About Fethiye
The Fethiye area is located on the South West coast of Turkey & has been a popular region to visiit for travellers for many years. With its many diverse resorts all within a short distance of eachother Fethiye can offer something for everyone. Each resort has its own distinct personality .Tourist friendly but with a full time populace keeping the Turkish feel very much alive, Fethiye region is guaranteed to be the perfect introduction to this beautiful country & will keep you coming back on holiday to Turkey year after year
FETHIYE TOWN AS A TURKEY HOLIDAY DESTINATION - More than just a market town
Fethiye is a market & harbour town near the resorts of Hisaronu & Oludeniz & Calis. Surrounded by mountains on one side & the sea the other, this picturesque town dates back to the 6th Century BC, when it was a thriving Lycian city known as Telmessos ( Land of Light ). There are rock tombs carved into the mountain side & sarcophagi dating from this period & also the remains of a castle built later by the Knights of St John.
New discoveries in Fethiye are being unearthed such as the amphitheatre near the marina. The main town was rebuilt in the 1950’s after an earthquake flattened the town leaving only a mosque & the old Turkish bath ( Hamam ) still standing. This town is not purpose built for tourism & has lots of Turkish restaurants & bars as well as an indoor market & shops aplenty.
There are some charming Fethiye hotels, many with lovely harbour views. It has a real Turkish feel about it. It can make a refreshing change from the commercial bussle of the local resorts. There are a plethora of shops & boutiques & the daily market is a magnet for those who wish to see Turkish daily life going on around them.
FETHIYE - Traditionally Turkish & tourist friendly.
The main focal point is the harbour where you can enjoy a cooling drink & watch the boats come in or observe the locals strolling along the promenade. There are many cafes & restaurants by the waterside to choose from but if you want to sample true Turkish fare then head in town to where the ‘ locanta’s are located. Wherever you see the locals eating is a good place to try & some even stay open 24 hours !
Fethiye has lots of banks & change bureaux & a post office. At the large open market on Tuesdays you will find locals & visitors alike bartering over everyday & souvenir goods. The banter is good natured - if you don’t like the price don’t buy, if the seller doesn’t like the price he won’t sell simple as that. When bartering be reasonable, the locals still have to earn a living. You will find many stalls selling fake designer goods & the price reflects that - don’t be persuaded to buy perfume - wait until you go back to the airport duty free when you are assured the products are genuine.
WHY HOLIDAY IN FETHIYE - A Lovely base from which to explore the local area
Lovers of archaeology & history will find this once head of the Lycian empire has sites of interest aplenty from rock tombs in the hillside of Fethiye town itself to Kaya “ghost ”village not far from Hisaronu with its thousand ruined houses & churches dating back to 4 BC.
Nature lovers will enjoy the pine forest clad mountains that surround the area & places such as Saklikent where ice cold mountain waters cascade through a huge gorge.
With its history, commerce & genuine Turkish ambience it will appeal to shopaholics & culture lovers alike so make it a port of call on your next holiday to Turkey , if you are nearby even for a day visit, Fethiye is worth a look or consider staying in Fethiye itself - there’s more than just the market to enjoy.
FETHIYE - A wealth of history through the ages.
Records show Fethiye was an important city in the Lycian empire under the name Telmessos & began life somewhere around the 5th Century BC. On the Lycian / Carian border its placement was strategic.
The name Telmessos apparently came about when the god Apollo fell in love with the King of Pheonicia's youngest daughter Agenor. Apollo disguises himself as a dog to win her affections & then appears as a handsome young man. They have a son together whom they call Telmessos ( meaning Land of Lights ) & a city is established in his honour.
The city became part of the Persian Empire after the invasion of King Harpegos in 547 BC along with many other Carian & Lycian cities but maintained its independence compared to other cities.
The rock tombs in the Fethiye hillside date back from Lycian times whilst the theatre is Hellenistic in date.
In the winter or 334-333 BC Alexander the Great on a mission to invade Anatolia, entered the harbour of Telmessos. It is reported that his commander of the fleet Nearchus ( Or Nekros ) received permission from King Antipatrides for slaves & musicians to enter the city. These turned out to be soldiers in disguise with their weapons concealed in flute boxes. They captured the city during the nightly feast
The city came under Roman occupation & was then passed into the sovereignty of the King of Pergamun around 189 BC. After the decline of Pergamun it reverted back to Roman control when in 443 AD on the wishes of emperor Claudius the Roman senate declared Lycia as a Roman province. During the Byzantine era the harbour had gained significant importance until the Arab raids.
In the 8th Century AD the city was known as Anastasiopolis in honour of the Byzantine emperor Anastasius II.
By the 10th Century its name had changed once again this time to Makri ( Greek for distant or far ) .It then came under the control of the Anatolian beylik of Mentese in 1284 & has another name change to Megri . It became part of the Ottoman Empire in 1424.
The final name change to Fethiye came about in honour of the first Turkish pilot to die whilst on active duty. He was Mehmet Fethi Bey who died after crashing on his way back from Damascus in 1914 & the name was ratified in 1934.
NIGHTLIFE & EATING OUT ON HOLIDAY TO FETHIYE - Plenty of lovely places to choose from
Almost every hotel in Fethiye has a roof-top or terrace bar or restaurant many with wonderful sea views & serving all kinds of drinks.
Fethiye has a huge array of eateries with everything from traditional Turkish, seafood , fast food & International cuisine on the menus. Most restaurants here have menus with their prices clearly displayed. They often have refrigerators from which the starters ( mezes ) or seafood is chosen. Fish can be expensive as price is determined by the type & weight of the fish but it is daily fresh
Seafood is always more expensive than other menus so the criteria for choosing this restaurant type would be range & freshness of the produce in the refrigerators.
Whilst many places to eat are on the harbour front, there are lots of lovely places to try in the back roads & pedestrianised areas such as Paspatur the old section of town. There is a delightful atmosphere at night in Fethiye with no loud music intruding on the gentle sounds of people chatting , laughing & enyoying themselves.
Even if you are looking for a snack or light bite there is plenty to choose from. There are also lots of patisseries in Fethiye so even if you fancy a coffee & a nice dessert or cake you have choices there too.
BARS IN FETHIYE - Relax ,unwind & enjoy the beautiful views
When on holiday in Fethiye you will find a good range of bars to enjoy . Some offer live music including Turkish & Arabesque style, others quiet atmosphere with great views. In the old section of town Paspatur there are some cocktail bars & a couple of dancing bars / nightclubs but if you are looking for a vibrant party scene you would do well to head to the more commercial resorts of Hisaronu or Oludeniz.
Prices in Fethiye for food & drink can be cheaper than those of the resorts although imported drinks are always more expensive. Whilst drinks prices are more or less standard restaurants can vary quite a lot so it is worth having a good look around to get the best value.
The choice of bars, restaurants & cafes mean there is something for everyone. Fethiye's many streets & lanes are full of shops & boutiques that stay open well into the night offering a chance to have a browse after a nice meal by the harbour.
LAST MINUTE HOLIDAYS TO FETHIYE - Get a late deal & run to the sun.
For a last minute Turkey Holiday ,Fethiye has much to offer. As a working harbour town with so many wonderful places to visit just on its doorstep , a relaxed charm of its own & some lovely boutique hotels to stay in, Fethiye is a more upmarket destination than the other local purpose built resorts nearby.
During the day most holidaymakers relax by their hotel pool , meander through the lanes & streets browsing or head over to Calis or Oludeniz beach & lagoon to enjoy the calm, warm waters .
Local excursions such as jeep safari & boat trips are a brilliant way to spend a fun day awayt on a last minute holiday to Fethiye exploring nearby places of interest. But if you just want a late deal holiday to unwind & relax around the pool you will be able to choose something that suits from our great range.
FETHIYE LATE HOLIDAY DEALS - Lots to see & do in this Turkish harbour town
The choice of places to eat in Fethiye is huge from the ubiquitous fast food joints & small lokantas offering the very best of Turkish cuisine to sea food sold & served in the charming fish market there is something for everyone to enjoy.
There are quite a few bars to choose from & a couple of clubs to while away the nights. Many bars have outside seating, gardens or terraces from which to enjoy the balmy evenings & watch the world go by.
With our years of expertise in the Turkey holiday industry, Holiday Mate can help you find your perfect holiday so give us a call & let our experienced, knowledgable staff assist you . Our daily competitive price checks mean our holiday package prices are unbeatable . Call our call centre today to book your great value summer holiday to Turkey.
Last minute flights to Dalaman may be late a night but if you book your airport transfers with us we will ensure you get to your accommodation quickly & efficiently so you can start your holiday the very best way.
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CHEAP HOLIDAYS TO FETHIYE - Book early to get the best deals
With many cheap flights to Dalaman & a range of hotels in Fethiye to choose from there are lots of great deals to Fethiye to take advantage of.
Generally because of their quality Fethiye hotels are not as cheap as those in the more commercial resorts of Hisaronu & Calis but they definitely offer value for money. Most of the hotels are bed & breakfast or half board but there is also a holiday village just around the peninsula offering all inclusive. The hotels along the marina tend to have the best views too which keeps their prices higher.
That said many offer early booking discounts for reservations made well in advance & this can be the best way to get a cheap holiday to Fethiye when combined with a budget Dalaman flight.
FETHIYE HOLIDAYS FOR COUPLES - Relax by the pool or explore Lycian ruins.
Fethiye is especially suited to couples who will enjoy the Turkish feel or the town itself & its great location to get out & about exploring other places of historical & natural beauty. Here they will avoid the loud “in your face” party style of the other local resorts but are still close enough to visit them for a wild night out if they so choose.
Fethiye offers a different kind of holiday experience & much less run of the mill than a typical summer Turkey package holiday. More cosmopolitan ( Fethiye is very popular with more than just UK customers ) & upmarket a Fethiye holiday is a cut above the rest.
Why not let our experienced staff assist you in finding the right deals to Fethiye for you. Give us a call or use the online chat facility now.
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