Fethiye is a delightful little town in the southern part of Turkey, on the Mediterranean Sea, in the province of Mugla. It currently has 60 permanent residents, but during the tourist season the town is completely filled with tourists and holidaymakers of all kinds. No wonder, as the town tempts with numerous attractions: a beautiful, long beach, warm water, beautiful scenery and many interesting places to visit. All this attracts thousands of tourists to Fethiye every year.
The city was founded in ancient times, when it was called Telmessos. In Roman times it was a center of trade and commerce. In the 13th century it was conquered by Turkish tribes. From that time until 1934 it was called Megri. The name Fethri was given to it in honor of a Turkish pilot who died during the struggle for Turkish independence. Over the past dozen years, Fethiye has become an important tourist center from a small fishing village.
The remarkable importance of this city in the history of the region is evidenced by many remains, especially ruins, which are eagerly visited by tourists. In the city center, for example, you can see the Greek theater excavated by archaeologists. Fethiye is famous for its nearby rock-cut Lycian tombs from the fourth century BC. Not far from the city (about 8 km) is the extinct city of Kayakoy, which was inhabited by Greeks in the early twentieth century. Unfortunately, in 1923, the people were displaced by the Turkish-Greek war. Today, there are more than 400 abandoned houses. Special trips are organized to Kayakoy, but you can also visit it on your own.
Fethiye also has an archaeological museum that is worth visiting. Every Tuesday you can go to the weekly market. Near the city, about 14 km south of Fethiye, is the wonderful lagoon of Oludeniz, also known as the "Blue Lagoon". This four-kilometer beach, invisible from the sea, attracts tourists from all over the world with its amazing beauty.
Fethiye has an unusually mild climate. The coastline in this Aegean region is very uneven. Thanks to this, you can admire picturesque lagoons and bays. Clean sandy beaches stretch for many kilometers. The village and its surroundings have many resorts, hotels and rental shops for swimming equipment. It is safe to say that Fethiye has something good for everyone. It is a place where you can get to know and love Turkey, its history, culture and richness of the natural environment, without sacrificing the rich tourist offer.
When visiting Turkey, you should definitely stop in the charming, albeit small town of Fethiye, with its picturesque yacht port and ancient monuments. It is in this resort that you can find rest in cozy hotels, try Turkish cuisine in excellent restaurants, lie on golden beaches, admire beautiful landscapes or find solace among pine forests. The attractions of this region include cruises on sailing boats or gulets, old Turkish yachts, to nearby islands, diving in the crystal clear Aegean Sea or extreme sports, mainly paragliding, which is possible due to the steep descents of the mountain ranges descending to the lagoon.
Fethiye is the center of the Dalaman region, and the monuments here will delight all lovers of the history of Aegean Turkey. The city is dominated by a fortress from the Lycian era. The ancient ruins of the Roman theater and acropolis are located 8 km from Fethiye in the city of Kayakoy, where the Greeks left their homes in 1923. When vacationing in this region, it is worth going to the city of Oludeniz, about 12 km from Fethiye, where the beach is one of the most beautiful in the world. The place enchants with a riot of colors, where the bright sand contrasts with the turquoise sea and green vegetation.
