Fethiye is a bustling harbour town situated on the southern Aegean Coast . The Town’s picturesque setting and proximity to the stunning blue lagoon of Ölü Deniz make Fethiye and its resorts an ideal holiday destination.
Fethiye Town Centre is positioned on the site of the ancient city of Telmessos . Remains of the city are scattered around the town, including rock tombs and Lycian sarcophagi. On the hill that rises to the south of Fethiye there are the ruins of a castle built by the knights of St John in the 15 th Century. A more recent discovery is the Telmessos Theatre, built in the early Roman period and excavated only since 1994. Paspatur, the “old town”, is home to buildings from the Ottoman
era: the Eski Cami (Old Mosque) built in 1791 and the Hamam (Turkish Bath).
As well as a rich history, Fethiye boasts an attractive harbour, a colourful bazaar, numerous restaurants, shops and a handful of bars. Comprehensive and regular local minibus services (dolmus) run between the town centre and all of the
nearby resorts and major attractions.
Ölü Deniz translates as “ Dead Sea ”, the name given to the resort on account of the shallow, calm and crystal clear waters of its lagoon. It is a designated protected area, which means that development around the lagoon itself is prohibited. There is a small charge to enter the lagoon area, with proceeds going towards its upkeep and preservation.
Despite its popularity, the resort has a laid-back atmosphere, with a selection of hotels, restaurants, shops and bars nestled between the public beach and the mountains. In addition to the famed paragliding, there is also a variety of water sport activities available such as parasailing and windsurfing.
Hisarönü and Ovacik, 9km from the town centre and set in the foothills of Mount Babadag , are popular bases for visitors to the Fethiye area. Both provide ample accommodation and facilities to meet the needs of tourists and in particular, Hisarönü comes to life at night. Being in an elevated position, these resorts are slightly cooler in temperature and provide welcome respite from the high-season heat of Fethiye town centre and Ölü Deniz.
Kaya Köyü ( Kaya Village ) , 15km from Fethiye and 4km from Hisarönü by dolmus, is the largest late-medieval “ghost town” in Asia Minor . Kaya or Karmylassos was home to a sizeable Greek community until the population exchange agreement in 1923. Incredibly, the remains of around three thousand deserted buildings, including houses, shops, churches and schools are scattered across the hillside. Largely untouched by tourism, the centre of Kaya has a limited number of guesthouses and traditional cafés/restaurants.
Çalis is a traditional beach resort situated some 5km from Fethiye town centre. As well as the conventional dolmus services, Çalis can also be accessed by regular water taxis from Fethiye harbour. Here you can enjoy a meal at a seafront restaurant, whilst watching the sun set spectacularly over Fethiye on the horizon.
Things to Do In and Around Fethiye:
The 12 Islands Boat Trip is a relaxing way to spend the day, touring the beautiful coves and islands of the Turquoise Coast . Departing from Fethiye at around 10am , boats cruise the Fethiye Gulf , with breaks for lunch and swimming. Paragliding from the 1900m summit of Mount Babadag commands stunning views over not only the lagoon of Ölü Deniz, but as far a field as Patara, Dalaman and even the Greek island of Rhodes on a clear day. Expect to pay around £60 for the experience. Also keep it in your mind that average 2-3 person dies every year ..mmm…. Butterfly Valley is a lush canyon, home to several species of butterfly, the most notable of which is the Jersey Tiger. The Valley is most easily accessed via boat from Ölü Deniz. Although development is prohibited, there are basic camping and restaurant facilities.
44km from Fethiye, the spectacular Saklikent gorge carved from Mount Akdag stretches an incredible 18km into the rock face. It is possible to walk through the gorge for a small charge, however, you first need to negotiate the walk through
the strong stream of feezing cold water from the Gökçesu/Ulupinar springs. Alternatively, take a waterside table at a neighbouring café and watch the more adventurous swimming in the springs!
On the way to Saklikent, take a detour to the ancient Lycian city of Tlos and marvel at the ruins that overlook the breathtaking Xanthos Valley including an Ottoman fortress, Lycian tombs, a theatre and a bath complex. Continuing up along the same road, a visit to Yakapark comes highly recommended. A shaded restaurant/café with ice cold water springs, Yakapark is the perfect spot to cool down after sightseeing. Trout is a local speciality.
The weekly Fethiye Market is a must for locals and tourists alike. On Tuesdays, traders come from far and wide to sell goods ranging from handbags to hand-made backgammon sets, and the freshest of local fruit and vegetables. Be prepared to barter! Also worth a mention is Fethiye Fish Market . Select and buy your fish and for a small charge, any of the nearby restaurants will cook it for you there and then, served with salad and freshly-baked bread. Sultan’s Aquapark is a recent addition to the area. Situated in Çalis, the Park can be easily accessed from neighbouring resorts, with many local travel agents organising day trips. Alternatively, take a dolmus or water taxi from Fethiye town centre.
Fethiye Museum displays the finds from archaeological excavations conducted in Fethiye and ancient cities in its vicinity. Exhibits include pieces from the Bronze, Archaic, Hellenistic and Roman ages, as well as ethnographic pieces from the Mentese and Ottoman times. The Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, between 8am and 5pm