A town with a colourful history; famous for its myths, sages and seers. Fethiye is blessed with an abundance of natural and historical treasures. There are endless ruins to discover and mountains and valleys to hike and explore. Fethiye is blessed with an abundance of natural and historical treasures. There are endless ruins to discover and mountains and valleys to hike and explore.
Fethiye, known in ancient times as ‘Telmessos’, is a large and busy town set on the eastern shores of the Gulf of Fethiye , Its close proximity to the international airport at Dalaman, has made it a favorite ‘place in the sun’ for many European expats as well as summertime tourists who love the rugged mountain scenery and the warm waters of the Gulf.
Fethiye is blessed with an abundance of natural and historical treasures. There are endless ruins to discover and mountains and valleys to hike and explore. The ‘Lycian Way’ is one of the most popular trails in the area which offers stunning mountain and coastal scenery. If you enjoy the thrill of paragliding, ‘Baba Dagi’ or ‘Father Mountain’ is the place. There are scuba diving trips that depart daily from Fethiye and if horse riding is your sport, there are some great rides to be had through pine forested mountains and along coastal tracks. The walk through Saklikent Canyon – splashing through a stream all the way – is for adventurers of all ages and for those who wish to escape the crowds, there is the secluded pebble beach at Butterfly Valley, which is accessed by boat. Food and wine lovers can sit back and enjoy the sights and sounds of the deserted Greek village of ‘Kaya Koy’ from the shady balcony of Kaya Koy’s best known wine house, ‘Livissi Garden’, while canoeing enthusiasts are tempted with an excursion on the Esen River that runs alongside ancient Xanthos.
Fethiye’s marina is a lively place with yachts coming and going and tourists and locals alike flocking to shady retreats along the seafront. If the covered bazaar with its alleyways full of souvenir shops, restaurants and cafe-bars fails to tempt, we suggest that you take in some of Fethiye’s archaeological sites, such as the newly unearthed amphitheater of ancient Telmessos, situated alongside the harbour — or perhaps the Lycian sarcophagus which stands in one of the town’s back streets, a stone’s throw from the ornate facade of the tomb of Amyntas. This is one of a number of Lycian tombs grouped together and well worth a visit as they are within walking distance of the harbour. If you have more time to spare, there are ruins of a medieval fortress further up the hill – a great vantage point for viewing the town and the harbour.
Fethiye has some great accommodation options, ranging from the super luxurious to the cute and ’boutiquey’.
