A Guide to the 10+ Best Things to do in Fethiye (2024 Attractions)

Last Updated on 30th January 2024 by Sophie Nadeau

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If you’re looking to visit Fethiye for yourself, from history to enjoying the local food and drinks scene, here’s your ultimate guide to the best things to do in Fethiye and its surrounds.

The jewel in the crown of the bay of Fethiye, is a town bearing the same name (Fethiye) which was once the most important city of Lycia, a little-attested culture famous for their funerary architecture. As a result, there is plenty of interest in the area for even the most discerning of travellers.

Fethiye has changed its name a number of times over the years. Originally named Telmessos after Apollo (the sun god’s) son, following frequent name changes in subsequent years, it is now called ‘Fethiye’ after the first Turkish Pilot, Fethi Bey.

Fethiye is built on the ancient ruins of the city of Telmessos and the town has been struck by two devastating earthquakes; one in 1856 and one in 1957.

Where is Fethiye?

Fethiye can be found in the bay of Fethiye on the Western side of Turkey on the fringes of the Aegean Sea. Located in the Turkish Riviera, the city is in the Muğla Province and is just over 300 miles away from the city of Istanbul. The capital of Turkey is Ankara.

Fethiye is served by Dalaman airport which is around an hour’s drive away from the city and serves both national and international destinations. In order to make your transfer between Dalaman airport and Fethiye more enjoyable, you might consider booking a luxury airport transfer like this one.

What is Fethiye famous for?

Fethiye is probably most famous for its rock tombs, which are hard to miss as they are quite literally carved into the cliff faces high above the rest of the city. These rock tombs are to be found all across the Bay of Fethiye and while some can be accessed on land, others are carved into the steep cliff faces directly above the water.

Best things to do in Fethiye

Discover the Amyntas Rock Tombs

One of the most impressive places to visit in Fethiye are the Amyntas Rock Tombs. The Pre-Greek people of Anatolia were the Lycians, which is a little known about culture.

What is most studied and know about the Lycians is their funerary architecture which is quite literally impossible to miss in the Bay of Fethiye. Making use of the soft limestone in the region, the Lycians would carve impressive rock tombs into the cliff faces to house and honour their dead.

One of the most famous of all the Lycian Rock Tombs is that of the Amyntas Rock Tombs, which is carved high in the rock face above the town of Fethiye. It is so iconic as one of the most impressive rock tombs in the region that it is now the symbol of Fethiye. 

The temple tomb and dates back to the 350 BCE and acquired its name from the authenticated Ancient Greek inscription on its side; ‘Amyntas, son of Hermagios’. Although the pillars on the outside are 6 m tall, the room inside is just 3 x 2.4 m.

While the Amyntas Rock tomb is the largest tomb around (and one of the few that can actually be visited as a member of the public), it is certainly not the only one. Smaller rock tombs litter the rock face barely 200m away from this site.

It costs a 10 lira (around €1) ticket to reach the entrance of the tomb and look inside. This nominal fee is because there is actually not much to see or do inside the tomb other than admire the view of the city of Fethiye and beyond.

Visit the Fethiye markets (pazars)

If you’re wondering what to do in Fethiye and you love discovering local cuisine, you should head to the market. Filled with everything from spices to fresh fruit and vegetables a plenty, wandering around the markets is certainly an experience and you can easily find fresh produce if you’re planning on making meals yourself.

Alternatively, the markets make for a great place where you can purchase souvenirs and trinkets to remember your trip by. There are various things to see on almost every day of the week.

Although the biggest market day is a Tuesday (which is when you’ll be able to find all of the very best food produce), Sunday is also pretty popular for locals and tourists alike.

Wander around Fethiye old town

The most historic part of Fethiye is its old town, which is by and large centred around the Paspatur Market. Home to small cobbled lanes and little winding alleyways, this part of the city is best explored on foot and so comfortable footwear is an absolute must. It’s also here, in the old town of Fethiye, where you’ll find the vast majority of dining options.

Fethiye Museum

One of the very best things to do in Fethiye town is to visit the Fethiye museum. Awash with Lycian artefacts, there are pieces ranging from the Bronze age all the way through to the Roman Period; many having been found in Fethiye itself.

The ‘rosetta stone’ of the Lycian language is also housed here; the so called ‘Trilingual Stele’ bears identical inscriptions in Greek, Lycian and Aramaic and so was key in deciphering the Lycian language. Interestingly, many of the artefacts available for viewing are actually pieces that were confiscated from smugglers. The museum is closed on Mondays but is open from Tuesday through to Sunday between 8am and 5pm.

Take a day trip to Gemiler

If there’s one day trip you should take from Fethiye, it’s to the beautiful and uninhabited island of Gemier, which can be found in the bay of Fethiye. Although small (1 km x 400 m wide), the island is packed full of history and things to see.

The island was inhabited in Lycian times (1500 BCE) and is supposedly the original resting place of St Nicholas (Father Christmas). For more information, click about the Island of Gemiler.

In order to get from Fethiye to Gemiler, you’ll want to book a boat tour like this one, which will take you on a sailing cruise to both the Butterfly Valley nature reserve, as well as the famous St Nicholas Island. Find more tour details here.

Go on a sailing excursion from Fethiye

If the goal of your Turkey trip is to enjoy even more of the crystal clear waters of Fethiye Bay and beyond, then you might consider booking an all day sailing cruise with multiple stop off points for swimming.

Enjoy relaxing on a sailing boat, plenty of stunning vistas, swimming in clear waters, and a BBQ on board. After all, one of the top attractions in Fethiye is the sea. Find more details for a sailing day trip from Fethiye here.

Take a boat tour to Oludeniz

Situated just a short boat ride away from the island of Gemiler is the world famous beach of Öludeniz. One of the most photographed beaches of the mediterranean, its English translation should be ‘Dead Sea’ but is actually ‘Blue Lagoon’. The name Ölüdeniz came about because the bay is always so calm.

Take a quad bike tour

If adventure sports are your thing, then the Bay of Fethiye is the perfect place to head to during your vacation. One of the more unusual sporty activities that you can book as an excursion from Fethiye is a quad bike tour.

This tour includes a guide, pickup and drop-off to Fethiye and Oludeniz hotels, and will take you on a two hour drive across rocky trails and pine timberlands. Discover more quad bike tour details here.

Paraglide from Mount Babadag!

Of all the Fethiye attractions listed here, one of the most adventurous is to go paragliding. Mount Babadag is 1975 metres high and is widely regarded as one of the best places to paraglide in the World.

Views from the high altitude include the world famous resort of Ölüdeniz, the ghost abandoned village of Kayakoy and the stunning mediterranean sea. Book your paragliding experience here.

Relax on the beach

Of course, aside from the rich history and general beauty of Fethiye, one of the biggest draws for tourists visiting the area is the wealth of beautiful sandy beaches (though there are also rock beaches) across the Bay of Fethiye.

Some of the best beaches near Fethiye include Fethiye Sahil (a tranquil beach where boats sometimes dock), Calis Beach (surrounded by seafood restaurants, you can rent sun loungers here), and Karataş Plajı, which is a quieter and off the beaten path beach.

Sample local Turkish cuisine

There’s quite literally something for everyone when it comes to visiting Fethiye, including foodies. As well as the markets which sell a mouth-watering array of fresh produce and local delicacies, Turkish cuisine is simply delicious.

Local dishes you should absolutely sample include Yaprak Sarma (stuffed vine leaves where both meat and vegetarian options are available), dolma (stuffed vegetables), and Meze (traditional Turkish appetisers which comprise of a number of small dishes which are made to be shared).

Of course, you also can’t forget about the Kebap (Kebab). While the most famous version of Kebab is the big block of meat (the Doner Kebab), visitors should note that this is not the only type of Kebab available and there are actually dozens of different versions available.

Take a two day tour to Ephesus and Pamukkale

Turkey is home to some of the most impressive archaeological sites in the world and one of the crème de la crème locations when it comes to historic sites in Turkey is that of Ephesus, which is home to the Temple of Artemis, widely regarded to be one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

Other highlights of the two day trip from Fethiye include a visit to the house of the Virgin Mary (where she is alleged to have spent her final days), a chance to discover the UNESCO world heritage ruins of Hierapolis, and a visit to the stunning “cotton castles” of Pamukkale. See the full tour details here.

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