Fethiye in Mugla, Turkey has it all, from amazingly beautiful turquoise coastlines to ancient ruins and quaint little villages.
When most people think of Turkey, they think of Istanbul, Ankara, Cappadocia, Antalya and Izmir. While these are very beautiful cities, sometimes the best memories and travel experiences can come from much smaller locations that are not as well heard of as the large cities.
Fethiye was once known as the ancient city of ‘Telmessos’ and one of the most important cities of the Lycian civilization.
It was a culturally rich and flourishing city, and home to many monuments that still stand today.
Fethiye is located in the Aegean region in southwest Turkey, about 4 hours south of Izmir and 3 hours west of Antalya.
Most people at some time or another would have seen images online of paragliders soaring above the stunning Blue Lagoon in Oludeniz. But, what other activities and places are on offer in Fethiye?
Read on to find out everywhere you should know about, when spending time in Fethiye.
Firstly, you must swim in the Oludeniz Blue Lagoon.
Oludeniz is translated to Dead Sea and you will understand why when you get there. The water in the Blue lagoon is completely still, no crashing waves and a beautiful aqua marine color.
It is located near the foothills of Mount Babadag, around a twenty minutes drive from Fethiye’s town center.
The Blue Lagoon is probably one of the best places to visit during your time in Fethiye, as you can relax, swim, eat or drink in the many restaurants and watch the paragliders descending down to the beach.
Butterfly Valley is known in Turkish as Kelebek Vadisi. It is a remote beach only accessible by boat, unless you’re a professional hiker.
Butterfly Valley is south of Oludeniz and really is one of nature’s hidden gems.
The valley is home to many species of butterflies, which is how it gets its name. The views are spectacular and if you hire a boat you can visit the Mavi Magara or Blue Grotto, which is a wonderful cave with vivid blue water.
If you’re looking for an adrenaline rush and you are brave enough, you can of course take part in paragliding off Mount Babadag. This is one of the best locations to try your hand at paragliding as you can do a tandem jump with a professional.
If you don’t wish to jump off a mountain, and would rather keep your feet safely on the ground, you can instead enjoy a drink or two in the restaurant right next to the take off point.
Mount Babadag is also a fantastic place to watch the sunset, but it does get chilly up at that high altitude, so be sure to bring a warm jumper or jacket with you. Paragliding draws in many visitors to Fethiye and is definitely in the top five activities to do here.
Enjoy one of Fethiye’s many boat trips which can vary in itinerary. You will find many companies offering private or group boat trips in the resorts and in Fethiye Mariner. These boat trips are highly recommended and make a fantastic day out. Most of these trips include lunch. You will experience and visit some of Fethiye’s Bays with crystal clear waters and beautiful rocky landscapes.
You can take part in snorkeling, simply lounging on the boat soaking up the sunshine or explore the underwater world through the translucent waters.
Look up and see the rock tombs.
These amazing rock tombs are one of the most popular sightseeing locations that Fethiye is known for. The spectacular tomb of Amyntas overlooks Fethiye and was carved into the cliff face of the mountain in 350BC.
Be aware that you must climb up quite a few steps to view the tomb from close up, but there are also smaller sets of tombs to the left which can be viewed from the road. It’s worth researching the history of these tombs for a more enjoyable experience. Whilst travelling around Fethiye, be sure to look around at the mountains because you will see many high tombs scattered all over the area.
Explore the ghost town of Kayakoy, the abandoned village that was once home to 20,000 Greek Orthodox residents. The residents were forcibly removed in a population exchange with Turks living in Greece in 1923.
Today, the town of Kayakoy is entirely deserted, with the buildings in ruins including homes, churches, schools and shops. Over time the buildings here have crumbled away leaving just shells.
If you enjoy hiking and exploring then a visit to Kayakoy is an absolute must visit location.
It’s pretty spectacular if not a little eerie.
There are many restaurants and cafes at the foot of the Kayakoy ghost village where you can enjoy a great traditional Turkish breakfast, a lovely meal or just refreshments.
Visit Saklikent Gorge.
The gorge is located about 50 kilometers from Fethiye and the canyon here is one of the deepest in the world. It is nearly 300 meters deep and 18 kilometers long. You will enjoy a magical landscape, walk through the canyon, take a mud bath and get wet in the cool water. This gorge is definitely a must visit for the day, with plenty of restaurants and places to relax and unwind.
Enjoy an evening stroll along Fethiye seafront with many gorgeous restaurants, cafes and bars. You can enjoy a drink or two whilst watching the sunset and listen to live music that a few restaurants have performing most nights.
There are plenty of places to grab an ice cream or snack.
The sea front runs from Fethiye’s mariner in the old town all the way along to the lovely and very large Sehit Fethi Park near Calis.
In this park you will discover large playgrounds for the kids, large fish ponds, rivers, hammocks, chill out zones and even small covered library areas where you can read, take or donate books. The architecture is fantastic with artistic sculptures and climbing structures for kids to explore and play. The cycle path also runs round this park and along the seafront itself.
Have a fun filled day in the Orka Water World Aquapark. This amazing water world opened in 2021 and promises a fantastic day out for the whole family. With many hair raising slides, restaurants, bars, chill out zones, a winding river and an artificial beach this water park is fun for the whole family, even the little ones. This water park is the largest in the region and caters for everyone. There are wonderful shows during the evenings of the summer season including a meal and vivid light and smoke shows.
In the evening for those who like an evening out, you can visit Paspatur. This is near Fethiye’s mariner and has many bars with live music. The atmosphere here is a lot louder and not really for kids. Nearby you can find Fethiye’s fish market that has many lovely restaurants all crammed together serving fresh fish. It has a wonderful atmosphere and the best place to enjoy Fish with mezes and Raki.
So, if it’s all about location, Fethiye provides it all. The town is a laid back kind of place, just what you need after a day’s hectic exploring of ancient ruins, tombs, paragliding action or lazing on beautiful beaches.
Fethiye is a compact destination but it has something to suit everyone and you definitely won’t be disappointed, if fact, like many folk who visit, you will be back for more.