Fantastic Fethiye sits majestically on the Aegean coastline and is one of the country’s leading beach resorts. It is home to a permanent population of 68,000 people, but carries an international air about it. It also has the power to attract many wealthy sailors with its splendid yacht marina and it also makes a great starting point for those looking to explore the beautiful countryside inland.
Getting There
The nearest international airports located in Antalya and Dalaman, which are three hours and one hours drive respectively. There are plenty of bus connections from the town to other cities and resorts including Marmaris, Izmir, Bodrum and Antalya. If your preferred method of travel is by boat, several private companies offer services to Marmaris and Antalya.A Dip Back in Time
Fethiye lies on the old Lycian and Carian border. It was an important centre of culture during Hellenic and Roman times. Fethiye has been known by several names reflecting its rich cultural background; it was once known as Telemessos and as Makri, in fact Greek speaking people who lived in this area at the time of the exchange of populations between Greece and Turkey founded a town in Greece called New Makri.Must See
Apart from the fantastic golden, sandy beaches, the town is home to the Fethiye Archeological Museum, which houses a rich display of ancient artifacts discovered from the successive civilizations that once lived here. The ancient ruins of Telemessos are also dotted around the city including the old 2nd century Roman theatre, located next to the harbour. Fethiye fortress is located on the exact spot of the original city. The surrounding walls date back to the 11th century and are intermingled with those from the Roman era. The walls were also repaired in the 15th century by knights from Rhodes. Fethiye Archaeology Museum exhibits numerous Archaeological findings from the Lycian, Hellenistic, Roman and Ottoman periods as well as ethnological works of art typical of the region. and include the Hellenistic Theatre on the quayside. Other interesting sites are the cave tombs built into the cliffs on the southern side of town and the pre-Roman Lycian sarcophagi and relics, located in the centre of the town – they look incredible at night when they are lit by spotlights The tomb of Amyntas is particularly striking and is situated on the slope down towards the bay. The façade of this tomb was constructed as an Ionic temple and belonged to Amyntas, a king of Telmessos during the Hellenistic era. The sarcophagus close to the government house is also worth seeing because it contains some well preserved reliefs of warring soldiers. There are more Lycian ruins on the outer islands, which can be reached by taking the boat from nearby Oludeniz.
Out of town the famous Blue Lagoon beach in Oludeniz is worth seeing with its perfect turquoise water. It can be reached by dolmus and is only a 30 minute drive away. On the road between Fethiye and Antalya you will find signs for the Saklikent Gorge, which is an incredible site of great geological interest and another great place for hiking as is the village of Kayakoy, where you can also take in some wonderful ruins. Kayakoy was inhabited by Greek speaking citizens and was abandoned in 1923 when the exchange of populations occurred. The church is particularly well preserved.
Entertainment and Recreation
There are some fantastic boat trips available down the coast on cute wooden sailboats known as gulets. They stop at different bays and include lunch. You can also take a three day cruise where you can camp out on deck and enjoy some excellent cuisine. The beach has plenty of activities including diving, parasailing and canoeing. The sea is extremely warm in summer and makes for some great swimming.
Fethiye is one of Europe’s top destinations for paragliding; enthusiasts gather on top of the 1,900 m high BabaDag and land on the beach. You don’t have to be an accomplished paraglider to enjoy the sport – there are plenty of training centres in the area offer teaching and tandem flights with an instructor. If you are feeling active or enjoy hiking then Fethiye is a great place to start your walks as it sits at the beginning of the 500 km long hiking trail known as the Lycian Way, which runs down to Antalya.
This is a town filled with local colour despite the influx of tourists and it is worth taking a trip down to the Farmers’ Market every Tuesday to watch the locals haggle. Shoppers will enjoy the little shops, which make up the Old Town. They sell everything from Turkish carpets and jewellery to designer clothing and Turkish Delight all at bargain prices.
Accommodation and Fine Dining
There is plenty of choice to suit all budgets in Fethiye. One of the best places to stay is the Hillside Beach Club, which is a private complex offering a range of spa and wellness treatments. At the other end of the scale, the Yildirim Guest House near to the marina offers rooms for around 25YTL per night for a double room. If you are looking for a place to dine then the Pasa Kebap comes highly recommended and offers some excellent meat and vegetarian dishes at reasonable prices. You should also try some of the fish dishes at one of the small restaurants at the fish market in the centre of town.
