Located in the centre of the turquoise coast, Fethiye, Turkey, provides breathtaking scenery, exhilarating adventure, and a well-developed tourism industry that caters to all tourists. Although its main town is still teeming with places to eat, drink, and shop, it has evaded the urban sprawl that has tainted many of Turkey’s other tourist destinations. A significant ex-pat population means a fine selection of international cuisine. However, Turkey’s cooking is so superb that you’re unlikely to yearn for anything else. You can explore a stretch of the Lycian Way here, try paragliding, spend a day at sea, or relax on a beach and take in the beauty of the surroundings.
Fethiye Town Center
What to Do in Fethiye Turkey
The enchanting streets and alleyways of Paspatur in the city centre will delight shopaholics. Goods on sale range from designer brands to bespoke clothing, and you can experience a real mix of chains and independent stores. Many of the items sold in the shops are made in Turkey, so it’s great for your green footprint. This area of Fethiye is also dense with restaurants and coffee shops so you can make the most of your shopping experience all day. Be sure to head to the Fethiye open-air market held every Tuesday for your chance to taste homegrown produce and barter with local merchants.
Fethiye is graced with a picturesque harbour where spectacular gulets and fishing boats are ready to welcome eager travellers. If you are in the area, we strongly advise spending at least one day on a gulet so you can appreciate the shoreline’s beauty from a new angle. The most popular daily boat trip in Fethiye is the twelve-island boat trip which takes you on a voyage of discovery around the islands off the shores of Fethiye and Oludeniz. You can relax on a sun lounger, take a dip in the sea and feast on a freshly cooked BBQ lunch onboard the gullet- heaven!
If you are an adrenaline seeker, do not fear, there is plenty in store in Fethiye Turkey. Take a hike down the challenging mountainside of the Butterfly Valley, ascend mount Babadag and paraglide over the Blue Lagoon or visit Saklikent Gorge for river rafting and trekking in icy waters.
For family getaways, you will probably be looking for child-friendly activities. Fethiye is peppered with children’s playgrounds. There are plenty of parks, such as Şehit Fethi Bey Park, on the waterfront. Furthermore, there are two aquaparks, Orka World Theme Park and Oludeniz Water World, with various slides and pools, ideal for keeping younger members of your group happy.
Where to Visit in Fethiye Turkey
Fethiye is ideally located so visitors might explore further afield. For example, you could take a trip to Gocek, Dalyan or Patara to experience other popular holiday destinations for the day, as they are all within an hour’s drive of Fethiye. But what are the top attractions to visit when staying in Fethiye?
Beaches in Fethiye
A trip to Turkey’s turquoise coast would not be complete without several visits to the beach. Fethiye is an ideal base to enjoy a beach holiday because of its picturesque location on the Mediterranean coastline. The beaches in Fethiye are highly diverse, ranging from the bustling and water sports-friendly to the remarkably calm and off-beat hidden gems, which is why holidays here are so popular.
Calis Beach is one of the closest beaches to the city centre. It is frequented by tourists looking to enjoy watersports and a lively environment. In addition, you can try your hand at kitesurfing or windsurfing, and this beach is famed for featuring in the James Bond Skyfall film.
Oludeniz Beach, also named the Blue Lagoon, is breathtaking in its natural beauty. It is a long sandy stretch between towering green mountains and crystal-clear azure waters. However, as this beach is world famous, it attracts crowds during peak season. If you want to discover a serene alternative, head further down the road to Kirdak National Park, where you will find the secluded bay of Kirdak Beach with fewer visitors.
Historical Sites near Fethiye Turkey
Besides the stunning natural spots in Fethiye, visitors love exploring the various historical sites that populate this region. This area of Turkey is steeped in history from the Lycian civilisation. There are some important historical sites in and around Fethiye. You can visit the most well-known of the several rock tombs carved into the incline of the city’s southern hills; the tomb of Amyntas, which is the signature landmark of Fethiye.
Adorning the high hillside is the Fethiye Fortress ruins, which are worth the uphill trek if only to admire the spectacular viewpoint. This fortress marks the start of a road leading to another intriguing site; the abandoned village of Kayaköy, an open-air museum with hundreds of houses and several churches.
Getting About in Fethiye Turkey
You can fly into Dalaman, Antalya, or Bodrum airports to reach Fethiye. During the summer, you can also get to Fethiye by ferry from the Greek island of Rhodes and by shuttle bus from practically all of Turkey’s main towns.
What about travel within Fethiye Turkey? You will be pleased to hear that the centre of Fethiye is accessible for walkers and cyclists as the terrain is mainly flat and there are well-marked cycling lanes. As it is a city, the local bus links are excellent too, and you can catch a Dolmus (local minibus service) to most places of interest for a low price.