By air
Dalaman (DLM), ~1 h
Middle East · Türkiye
Fethiye, Türkiye
The blue lagoon of Ölüdeniz
Getting there
Best time to visit
May to October — the season
Don't miss
Ölüdeniz
Butterfly Valley
Saklıkent Gorge
The Lycian rock tombs
Things to do
Paragliding from Babadağ
Walking the Lycian Way
Boat trips
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Dan Taylor · CC BY 2.0
What to pack
Swimwear
A quieter corner
Kayaköy's abandoned stone village
Questions travellers ask
When should I visit Fethiye, and where do I fly in?
May to October, the season. Fly into Dalaman (DLM), about 1 h away, and pack swimwear.
What are the highlights around Fethiye?
The blue lagoon of Ölüdeniz, Butterfly Valley, Saklıkent Gorge and the Lycian rock tombs, plus a boat trip or two.
Can I go paragliding in Fethiye?
Yes, from Babadağ. If you'd rather stay on the ground, walk a stretch of the Lycian Way.
What's a quieter side trip from Fethiye?
Kayaköy's abandoned stone village. Back in town, go for gözleme or a meal from the fish market.
About Fethiye
- Coastal
Where it is
Fethiye is a harbour town in Muğla Province on the Mediterranean coast of south-western Türkiye, set on a bay backed by the mountains of ancient Lycia, with the lagoon of Ölüdeniz a short drive to the south.
History
Fethiye stands on the site of Telmessos, a leading city of ancient Lycia, whose rock-cut tombs, among them the Tomb of Amyntas from the 4th century BC, still look down on the town. Long known as Makri, it was renamed in 1934 in honour of Fethi Bey, an early Ottoman aviator. Earthquakes in 1957 destroyed much of the town, and nearby Kayaköy was left empty after its Greek Orthodox inhabitants departed in the population exchange of 1923.
People
Fethiye is a Turkish market and fishing town with a busy fish market and weekly bazaar, and it also has a sizeable community of British residents. Villages in the surrounding hills grow citrus fruit, pomegranates and greenhouse vegetables.
Known for
- The blue lagoon of Ölüdeniz
- Paragliding from Babadağ
- The Lycian rock tombs of Telmessos
- Butterfly Valley and Saklıkent Gorge
- The ghost village of Kayaköy
Did you know?
Ölüdeniz means dead sea in Turkish, a name that refers to the still, sheltered water of its lagoon, which stays calm even when the open sea is rough.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.