Fethiye holiday guide: harbour town, boat trips, Çalış Beach & Hisarönü

E By Emma · Updated 20 October 2026 · 3 min read

Airports

Dalaman (DLM)

Best time to go

May-June and September-October

Type

City

Fethiye is a proper Turkish town that happens to sit on one of the loveliest bays on the coast. Its harbour is busy with gulets and fishing boats, Lycian tombs are carved into the cliffs above, and some of Turkey's best beaches and walking are within half an hour.

It has a big following among UK visitors, including many who've bought homes in the area. Flights to Dalaman take about 4 hours from London, Turkey is two hours ahead of the UK in summer and three in winter, plugs are the two round-pin type and cars drive on the right. See our Turkey guide for entry rules and more.

Where to stay

• Fethiye town and harbour – hotels, guesthouses and apartments near the marina, the fish market and the old town's restaurants. Best if you want local life and easy boat trips.
• Çalış – a long beach of sand and shingle a few kilometres north, known for sunsets, with a promenade of bars and family-friendly hotels. A water taxi runs to the harbour.
• Hisarönü and Ovacık – in the hills above Ölüdeniz, with lots of pools, bars and good-value hotels and villas. Lively at night.
• Ölüdeniz – the famous lagoon and beach, about 25 minutes from town.
• Göcek – a quieter, upmarket harbour about 30 minutes west; see our Dalaman guide.

Things to do

1. Twelve-island boat trip – a full day on a gulet around the bays and islands of Fethiye Gulf, with swimming stops and lunch on board.
2. Amyntas rock tomb – a temple-fronted Lycian tomb carved into the cliff above town; climb up for harbour views.
3. Kayaköy – an abandoned Greek village of roofless stone houses on a hillside, eerie and beautiful.
4. Fish market – choose fresh fish at the central stalls and have one of the surrounding restaurants cook it.
5. Tuesday market – a huge weekly market for produce, spices, textiles and souvenirs.
6. Saklıkent Gorge and Tlos – a narrow canyon you can wade into and a hilltop ancient city, often combined on a day trip.
7. The Lycian Way – the long-distance trail begins near Ölüdeniz; short sections make superb walks in spring and autumn.

Best time to visit

May, June, September and October are best, with warm sea and comfortable temperatures for walking. July and August often hit the mid-30s °C. The season usually runs from April to October; Fethiye stays open year-round as a working town, but many resort hotels in Hisarönü and Çalış close in winter.

Getting there

Fly to Dalaman (DLM), which has direct flights from most UK airports in summer. The transfer to Fethiye town takes about 45 minutes to an hour on the main road, with Çalış similar and Hisarönü around an hour. Airport shuttle buses also run to Fethiye's bus station.

British passport holders don't currently need a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days in any 180 days, and passports should be valid for at least 150 days from arrival. Rules change, so check GOV.UK foreign travel advice before booking.

Getting around

Dolmuş minibuses run frequently between Fethiye, Çalış, Hisarönü, Ovacık and Ölüdeniz and are cheap and easy to use. Water taxis link Çalış and the harbour. Hire a car for Kayaköy at your own pace, Saklıkent or a drive along the coast to Kalkan and Kaş.

Top attractions in Fethiye

Landmark

Hagia Sophia

Istanbul's 1,500-year-old former cathedral and imperial mosque, with a vast dome and glittering Byzantine mosaics.

Fethiye on the map

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