Fethiye is one of the most important tourism centers in Turkey. It is a wealthy town that’s full of culture, natural beauty, geography and plain loveliness. It’s on a wide bay joined by many islands. The rear is surrounded by pine forests.

Fethiye is located 135 kilometers southwest from Marmaris, with a busy and outstanding marina. This was once an ancient city called Telmessos. On top of a hill, you will see an overlooking fortress built by the knights of Rhodes. Fethiye has carved tombs on the side of the cliffs built by the Lycians. They are beautifully carved and exquisitely remarkable.

The tomb of Amnytas was built using a Doric architectural style dating back to the 4th century B.C. It is worth visiting. The Fethiye tower and Sarcophagi are some of the historical sights to behold in the city. Fethiye is famous for its artworks that once belonged to the Romans, Carians, Lycians and Persians.

Roaming the bays of Fethiye is an exciting, exhilarating journey and a spring of joy on its own. The International Airport in Dalaman is as close as 50 kilometers to the town center. Another departure point is Antalya, which is a 3 hour drive to Fethiye.

The real destination for the people who enjoy the sea, the beach and Sovalye Island, Fethiye is the place for you. Belcegiz bay makes a wonderful destination due to its mountainous scenery. You can expect comfort in their pansiyon or guest houses.

The bay of Fethiye forms a blue lagoon aptly called ‘a paradise that God granted to earth, a natural beach with beautiful crystal blue waters that stretches 3 kilometers with charming surroundings. Belcegiz beach is ideal for camping while Kidiril Park is great for picnics, however surrounded by pine trees and inundated by Byzantine Ruins; the Gerniler Islands seems to have been sculpted for sightseeing.

A heavenly like beauty in Koturumsu reached only by boat, awaits you. The waterfall flowing through the valley's houses with hoards of butterflies showing many wonderful and vibrant colors. They flutter through the pine forest that borders the beach.

Katranci and Gunluk bay are some of the more natural attractions as well as Oyuktepe and Göcek with its marina and harbour. Parachuting from the Baba Mountain has lately become a popular sport. This gives the people a magnificent view over the great beach lagoon. There are important ancient Lycians cities around Fethiye. Xanthos at Kinik village, southeast of Fethiye was an important capital of Lycians. Its setting is naturally adored while a village close to Xanthos, Letoon, is also interesting.

During the Lycian period, Letoon was a cult center with temples dedicated to Apollo, Artemis and Leto. Daedela by Inlice, Lissa and Arsada by Kayadibi, Lydoe by Kapidag, Araxa by Ören, Pydnai by Kavadere, Karmilassos by Kaya, Sidyma by Dodurga, Cadianda by Yesil Üzümlü, Tlos by Doger and Patara by Ovagelmis are among the other sights in Fethiye.

Fethiye effectively balances the attractions of a busy resort town with the functions of a working regional centre. After you arrive at the bus station, you might get the feeling you’re in the wrong location because you are unable to see the sea, hotel or restaurants, but take a 5 minute taxi ride, and you’ll start to see the hidden marvels of Feyithe. Exploring the coastline and countryside will show you the phenomenon that is Fethiye’s.

It is a good place to find shops, restaurant and transportation to nearby attractions. A pleasant place to spend the evening is in the harbour. The appealing pedestrianised old town is the perfect place to buy souvenirs. If you are out early in the day, you might consider their 12 island boat trip. It is a wonderful way to view the bay and an opportunity to look for a more quite beach and cove accessible only by sea. Boat trips, are better with a smaller group, so your day and itinerary will be easier to arrange.

The Beach and the Lifestyle

If you are just within Fethiye and want to get a tan, there are beaches in the immediate vicinity the likes of Oludeniz. This is though there are more people in the high season. Fethiye’s night life is almost on par with Marmaris and Bodrum, but still has a lot more ways to go. Clubbing opportunities is limited but as for eating and drinking, it’s not a problem.

The Climate

Predominantly the climate in the region is much like other Mediterranean cities. Usually hot and dry in the summer, warm and rainy in the winter time. Summer time temperature is usually 30 degrees and little over 10 degrees in the winter. The sea water temperature stays less than 16 degrees during each season. High mountains making the south western spurs in the Taurus Range cover the whole region with the exception of Fethiye and Esen lowlands.

The mountains exceed over 2000 meters extending the coastline. It is a pleasure to view snow decorated pine trees blended with the blue sky during the winter season. The incense forest is another eccentricity of the region along with the breath taking woody slopes with sage, laurel, thyme and pine trees. Balsam taken from incense trees has cosmetic and pharmaceutical value, and also used to ward off mosquitoes in churches.

Industries

There is an abundance of agricultural and fertile land in Fethiye. Their source for agricultural income is from tobacco, cotton, sesame and aniseed. Around 250,000 tomatoes are produced and exported yearly. They have their own bee-keeping and potentially produce a large scale of honey.

Fethiye has a large supply of Chromium and is an important export mineral in Turkey. Because of the climate, they are able grow and produce all kinds of vegetables and fruits.

Life in the market is most interesting on Tuesdays. Shops start early in the morning and gives tourists and locals big opportunities in the daytime. There are souvenir shops situated around the baths and Mosque. In the peak season, one can purchase leather goods, rugs, carpets, Turkish fashion clothes and jewellery from the shops and are open till late at night. At the end of the season other holiday resorts become quiet, while life still flows through Fethiye.