Fethiye is a city and district of Muğla Province in the Aegean region of Turkey. Modern Fethiye is located on the site of the ancient city of Telmessos, the ruins of which can be seen throughout the city. Telmessos was the most important city of Lycia, with a recorded history starting in the 5th century BC. The Lycians were never members of a specific country, but rather a tightly-knit confederation of fiercely independent city-states.
The city became part of the Persian Empire after the invasion of the Persian King Harpagos in 547 BC, along with other Lycian and Carian cities. Telmessos then joined the Attic-Delos Union established in mid-5th century BC. and, although it later left the union and became an independent city, continued its relations with the union until the 4th century BC.
Legend says that Alexander the Great, on a mission to invade Anatolia in the winter of 334–333 BC, entered Telmessos harbour with his fleet. The commander of the fleet, Nearchus, asks permission of King Antipatrides of Telmessos for his musicians and slaves to enter the city. On getting the permission, the warriors with weapons hidden in the flute boxes capture the acropolis during the feasts held at night.
Fethiye was formerly known as Makri; while it received a considerable amount of Turkish population from the Greek Islands and mainland Greece under the terms of the 1923 exchange of populations between Greece and Turkey, the Greeks deported from the area founded the town of Nea Makri (New Makri) in Greece.
In 1934, the city was renamed 'Fethiye' in honor of Fethi Bey, one of the first pilots of the Ottoman Air Force, killed on an early mission.
Fethiye was formerly known as Makri; while it received a considerable amount of Turkish population from the Greek Islands and mainland Greece under the terms of the 1923 exchange of populations between Greece and Turkey, the Greeks deported from the area founded the town of Nea Makri (New Makri) in Greece.
In 1934, the city was renamed 'Fethiye' in honor of Fethi Bey, one of the first pilots of the Ottoman Air Force, killed on an early mission.
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| Roman Theatre |
Fethiye is a treasure of the Turkish coast. You will most definitely receive a warm welcome in Fethiye. The town has grown from a modest trading port/fishing village and fertile tomato growing area to a rapidly expanding vibrant town and tourist holiday destination which offers many things to many people, from those with an interest in history and nature to those looking for sun, sea and great food.
There cannot be another place on the planet where the phrase "something for every budget" is more true. Dining out is an experience and with different budgets the experience may be different, but all so very enjoyable. Restaurants can cost you anything from a couple of pounds upwards. Forget rotating stumps of meat-like substance on the way home from a large quantity of lagers, Turkish Kebab Houses offer fresh, flavoursome doners and kebabs served in diverse ways from across the country. Chicken doners contain just chicken, lamb is 100% lamb meat, nothing in the way of fillers or strange offcuts. With the amazing local naturally organic vegetables which taste fabulous, you can enjoy a filling lunch for a couple of pounds.
The centre of modern day Fethiye shows great variation in very short distances. The Lycian Rock tombs carved into the rock sides over 2,000 years ago, the old Paspatur area (the narrow lanes of shops and restaurants, once used to store the delivered cargoes from the arriving ships) sits shoulder to shoulder with the “new town” - new in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake of 1956 anyway - and both run seamlessly into the marina area sitting beneath the more recently added and exceptionally desirable residential area of Karagozler, where everyone seems to have a sea view - continue further round the bay and next is the 20,000m2 private peninsula of the popular Club Letoonia resort, an all inclusive style holiday hotel (more of a village than a hotel in truth) and within 5 minutes drive we have seen over two centuries years of development and progress.
There cannot be another place on the planet where the phrase "something for every budget" is more true. Dining out is an experience and with different budgets the experience may be different, but all so very enjoyable. Restaurants can cost you anything from a couple of pounds upwards. Forget rotating stumps of meat-like substance on the way home from a large quantity of lagers, Turkish Kebab Houses offer fresh, flavoursome doners and kebabs served in diverse ways from across the country. Chicken doners contain just chicken, lamb is 100% lamb meat, nothing in the way of fillers or strange offcuts. With the amazing local naturally organic vegetables which taste fabulous, you can enjoy a filling lunch for a couple of pounds.
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| Paspatur |
Local lokanta restaurants offer wholesome, filling and very tasty prepared meals. There is normally a great range to choose from and they are all such good value that it is possible to choose two or three main dishes and see if you like them. The different meals and side dishes are normally displayed from behind a glass food cabinet. Remember these restaurants are not touristic, they are providing the working man with much required sustenance - so it could well be that no English is spoken. No problem though, they will be happy to serve you exactly what you point at through the glass! Again, the local vegetables make wonderful side dishes (and surprisingly often main courses too).
Recently recommended in their Top 15 'on the up' destinations, Tripadvisor write "Prepare to be enchanted by this lively Mediterranean seaside town and working harbour. Travellers report it's less touristy than other nearby towns, though with shops, restaurants, and fascinating ruins all around, there's plenty to see and do. Hike to nearby Kayaköy, an abandoned "ghost village," or visit the magnificent beach at Ölüdeniz, where you can bask in the sun or paraglide over the turquoise waters".
Recently recommended in their Top 15 'on the up' destinations, Tripadvisor write "Prepare to be enchanted by this lively Mediterranean seaside town and working harbour. Travellers report it's less touristy than other nearby towns, though with shops, restaurants, and fascinating ruins all around, there's plenty to see and do. Hike to nearby Kayaköy, an abandoned "ghost village," or visit the magnificent beach at Ölüdeniz, where you can bask in the sun or paraglide over the turquoise waters".
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| Fethiye's canalside market |
Fethiye’s Top 5:
- The Tomb of Amyntas, also known as the Fethiye Tomb is an ancient tomb located in the south side of the city in the mountainside, in the base of the mountain. The impressive looking tomb was built in 350 BC, and was named after the Greek inscription on the side of it which reads "Amyntou tou Ermagioiu", which translated to English means "Armyntas, son of Hermagious". The tomb was built by the Lycians, the people who lived in this area of Turkey at the time. What makes this tomb unique is the fact that it is very large inside. While many other tombs carved into mountainsides are quite little, comparable to a small room, the interior of the Tomb of Amyntas is the size of a full-sized temple.
- Fethiye Castle. The ancient castle stands on the place where the city was first founded. Its existing walls date back from the eleventh century. Rebuilt during the fifteenth century by the Knights of Rhodes, the castle was used as a naval base. The incredible views of Fethiye from the hill make up for the lack of general upkeep of the castle ruins and the short walk up the hill. At sunset there is no better place to enjoy a few drinks and watch quietly, as the city is bathed in a golden glow, the sky turns pink, outlining the islands lying in the bay and eventually the sparkle of the city lights below.
- The Roman Theatre. Built in the second century AD, the Roman Theatre stands opposite the commercial harbour near the town centre. Typically Roman in style, it was built on the ruins of a previously built Greek style theatre. Excavated in 1993, the theatre is undergoing a restoration project.
- Fethiye Market. Tuesday is a busy day in Fethiye town. Its market day and the town is bustling with hundreds of stallholders situated either side of the canal selling everything you can possibly think of. Superb local grown fruit and veg at very low prices together with Turkish "Versace", Turkish "Gucci" clothes. Buy fake watches "Breitling", "Tag Huer", "Rado", "Rolex" etc. They look identical to the real thing and are usually avaiable in two grades. The first is a cheap version from £10 to £25 and are usually quite heavy, the second quality sometimes waterproof, vary from £25 to £80. Please shop around however and haggle.
- Ölüdeniz Beach (literally Dead Sea) is a small resort village in the Fethiye district with the Aegean Sea to the south and the high, steep sided Babadağ Mountain to the North, 14 km (9 mi) south of Fethiye. The town is a beach resort. Ölüdeniz remains one of the most photographed beaches on the Mediterranean. It has a secluded sandy bay at the mouth of Ölüdeniz, on a blue lagoon. The beach itself is a pebble beach. The lagoon is a national nature reserve and building is strictly prohibited. Ölüdeniz is famous for its shades of turquoise and aquamarine, and is an official blue flag beach, and is frequently rated among the top 5 beaches in the world by travelers and tourism journals alike. The resort is also famous for its paragliding opportunities. It is regarded as one of the best places in the world to paraglide due to its unique panoramic views, and the Babadağ Mountain's exceptional height.
Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon
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