Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon
Fethiye is a hub for the beautiful villages, ancient sights and gorgeous coves in this corner of the Aegean sea meeting the Mediterranean. The city itself does offer shopping, nightlife, and a nearby Calis beach but it is the neighboring areas and sights such as Oludeniz, Kayakoy, the islands and coves nearby including 12 Islands, Faralya, Butterfly Valley, Kabak, a beautiful gorge up in the mountains Saklikent Gorge, the ruins of Tlos, camping areas such as Katranci, Lycian Way trekking path are what makes Fethiye a special holiday destination.
Fethiye is the second biggest city along this stretch of the coast after Antalya. It does offer many hotels from simple to luxurious, bars, discos, and beaches which are a few kilometers from the city center, such as Calis beach. Sovalye island facing the city is a nice place for a daily boat excursion. It is a calm place and has a small pebble stone beach.
The city was first famous for its Oludeniz, once a calm camping retreat, now a destination for the package holidaymakers. Oludeniz is still very nice and about 20 minutes drive on a public minibus. There are still limited camping sites left, in addition to many hotels and guesthouses. You can also stay in Hisaronu if you like the nightlife, or Kayakoy if you would like to sleep listening to the sound of the crickets at night time.
The city was devastated by a major earthquake of 7.2 magnitude in 1957. It was mostly rebuilt since then with concrete buildings, hence does not offer the charm of Bodrum or Antalya Kaleici, though at some places you will see beautiful old houses. The building boom of the last 10 years also did not help much either.
Fethiye is built at the base of a mountain range and when you look up while strolling in the city you can see ancient Lycian tombs carved in the hill right above or see the ancient theater while walking in the yacht harbor.
Although agriculture still remains important, Fethiye's biggest revenue has become tourism. Fethiye is also a yachting center as well and nearby Gocek harbours some of the most luxury yachts in the Eastern Mediterranean.
There are major ancient Lycian sites in the region between Patara and Fethiye including Dalyan. They are about 1-2 hours drive away and can easily be accessed on day trips.
Fethiye sits on the edge of a mountain range, and the view from the harbor is dramatic — Lycian rock tombs carved into the cliff face, the ancient theater below, the fishing boats in the water. The city itself is modern (the 1957 earthquake saw to that), but what surrounds it is extraordinary. Within 30 minutes you have the Blue Lagoon at Ölüdeniz, the ghost village of Kayaköy, and the Saklıkent Gorge. This is not a town you stay in for the nightlife. It is a base for exploring the most beautiful coastline in Turkey.
Ölüdeniz is the postcard image of the Turkish coast: a protected lagoon of turquoise water, a long sandy beach, and Babadağ mountain rising behind it. The lagoon is a national park, so no hotels on the water. The beach is busy in summer but the water is clear. Paragliders launch from the top of Babadağ (1,700 meters) and land on the beach. The view from the mountain is spectacular. The lagoon is 20 minutes from Fethiye by minibus.
Kayaköy is an abandoned Greek village, empty since the population exchange of 1923. Several hundred houses, two churches, a school, all crumbling into the hillside. You walk through the ruins freely. There is no entrance fee, no gates, no guides. It is quiet and strange and one of the most atmospheric places on the coast. Stay overnight in the guesthouse in the village if you want to experience it without day-trippers.
Butterfly Valley (Kelebekler Vadisi) is a canyon with a waterfall and a beach, accessible only by boat from Ölüdeniz. The valley is named for the Jersey tiger moths that live here. You can hike up to the waterfall. There is a basic campsite and a small restaurant. The boat trip is short and the valley is very popular; go early to have it to yourself.
Saklıkent Gorge is a canyon cut by a mountain river, 18 km long and up to 300 meters deep at points. You walk through the freezing water on a wooden platform, then wade through the river itself. The water is cold even in August. The walk takes 1.5 hours to the first waterfall. Wear water shoes or rent boots at the entrance.
Kabak is a small bay south of Ölüdeniz, accessible by a steep road. The beach is pebbles, the water is clear, and there are no large hotels — only small eco-lodges and campsites. It is a quieter alternative to Ölüdeniz. The walk down from the road is 20 minutes; you can also drive down but the road is narrow and steep.
The 12 Islands boat trip is a full-day cruise from Fethiye harbor. The boat visits several small islands and coves, stops for swimming and lunch, and returns in the late afternoon. This is not a luxury cruise; it is a day boat with lunch included and a very relaxed pace. The water is clear and the scenery is classic Mediterranean. Every boat follows almost the same route; choose based on lunch reviews.
Dalaman Airport (DLM) is the closest, about 1 hour by car (50 km). Flights from Istanbul take 1 hour 15 minutes. From the airport, take a taxi, pre-booked transfer, or Havaş shuttle to Fethiye. By bus from Istanbul takes 12-14 hours.
By car from Marmaris, the coastal road takes about 2 hours. From Antalya, the drive is 4 hours on the D400 highway — one of the most scenic coastal drives in Turkey.
Dolmus (minibuses) run from Fethiye to Ölüdeniz (20 minutes), Kayaköy (15 minutes), and Hisaronu (15 minutes) frequently. The bus from Fethiye to Ölüdeniz is cheap (about $2) and runs every 15 minutes in summer. To reach Saklıkent, you take a dolmus to the gorge turnoff and then walk or hitch the last 3 km, or take a tour. For Kabak and Faralya, a tour or rental car is easier.
Renting a car is the best way to see the region if you want to visit multiple sites in one day. Rental cars start at about 30 euros per day in low season, 50-60 euros in summer.
Day 1 — The City & Kayaköy: Morning in Fethiye: the Lycian rock tombs (walk up the hill), the ancient theater, the harbor. Lunch in the old town near the fish market. Afternoon at Kayaköy ghost village. Sunset from the hill above Kayaköy. Dinner in Hisaronu or back in Fethiye.
Day 2 — Ölüdeniz & Butterfly Valley: Morning at Ölüdeniz Lagoon. Take a boat to Butterfly Valley in the afternoon or walk the beach. Sunset from the hill above Ölüdeniz (the view of the lagoon from above is famous). Dinner on the beach.
Day 3 — Saklıkent & Tlos: Morning at Saklıkent Gorge — walk the canyon (water shoes required). Afternoon at the Lycian ruins of Tlos (acropolis, rock tombs, Roman baths). If you have energy, visit Yakapark for lunch by the river. Return to Fethiye.
Day 4 — 12 Islands Boat Trip: Full day on the water. The boat leaves from Fethiye harbor around 10 AM, returns around 5 PM. Lunch is included. If you prefer a land option, drive to Kabak Bay for the day.
To know where Fethiye sits in the timeline of Anatolia's (modern Turkey) ancient history please see History of Anatolia.