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Fethiye is a popular resort city on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. It makes a great base to visit Ölüdeniz and other beaches in the area, as well as several archaeological sites.
History of Fethiye
Fethiye was built atop the ruins of ancient Telmessos (Τελμησσός), which was founded by the Lycians as Telebehi. The city became part of the Persian Empire in 547 BC and briefly became a Greek city-state in the middle of the 5th century BC. After a spell of independence, Telmessos was taken by Alexander the Great in 334 BC. It was later incorporated into the Roman Empire.
In the 8th century, during the Byzantine period, Telmessos was renamed Anastasiopolis (Αναστασιούπολις). The name had changed to Makri (Μάκρη) by the 10th century and fell to the Turks in the 12th or 13th century. The city became part of the Ottoman Empire in 1424 and until 1934 was called Meğri in Turkish.
The city had a large Greek population until they were sent to Greece during the 1923 population exchange with Turkey. The former Greek residents founded Nea Makri in Greece while Turks from Greece repopulated Makri. The town’s name was officially changed to Fethiye in 1934 to honor Fethi Bey, an Ottoman Air Force captain who died on February 27, 1914, while attempting the first flight from Istanbul to Cairo.
Getting to Fethiye
Dalaman Airport (Dalaman Havalimanı), which is about an hour from Fethiye, is the nearest airport. Seasonal and charter flights from all over Europe fly there. Domestically, there are frequent flights from both airports in Istanbul as well as flights to Ankara. To get into town, Havaş runs a shuttle between the airport and the Fethiye Bus Terminal (Fethiye Otogarı). It costs 120₺ (as of May 2024).
What to See in Fethiye
I used Fethiye as a base to visit some of the ancient cities in the area. I was also meeting my tour group there, as it was the last stop on their Blue Cruise from Marmaris. Unfortunately, during my stay in Fethiye many of the attractions were closed for restoration, such as the Fethiye Museum, Fethiye Castle, and Theatre of Telmessos. There weren’t many options. Hopefully these attractions will be open for my next trip and I’ll be able to spend more time exploring the town.
Old Town
I was able to take a quick walk through the Old Town on the way to meet my guests. I didn’t see much, but I noticed a lot of souvenir shops; a bazaar selling dried fruits, nuts, and spices; and a few pubs and restaurants geared towards tourists.
Amyntas Rock Tombs
The prime attraction in Fethiye are the Amyntas Rock Tombs. The site preserves several Lycian tombs carved into a steep mountainside. The tombs were frequently visited by European travelers in the 18th and 19th centuries. Admission to the site for foreigners is €3 (as of May 2024) and it’s open daily.
The most impressive tomb is at the top. It’s popularly known as the King’s Tomb, but thanks to a Greek inscription, we know it belonged to a man named Amyntas. The inscription reads “Amyntas, son of Hermagios”. The tomb was built around 350 BC.
A large set of tombs sits to the left of the entrance. Some of them are easy to access. Visitors are allowed to climb up and inside the higher tombs at their own risk. This section is best viewed from outside the archaeological site.
Another set of toms is down a narrow path to the east of the entrance. There are a couple on the ground level. You can climb up a concrete stairway to access some of the higher tombs.
Ece Marina
While waiting for my guests, I took a walk along the Ece Marina. It has capacity for 460 boats up to 60 meters and there’s a small hotel across the street. There are also a couple restaurants on the property as well as a supermarket.
Where to Stay in Fethiye
As a popular resort city, there are accommodation options for all budgets in Fethiye.
Belci City Residence
I stayed a few nights at the Belci City Residence. It’s located on a busy street east of Old Town. There’s a small parking lot in the back and a bar in the lobby. Staff is friendly and helpful, and they have a good laundry service as well.
My room was spacious and came with a kitchenette. I had a nice view from the balcony. My only issue was the flooding in the bathroom every time I took a shower.
Where to Eat in Fethiye
I ate at two different restaurants during my stay in the city.
Lime Gurme Restaurant
I had dinner at Lime Gurme Restaurant just a few blocks east of my hotel. They’ve since moved across the street, so the photo below is from the old location. Anyway, I had an Adana dürüm, lentil soup, and shepherd salad. Food was delicious, service was friendly, and the prices were fair.
Ruzanna (Permanently Closed)
For lunch, I stopped into Ruzanna with my group. It’s located across the street from the Ece Marina. They had an interesting menu with Turkish cuisine, burgers, sushi, and more. I tried a burger which was decent.
