Everything You Need to Know about Fethiye
Fethiye is 200 km (124 miles) and 3 hours west of Antalya, and 131 km (81 miles) and 2 hours east of Marmaris. It rests on a broad Mediterranean bay, boasting some of Turkey's best beaches and yachting. Plenty of hotels provide a place to stay, and Dalaman Airport makes access fairly easy.
Some 2400 years ago, Fethiye (FET-hee-yeh) was the prominent town of Telmessos, but earthquakes have left only a few Lycian stone sarcophagi from the old town. Fethiye is the starting point of the Lycian Way, a 500-km (311-mile) footpath through the rugged mountains of the Tekke Peninsula to Antalya.
Attractions
Within the town of Fethiye, there are a few attractions such as Fethiye Old Town in which you’ll find Paspatur Çarşısı (Market). The Amyntas Rock Tombs (Amintas Kaya Mezarları) arecarved into the sheer rock cliff high above the town. Çaliş Beach is several kilometers long and is 5 km (3 miles) northeast of Fethiye. There are a number of beach clubs located on the peninsula next to Fethiye, such as Sea Me Beach and Help Beach & Yacht Club which have a private beach, lounge chairs and umbrellas, and other amenities on site.
Many of Fethiye’s biggest attractions are in the surrounding areas, including Butterfly Valley in Ölüdeniz, and the For thrill-seekers, you can paraglide in Ölüdeniz and capture the best view of Butterfly Valley. Ölüdeniz, perhaps Turkey's most beautifully-situated beach, is 8.5 km (5.3 miles) south of Fethiye, over the hills.
Besides the beach, travelers like visiting the ruins of ancient Telmessos scattered throughout the city and the day-long 12-Island yacht cruise of the bay. Especially with a stop at Gemile Island, covered in unrestored Byzantine ruins. Boats depart in Fethiye’s busy harbor on the cruise every day in the warm months. There is also the village of Kayaköy, formerly known as Karmylassos, which is a ghost town full of stone houses. There are hundreds of abandoned homes and other structures such as churches and schools which maintain the status of a protected archeological site.
Does visiting another country sound exciting to you? Check out the Greek islands! From mid-June through August, there is a direct ferry service between Fethiye and the popular island of Rhodes, Greece.
Transportation
Most people come to Fethiye by bus or car. The nearest airport is 50 km (31 miles) west of Dalaman. There are buses that leave from other major destinations that travel directly to Fethiye. From Kaş, 105km (65 miles) east, there are multiple buses leaving daily from the otogar (bus station) that travel two hours and arrive in Fethiye. From Antalya, 194km (120 miles) east, there are buses every four hours that travel to Fethiye from Antalya’s otogar (bus station). It takes approximately 2-4 hours, depending on the bus route.
Lodging
There are a number of lodging options, ranging from high-end luxury resorts with views of the marina to budget stays in pensions. There are also a number of “apartotels” which have kitchenettes and a pool, making them a great options for families.
- by Tom Brosnaham, photos by Sonia Anand
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