Fethiye

Ancient soul, modern spirit on Türkiye’s Turquoise Coast

Though on the map it’s a tiny part of Türkiye, look closely and you’ll see there are more layers to Fethiye than a börek filo pastry. Its roads bear the prints of everyone from ancient Lycians, mule-herders and Roman legions to luxury yacht captains, who now drop anchor along this crescent-shaped coastline. Scratching beneath the surface reveals storied ruins, sunken cities, underwater coral caverns, upscale beaches and island idylls.  

Things to do

WATER
The Turquoise Coast turns a deeper shade of lapis lazuli at the Blue Lagoon in Ölüdeniz, close to Fethiye. There’s nothing sweeter than spending blissed out afternoons on Sugar Beach. But many say the finest way to see this deep-blue beauty is by paragliding from Mount Babadağ. Another high point is the ‘Sunken City’ of Kekova, where old stones lie in the ocean shallows. 

DAY TRIPS
​Devote a day to the 12 Islands. From the Gulf of Fethiye and Göcek, charter a new-era gulet to tour this heart-stealing archipelago in style. You could dock at Rabbit Island to meet the resident wild bunnies, splash beside the sandbanks at the Flat Islands, dive down to a ruined shipyard or ‘Cleopatra’s Hammam’, and savour spending time beneath blue skies and turquoise seas. 

BEACHES
There’s a bay for every day in Fethiye. Katrancı carries the scent of pine and eucalyptus as locals and visitors picnic on the sands. Powder-soft Kabak is lapped by seas in Muğla’s definitive turquoise tones – but follow the Lycian Way to discover the waterfall too. Play castaway on the necklace chain of the Yassica (or Flat) Islands. Or shake and stir things up with a visit to Çalış Beach, where locals were once called on to be extras on Bond film Skyfall.

Top Tip from SLH

When nomadic people passed through Fethiye, they picked up intricate rugs from Dastar weavers. This handicraft tradition endures in today’s bazaars, where local artisans display their vividly crafted wares to modern travellers