Travel Guide Fethiye
The town of Fethiye centres around an historic harbour where you can while away the hours in the boutique restaurants and shops that line the harbour. A bustling market town, the area is a shoppers’ paradise and at the Tuesday market you can buy anything from designer jeans to fresh tomatoes. Surrounded by the Taurus mountains this area is a mecca for paragliders who come from all over the world to experience the stunning scenery. The famous beach at Oludeniz, with its idyllic lagoon is one of the world’s most photographed beauty spots.
Fethiye is now the centre of one of the primary holiday destinations in Turkey. As a location itself, a busy working town and harbour, but surrounded by a unique cluster of other popular destinations – each incredibly different yet only 15 minutes apart – from the tranquil mountain setting of Ovacik to the lights and nightlife of the party town of Hisaronu, the classic laid back feel of Calis Beach and the sheer beauty of the World famous Olu Deniz. Fethiye has developed from a tiny village and small time harbour port into a bustling and popular destination for visitors from all over the World – it is also a place where in more recent times people came to put down roots.
History of Fethiye
Fethiye stands in the same place as the ancient city of Tehmessos which dates back to 400BC. Although the current population of Fethiye is only around 25,000 it is still a busy and popular tourist destination, especially during the sunny summer months. Fethiye was established as a Lycian town although everyone from the Romans and Byzantines to the Ottomans have left their mark on Fethiye throughout the ages.
This region is in the heart of ancient Lycia and has many historic sites among which Kaunos, Tlos, Pinara, and Letoon are particularly noteworthy. It is a region of dramatic mountains, stunning beaches, cosmopolitan ports and rustic villages.
Around Fethiye, there are important ancient cities of the Lycians. To the southeast of Fethiye lies Xanthos at Kinik village, an important capital of Lycians. Its setting is naturally adorned while Letoon, by Kumluova village and close to Xanthos, is also interesting. Letoon was a cult center during the Lycian period and remains can be seen of temples dedicated to Leto, Artemis and Apollo. Patara by Ovagelmis, Pinara by Minare, Tlos by Doger, Cadianda by Yesil Üzümlü, Sidyma by Dodurga, Karmilassos by Kaya, Pydnai by Kavadere, Araxa by Ören, Lydoe by Kapidag, Lissa and Arsada by Kayadibi, and Daedela by Inlice are other significant sites to visit in the environs of Fethiye.
How to reach Fethiye
Fastest way to reach Fethiye is by flights serving international Dalaman airport. Many direct flights are available from major airports in the World between April/May and October/November and less so between mid November and April.
Also there are many airlines that have direct flights to Istanbul, Izmir and Antalya and domestic airlines have regular flights to and from Dalaman.The flight from Istanbul to Dalaman Airport takes about an hour.
Coming from Greek Islands ; There are ferries between operated by ferry companies has daily trips between Rhodes and Fethiye throughout the summer. The same association also runs a hydrofoil during the summer months everyday.
For those visitors coming to Fethiye by road, the distances from the surrounding towns and cities are as follows:
Dalaman Airport : 50 km
Bodrum Airport : 195 km
İzmir Airport : 310 km
Göcek : 30 km
Marmaris : 125 km
Antalya : 210 km
