Fethiye Turkey
Here is an overview of Turkey’s Fethiye area and surround villages and towns including property and lifestyle information and attractions. Find out about some of the unique and amazing historical buildings and villages as well as activities and entertainment.
Oludeniz
Oludeniz is the archetypal picture-postcard beach, backed by dramatic pine-clad hills, and is the view that you see on many a brochure cover. Literally translated as ‘dead sea’, the stunning lagoon is a protected area, ensuring that its natural beauty is preserved. There is a small entrance charge to use the lagoon beach and only non-motorised water sports are allowed on the lagoon itself. The main resort beach, which is free entry, is the long stretch of coarse sand and shingle, known as Belcegiz beach. Most of the accommodation, built in the traditional local Mugla style, is set back from the beachfront and in the streets behind. There is a strip alongside the seafront promenade with a number of relaxed bars, restaurants serving local and international cuisine and shops, which stay open well into the night. It is a perfect family resort, great for a laid-back beach holiday, with plenty of facilities but not too much development. Boats leave from the bay for trips around the surrounding coast and paragliding is a big draw with the descent from the Babadag maintains to land on Belcegiz beach, rating as one of the best in the world.
Hisaronu
Fifteen years ago there were only a few houses here but now it is a lively resort in its own right. Due to the planning restrictions and lack of space to expand in Oludeniz itself, many holidaymakers now stay in this lively village. It is a stunning location, surrounded by stunning pine-clad mountains, and hotels are all built in the local style, low rise, mostly with rooms set in villa-style blocks and decorative wooden balconies. The beach of Oludeniz is just a short dolum rise away (approx. 15 minutes), and the town of Fethiye is also easily reached, approximately the same distance away in the opposite direction. You can, however, easily spend your time in Hisaronu itself, lazing by the pool, and venturing out at night to sample international or local fare in one of the many restaurants, and visit its lively bars playing music well into the early hours. There are plenty of shops here too, with a wider range on offer than in Oludeniz itself.
Ovacik
Just a short distance from Hisaronu, is the newer resort area of Ovacik, which is essentially a collection of hotels and apartment buildings, blending in with the stunning mountain scenery. It is more peaceful than its neighbour, and all facilities are in the centre of Hisaronu just a short walk or dolmus ride away. Ovacik makes a good base for those who want to walk in the surrounding countryside.
Fethiye
Fethiye is a traditional market town set around a beautiful natural harbour. It is a big centre for scuba diving and boats leave from here for day trips around the stunning coastline. The most popular is the 12 islands boat rip, a relaxing way to spend the day, touring the beautiful coves and islands of the Gulf of Fethiye, with breaks for lunch and swimming.
Life here continues all year round, and recently, many British nationals have chosen to make this relaxed area their home. There are a number of hotels in the town itself, which mostly attract older couples, who enjoy the traditional lifestyle and also like the fact that it is flat and easy to get around. There is a greater variety of shops in the narrow streets of the bazaar area, Paspatur, offering more competitive prices than those in any of the resorts. In the evenings head for this lively area for live music and Turkish bars. There is no beach in Fethiye itself although there are hotels which have access to the sea for swimming. Once the site of the ancient city of Telmessos, all that remains are the Lycian rock tombs, which overlook the modern town, a couple of Lycian sarcophagi and a small Roman theatre.
Calis Beach
The nearest beach to Fethiye is Calis beach, a pebble and coarse sand beach in a beautiful setting, which can be reached by boat or dolmus from the town centre. The seafront promenade with its hotels and restaurants is closed to traffic during the summer, making it safe for children. The resort has expanded around the beach, and has a relaxed feel popular with families and older couples.
Kayakoy
One of the highlights of a stay in this area is a visit to the eerie ghost town of Kayokoy, literally ‘stone village’. Once the Greek town of Karmylassos, it was abandoned in the 1920’s. It has recently been the subject of renewed interest as it features as the setting for Louis de Bernieres noval, ‘Birds without Wings’ which provides a fascinating insight into life here and the period of dramatic social change which took place in the time leading up to the foundation of the Republic of Turkey. There are around 400 houses here together with churches and other public buildings. It can be visited by dolmus, on foot from Hisaronu or even on horse-back.
Gocek
Gocek is popular with yachting types who come here for its excellent marina. It is a charming resort with a range of sophisticated hotels and upmarket restaurants and boutiques.
Saklikent Gorge
Known in Turkish as the ‘hidden city’, Saklikent is a stunning mountain gorge some 44 km from Fethiye, a narrow opening stretching an incredible 18 km into the rockface of Mount Akdag. A wooden walkway has been constructed above the icy cold waters of the maintain springs of Gokcesu and Ulupinar. If you are feeling particularly brave you can take a dip here, but otherwise the waterside cafes provide a relaxing break and a chance to enjoy the spectacular setting.
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