Destination Guide · Fethiye
Fethiye: Lycian Tombs, Ghost Villages and the Blue Lagoon
Ancient Telmessos, rock-cut tombs above the harbour, the abandoned stone village of Kayaköy, Ölüdeniz and Butterfly Valley – Fethiye is one of the most fascinating stops on the Turkish coast.
Set in a wide bay scattered with islands, Fethiye is a lively market town with a remarkable past. Lycian tombs are carved into the cliffs above its harbour, a ghost village sleeps in the hills behind it, and just over the ridge lies Ölüdeniz, one of the most photographed beaches in the Mediterranean. For gulet guests, Fethiye and nearby Göcek are the gateway to the Twelve Islands and the Lycian coast.
Ancient Telmessos and the Lycian Tombs
In antiquity Fethiye was Telmessos, one of the main cities of Lycia, famous for its soothsayers. The Lycians buried their dead in spectacular tombs cut into the rock, designed to look like temple façades. The most famous, the Tomb of Amyntas (4th century BC), looks down over the modern town and is especially beautiful at sunset. You will also see Lycian sarcophagi standing in the middle of Fethiye’s streets.
Earthquakes, a New Name and a Modern Town
The town was badly damaged by earthquakes in 1856 and again in 1957, which is why much of today’s Fethiye is relatively modern. Formerly known as Makri, it was renamed Fethiye in 1934 in honour of Fethi Bey, one of the first Ottoman aviators. Today it is a busy, friendly town where locals and visitors mix in the markets, harbour cafés and narrow streets of the Paspatur old bazaar.
Kayaköy – The Ghost Village
In the hills behind Fethiye lie the stone houses of Kayaköy (ancient Karmylassos, later Levissi). Once a thriving town, it was abandoned after the population exchange between Greece and Turkey in 1923. Today hundreds of roofless houses, chapels and churches cover the hillside – a moving, atmospheric place to walk, especially in the soft light of late afternoon.
Ölüdeniz and Butterfly Valley
Just south of Fethiye, the sheltered Blue Lagoon of Ölüdeniz and its long beach sit beneath the slopes of Babadağ mountain, one of the world’s most famous paragliding sites. A little further along the coast, Butterfly Valley is a dramatic gorge reachable only by sea, home to a waterfall and – in summer – many species of butterfly. Both are classic stops on a gulet cruise.
Food and the Famous Fish Market
Fethiye’s fish market is an experience in itself: choose your fish and seafood at the central stalls, then take it to one of the surrounding restaurants, where it is cooked to order and served with salads and mezes. The town also has a lively weekly market selling local fruit, cheese, olives and spices.
- ✓Fethiye fish market – buy fresh fish and have it cooked at the surrounding restaurants.
- ✓Paspatur old bazaar – cafés, meyhanes and small restaurants in the old town.
- ✓Bay restaurants – simple seafood and village dishes in the coves of the Twelve Islands, reached by tender.
The People and the Lycian Way
Fethiye’s people combine mountain and sea traditions – farmers from the high plateaus, fishermen, boat builders and a growing community of guides and artisans. The town is also the starting point of the Lycian Way, a long-distance walking trail along the coast to Antalya. Many gulet guests enjoy a short walk on a section of the trail between swims.
Discover Fethiye by Gulet
Gulets based in Fethiye and Göcek explore the Twelve Islands, Gemiler Island, Ölüdeniz, Butterfly Valley and the Lycian coast towards Kaş and Kekova. See our guide to gulet charter in Göcek and Fethiye.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Fethiye called in ancient times?
Telmessos, one of the main cities of ancient Lycia.
What is the Tomb of Amyntas?
A 4th-century BC Lycian rock tomb carved into the cliff above Fethiye, designed like a temple façade.
Why is Kayaköy abandoned?
Its inhabitants left after the population exchange between Greece and Turkey in 1923.
Can you reach Butterfly Valley by gulet?
Yes – Butterfly Valley is reachable only by sea and is a classic stop on Fethiye and Göcek gulet routes.
Related: Gulet charter Göcek & Fethiye · Family gulet holidays · VIP transfers