Fethiye: a splendid bay dotted with islands

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Fethiye (45,000 inhabitants) is one of the most popular tourist resorts on the southern Turkish coast. Located in a beautiful bay dotted with islands, it is located in the Mugla province 140 km east of Marmaris, the ancient name of the city was Telmessos.

The natural port of the city is very scenic, surrounded as it is by small islands. This is the main port for gulet cruises in the area. Generally cruises last four days and take place along the coast between Fethiye and Olympos, or between Fethiye and Marmaris.

Around the delightful town of Fethiye there are some interesting archaeological sites such as Telmessos and Xanthos. While only 15 km away is the famous Ölüdeniz beach, nicknamed for its beauty the Blue Lagoon.

WHAT TO SEE: THE HISTORICAL REMAINS

The town is a Turkish seaside resort that has developed considerably in recent decades. The city stands around the 15th-century remains of a fortress of the Knights of Rhodes. The town is also surrounded by the remains of Lycian tombs from the 4th century BC, among these tombs the most interesting is that of Amyntas, in Doric style.

WHAT TO SEE: THE SEA

In addition to the interesting archaeological and historical attractions of Fethiye, the main reason that drives tourists to visit this seaside town is the wonderful Turkish sea. The area is full of beaches, the best known of which is the one called Blue Lagoon in the bay of Ölüdeniz, an impressive white beach bordered by azure waters.

WHAT TO SEE: THE SURROUNDINGS

Among the attractions around Fethiye are the Valley of the Butterflies, full of woods and waterfalls, which can be reached by boat disembarking in the bay of Kötürümsü.

A mysterious ghost town is located a few kilometers from Fethiye, it is the Greek village of Kaya Köyü. This village was abandoned by the ethnic Greek population in 1923, at the time of the exodus of the Greek population of Asia minor.

Around Fethiye, there are the remains of important ancient Lycian cities: 19 km north of Fethiye are the suggestive ruins of Kadyanda (Uzümlü). The ruins of Tlos are located 36 km east of Fethiye. This is certainly the oldest city in Lycia (remains of a castle, the agora, a theater, the Roman baths and the necropolises).

About 65 km southeast of Fethiye are the ruins of the ancient capital of Lycia, Xanthos (theater, tomb of the Harpies, monument to Nereid, agora) and the Letoon cult center (remains of the temples of Apollo, Artemis and Leto). Both Xanthos and Letoon were included in 1988 in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

On the western side, halfway to Marmaris, there is Kaunos where magnificent tombs have been carved out of a rocky wall.

At 44 km south-east of Fethiye, between the ruins of Tlos and Xanthos, a beautiful walk allows you to admire the Saklıkent Canyon, formed by the rushing waters of a stream.

The climate of Fethiye.

Official website of the town hall.