Lake Salda, the white-sand lake of Burdur
Lake Salda is a turquoise lake in a hill-ringed basin in Yeşilova, Burdur Province, famous for its dazzling white shore. Swimming is limited to designated beaches, and the White Islands shoreline is closed to entering the water and the sand.
Swimming rulesPamukkale day tours
- Independent guide, not the national park
- Fees and rules checked November 2026
- Sources named on every page
Photo: Nedim Ardoğa, CC BY-SA 4.0
Lake Salda (Salda Gölü) sits in a bowl of low hills on the edge of the Lakes Region. The water is clear and blue-green, and the shoreline is made of fine, bright white sand that looks tropical, which is why Turks call it “Türkiye’nin Maldivleri”, the Turkish Maldives. The white is not ordinary sand: it is a magnesium carbonate mineral, and its story is on our page about why Lake Salda is white.
The lake is protected, so a visit works differently from a normal beach day. Parts of the shore are closed to protect the mineral deposits and nesting plants, some areas charge an entrance fee, and swimming is allowed only in marked zones. Start with the visiting guide and the swimming rules and you will avoid the usual disappointment of arriving at the famous white sand and being turned back.
Plan the trip in four steps
- Decide how you reach it. There is no direct public transport to the lake, so most visitors come by car. See how to get to Lake Salda, Antalya to Lake Salda or the Pamukkale and Salda combination.
- Check the fees. Reported prices vary between sources, so use our entrance fee page to see who says what and where to confirm.
- Pick the right beach. The famous white shoreline is for looking at from a distance; the legal swimming spots are listed on the swimming page.
- Choose the season. Summer is hot and crowded, and lavender around Yeşilova blooms in early summer. See the best time to visit.
What this guide covers
- Where Lake Salda is and what is nearby.
- Where to stay in Yeşilova and Salda village.
- Walks and cycling around the shore.
- Other places near Lake Salda, from Burdur to the İnsuyu cave.
- Day trips and tours and what to expect from them.
Do not take sand or stones. The white sand is a protected mineral deposit. A 2026 guide reports that taking sand or stones carries an administrative fine, and that soap and shampoo are not allowed in the water.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Lake Salda?
Lake Salda lies beside the town of Yeşilova in Burdur Province, southwest Turkey, roughly 60 km from Burdur city and about 90 km from Pamukkale according to a 2026 Turkish travel guide.
Can you swim in Lake Salda?
Only at designated beaches such as the Yeşilova public beach, the nature-park forest beach and Doğanbaba. Entering the water or walking on the sand in the White Islands area has been banned since October 2020.
Is this the official Lake Salda website?
No. Lakesalda.com is an independent travel guide. We are not the nature park, the ministry or the municipality.
Plan your visit
Where is it
Lake Salda is in Yeşilova, Burdur Province, southwest Turkey. Distances to Burdur, Denizli and Pamukkale, the nearest airports and how the area is laid out.
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Entrance fee
Lake Salda entrance fee in Turkish lira: what 2026 sources report for cars and visitors, the 2025 public beach tariff, opening hours and where to check the official list.
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Visiting guide
How to visit Lake Salda: the White Islands shuttle, the nature-park beach, Yeşilova public beach and Doğanbaba, what is banned, what to bring and how long to stay.
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Swimming rules
Swimming in Lake Salda is allowed only at designated beaches. The White Islands have been closed to the water and the sand since October 2020. Here is what sources say.
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Getting there
How to get to Lake Salda (Salda Gölü): by car from Antalya, Denizli, Pamukkale or Burdur, nearest airports DNZ, AYT and Isparta, buses to Yeşilova and taxi tips.
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From Antalya
Antalya to Lake Salda is roughly 135 to 165 km and 2 to 2.5 hours by road. Self-drive, tour or private driver, plus the Pamukkale pairing and the real length of the day.
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Pamukkale and Salda
Lake Salda is about 90 km from Pamukkale. How to combine them by car or tour, what each place offers, how to split the day and which Pamukkale tours are bookable.
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Tours
Lake Salda tours: no GetYourGuide tour names Salda today. What to check in an itinerary, the private driver option and the Pamukkale tours that come closest.
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Where to stay
Where to stay near Lake Salda: pensions and apartments in Yeşilova and Salda village, Burdur for more choice, Denizli for Pamukkale. Live map of stays with prices.
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Best time
Best time to visit Lake Salda: late June to mid-July for lavender, spring and autumn for fewer people, winter for a quiet cold visit. Months, crowds and what to expect.
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Why it is white
Why Lake Salda looks white and turquoise: hydromagnesite, a magnesium carbonate, forms the shore. How scientists link it to Jezero crater on Mars, with sources.
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Walks and cycling
Walks and cycling around Lake Salda: shoreline paths and wooden boardwalks, bike hire at the Yeşilova public beach, what is off limits and how to plan a gentle lake day.
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Nearby
Places near Lake Salda: Yeşilova and Akçaköy lavender in early summer, Burdur, İnsuyu Cave on the Antalya road and Pamukkale 90 km away, with honest notes.
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