Description

Even though Fethiye is among the most sought after destination on the Turquoise Coast, tourism has hardly affected the rural character of the place. Herds of goats and sheep still block the roads on market days even as the smell of herbs and spices keep filling the air. The open market is very popular with bargain hunters. Fethiye is home to several remarkable ancient sites too. The 4th century BC rock tombs carved in the hillside, the Roman amphitheatre and the ruins of a medieval castle built by the Knights of St John are worth a visit. Fethiye is popular for the numerous natural rocky coves and beaches, islands, cliffs and pine-covered mountains that promise an exciting holiday. Gulets (sturdy wooden yachts) are available for hire.

Shopping

Nicely packed spices, tea in various flavors and colors, sweets, honey, nuts and hamam (Turkish bath) sets, are displayed prominently in almost all shops in Fethiye and are definitely worth a buy. Carpet shops are found in every street, with beautiful hand made varieties being most sought after. Turkish pipes too are found in all shops. On Fridays there is a big market selling varieties of stuff from fruits, vegetable and honey to clothes, shoes and jewelry.

Restaurants

Fethiye offers a wide variety of culinary options but is mostly popular for local Turkish dishes and excellent sea food. Alongside a cool stream (cooling up the surrounding air too), are found several small and inexpensive restaurants, offering nice food and drinks. There are the sophisticated restaurants too, offering not only international cuisine but great views of the marina as well.

Night Life

Dedicated clubbers should not visit resorts in Turkey with high expectations as most of the resorts here are more family holiday oriented. Entertainment is mostly hotel based. Most Hotels offer live music, bars and some high end ones offer belly dancing shows as well.

Activities

Fethiye is an ideal spot for water sports and the beach offers many options to indulge in the same. The more adventurous lot can opt for paragliding from the Baba Mountains nearby. The parachuters can land on the Olü Deniz which is considered the best beach in Turkey. Those who love to trek have the pine covered mountains, the cliffs and the beaches to keep themselves engaged, as well as the numerous medieval ruins and sites that‘s definitely worth a visit.

Communications

To call Turkey, the international country dialing code is +90. While calling from Turkey, the outgoing code is 00, followed by the relevant country code. There are internal dialing codes that are in use to call within Turkey; for example to call Istanbul Asya (Asia side) within Turkey is (0)216 and Istanbul Avrupa (Europe side) is (0)212. GSM 900 and 1800 networks cover most of the country. Internet cafes are available in the main towns and resorts.

Contacts

Turkish Tourist Office: +90 (0)212 573 4136 (Istanbul) or www.tourismturkey.org
Turkish Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 612 6700
Turkish Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7393 0066
Turkish Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 789 4044
Turkish Embassy, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6295 0227
Turkish Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 342 6053-7
Turkish Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 668 5240
Turkish Embassy, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 472 1292
United States Consulate General, Istanbul: +90 (0)212 335 9000
British Embassy, Ankara: +90 (0)312 455 3344
Canadian Embassy, Ankara: +90 (0)312 459 9200
Australian Embassy, Ankara: +90 (0)312 459 9500
South African Embassy, Ankara: +90 (0)312 446 4056
Irish Embassy, Ankara: +90 (0)312 446 6172
New Zealand Embassy, Ankara: +90 (0)312 467 9054/6/8
Emergencies: 155 (Police); 112 (Ambulance)

Currency

TRY

Attractions

One of the recommended day trips from Fethiye is the pretty fishing village of Dalyan located at the foot of the Dalyan River. Tourists can enjoy a mud bath on the banks of this river. Next interesting spot is the Marine Turtles nesting beach known as Iztuzu Beach (Turtle Beach) which is unique as one side of the beach is on the river and the other side is on the sea. It gives visitors the option to swim in either fresh or salt water. On the way back to Dalyan one can also stop at the ancient Greek city of Kaunos which is known for a few remarkable sites like the Ancient Theatre, the Temple of Apollon and the Acropolis up the hill.

Language

Turkish

Language Description

The official language of Turkey is Turkish. However in almost all the main tourist areas, English is widely understood.

Tipping

Either a small change or a percentage of the bill is the customary tip given for most services in Turkey. Big hotels and restaurants generally add a service charge to the bill, but whenever that is not the case, 10 and 15% of the bill is expected as tips. While tipping taxi drivers, it is recommended to round up the bill. Attendants at Turkish baths expect 15% of the total bill as tips if the service offered has been good.