Fethiye

Walk by the promenade 

Fethiye has an amazing pedestrian route along its harbour running between the many boat tours and cafes. Come here around sunset and you’ll witness nature’s dazzling theatrics. Along the way, there are benches to take breaks, a playground for kids and lots of green space for picnics. 

Calis Beach

Calis beach is popular for sunbathing, nightlife and pretty sunsets. It’s a 4km long sandy beach that’s perfect for kites and windsurfing. There are plenty of bars, restaurants, cafes, a few nightclubs and plenty of accommodation options. If you’re into crowds and nightlife, Calis is a better base compared to Fethiye.

Calis beach is 7 km away from Fethiye and 25km from Ölüdeniz. There are regular Dolmus (minibusses) from Fethiye to here and there are also water taxi boat services departing every 30 min in high season to and back from Fethiye. The journey takes around 40 minutes. 

Kayaköy Goast Town

Once a thriving village in the 19th century with Turks and Greeks living side by side, Kayaköy was later left abandoned due to political circumstances and an earthquake. After the end of the Ottoman Empire and the Greek’s attempt to occupy Anatolia, Kayaköy saw an upcoming decline. The population exchange between Turkey and Greece forced the Greeks to leave Kayaköy. The remaining Turk civilians abandoned the village after the earthquake. 

Today the ghost town of Kayaköy is a popular attraction among visitors. To visit the village you can either take a bus from Fethiye or join one of the many tours offered in the city. 

Ölüdeniz beach and Blue Lagoon

A day at Ölüdeniz beach and Blue Lagoon is probably the pinnacle of many people’s trip to Fethiye. Ölüdeniz is one of the most photographed and beautiful beaches of Turkey if not the world. The water is so clear and blue that’s hard to not go for a dip even in the cold. 

The blue lagoon is just a short walk away from Ölüdeniz beach and has a 7TL entrance fee per person. Both beaches are beautiful and it’s probably nice to divide your time between them. Minibusses (Dolmus in Turkish) from Fethiye to Ölüdeniz run frequently for 6.25 TL and take around 45 min.

Fish Market

The fish market in Fethiye is an absolute must-visit. The variety of seafood here is crazy and you can pick your fish and have one of the many restaurants cook it for you right away. Just pick your restaurant, sort your table and go to the market to choose your fish. You’ll then tell them seller which restaurant you’ll be sitting and they will take the fish to them. Meanwhile, your fish is being cooked you can order different kinds of mezes, salads, and drinks at the restaurant to accompany your fish. 

The best way to get around Fethiye and the surrounding area is to hire a car in Fethiye Oludeniz or Hisaronu but you can also use public transportation or walk along the streets. Beaches, attractions, shopping and entertainment facilities are located within walking distance of the roads. 

Car

This is perhaps the most comfortable way of getting around in Fethiye. The advantages of this way include the following - you may not depend on anyone and at any time you can go to the beach or go shopping, discover the historical sites, explore the surroundings of Fethiye or visit numerous cafes and restaurants. But this method has its drawbacks. The most important disadvantage is the cost of fuel, Turkey has one of the most expensive petrol in the world. Rent a car in Fethiye is not that much expensive but still not cheaper than public transportation and the parking is getting a real problem in Fethiye. As you know diesel cars are more efficient but their rent is more expensive. Another disadvantage is the limited number of parking space in the center of Fethiye so if you are going to visit the central part of the city in the midst of the holiday season then it is better to use public transportation. All parking facilities in Fethiye are not free and should be paid in cash to the parking attendant. Be sure to pay for parking on time to avoid penalty. All the parking attendants in Fethiye wear uniform so you can find them easily.

Minibus

The most common type of public transportation in Fethiye is minibus. It is called here dolmus (dol-moosh). The most important advantage of Fethiye dolmus is its low cost and high service frequency so you do not wait for long standing on the street. Dolmus may stop almost anywhere on the route on request. 

Taxi 

Fethiye is a resort town so keep in mind that the cost of a Fethiye taxi is quite expensive (like in other resort towns of Turkey). In most cases 2 times more expensive than say in Istanbul. 

Water Taxi

The Calis water taxi is a small boat for 20-30 person that goes from Calis to Fethiye and back to Calis every 30 minutes during holiday season (from May to October). The one way trip takes about 40 minutes. You can buy a ticket at the kiosks on the pier in Fethiye or near the bridge over a canal in Calis.