Fethiye

Fethiye balances the attractions of a bustling resort town with the functionality of a working regional centre. Arrival at the bus station may give you the impression that you've come to the wrong place with no evidence of the sea, hotels, restaurants or any trappings of the tourist industry but a 5 minute taxi or dolmus ride into town will begin to reveal the place to you in it's true colours. Fethiye's strength is in it's role as a base for exploring the surrounding coastline and countryside. You'll find a good range of shops, eating places and accommodation and excellent transport services to surrounding attractions. The harbour area makes a pleasant place to spend the evening and the pedestrianised old town is appealing and a reasonable place to shop for souvenirs. The bustling harbour and market town of Fethiye is on the south-eastern corner of The Gulf. It is the major commercial centre of the region and provides some fascinating sights and sounds, particularly on market day each Tuesday.

On market day the roads are full of vehicles of all types – from old American trucks, to horses & carts spilling over with all manner of produce destined to create the vibrant colours and smells of the market.

Fethiye retains a decidedly Turkish feel. Exploring the warren of shop-lined streets in the old quarter is a fascinating experience. Restaurants are abundant, and the authentic feel of Turkish life permeates the whole area, giving a real insight into town life in Turkey.

A short journey from Fethiye is Ölü Deniz – the most famous beach in Turkey. The peak of the regions highest mountain, Baba Dağ, plunges down to the stunning lagoon which must have been photographed a million times and is a signature image of coastal Turkey.

The region around Ölü Deniz now has a distinctly commercial feel. However, this cannot detract from the stunning impact of the beautiful lagoon. A ‘must have’ experience for the more adventurous is to enjoy the adrenaline rush of leaping from the top of Baba Dağ to paraglide over the lagoon before eventually landing on the water’s edge.