Summer brings beaches, pools and travel, and with them the eternal question: which beach towel do I choose? Not all towels are the same, and choosing well is the difference between carrying a damp bundle in your bag or something light that dries in minutes. Here are the criteria that actually matter.
1. The material: why cotton matters
A good beach towel starts with the fiber. Quality cotton — and even better, recycled cotton — is soft from the first use and becomes more absorbent with every wash, thanks to its long fibers. Avoid low-quality synthetics: they feel scratchy, don't absorb well, and degrade quickly from sun and salt.
2. Size and weight: shouldn't weigh more than your swimsuit
A traditional beach towel can weigh more than 500g and take up half your bag. The peshtemal, the traditional Turkish weave, weighs between 150 and 430g depending on the model and folds down to a fraction of the space. For the beach, travel or yoga, that extra weight makes a difference.
3. Quick drying: say goodbye to dampness
Thick towels take hours to dry and end up smelling musty in your bag. A light, flat weave like the peshtemal air-dries in minutes, which is especially useful on multi-day trips or at the pool, where you'll use the same towel several times a day.
4. Sustainability and certifications
If what's behind the product matters to you, look for real certifications like OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, which guarantees the absence of harmful substances, and check whether the cotton is recycled. At Veraya, all our beach towels carry this certification and are made by hand in Turkey.
5. Why choose a Turkish peshtemal
The peshtemal combines all four points above: quality cotton, light weight, quick drying and a manufacturing process with history. It's why more and more people are swapping their classic beach towel for a peshtemal each summer.
You can browse our full selection of Turkish cotton beach towels, with plain, jacquard and other designs starting at €25.95.