On the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, at the foot of the Turkish mountains covered with forests, there is an ancient “city of the sun” – picturesque Fethiye. From a bird’s eye view, the resort looks like a postcard – a long, uninterrupted strip of beaches, turquoise lagoons and yachts parked along the coast.
This elegant town is popular with connoisseurs of serene relaxation. Tourists tired of noisy cities come here to breathe the cleanest air and get a tan on Cleopatra Beach, walk with a butterfly net along the Valley of the Butterflies, go paragliding down Mount Babadag, take a boat ride to the habitat of giant turtles. Fethiye gives a unique flavor to its historical sights – witnesses of its glory in ancient times. The main and most impressive of them are the Lycian tombs carved into the rock.
Communication and Wi-Fi
Communication services in Turkey are provided by Avea (the cheapest), Turkcell (the highest quality) and Vodafone. The cost of the package starts from 50 TRY, the minutes included in it can be spent only within the country.
Another way to avoid roaming is to get a tourist SIM card. For example, Goodline and Tele2 operators offer to call home for 39 RUB per minute, and this price is fixed. Internet is paid separately. One of Vodafone’s packages – Smart Passport for 3 EUR per day – is designed just for travelers, it includes mobile Internet, 30 minutes and 60 SMS.
According to Turkish law, a foreigner arriving in the country must register his phone, otherwise it will be blocked. On a “standard” two-week vacation, this can not be feared, but when planning a long trip (more than 60 days), it is better to study the issue.
Fethiye beaches
Fethiye is a seaside city, but there are no beaches within its boundaries. The nearest recreation area – Chalysh Beach – is located in the village of the same name, a 15-minute drive from the resort center. The pebbly-sandy Chalysh is popular among tourists – it has all the infrastructure, and the views are amazing. Entrance is free, but renting a sun lounger or umbrella will cost about 6-7 TRY. Vacationers complain about muddy water and pitfalls. In this regard, it is more convenient to swim in the morning hours, when the transparency of the sea has not been disturbed by the afternoon breeze.
The beaches of the village of Oludeniz, which is 15 km from Fethiye, are not inferior in beauty to the best resorts in the world. “Unreal colors”, “paradise”, “breathtaking” – this is how tourists describe these lands. The visiting card of Oludeniz is the Blue Lagoon beach. Since it is located in a protected area, the entrance here is paid – 7 TRY. Umbrellas and sun loungers are also charged – 15 TRY each.
The main and more spacious beach of the Oludeniz resort is Belcekiz (free), from where boats leave for the Butterfly Valley. Another beautiful beach in these parts is Kidrak. People come here for solitude, as in Patara – sultry, deserted and not very suitable for family holidays. But lovers of wild, virgin nature, winds and antiquities will like Patara Beach.
Diving
The waters of Fethiye are great for diving. Diving enthusiasts are attracted by the diversity of flora and fauna – in the depths you can meet stone perches – groupers, dangerous moray eels, crayfish, stars, octopuses, seahorses. Children are allowed to dive in Dalyan Bay. Experienced divers prefer Afkule Cave and Barracuda Reef. The most popular place for divers of any category is Saryyarlar.
A trial dive will cost a beginner 718 TRY. From 9500 TRY there will be an underwater adventure (4 days).
Cuisine and restaurants Fethiye
Fethiye will please a guest with any taste and budget – there are many cafes, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs in the city and its environs. Most food outlets are concentrated along the beaches.
Turks love and know how to cook. 5 minutes – and the table is covered with a mosaic of plates with bright sauces, fragrant cakes, nuts, dried fruits, spicy sauces, olives and cheeses (the proximity of Greece affects). Traditional lunch – snacks “meze”, vegetables, meat – kebab or meatballs “kefte”. For garnish – rice. And, of course, bread – ordinary, “pita”, “simit” – a crispy bagel. Fruits and seafood are in abundance here.
Local sweets will add centimeters to the waist, but it’s worth it. Fragile “kataif” rolls baked in syrup with almonds, sugar halva, delicate multi-colored “lokum”, “Pishmaniye” balls with vanilla melt in your mouth.
A check for breakfast for one in an inexpensive eatery is about 15 TRY, in a more impressive establishment – from 20 TRY. This is coffee, an omelet with sausages and dessert. A full dinner with a glass of wine will cost from 60 TRY.
Excellent reviews are left by tourists about Carnival Restaurant, Girida Restaurant. On the beach, it is recommended to look into Onur beach cafe. If you want something unusual, you can dine at the floating restaurant “Bonsoir Yuzen”, which sails from the pier every evening at about 20:00.
Entertainment and attractions
Fethiye (at the time of Hellas – Telmess) is an ancient city, and some of its sights are witnesses to this. The main building that has been preserved here since ancient times is the Lycian tombs. These gates to another world, carved right into the rock, invariably impress tourists.
Not all visitors to the ancient mausoleum climb higher – to where the tomb of the ruler Amyntas is located. And those who have passed the “Lycian path” argue that it’s worth it. To fully experience the spirit of antiquity and enjoy the views, it is better to stock up on comfortable shoes – the climb is short, but rather uncomfortable.
A later era is personified by the ruins of a knight’s fortress on a hill. Not far from Fethiye there are more spectacular ruins. The ghost village of Kayakoy, with its empty houses and temples abandoned in the post-war period, looks creepy.
The Fethiye tour desk will offer the traveler a trip to the ancient Lycian city of Tlos (35 km), where there are many well-preserved ancient buildings. The mysterious and no less ancient city is Pinara, where organized tourists are not taken, which is only good for dusty ruins. The rock tombs of Pinara make an almost frightening impression. Tlos and Pinara are protected by the state, the entrance to the territory of the old cities costs 20 TRY.
We recommend bringing water and food to Pinara – a picnic in the ancient amphitheater will be unforgettable.
Undoubtedly, the nature of Fethiye can also be called an attraction. A few kilometers south of Tlos – and the beauty of the Saklikent National Park appears before your eyes. The most visited place here is the gorge. Hiking into its depths can be an exciting adventure if you have the right shoes and clothes – a turbulent river flows along the bottom of the gorge.
15 km from Fethiye, in the village of Oludeniz, there is the Blue Lagoon National Reserve, which is famous for its landscapes. Very close is Mount Babadag, its slopes have been chosen by lovers of paragliding. Anyone can become a paraglider pilot – an instructor will join inexperienced tourists in a buckle.
6 things to do in Fethiye
- Go to the Turtle Peninsula for a photo hunt.
- Swim in a warm bay, protected from cold currents and winds by a long sandy spit.
- Experience the joy of diving in Cleopatra’s Bay – who knows, maybe you will be lucky enough to stumble upon a Greek amphora at its bottom.
- Swim to the west coast of Belgeiz Bay, to the Valley of the Butterflies – one of the most romantic places on earth.
- By all means, without hesitation for a second, climb one of the peaks of the Lycian Mountains surrounding the picturesque bay of Oludeniz in order to glide down from there by paraglider.
- Sit comfortably on the wide sandy beach here, in the Oludeniz lagoon, and, squinting from the bright sun, watch the daredevils mastering parasailing and kiting.
Weather
According to Bridgat, the resort is famous for its ideal climate for relaxation – during the swimming season it is hot here, but fresh and comfortable – the proximity of the Aegean Sea affects. Mountains protect from the wind, shady forests protect from the heat. The abundance of greenery and ecology also guarantee a healing effect.
The sun shines almost all year round and with the onset of spring it warms up the water quite quickly – the most courageous swim in April. Summer comes into its own in May and does not give up until the end of October. In November, the embankments are noticeably empty, but even before winter, tourists arrive at the resort to enjoy the mild sun of the velvet season. Travelers and owners of villas look here in winter. It is rainy in Fethiye from December to March, but on the whole it is pleasant – the air temperature allows you to do without a jacket.
