12 Best Things To Do In Fethiye: A Turkish Riviera Itinerary

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The Turkish Riviera is something that I have yet to see anyone include in their itinerary. Before flying to Dalaman, and exploring Fethiye I had no idea about this side of Turkey.

I saw a lot of retirees and sun chasers from the UK spending time here in spring and autumn time and even summer because they wanted the sun and warm beaches.

I am happy to report that the beaches and the water was warm enough to take a swim. But Fethiye is also so much more than that: there is ruins, history and it used to be the most important city of the ancient Lycian civilization.

If you thought, Greece is interesting and has all these tiny little coves for exploring, Fethiye is also an archaelogists or explorers dream.

Fethiye sits on the southwestern tip of Turkey's Aegean coast and you will see all these pine-covered mountains on one side and impossibly blue water on the other which blew me away!

Here are the 12 best things to do in Fethiye and all the side quests you should be doing if you have 2-3 days to spare or a whole week.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. I only provide unbiased and completely honest recommendations.

What You Should Know About Fethiye Before You Go

my guide on what to do in fethiye in turkey

✈️ Getting there: Dalaman Airport (DLM) is the closest airport, about 45–50 minutes from Fethiye town. Shared minibuses run regularly or you can grab a private transfer.

📶 Getting an e-SIM: Grab a Sim Local e-SIM before you land — it covers Turkey well and saves you the hassle of hunting for a local SIM.

🚐 Getting around: Dolmuş (shared minibuses) are your best friend here. But sometimes it is better to rent a car because places in between are kinda far.

🏨 Where to stay: The best hotels in Fethiye can be found here. Best to stay in Fethiye city centre or Ölüdeniz.

☀️ Best time to visit: May–June and September–October are the sweet spots. July and August are peak season: stunning but crowded and very hot.

⏳ How long to spend: 3 days would be good, but if you have time and want to chill, 7 days would be ideal.

Also read: 10 Days - 2 Weeks Turkey Itinerary: Hidden Gems & Offbeat Places

Where To Stay in Fethiye?

in Fethiye City Centre

in Oludeniz

Top 4 Activities To Do Here

Also read: Hiking The Lycian Way (1 Week): A Guide To This Gorgeous Trail in Turkey

Best Things To Do on A Fethiye Itinerary

1. Paraglide Over Ölüdeniz From Babadağ Mountain

paragliding in oludeniz turkey

I think the most fun thing to do here is do paragliding in Fethiye or do it with a female pilot.

Babadağ Mountain is above 1,960 metres above sea level, and from its ridge, you will spot tandem paragliders launch themselves out over Ölüdeniz.

I think it is such a cool thing to do because of the views you get! I sat in the harness, clipped to a professional pilot, and spent about 90 seconds convinced I'd made a terrible life decision. And then we saw the turquoise lagoon opened below me like a painting, and I forgot what fear felt like entirely.

It is genuinely one of the most extraordinary things I've done anywhere in the world.

What you should know?

  • You can book through a guide here or one with a female pilot.

  • Flights run throughout the day; morning flights tend to have calmer winds

2. Swim in the Blue Lagoon at Ölüdeniz

the gorgeous beaches of oludeniz

The Blue Lagoon is famous for a reason, and I say that as someone who is deeply suspicious of anything that makes a top-10 list.

The water has this blue-green tinge and the best part it is warm (yes warm waters even in October!) It is genuinely beautiful. I would suggest going early morning before the tour boats arrive, and you'll have stretches of it almost entirely to yourself.

The beach itself is a mix of a national park section (small entry fee) and a free public beach.

What you should know?

  • You can take the dolmuş from Fethiye town (about 20–25 minutes, very cheap)

  • Entry to the national park section costs around 100–150 TL

  • The water is calmest in the morning; afternoons can get choppy with boat traffic

  • There are sunbed rental areas and the cafes are a bit touristy but it is what it is!

3. Hike the Lycian Way (Even Just a Section of It)

hiking the lycian way in turkey

The Lycian Way is one of the world's great long-distance trails — 540 kilometres winding along cliffs, through ancient ruins, past fishing villages and pine forests between Fethiye and Antalya.

It is the reason I consider Fethiye to be an adventure destination, not just a beach destination.

You don't need to walk all of it. I hiked for just one week but there are so many different stretches you can check out. Even a one-day section from Ölüdeniz to Butterfly Valley via Faralya is enough to understand what this trail is about. The path hugs dramatic cliff edges and you will see a different side compared to the touristy parts of Turkey.

The easiest way is to get a tour company to organise the hike for you. I recommend booking it here.

What you should know?

  • The Ölüdeniz to Faralya section is around 7–8km and classified as moderate-difficult (some steep scrambling)

  • Start early — by 7am — to beat the heat

  • Carry at least 2 litres of water per person; there are no reliable water sources on this stretch

  • Wear trail shoes, not flip flops. Please.

  • Download the route on Maps.me or AllTrails beforehand or if you want an extended version (you can get a guide here)

4. Explore the Ghost Town of Kayaköy

exploring the town of kayakoy

I had no idea what to expect but I thought it was so crazy that we found an abandoned Greek village about 8km from Fethiye — it is basically a ghost town of roughly 3,500 stone houses, churches, and chapels that were left empty after the 1923 population exchange between Greece and Turkey.

Before this, you should stop by at this restaurant called Cin Bal 1975 and enjoy Turkish pancakes and pomegranate juice at this atmospheric kebab shop.

The walk around Kayakoy can be very hot but I thought it was still a pretty amazing side adventure. The buildings still stand, roofless and slowly being reclaimed by vegetation and you will see a lot of stone walls that are mossy and crumbly.

It is now protected as an open-air museum and one of the most unique historical sites in Turkey.

What you should know?

  • Entry fee is around 100 TL

  • Allow at least 2 hours to walk through it properly

  • You should also visit the nearby Kaya Şarapları winery, which makes decent local wine from surrounding vineyards

5. Take a Boat Trip to the 12 Islands

take a boar trip to their islands - it is gorgeous

Fethiye's bay is scattered with islands, and the classic way to see them is a full-day 12 island boat trip. I suggest taking the one with swimming stops like this tour operator here.

The standard 12-Islands tour departs from Fethiye harbour in the morning, drops you at several bays for swimming, feeds you on board, and brings you back by late afternoon.

The water you swim in is so clear you can see the seabed from 10 metres up. The coves are sheltered and calm and you get to try grilled fish while being anchored in a bay that looks like a postcard.

What you should know?

6. Canyoning at Saklikent Gorge

the saklikent gorge

Saklikent Gorge is one of the deepest canyons in Europe like 18 kilometres long.

A cold mountain river runs through the narrow slot, and hiking (or rather, wading) through it is one of the most memorable ways to spend a day in the Fethiye region.

The best way is to actually book a safari here that takes you the ancient city of Tlos, a mud bath and the Saklikent Gorge.

What you should know?

  • Saklikent is about 45km from Fethiye — join a day tour here as it is so much easier and you get a lot of value with this since you get to see Tlos on a jeep safari.

7. Visit Butterfly Valley

the gorgeous butterfly valley in fethiye

When I first saw the Butterfly Valley, I wondered how is this real.

Butterfly Valley (Kelebekler Vadisi) sits in a deep gorge between high cliffs and it is accessible only by boat or via a steep and challenging trail from the ridge above which is what I did.

But if you don’t want to hike, you can book the butterfly valley boat tour from here and it is a popular option for people the different bays.

The valley has a small beach at its base, a waterfall further in, and a handful of tents and bungalows for those who want to stay overnight. I stayed at the Montenegro Hotel and it was a really nice experience to enjoy Faralya valley.

Practical info:

  • Boats depart from Ölüdeniz beach regularly (about 15 minutes, ~100 TL return)

  • The hiking trail from the ridge is steep and requires good footwear and fitness

  • Best visited April–September when the moths are active

8. Climb Up to the Lycian Rock Tombs

the tomb of amyntas

The rock tombs of Fethiye are carved directly into the cliff face above the town — enormous Lycian facades that date back to the 4th century BC, built to resemble Greek temples.

If you love history and seeing ruins, this is worth a visit and cost around 13 euros. The most famous, the Tomb of Amyntas, has intricate columns and pediment details that are extraordinary considering they were made by hand into solid rock over 2,000 years ago.

The climb up to the tombs takes about 15–20 minutes and rewards you with sweeping views over Fethiye's marina, the rooftops of the old town, and the bay beyond. Go at sunset when the rock face turns amber and the town below starts to light up.

What You Should Know?

  • Entry fee is around 13 euros

  • Wear comfortable shoes; the path is uneven

  • There are several smaller tombs scattered around town too — keep your eyes on the hillside

9. Get Lost in Fethiye's Tuesday Market

fresh honey in the mountains in fethiye

Every Tuesday, you will see Fethiye transforms into a sprawling open-air market that runs for blocks.

There is seasonal produce and it is basically a proper local market that sells everything from fresh produce and olives to hand-embroidered textiles, leather goods, and ceramic pots.

A lot of locals shop here. Farmers bring their produce from surrounding villages. You will see old women sit behind pyramids of dried figs and strings of peppers. It is quite chaotic sometimes and very very hot under those tents but still worth a visit!

You should buy the olives, dried figs and local honey!

What you should know:

  • The market runs every Tuesday from early morning until mid-afternoon

  • Located near the town centre — easy to reach on foot from most hotels

  • Cash only (Turkish Lira); most stalls don't take cards

10. Walk the Length of Patara Beach (Turkey's Longest Beach)

patara beach in turkey

This is quite a long beach and probably the longest in Turkey. It is an 18-kilometre stretch of wild, golden sand.

Located about 75km southeast of Fethiye along the D400 coastal road, Patara sits within a national park, which means no resort development, no beach bars.

The entrance fee is a bit steep like 15 euros. To avoid it, you could totally do the trek up the sand dunes but it was so windy that it felt like we were constantly battling a sand storm.

The beach is under protection partly because loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta Caretta) use it to lay their eggs. During nesting season, certain sections are cordoned off after dark.

We visited more ruins and the most famous Patara ruins — it consisted of a couple of theaters (one has recently been completely renovated), arcs and several ancient graves and basilica structures spread over a large area. Worth it just to walk and listen to the audio guide.

11. Take a Day Trip to Xanthos Valley

take a day trip to xanthos valley

If you had not taken the earlier tour to Tlos or Saklikent Gorge, you can visit this separately. The views across the Xanthos Valley from the top are extraordinary:

It was once the Lycian capital, known for its tragic past — its people chose to burn their city rather than surrender to the Persians.

I often wondered what that moment must have felt like. Later, it thrived under Roman and Byzantine rule, leaving behind this ruins which have not been kept in good condition considering it is a UNESCO heritage site. The entrance fee was 3euros.

Practical info:

  • Best done by car or scooter — public transport connections are limited

  • Tlos entry is around 100 TL

  • The Saklıkent Gorge is nearby — combine the two into one road trip day

  • Go in the morning; afternoons can be very hot in summer

12. Day Trip to Pamukkale & Hierapolis

day trip to pamukkale

Ok this seems a bit far fetched but it is totally possible. There are actual tours that take you to Pamukkale on a day trip!

Pamukkale is about 200 kilometres from Fethiye. The drive takes 3.5 to 4 hours each way. It is far but if you book the tour here it is worth it and feels like a nice ending to Turkey before you head to Cappadocia.

Pamukkale — pamuk kale essentially means "cotton castle" in Turkish — is a hillside of cascading white travertine terraces, formed over millennia as calcium-rich thermal water has flowed down the mountainside, depositing mineral layers that have built up into a landscape that looks genuinely otherworldly.

It is still worth the visit if you have a whole one day to spare.

What you should know?

  • The most practical option from Fethiye is a guided day tour (most include hotel pickup, transport, a guide at Hierapolis, and lunch). You can book it here.

  • If you prefer to self-drive and rent a car, take the D-585 north towards Denizli — the countryside through the Taurus mountain foothills en route is quietly beautiful

To read all my Turkey posts, read here:

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