The town absorbs the tourist traffic and still retains a sense of its old-fashioned rural character, with herds of goats and sheep blocking the roads on market days and the smell of herbs and spices in the air.

The bazaar is the biggest in the area and is a must for bargain hunters. Fethiye is home to several remarkable ancient sites. The most conspicuous are the rock tombs dating from the 4th century BC carved in the hillside above the town.

Beside the harbour is the Roman amphitheatre and the crumbling remains of a medieval castle built by the Knights of St John.

There is a good selection of restaurants on the harbour front and in the narrow streets of the old town. Around Fethiye are numerous unspoiled rocky coves and beaches, crystalline seas, offshore islands, cliffs and pine-covered mountains affording as much relaxation or activity as one chooses.

This is a quiet little town, ideal for families,surrounded by fields of fruit and tomatoes. Almynta's tomb - the town's symbol - is here, and nearby there are several Lycian graves. In the market there are small fish counters where you can select the fish you want to eat. One of Turkey's most spectacular beaches, Ölüdeniz (the Dead Sea, meaning the Calm Sea), lies about 25 minutes by bus from Fethiye's centre. 

Neighbouring resorts in Fethiye

Oludeniz
The Mediterranean resort of Oludeniz is situated just a few minutes drive from Fethiye and has an astonishing crystal-clear lagoon and a beautiful photogenic grey-white beach that adorns almost every Turkish travel brochure.

Despite being developed with many hotels and apartment blocks, the scenery here is spectacular and the town is a lively place to spend a holiday. Perched on the mountain plateau overlooking Oludeniz, the resort town of Hisaronu is packed with bars, nightclubs, gift shops and restaurants. With their beautiful, rugged surrounds, both Oludeniz and Hisaronu are fast becoming realised for their potential as an outdoor activity destination.

The beach at Oludeniz offers a huge variety of watersports, there is paragliding from Babadag Mountain onto the beach below, and a selection of boat trips depart regularly from Oludeniz or Fethiye for a day exploring the scenic coastline. The numerous paths that wind their way along the hillsides offer spectacular views and sights,

Hisaronu
The charming hill town of Hisaronu, a short distance inland from Turkey's Mediterranean coast, has boomed into a popular holiday resort bristling with hotels, bars, restaurants, shops and tour operators, ideally situated for those intent on exploring the region and enjoying an active holiday.

Hisaronu is centrally located on the 'Turquoise Coast', within a short 'dolmus' (local taxi) ride from the busy centre of Fethiye, the beautiful seaside resort of Oludeniz with its blue lagoon and crescent beach, and numerous sites of interest.

The town itself is a bit of a hodge-podge of buildings, but the surrounding area offers a ruggedly beautiful landscape, ideal for walkers, and a coast filled with secluded bays and coves accessed through winding forest paths.

Being set at high altitude the town also has the advantage of being cooler and less humid than the coast, a pleasant refuge to retreat to after a day in the summer sun.

Ovacik
Ovacik is home to many restaurants offering a wide variety of cuisines. Obviously, you will find a lot of Turkish cuisine which is highly recommended, however should you want some more international cuisine, then you can try Chinese, seafood, British and Italian cuisines, as well.