Fethiye

Mediterranean, Turkey 6 tours visit here

Fethiye is a harbour town on Turkey's southwestern Turquoise Coast, on a sheltered Mediterranean bay in Mugla province. It stands on the site of the ancient Lycian city of Telmessos, and the two layers overlap: rock-cut Lycian tombs are carved into the cliff above the modern streets, the largest being the Tomb of Amyntas, cut as a temple facade with Ionic columns. A Hellenistic theatre faces the water near the harbour, and a ruined hilltop castle overlooks the town. Much of old Fethiye was destroyed by earthquakes in the 1950s and rebuilt, so the centre feels modern apart from Paspatur, the old bazaar quarter of narrow lanes and shops behind the seafront. The promenade, fishing harbour and marinas set the tone: this is one of the main bases for gulet cruising along the Lycian coast. Fethiye works as a base more than a single sight. The full-day Twelve Islands cruise around Fethiye Bay leaves the harbour, while Oludeniz with its lagoon and the paragliding descents from Babadag lies a short drive south, along with the abandoned village of Kayakoy and the western end of the Lycian Way. The swimming and sailing season runs from spring to mid-autumn; midsummer is hot and busiest.