Fethiye Travel Guide

On Turkey's southwest coast, where the Mediterranean takes over from the Aegean, Fethiye lies at the end of a broad bay. It has a fishing port and a market, so it is a working town as well as a resort, and from here you reach some of Turkey's most famous coast and mountain scenery: Butterfly Valley, the Oludeniz lagoon, the bay's 12 islands and, above them, Babadag mountain.

Reasons to go

First, the sea. The water is clear, dozens of coves break up the coastline, and many of them can only be reached by boat. Second, the ancient Lycians: rock tombs carved into the cliff above town, among them the Tomb of Amyntas with its temple front, and a chain of ancient cities along the shore. Third, the outdoors. Rising almost 2,000 metres over the lagoon, Babadag is one of Turkey's best-known paragliding launch points, and the Lycian Way long-distance trail begins near Oludeniz.

How long to stay

Three or four days covers the main sights: a day on a boat, a day for Butterfly Valley and Oludeniz, and one for Saklikent Gorge and Kayakoy. A longer stay suits a gulet cruise, the way many visitors explore this coast. Our seven-day Kekova gulet cruise begins and ends at Fethiye harbour.

When to go

The sea season runs from May to October. In July and August the lagoon beach at Oludeniz is packed, so June and September are ideal, with warm water, long days and smaller crowds. Paragliding goes on for most of the year, though winter brings more weather cancellations. Many resort businesses shut between November and March.

Getting there from Istanbul

The flight from Istanbul to Dalaman Airport (DLM) takes roughly 1 hour 15 minutes, and Fethiye is about an hour's drive from Dalaman. Antalya Airport is another choice, 3 to 3.5 hours by road, coastal or inland. By overnight bus, Istanbul to Fethiye takes around 13 to 14 hours.

Things to do

• Paraglide in tandem off Babadag, landing at Oludeniz. We run a paragliding day trip from Antalya.
• Swim in calm, shallow water at the Blue Lagoon of Oludeniz, a protected bay.
• Take a boat to Butterfly Valley, a steep gorge with a small beach and a waterfall.
• Explore Kayakoy, where several hundred stone houses on a hillside stand empty, left behind after the 1923 population exchange.
• Join the 12 islands boat trip around Fethiye Bay.
• Wade through cold water between tall rock walls in Saklikent Gorge.
• Spend several days on a gulet heading west to Bodrum or east to Kekova; try our Fethiye to Bodrum gulet cruise of 8 days.

Areas to stay in

The town and harbour for boat departures, the market and restaurants. Calis, a quick water-taxi hop from town, for sunsets and a long beach. Hisaronu and Ovacik, above Oludeniz, for nightlife and budget hotels. Oludeniz to be right on the beach. Kayakoy for peaceful stone guesthouses.

Food

The fish market is Fethiye's local ritual. Buy your fish at the stalls in the middle, and a restaurant around them will cook it for a small charge, served with meze and salad. On Tuesdays the town market sells fruit, olives and cheese, and women from the villages cook gozleme on the spot.

Practical tips

• Use licensed boat operators and check what the price includes.
• Water shoes are useful at Saklikent and on pebbly beaches.
• Oludeniz beach charges for entry, as it lies within the nature park.

Browse every tour in Fethiye, among them our Olympos to Fethiye gulet cruise of 4 days.