Known as Telmessos in Ancient times, Fethiye is a busy market town with a large marina. Unlike many of the other tourist resorts, Fethiye offers a taste of the real Turkey. The town is hidden away in the foothills between a wide Mediterranean bay and the Taurus Mountains. It is on the southwest coast of Turkey, about 34 miles west of Dalaman.
Known as Telmessos in Ancient times, Fethiye is a busy market town with a
large marina. Unlike many of the other tourist resorts, Fethiye offers a taste
of the real Turkey. The town is hidden away in the foothills
between a wide Mediterranean bay and the Taurus Mountains. It is on the
southwest coast of Turkey, about 34 miles west of Dalaman.
There is a
good selection of restaurants on the harbour front and in the narrow streets of
the old town. It is home to many unspoiled rocky coves, crystal clear seas,
offshore islands, cliffs and pine-covered mountains offering as much relaxation
or activity as you want.
The town is
also home to several ancient sites such as the rock tombs dating from the 4th
century BC carved in the hillside above the town.
There is no
beach in the centre of Fethiye. The nearest one is Çalis Beach, the main resort
area, which is lined with restaurants, cafes, bars and hotels. However the best
beach is 10 miles away at the stunning lagoon of Oludeniz.
The resort is
perfect for families and older couples looking for an enjoyable but peaceful
holiday.
As with many
resorts in this area, Fethiye enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate with mild
winters and hot summers.
The average
monthly temperatures are:
|
°C |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
Day |
13 |
14 |
17 |
21 |
25 |
30 |
33 |
33 |
30 |
25 |
19 |
15 |
|
Night |
4 |
4 |
6 |
8 |
12 |
16 |
19 |
18 |
15 |
12 |
8 |
5 |
Fethiye can offer you some wonderful
shopping opportunities.
The main shopping area is the old town
area, Paspatur, with many pedestrianised streets lined with shops selling gold
and jewellery, carpets, kilims, leather and designer clothing.
For a more Turkish shopping experience,
the large Tuesday market offers hundreds of stalls offering crafts, spices,
clothes and fruit and vegetables. Çalis has a smaller market on Sundays.
Fethiye does have a few jumping night
spots but it is probably more a place to enjoy a lazy meal in a wonderful
restaurant passing the time with good conversation and people watching.
However, if you are looking for
something a bit livelier, the old town (Paspatur) becomes the local Bar Street
after dark. A few names to look out for are:
·
Ottoman Bar
·
Car Cemetery Bar
·
Peaches Bar
·
Club bananas
·
George’s Cocktail Bar
·
Disco Marina
·
Yes! (Cumhuriyet Caddesi)
The best place for a lively night spot
is nearby Hisaronu which is about 6 miles away.
Once you have had enough of exploring
the town of Fethiye, the sun, sea and sand, here are a few suggestions of other
places you might like to visit during your stay:
·
Gemiler Island
·
Saklikent Gorge
·
Pinara (Lycian necropolis)
·
Butterfly Valley
·
Sidyma
·
Tlos
·
Pillar tombs, Xanthos
·
Patara
·
Araxa
·
Oenanda (excavated city)
·
Letoon
·
Cadiana
·
Üzümlü
·
Kayaköy
It is not advisable to drink the tap
water in Fethiye, bottled water is widely available. The area is relatively
crime free but you should exercise the usual precautions with your valuables
especially when in crowded areas.
