Home /
Location Guide /
Fethiye
The region of Fethiye on the Turkish Aegean finds itself as one of the most prized summer tourist hotspots, with its popular resorts set on a vast bay and dotted with several tiny islands.
The bay forms the Blue Lagoon (Belcegiz Ölüdeniz) region whose pristine blue waters and natural stretch of beach front has earned itself the reputation as "a paradise that God granted to Earth."
As such, the beach of Belcegiz, Sovalye Island, as well as its bay are wonderful take-off points for camping and breathtaking mountain scenery while taking in the delights that the seafront has to offer.
But other than the pleasures of sun and nature lovers, its bustling marina that hugs the natural harbour on the bay is reminiscent of its roots as the ancient city of Telmessos in classical history.
A fortress on the hill sits proudly overlooking the city which was built by Knights of Rhode. While around the regions lie the important long-forgotten cities of the ancient Lycians such as Xanthos at Kinik village, an important capital of Lycians, while Letoon was a cult center during period where the ruined temples dedicated to Leto, Artemis and Apollo remain today.
Visitors to Fethiye are enjoined to set aside a day tour to walking amongst the ruined historical monuments that conjure up time travel at Patara by Ovagelmis, Pinara by Minare, Tlos by Doger, Cadianda by Yesil Üzümlü, Sidyma by Dodurga, Karmilassos by Kaya, Pydnai by Kavadere, Araxa by Ören, Lydoe by Kapidag, Lissa and Arsada by Kayadibi, and Daedela by Inlice.
In fact, Fethiye Museum house art objects and artifacts that tell the story of the region’s ancestors beginning with the ancient Lycians. Other historical places in the city are the Sarcopaghi and the Fethiye Tower.
For those wanting to visit the islands of Gemiler will be greeted with the majestic sight of Byzantine ruins among the pine trees, while those wanting a land-based adrenalin rush will want to try parachuting off of the Baba mountain, a famous sports pastime here, that commit magnificent views of the great beach lagoon.
