The Guide

Güney is a village in the Yeşilova district of Burdur Province, in Turkey's Lakes Region (Göller Yöresi). It sits about 8 km west of Lake Salda, 22 km from Yeşilova town, 80 km from Burdur city and 60 km from Denizli.

The village lies at roughly 37.50° N, 29.55° E, sheltered from the north winds — which is how it got its name: Güney means "south" in Turkish. People have lived here since at least the 12th century, and before that the area was home to Lydians and Romans; you can still find rock tombs on Mala Mountain.

Denizli Çardak Airport (DNZ) is the closest — about 45 minutes by car. Daily connections to Istanbul.

Antalya Airport (AYT) is the major international hub, roughly 2.5–3 hours by road, with direct flights from most of Europe.

Isparta Süleyman Demirel Airport (ISE) is another option at around 1.5–2 hours.

From any airport, renting a car is the practical choice. Public transport gets you as far as Yeşilova; from there it's a 22 km taxi or a lift from a local.

Intercity buses run to Yeşilova from Burdur, Denizli and Antalya. From Yeşilova, local minibuses (dolmuş) and taxis cover the last 22 km to Güney.

If you're driving: the village is reached from the D-585 / Yeşilova road network around the west side of Lake Salda. Roads are paved and in fair condition. In winter, occasional snow at altitude — the area sits around 1,200 m.

Güney itself has no hotels — this is a working village, which is part of its charm. Options:

• Guesthouses and pensions around Lake Salda (Salda village and Yeşilova town, 10–25 min away) — plenty of choice, especially May–October.
• Staying with the community — members sometimes host visitors or know of village houses available short-term. Ask in the Community section.
• Yeşilova town has small hotels and the widest services.

Book ahead for July–August: Salda's "Turkish Maldives" reputation fills everything nearby.

Village life: there are small shops (bakkal) for basics, and weekly markets in Yeşilova. For restaurants, Yeşilova town and the Salda lakefront have lokantas serving home-style food — grills, gözleme, fresh trout.

What Güney produces itself: grapes, legumes (beans, chickpeas), grains, honey from local beekeepers, and dairy from village herds. If you visit in harvest season, you'll eat very well.

• Lake Salda — 8 km away. White mineral beaches, turquoise water, the famous "Maldives of Turkey". NASA studied its mineralogy for its similarity to Mars' Jezero crater.
• Mala Mountain rock tombs — ancient royal tombs and Roman remains within walking distance of the village.
• Walking and cycling — quiet agricultural roads, vineyard paths, hills with lake views.
• Salda Ski Centre — small ski area on Eşeler Mountain, winter only.
• Village life itself — harvests, markets, tea in the square. Slow down; that's the point.

Mobile coverage (Turkcell, Vodafone TR, Türk Telekom) reaches the village; 4G is generally usable. Fixed broadband is available via Türk Telekom infrastructure in the area — speeds are modest by city standards. If you plan to work remotely, a 4G/5G router with an unlimited data SIM is the reliable setup.

The nearest family health centre (Aile Sağlığı Merkezi) is in Yeşilova (22 km), along with pharmacies. The nearest state hospital is Yeşilova's small district hospital; for anything serious, Burdur State Hospital (80 km) or the large hospitals in Denizli (60 km) are the destinations. Emergency number in Turkey: 112 (all services).

Primary education is available locally / in nearby villages; secondary students travel to Yeşilova (free school buses are standard for village students in Turkey). Denizli and Burdur have universities — Burdur's Mehmet Akif Ersoy University is the closest.

Village houses and agricultural land in Güney come up for sale regularly and remain affordable compared to coastal Turkey. Things to know:

• Foreigners can buy property in Turkey with some restrictions (military zones, total land caps per district).
• Agricultural land has its own rules — buying as a foreigner is harder than buying a house.
• Always use an independent lawyer and check the tapu (title deed) status.
• Restoration of old stone village houses is possible and increasingly popular — see the Opportunities section for current listings and projects.

This is general information, not legal advice.

Güney sits at roughly 1,200 m in the Lakes Region. Expect a continental climate: hot dry summers (30°C+ days, cool nights), cold winters with some snow, and glorious springs and autumns. The growing season drives village rhythm — vineyards and grain in summer, harvest in autumn, quiet in winter.

Turkey's deepest lake (196 m) and one of its most striking — a crater-like basin of turquoise water ringed by white hydromagnesite beaches. It's a protected area (Special Environmental Protection Zone): swimming is allowed in designated zones, but the White Islands section is off-limits to protect the mineral formations. Go early morning or out of season for solitude.

The area mixes steppe, pine forest and farmland. Eşeler Mountain (2,254 m) rises to the north-east. Birdlife around the smaller lakes (Yarışlı, Salda) is rich — flamingos pass through Yarışlı. Spring wildflowers across the hills are spectacular.

• Muhtar (village head) — the first point of contact for anything official in the village.
• Yeşilova Belediyesi (municipality) — town services: yesilovabelediyesi.bel.tr
• Emergency (all services): 112
• Forest fire: 177
• Community members can share current phone numbers in the members' directory.

Minibuses (dolmuş) connect Yeşilova to Burdur and Denizli through the day. Within the village, everything is walkable. A car is near-essential for living here; for visiting, taxis from Yeşilova work fine.

Can I just turn up? Yes — it's a normal Turkish village, and visitors are welcome. Joining the platform first means people will know you're coming.

Do people speak English? Mostly no. Turkish is the language of daily life. Younger people and returnees often speak some English. Learning basic Turkish transforms your experience.

Is it safe? Rural Turkey is generally very safe. The usual common sense applies.

Can foreigners live there long-term? Yes, with a Turkish residence permit. Property ownership can support a residence application. Get proper legal advice.

What does the village need? People with energy: restoration skills, farming ideas, teaching, small business. See Opportunities.