events within 5 km in the coming days.
Things to see nearby
Sea and cavesBaia dei TurchiIn the bay where the Saracens landed in 1480, to conquer Otranto, nowadays
there is white sand, lapped by a dreamy sea and embellished with the
scented pine forest and the Mediterranean scrub. Otranto very close
Sea and cavesAliminiAlimini beach, in Otranto, with its really fine sand, the dunes, the
shallow water and the transparent sea surrounded by the pine forest, is the
background for children’s games and for surfers’ performances. Otranto 1.7 km away
Beaches nearby
- Rocks and cliffsTorre Santo StefanoCliffs and rocks with small coves between the Baia dei Turchi and Otranto, from Vigna Vecchia to Mulino d'Acqua, with no sand.1 beach club Excellent water Natura 2000 Otranto · Adriatic 2.2 km away
- SandAliminiLong beach of very fine sand with high dunes, pine wood and shallow water, in front of the Alimini lakes, with beach clubs and free stretches.Free · 21 beach clubs Excellent water Natura 2000 Otranto · Adriatic 2.4 km away
SandOtrantoTown coast of rocks and small sandy beaches, from the Castellana to the Gradoni beach, near the Idro channel.Free · 5 beach clubs Excellent water Natura 2000 Otranto · Adriatic 4.3 km away
SandFrassanitoBeach of very fine white sand between high dunes and pine wood, with beach clubs and free stretches, loved by surfers and kiters.Free · 2 beach clubs Excellent water Natura 2000 Otranto · Adriatic 4.8 km away
Sources and licences
The data comes from public sources; before swimming check the signs and the town’s bathing ordinances.
- ARPA Puglia – Monitoraggio delle acque di balneazione (CC BY 4.0)
- Regione Puglia – Aree di balneazione e classificazione 2024 (CC BY 4.0)
- Regione Puglia – Piano Regionale delle Coste (SIT Puglia) (CC BY 4.0)
- © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0)
- Regione Puglia – Ricognizione dei Piani comunali delle coste (A.D. 142/2025, SIT Puglia) (CC BY 4.0)
- Regione Puglia – Perimetrazione dei siti Natura 2000 (12/2023) (CC BY 4.0)
- Wikimedia Commons (foto: autore e licenza su ogni foto) (CC0, PD, CC BY, CC BY-SA)
- salentosagreeventi.it – luoghi (foto e testi già pubblicati) (come indicato sulle foto)
- Wind forecast: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0).
- Photos: Helmut Berta · Regione Puglia
- Photos: Paride81, CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Photos: paolo dagani, CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Data updated: Sunday, 25 October 2026.