Fethiye - the former important port in Antalya has an extremely rich history that goes back to the 2nd century AD. Today it is a tourist town located between the Taurus mountain range and the Aegean Sea in southwest Turkey.

One of the most beautiful beaches in this region is located just a few kilometers from Fethiye.

Oludeniz beach is known for its shades of turquoise and aquamarine blue water. The beach has had a blue flag for years and is often ranked among the 5 best beaches in the world, according to travelers and various travel magazines and shows. It is located 12 kilometers from the center of Fethiye. It is surrounded by the slopes of Mount Baba, overgrown with coniferous forest, which contributes to the creation of particularly favorable climatic conditions. Olu Deniz beach is three kilometers long, covered with beautiful, fine pebbles, and ends with a beach that separates the large, calm lagoon from the open sea. The beach is public. Along the beach, there are numerous hotels, restaurants, shops, and cafes.

In addition to ordinary swimming and sunbathing, this is the right place for lovers of history and culture. Did you know that Fethiye was one of the most important residences during the reign of Alexander the Great?

Also, this small town on the turquoise coast is a great choice for a vacation if you like an active vacation. Above Fethiye, you can see several mountain peaks. One of the more popular due to its beautiful view of the sea is Babadag with an altitude of 1975 meters. From the top, you can see the view of the lagoon, clear water, and green pine forests.

Fethiye is probably the most popular paragliding destination in Turkey.

Why is Fethiye so interesting for tourists?

Probably due to the combination of oriental and Mediterranean culture.

And maybe because the settlement was built in a very specific place, a place where several mountains surround Fethiye. These are Babadag, Aridagi, Ojuk, Kirisli... If you like hiking, this is the right place for you because the mountain peaks reach a height of up to 2000 meters.

In addition, the mountain landscape and greenery in combination with houses built in ethnic style will surely enchant you if you visit this place. And the hotels, which can be seen from the greenery will provide you with complete peace and comfort, and you will agree that this is everything you are looking for on vacation.

What makes Fethiye particularly interesting is its past. The ancient city of Telmessos, which was a very important port and place of trade during the Hellenistic-Roman period, was once located in this place.

Telmessos belonged to the former Lycian kingdom.

The Lycian kingdom was quite autonomous. The Lycians developed their own language, script, deities, and customs. They had a democratic government that dealt with political issues. They were remembered as excellent traders, farmers, and mercenary soldiers.

Much will remain undiscovered for us forever about Telmessos, but historians and archaeologists agree on one thing. The history of this place goes back to the 5th century BC.

Ancient buildings that have withstood the test of time speak for how important Fethia used to be in the Lycian Kingdom. Many of them are quite damaged, mostly due to numerous earthquakes.

After the earthquake in 1957, the city was rebuilt and expanded, and its uniqueness is provided by the remains of ancient tombs that can be seen in parks, in front of private houses, in the gardens of restaurants... The Lycian sarcophagus carved from a single piece of stone is especially valuable.

Near the town are the remains of a fortress built by the Knights of Rhodes (15th century).

In this Turkish resort, you can buy high-quality and cheap copies of well-known world brands, as well as high-quality domestic carpets, ceramics, leather jackets and shoes. Tuesday is market day, when food can be bought at lower prices.

Turks are also excellent traders, so you can negotiate all custom works and they will be happy to make them according to your ideas. Although the official currency is the Turkish lira, you can pay in any currency and sometimes the exchange rate in the store is even better than in the exchange office.

Nightlife, as in most Turkish coastal cities, offers good entertainment options, from bars with oriental music and seductive dance of belly dancers to modern discotheques - something for everyone.

Fethiye is considered more peaceful and quiet, a family place, and Oludeniz is synonymous with a good night out. That is exactly why Fethiye attracts those who want to come on vacation with their family, as well as young people who would definitely like the night parties and night swimming at Oludeniz beach.

The biggest cultural and historical attractions of Fethiye

The most famous sights are the Lycian tomb (sarcophagus) and the Ancient Greek Theater. This theater was built to accommodate as many as 6,000 people. With the Roman conquests, the theater was remodeled, high walls were built around it, and thus it became an amphitheater. With this, it lost its primary characteristics as a place of art and culture and became the scene of a fight between wild beasts and gladiators. The Lycian tomb represents the tomb of Amyntas. This cultural and historical building dates back to the 4th century BC. In the ancient period, it was customary for the tombs of important people to be built in rock, that's why the Lycian tomb is not the only one near Fethiye, there are several more, but this one is in any case the largest and quite imposing. At the entrance to the tomb, there are tall pillars in a typical Ionic style. There is a fee for the tour and entrance to the tomb. Be prepared for crowds, the best time to visit is early in the morning.

Beaches of the turquoise coast

In the Turkish part of the Aegean Sea, there are many lagoons, beaches, and islands. The beaches are sandy or pebbly. The majority of beaches are actually wild, hidden behind rocks, and can only be reached by boat. If you have the opportunity to sail by boat, you may come across a small sandy beach with very few or no people. The privacy that these beaches offer is one of the reasons why they are so attractive to tourists who want to find peace and rest here. On the other hand, if you are a fan of large and organized beaches, where there are many people, bars, cafes, as well as nightclubs, Fethiye has a very wide offer. Kalis beach is one of the more famous and larger beaches, and it is also the most eco-friendly. It is far from the hustle and bustle of the city and is, therefore a paradise for relaxation. It stretches for 4 km, one part of the beach is sandy, and the other is pebbly. From the beach you have a beautiful view of the mountains that surround it, in contrast to that is the clarity of the Aegean Sea. Oludeniz beach can be said to be one of the most popular and visited beaches in Turkey. The nature here is so unbelievably beautiful that the entire region has been declared a national park. The beach is quite long, equipped with showers, changing rooms, and umbrellas. You can find coolness in the numerous bars, restaurants, parks, and souvenir shops located there. The water here is clear and unusually warm due to its unique geographical location. It is considered that this place is perfect for divers. If you have ever thought of learning to dive, this is the right place. You can enroll in a course and reserve equipment at reasonable prices. At night, Oludeniz becomes a gathering place for all those who want to have a good time. Along the beach, there are many nightclubs, discotheques, and bars with a wide variety of music, there is something for everyone. Patara beach is located near the ancient city of Patara. It represents one of the best beaches for families with small children. The sea is shallow, you have to walk for a long time before you go into the depth, which is great for entertaining the little ones and playing in the sand. Some more beaches in Fethiye that are worth mentioning are: Kaputas, Kabak, Gemiler, Kidrak, Karaok and Kuleli. For lovers of natural attractions, there is also the Butterfly Valley, which is also located in the Fethiye district. Located at the foot of the Babadag mountain, this valley is the habitat of numerous species of butterflies. From Oludeniz beach during the summer season, there are organized excursions to this attraction.

The biggest cultural and historical attractions of Fethiye

The most famous sights are the Lycian tomb (sarcophagus) and the Ancient Greek Theater. This theater was built to accommodate as many as 6,000 people. With the Roman conquests, the theater was remodeled, high walls were built around it, and thus it became an amphitheater. With this, it lost its primary characteristics as a place of art and culture and became the scene of a fight between wild beasts and gladiators.

The Lycian tomb represents the tomb of Amyntas. This cultural and historical building dates back to the 4th century BC. In the ancient period, it was customary for the tombs of important people to be built in rock, that's why the Lycian tomb is not the only one near Fethiye, there are several more, but this one is in any case the largest and quite imposing.

At the entrance to the tomb, there are tall pillars in a typical Ionic style. There is a fee for the tour and entrance to the tomb. Be prepared for crowds, the best time to visit is early in the morning.

Beaches of the turquoise coast

In the Turkish part of the Aegean Sea, there are many lagoons, beaches, and islands. The beaches are sandy or pebbly. The majority of beaches are actually wild, hidden behind rocks, and can only be reached by boat.

If you have the opportunity to sail by boat, you may come across a small sandy beach with very few or no people. The privacy that these beaches offer is one of the reasons why they are so attractive to tourists who want to find peace and rest here.

On the other hand, if you are a fan of large and organized beaches, where there are many people, bars, cafes, as well as nightclubs, Fethiye has a very wide offer.

Kalis beach is one of the more famous and larger beaches, and it is also the most eco-friendly. It is far from the hustle and bustle of the city and is, therefore a paradise for relaxation. It stretches for 4 km, one part of the beach is sandy, and the other is pebbly. From the beach you have a beautiful view of the mountains that surround it, in contrast to that is the clarity of the Aegean Sea.

Oludeniz beach can be said to be one of the most popular and visited beaches in Turkey. The nature here is so unbelievably beautiful that the entire region has been declared a national park. The beach is quite long, equipped with showers, changing rooms, and umbrellas. You can find coolness in the numerous bars, restaurants, parks, and souvenir shops located there.

The water here is clear and unusually warm due to its unique geographical location. It is considered that this place is perfect for divers. If you have ever thought of learning to dive, this is the right place. You can enroll in a course and reserve equipment at reasonable prices.

At night, Oludeniz becomes a gathering place for all those who want to have a good time. Along the beach, there are many nightclubs, discotheques, and bars with a wide variety of music, there is something for everyone.

Patara beach is located near the ancient city of Patara. It represents one of the best beaches for families with small children. The sea is shallow, you have to walk for a long time before you go into the depth, which is great for entertaining the little ones and playing in the sand.

Some more beaches in Fethiye that are worth mentioning are: Kaputas, Kabak, Gemiler, Kidrak, Karaok and Kuleli.

For lovers of natural attractions, there is also the Butterfly Valley, which is also located in the Fethiye district. Located at the foot of the Babadag mountain, this valley is the habitat of numerous species of butterflies. From Oludeniz beach during the summer season, there are organized excursions to this attraction.