If you ask any expat why they decided to relocate to Fethiye you will normally hear the same answer, they fell in love with the place whilst visiting on a summer holiday.
I myself fell in love with Fethiye after my first visit. It’s a little piece of paradise.
It has majestic mountains, crystal clear turquoise waters, untouched, beautiful natural scenery and a laid back atmosphere, as well as fabulous weather.
Fethiye is surrounded by many different ways of life, from traditional quaint villages, to lively tourist resorts. It boasts a mix of Turkish and expat communities that live together and blend so well, creating a calm and laid back environment.
If you are planning on relocating to Fethiye permanently, the likes of Calis and Fethiye town are great locations. They are year round living locations with all shops and restaurants staying open throughout the winter months. Calis is very popular with expats and retired Brits, due to being a completely flat area without lots of hills to climb and ideal for those with mobility issues.
Calis has a thriving expat community and also has thousands of tourists who holiday there each year. This is why Calis is so appealing to investors who buy villas or holiday apartments to let, as well as those who plan a permanent move to Fethiye.
The public transport in Calis is great with regular Dolmus services to Fethiye Town. There are also lots of restaurants, bars, shops and markets in Calis that are open all year round.
Ovacik and Hisaronu are also very popular locations in Fethiye. Whilst many buy properties here as holiday homes or investments, some do live permanently here, even though during the winter months everything can get a little quiet.
Uzumlu is a location with a much more rural ambience and somewhere away from the resorts that promises a more peaceful life. Uzumlu is popular for those who wish to retire in Fethiye due to its lush green surroundings and fresh air. Uzumlu has a small village that is open all year round.
Fethiye is at the heart of the Mediterranean coast with fantastic transport links in and around Fethiye. It sits just 50 minutes from Dalaman International Airport that has an extensive timetable during the summer months. There is also a central bus station with routes all over Turkey.
The other reason Fethiye is a great choice is because English is widely spoken, making life away from your own country so much easier. To live in Fethiye comfortably you really don’t need to know much Turkish.
The stunning scenery in Fethiye literally blows your mind with the long sandy beaches and the backdrop of Pine covered mountains is that of a picture postcard.
The weather and climate in the Fethiye region means long hot summers and short mild winters with at least 300 days of sunshine a year. The summer holiday season normally starts at the end of April and runs through till October.
Fethiye has a large marina and getting out to the ocean is easy with either boat trips or private yachts. There are 12 islands off of Fethiye that can be visited.
The cost of living in Fethiye is amazing if you have income from the UK, when you look at the current exchange rates. In Fethiye, you can comfortably live on around 6000TL per month excluding rent, which works out at approximately 450 GBP.
Even though Fethiye has a life in a slow pace you can find a range of adrenalin filled activities including paragliding, deep sea diving, scuba diving, sailing, horse riding, kayaking and canoeing.
Fethiye is full of history which can be seen in many of the mountain sides. There are many UNESCO sites in Fethiye including Xanthos- Letoon, Tlos, Pinara and Telmessos.
There are also a few hospitals and many private clinics in the region specializing in many different issues. Many of the doctors speak English which is helpful and comforting during unfortunate times.
You will come across so many expats who call Fethiye their permanent home. Ten percent of the Fethiye population is expats and it makes for a great community with plenty of support and advice.
There are many ways to socialize with other expats and locals in Fethiye. The community comes together and holds coffee mornings, quiz nights, Christmas events and many more. Many of these organizations revolve around helping the local street dogs and cats.
Speaking from personal experience, living in Fethiye is a real pleasure. It’s like a home from home but with much better weather. You can find all your favorite English cuisine and there’s always someone nearby from your own culture and country.
Most people who come to Fethiye will return year after year and in time, some of them never go back.