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Sights of Fethiye and surroundings

THE ANTIQUE TELMESSOS THEATER: the museum decided to excavate opposite the harbor of Fethiye and found the remains of the theater in 1993. After removing a soil layer of 3 to 4 meters the first seats appeared. The excavations continued till the year 1995. Today the extant remains of the antique theater can be visited. The theater which is built in the Roman period is renovated in the year 200 B.C. The theater had an occupational capacity up to 5000 persons and was used as arena in the Byzantine period .

MOSQUE: Cezayirli Cami (Algerian Mosque) is built by Hasan Pasha (Algerian general) in the year 1791. Hasan Pasha has built the Kemer bridge, de Pasha Han, the water bridges in Yakaköy and a lot more inside markets and hostels in Fethiye.

LYCIAN ROCK TOMBES: these interesting graves are one of the most famous symbols of Fethiye. The most imposing and fascinating grave is the grave of king Aminthas. The steps that lead to it are still in good condition. If you want to save yourself the trouble to climb up, the grave is easy to see from downstairs as well. The more you approach the grave, the more admired you will get if you see the size of the grave. On the left pillar the name “Hermepias” is engraved, sun of Aminthas, with the alphabet of the year 400 B.C. There are lots of comparable tombs to find in Fethiye, worth visiting.

BAYS: just across Calis beach there are beautiful bays. Most locals go to these bays to enjoy there day off. At the first 4 bays there is an entrance fee of ± 1,- YTL per person. All 4 bays have a spacious parking place and a cafeteria.

How do you get there? The dolmus drives along the bays and back, but you can go there on your own as well. You pass the new harbor and dock. The first bay you will arrive is called “1 st Samanlik”. Local families come here often to picnic and to swim. If you drive further you will find “2 nd Samanlik”. A bit further is “Kuleli” bay and thereafter you will find “Boncuklu” bay. At the cafeteria of “Boncuklu” bay you can order tea in a “semaver” (old fashioned Turkish teapot). There are more bays further along the same road. These are public bays as well, but have no municipal/public facilities.

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Excursions from the quay:

12 ISLANDS BOAT TRIP: on the quay there are various boats making trips to the islands and most beautiful bays of Fethiye. Tickets and comprehensive information are available at the quay or at travel agents. These tour boats leave at 10h30 in the morning and return at ± 18h30. A day trip costs ± 15,- YTL p.p. Lunch is included (pasta and fish/chicken/meat balls); drinks are not included.

SOVALYE ISLAND (Knight Island): is located just across the harbor of Fethiye and forms a natural border between the open sea and the inner bay. In the past the knights of Rhodes used the island as a fortress, to guard the city. Today the island is one of the most special places to live on because of its unique location. When spring starts the island is in bloom. During the year you can observe the sunrise and sunsets from nearly every point on the island. In the summer season the public beach on the north side is visited by mainly local tourists.

You can visit the island by boat (5 to 10 minutes). Public transport is arranged by taxi boats. In the summer season these boats frequently go to the island and back to the quay of Fethiye for a small fee of ± 2,5 YTL.

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Beaches:

CALIS: is located ± 5km on the north of the centre of Fethiye and has a pebbled beach. On the boulevard you can find cafeterias, restaurants and souvenir shops. Within ± 5 minutes walking distance from the boulevard you can find the small centre of Calis with shops and bars. From Calis beach you have view over a few islands and the harbor of Fethiye. The sunsets are beautiful. Calis is easy to access by taxi boats: during the summer season these boats leave every half hour for a fee of ± 2 YTL from Calis to Fethiye and vice-versa (09h00 to 23h00). The boat trip takes half an hour and is a refreshing alternative on the regular public transport (the dolmus).

ÖLÜDENIZ: this world famous place is 14km from Fethiye and offers the most beautiful beach/lagoon of Turkey. This so called Blue Lagoon is the most photographed places of Turkey as well. If you see it, you will understand why...

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Activities / Excursions in Ölüdeniz and surroundings

PARAGLIDING: for an unforgettable day you can join the safari jeep towards Babadag (“Mount Daddy"). The trip to reach the top takes ± 45 minutes. On your way you will have a breathtaking view over the lagoon and the beautiful green surroundings. As soon as you reach the jump spot, you will be accompanied by an instructor/pilot and jump off from 1965m high to make the most beautiful pictures of your life. The flight can take 30 to 45 minutes. Finally you land on Ölüdeniz beach. This sport is practiced here on big scale. There are various schools where you can arrange tandem paragliding flights with an instructor or take a course to paraglide solo. Inform yourself about your equipment, insurances, etc. Safety first!

BELCEKIZ BEACH: the popular Belcekiz beach is a pebble beach and is located on the left side of Ölüdeniz beach. There are sun beds, umbrellas, showers and changing cabins. You only pay for the sun beds and umbrellas, there is no entrance fee. In the evenings you can enjoy yourself in the cozy centre along the promenade, where you can find various bars, restaurants and shops.

Along the boulevard there are diving schools as well and various water sports can be practiced, such as banana riding, snorkeling, surfing, waterskiing, wake/knee boarding. You can play beach volleyball, jump on the springboard or join a quad course.

KUMBURNU: this is the sandy beach part of the lagoon, here you have to pay an entrance fee of ± 2,- YTL and for a beach chair you pay ± 9 YTL. This is the most beautiful part of Ölüdeniz. Here you can hire canoes and water bikes to explore the breathtaking area. There are showers, changing cabins, toilets an a cafeteria.

KIDRAK: desolate bay with clean beach on the west side of Ölüdeniz (within 3km distance of Belcekiz beach). The beach consists of sand and pebbles. The bottom of the sea ends gradually and the water is clear.There are showers, changing cabins, toilets and a cafeteria. You need to pay an entrance fee.

BUTTERFLY VALLEY: this is home to the unique Jersey Tiger butterfly, but also home for hippy tourists, who come to spend their holidays and stay in their tents on the beach. Starting from June until September you can see countless varieties of butterfly species in all colors of the rainbow. This valley has an interesting canyon with steep cliffs up to 350m high and stretches out to 3 or 4km from the bay. If you walk towards land you will find a cafeteria, where you can enjoy the views of the bay and mountains and lots of apricot trees. There are organized boat trips to the valley, from Ölüdeniz and even from Fethiye, but you can take a taxi boat as well (takes off from Ölüdeniz 3 times a day to the valley and back). You can also arrange a fishermen's boat if you want to go private. The last option is ideal if you want to spend your day there. Agree on a price and time upfront with the skipper, this way you can return to Ölüdeniz before it gets dark.

FARALYA: is a village which exists since the Lycian period with 450 habitants. In 1983 the first road was constructed, before 1983 the inhabitants used the donkey path to go to Ölüdeniz. In 1985 the first electricity wirings were constructed up in the mountains and in 1997 phone lines became active. Faralya, the Butterfly Valley and the mountain scenery belong to a protected area.

KAYAKÖY (also known as “gost town”): is an authentic village with remains of houses of 600 years old. These houses were built on the hills and mountains. In the year 1400 Greeks have settled in antique Karmillassos. The old name for Karmillassos was Levissi. Since its existence the village has brought friendship and peace to the other 5 Turkish villages in the area and this area became the proud among the Turks. In the year 1922 the Turkish and Greek government signed an agreement for an exchange of both nations. According to this agreement the Greek Anatolian population who lived in Kaya Köy, moved back to West Tracie and the Turks who lived in West Tracie moved back to Kaya Köy. The Turks who settled back in Kaya Köy did not use the houses, they moved into the valley instead. Today Kaya Köy is a public museum and the old Greek houses still can be visited as a protected historical inheritance. Later on the village got struck by a few earthquakes, that lead to empty, heavy damaged houses. The hill is full with ruins and remains of 2 churches. In a church of 1888 you can still distinguish wall paintings.

HISARÖNÜ & OVACIK: these 2 neighboring places are located between Fethiye and Ölüdeniz. Lots of foreigners, mainly English, have bought their new homes here to spend their holidays. Some of them have settled in permanently. In the centre of Hisarönü there are countless shops, bars, restaurants and souvenir shops to find. In the high season the bar street of Hisarönü is very popular.

GEMILER: is located on the east side of Ölüdeniz (towards Kaya Köy). Here you can find remains of a church and a chapel from the Byzantine period. Gemiler is accessible by boat from Ölüdeniz, but you can also drive up there by car via Kaya Köy.

GÜNLÜKLÜ: is located within 18km distance from Fethiye, on the main road towards Mugla. This is a recreation area which is used as a camp site as well. Here you can find “Liquidambar Orientalis”, known as “amber fluid”. The bay thanks his name to these trees. The Liquidambar Orientalis supplies resin which is known as storax. It is used medically for cough syrups and ointments and is good for asthma, bronchus, ulcer and stomach aches. It is used as basic material for making perfume as well.

KATRANCI: is located within 17km distance from Fethiye on the same road as Günlüklü. The bay is covered by pine trees, with a mix of an awesome color combination of green and blue. Katranci is a campsite just like Günlüklü. There are showers, toilets, changing cabins, drink water, a buffet and parking places. Ideal for camping and a fine place to take a walk.

XANTHOS: de capitol city of the Lycian Empire, is located within 55km distance from Fethiye. You can see extraordinary remains of pillar graves and sarcophagus the Lycian people once left behind.

PINARA: is located within 55km distance from Fethiye on the Akdag Mountain. This was one of the biggest cities of Lycia. The very first beauty contests took place here. The architecture is dedicated back then to the beauty Aphrodite and today it gets all the attention.

TLOS: is located within 45km distance from Fethiye. As one of the 6 big cities of the Lycian Empire, Tlos was the sport centre of the federation of the Lycian Empire. It is also know as the city where mythological hero Bellaforonte lived, famous with his hors Pegasus. Tlos is the eldest city of the Lycian Empire. Archeological excavations have shown that it exists since the year 2000 B.C.

YAKAPARK: you will be admired with its beautiful nature and impressive, mystique sounds of birds. The mountain water and various waterfalls surround the tree houses and seats at a very creative way. It is a unique resting place as well, ideal for a day out and tasty meal. Yakapark is located within 2km distance from the village Yaka.

ARAXA: is located within 40km distance from Fethiye and is established at the stream that ends at antique Xanthos. This extraordinary water source has become a myth. Nowadays remains of a fortress wall from the Byzantian period, a Turkish bath and the stream can be visited.

SAKLIKENT (hidden city): is located within approx. 50km distance from Fethiye and is a paradise for those who want to take a walk and those who fancy nature. For those who like action and adventure the canyon is a spectacular experience. Between the rocks there is a canyon of 17km long which is arised by melted ice and limestone walls. It is discovered by a shepherd fifty years ago and is now part of the Saklikent National Park.

How do you get there? There is a bridge for pedestrians leading to a platform where you can eat, rest or enjoy the sound of streaming water. The canyon is opposite these platforms. To get to the canyon, you have to pass the ice cold streaming water. Water shoes are recommended! Once arrived at the canyon the climbing starts within a few kilometers...

GÖCEK: is located within 30km distance from Fethiye, on the main road towards Mugla. In the past this was a cute fishermen's village, but now it is one of the most eminent yacht harbors of the west coast. Opposite Göcek there are various islands and beautiful bays. Airport Dalaman is within 20km distance from Göcek.

MARMARIS: is located within 129km from Fethiye. The city is located in a bay, surrounded by steep hills and pine trees. Marmaris has beautiful beaches which gradually end in sea, an important harbor, a cozy centre with lots of restaurants, bars, taverns and a castle built in the 16th century.

RHODES: in the high season nearly every day there is a ferry service to Rhodes Island with its beautiful old town centre where you can shop. The Ferry departs early in the morning from the quay of Fethiye or Marmaris. The ferry trip takes ± 1,5 hours.