Fethiye (Turkey) is a city located in the southwestern part of the country, at the intersection of the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas. The object covers an area of 3,059 km2, and its population reaches almost 158 thousand people. Fethiye is 200 km from Antalya and 125 km from Marmaris. The nearest airport is Dalaman Airport, 45 km away.
Fethiye was built by the inhabitants of the ancient Lycian kingdom in the 6th century BC: at that time it was called Telmessos. Due to its geographical location, the object soon turned into one of the main shopping centers of the state. In the 2nd century BC, the city came under the control of the Roman Empire, and a few centuries later it became part of Byzantium. With the arrival of the Ottoman conquerors in these lands, the object became the property of the Turks, who gave it a new name – Makri. Only in 1914, a city with the modern name Fethiye appeared in Turkey, named after the famous Turkish pilot.
It is noteworthy that for several centuries in a row, the city of Fethiye was decorated with ancient buildings and monuments. But all of them were destroyed during a powerful earthquake in 1957, after which the object had to be rebuilt. Nevertheless, some of the ancient buildings located in the surrounding area managed to partially survive.
Fethiye grew up on the coast of a beautiful bay surrounded by mountain slopes dotted with cedars and pines. Of course, such a picturesque place could not be missed by foreign tourists. The first city as a resort was mastered by English travelers, who today make up the main part of vacationers. But every year Fethiye and Oludeniz discover more and more tourists from other countries. The growing popularity of the resort is associated not only with its pristine natural beauty, but also with the development of tourist infrastructure. And the ancient monuments located nearby only give another strong argument in favor of a holiday in Fethiye.
Attractions
Among the iconic sites in Fethiye are natural, historical and urban attractions. Therefore, every traveler here has a good opportunity to combine a beach holiday with sightseeing trips. And first of all, you should visit the following places:
Old Town
Fethiye has one atmospheric place filled with oriental flavor, but at the same time distinguished by Western friendliness. This is an area of the Old Town with miniature houses, mountain slopes running up to the sky, stairs with cats and children playing on the terraces. Quiet and peaceful streets are literally drowned in flowers and greenery. It is here that you can take unique photos of Fethiye in Turkey as a keepsake. All lovers of a measured holiday will definitely appreciate the cozy cafes and restaurants of the area. There is also a city bazaar, where a lot of interesting goods are sold.
Fethiye Market
Every Tuesday and Friday on the main street of Fethiye, a real Turkish bazaar unfolds, which is definitely worth visiting during your holiday in the resort. The market is divided into two parts: in one of them you can buy fresh vegetables, fruits and fish, in the other-clothes, bags and souvenirs. Some products are really cheaper than in other stores, but there are also things that are not recommended to buy here. For example, vegetables and fruits on the market are inexpensive, and you can also try them before buying.
At the bazaar you will also find clothing copies of modern brands of good quality at reasonable prices. But replicas of purses and bags are not profitable to buy in this market. In addition, the bazaar offers a rich selection of seafood, which is prepared right on the spot in a matter of minutes. In addition to various types of fish, they sell lobster, squid, shrimp and octopus. If you pay 7 TL to prepare one serving, you will receive a beautifully designed dish made from the freshest sea animals. In general, the Fethiye market can be called another pleasant bonus of a holiday in the city.
Fethiye Port
The resort of Fethiye in Turkey has a neat miniature promenade that smoothly turns into a picturesque port. There are numerous cafes and restaurants on one side of the embankment, while large and small ships are moored on the other side, where you can go on a sea tour. It also offers a guided tour of the Fethiye Islands for a modest price. In the evening, the embankment is filled with tourists, usually finishing their walk in one of the coastal cafes. Most of the restaurants offer beautiful views of the surrounding landscape, which is especially pleasant to contemplate with a glass of local wine.
Saklikent Gorge
If you prefer an active holiday to a passive one, then by all means go to the Saklikent Canyon, located 44 km southeast of Fethiye. This rather long gorge is conditionally divided into 4 parts. The first section consists of a small bridge that can be crossed in just 5 minutes. Next, your path will run through an icy river: along the entire course, special ropes are installed, holding on to which you can safely overcome obstacles. The third part of the gorge runs mainly on semi-dry clay land. Well, the last frontier of Saklikent is a combination of steep ascents and descents over rocks leading to a miniature waterfall.
If you decide to visit this natural attraction during your holiday in Fethiye, do not forget to prepare for the tour properly. First of all, you need to bring comfortable rubber shoes. Try to take as few things as possible to facilitate your difficult passage through the canyon. A sealed bag or bag will help you keep your valuables from getting wet. It is best to come to the gorge for the opening, because in the daytime a large number of tourists accumulate on the territory of the object.
- Address: Aklar Mahallesi, Saklıkent Mevkii, 07960 Kas/Antalya.
- Opening hours: daily from 08: 00 to 20: 00.
- Admission fee: 7 TL for adults and 3.5 TL for children.
Lycian Trail
The famous Lycian Trail, which stretches along the southwestern coast of Turkey from Antalya to Fethiye, is the longest hiking route in the country. On the way, tourists can expect both bright natural landscapes and ancient architectural monuments. Even beginners can organize a hike along the trail: after all, special signs are conveniently installed along the entire route. You will find more detailed information about the Lycian Way in our separate article.
Ancient Rock Tombs
High in the mountains surrounding the city of Fethiye in Turkey, there is an ancient landmark built during the Lycian kingdom. Its visit should definitely be included in your holiday at the resort. These are ancient tombs carved into the rocks, where royalty, nobility and ordinary citizens found their last resting place. Lycians believed that the higher the tomb is located, the faster the souls of the deceased will go to heaven, so they always tried to build tombs on the hills or in the mountains.
It is noteworthy that this monument managed to survive, despite numerous earthquakes. Tombs can be viewed independently, and they get a particularly atmospheric look in the evening, when the lights turn on. It also offers beautiful views of Fethiye and the surrounding nature. A visit to the property will allow you to plunge into the centuries-old history, which will definitely diversify your vacation.
- Address: Kesikkapı Mahallesi, 117. Sk. No: 3, 48300 Fethiye, Turkey.
- Opening hours: daily from 09: 00 to 20: 00.
- Visit fee: 5 TL.
Ancient city of Tlos
This is another ancient monument in the vicinity of Fethiye, which will be interesting to visit during your vacation. Tlos was built in the 19th century BC and was part of the Hittite Empire. Over the centuries, the city passed from the Lycians to the Romans, from the Byzantines to the Ottomans. Today, only ruins remain of Tlos, but some buildings are well preserved. First of all, this concerns the tomb of Bellerephon, the ancient ruler of the city. Partially survived and the walls of the acropolis, located on a hill.
Fragments of once-magnificent buildings are scattered throughout the site: parts of Roman baths, Byzantine basilicas, and the ruins of an ancient amphitheater. At the very top of the city is the fortress of Bloodthirsty Ali, built by the Ottomans on the site of the Lycian Citadel. From this vantage point, you can enjoy peaceful panoramas of fruit orchards, mountain slopes and fields.
- Address: Yaka Mahallesi, Seydikemer, Fethiye 48300, Turkey
- Opening hours: from 09: 00 to 20: 00 (in winter until 18: 00).
- Visit fee: 5 TL.
Kayakey Ghost Village
While on vacation in Fethiye or Oludeniz in Turkey, you can take a look at one of the most mysterious places in the region – the village of Kayakey. The village was built on the initiative of the Greek community in the 18th century. It had about 3 thousand houses, several pharmacies, a school and a church. However, in 1923, when there was a change of power in Turkey, the residents were forced to leave the village, taking only the most necessary things with them. After that, looters completely looted the houses, the village was deserted and fell into disrepair. And in 1957, the village was finally destroyed by an earthquake.
Despite the relative youth of the ruins, today the ghost village is of great tourist interest. Walking through the ruined streets, the traveler involuntarily imagines the once bustling city and he gets the feeling that the Greeks have just left the walls of the houses. Overgrown buildings and wells remind you of the transience of time, and the emerald hills remind you of the eternal beauty of nature. This place does not stand out for its great architectural monuments, but it carries a special energy of the epochs, for which the village is worth visiting while on vacation in Fethiye.
- Address: Kayaköy Mahallesi, 48300 Fethiye, Turkey.
- Admission fee: 5 TL, but you can also enter for free by passing through residential buildings.
Accomodation
In the resort of Fethiye in Turkey, there are more than a hundred hotels, but most of them are similar to hostels or guesthouses that do not have stars. However, some hotels in this category have a private pool and offer a number of additional services. On average, you can rent a room in such a hotel in high season for $ 30-40 per day for two. Some offers include breakfast in the price.
Among the few 3* hotels, you will find quite comfortable options for about the same money. You will pay from $ 30 to $ 60 for accommodation, and the amount may include breakfast (sometimes dinner). Fethiye has the only three-star all-inclusive hotel (Yel Holiday Resort). The cost of checking into a double room in it is $ 69 for two people per night.
If you are used to relaxing in high-quality five-star hotels, you can find only a couple of hotels with the “all inclusive” concept in the resort. Prices for a double room in high season start from $ 100 per night and range from $ 150-200. When booking accommodation, be sure to pay attention to the location of the property: many hotels are several kilometers away from the city center.
The choice of accommodation should primarily depend on the purpose of your trip to Fethiye. If you are planning a beach holiday with a minimum number of sightseeing trips, then it makes sense to book a room in a high-quality three or five. Well, if you are going to spend your entire vacation traveling around local and surrounding attractions, then it is most reasonable to rent a budget option without stars.
Beaches
Photos of Fethiye often show beautiful clean beaches. But how many of them are actually in the resort? Together with the nearby town of Oludeniz, there are at least 5 beaches suitable for a comfortable stay. In Fethiye itself, you should visit Kalis Beach.
Kalis
The Calis coast stretches for more than 3 km. This is a calm and well-maintained beach, where it is almost always sparsely populated. The beach is mostly covered with small pebbles, mixed with sand at some points. The entrance to the water is smooth, sometimes there are large stones at the bottom, but in general, special shoes for swimming are not required. Although the beach itself is clean, the sea is cloudy due to constant waves (medium size). Those who prefer clear waters can go to the neighboring islands.
In the equipped beach area, everyone can rent sun loungers and umbrellas for the whole day (15 TL per person). On the shore there are public showers and changing rooms. There are numerous bars, cafes and shops along the coast. The beach is located in the very center of Fethiye, you can get here either by dolmoush (3 TL) or by water taxi (7.5 TL).
Oludeniz Beaches
During your holiday in Fethiye, you can also visit the beaches of the nearby Oludeniz resort. They are clean and well-groomed, and some of them are part of a protected area. The coast of Oludeniz attracts with its special picturesqueness: turquoise sea waters, emerald hills, and in some places snow-white sand. You can find more detailed information about the beaches of Oludeniz in our separate article.
Weather and climate
It is best to plan your holiday in Fethiye for the period from June to September. After all, it is at this time that the resort has optimal temperature indicators of air and water in the sea. The peak of summer falls on the period from July to September, when the thermometer does not fall below 30 °C. At the same time, you will be able to catch the warmest sea. In October, the air temperature in the resort begins to gradually fall, although the water remains quite comfortable for swimming. If the main purpose of your visit to the city is sightseeing, then it is quite possible to arrange a vacation here in March-May. A detailed monthly weather forecast for Fethiye can be found in the table below.
| Month | Average daily temperature | Average night temperature | Sea water temperature | Number of sunny days | Number of rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 12,3 °C | 5,8 °C | 17,9 °C | 18 | 5 |
| february | 14,6 °C | 6,8 °C | 17 °C | 19 | 3 |
| March | 17,1 °C | 8,4 °C | 16,8 °C | 23 | 3 |
| april | 21 °C | 11,3 °C | 18 °C | 26 | 2 |
| May | 24,9°C | 14,9 °C | 20,9 °C | 27 | 3 |
| June | 29,7 °C | 18,7 °C | 23,9 °C | 29 | 1 |
| July | 33,4 °C | 22,1 °C | 26,8 °C | 31 | 0 |
| august | 33,6 °C | 22,2 °C | 28,3 °C | 31 | 1 |
| september | 30,3 °C | 19,7 °C | 27,3 °C | 29 | 1 |
| october | 24,9 °C | 15,5 °C | 24,6 °C | 27 | 2 |
| November | 19,6 °C | 11,2 °C | 22 °C | 25 | 3 |
| december | 14,9 °C | 7,8 °C | 19,6 °C | 22 | 4 |
How to get
If you decide to go on vacation in Fethiye in Turkey, then information on how to get to the resort will definitely come in handy. The easiest way to get to the city is from Dalaman Airport, which is located 45 km northwest of Fethiye. In summer, during the peak tourist season, there are direct international flights to this air harbor, but in winter, you can only fly here with a transfer in Istanbul. Among Turkish airlines, Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines operate daily flights between Istanbul and Dalaman.
To get from Dalaman Airport to Fethiye, you can use both taxi and public transport. The first option is the most convenient and fast, but this trip will be more expensive. On average, a taxi to the resort will cost 125 TL. Although if there are 4 passengers, this option will not bring any special losses.
Also, tourists can get to the Fethiye resort from the Dalaman Air Harbor by Havaş bus. The cost of such a trip is 17.5 TL per person, and the journey time takes about 1 hour. A detailed schedule of routes can be found on the company’s official website. www.havas.net/en/ .
Conclusion
Now you know all the necessary information about the city: we have found out what the sea is like in Fethiye, identified the main attractions of the resort, and provided practical information. You just have to decide if this area in Turkey is suitable for your holiday. The indisputable advantages of the city from a tourist point of view are clean beaches, picturesque nature, a small number of tourists, the presence of remarkable objects.
Among its obvious shortcomings are the late opening of the bathing season and the meager selection of 4 and 5 * hotels operating under the “all inclusive” system. If you already liked the Mediterranean resorts of the country, but would like to get a new unique experience, then a holiday in Fethiye (Turkey) may be a real discovery for you.
