Fethiye is in the south-west of Turkey, where the mountains drop steeply into the sea. Unlike Antalya there are few enormous all-inclusive chains here; instead there is a harbour, small hotels and boats. Most of those coming from Baku come here for Oludeniz and then find that the town itself has a programme too. Below I have written how to divide those three or four days.
Oludeniz and Babadag
Oludeniz is fifteen kilometres from the town, a lagoon beach left between the mountain and the sea. The colour of the water really is as it is in the photographs, because the lagoon is closed and no waves get in. Entry to the lagoon is paid, while the long pebble shore beside it is free.
Babadag behind it is close to two thousand metres high and is one of the best-known paragliding spots in the world. A cable car has been run to the top, which means that even if you do not fly you can go up to the summit and look at the view. The flight passes more calmly in the morning hours; at midday the wind strengthens.
The old town and the Lycian tombs in Fethiye
The Amyntas tomb cut into the rock above the town has been there for more than two thousand years and is clearly visible from below. You climb up by steps, and at sunset the whole bay is in the palm of your hand. The entry is a symbolic amount and half an hour is enough.
The old quarter below, called Paspatur, consists of narrow streets, carpet shops and fish restaurants. In the fish market beside it you choose the fish yourself and the neighbouring restaurant cooks it for a fee. This is the best and the cheapest dinner in town.
The twelve islands boat tour and Kayakoy
Every morning boats called the twelve islands tour leave the harbour. During the day you stop at five or six places, lunch is included in the price, and the boats come both crowded and in small groups. Ask about the difference in advance, because the same island with a hundred people and with ten is an entirely different experience.
Kayakoy is an abandoned stone village, left empty after the population exchange and now kept as an open-air museum. Hundreds of roofless houses are scattered over the hill and walking among them takes an hour. Taking the boat tour and the Kayakoy trip in advance works out both cheaper and calmer than haggling at the harbour.
Read more: A Turkey travel guide: Istanbul, Antalya, Cappadocia, the Black Sea and the thermal resorts
Transport and budget in Fethiye
The nearest airport is Dalaman and it takes forty-five minutes to the town. The dolmus minibuses run between Oludeniz, Calis and Hisaronu all day and are cheap. The town itself is walked on foot, but for Kayakoy and Saklikent either a tour or a hire car is needed.
| A hotel in town | A night for two, 40–90 euros |
| A hotel in Oludeniz | Considerably more expensive in season |
| Boat tour | Full day, lunch included |
| An evening at the fish market | 15–25 euros a head |
Staying in town means being close to the harbour and the market, while staying in Oludeniz means being close to the beach, so compare the hotels by district. There is no direct flight from Baku; you go to Dalaman via Istanbul, so check ticket prices in the Dalaman direction early for the summer. Official tourism information is on Turkey’s official tourism portal.
Season in Fethiye
May–June and September–October are the best time, the weather is 26–30 degrees and the coast can still breathe. In July–August the temperature passes thirty-five, and Oludeniz is empty until ten in the morning and full after that. In October the sea is still warm while prices come down. In winter part of the hotels close, but the weather is ideal for walking the Lycian Way.
In short
Fethiye is among the rare places that join beach and history in one route. Go to Oludeniz early in the morning, take the boat tour with a small group, keep the evening for the fish market, and go up Babadag when the air is calm. If you want to travel the Turkish coast along with several towns, you can look at the ready-made tour options. To build the route together, fill in the application form.
Note: the route of the boat tours and the hotel season are changeable, so check the dates before booking.
