Description

Ovacik is a beach resort, located nine kilometers away from the town of Fethiye in Turkey. This is a relaxed resort with long sandy beaches. Ovacik is bounded by rolling mountains clad with lush green trees that offer spectacular sights to the onlookers. The beaches of Ovacik, with sparkling waters draw tourists from all over the globe. Ovacik has many shops, restaurants and cafes. The bustling town of Hisaronu is just a short walk away and has all the tourist amenities.

Shopping

The shops of Ovacik cater to the basic needs of the travelers. Tourists can visit the town of Hisaronu for extensive shopping opportunities. The main shopping area of Hisaronu has stores which sell everything from carpets and leather goods to imitation designer wear. Bargaining is customary and is a part of the shopping experience. 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 are most sought after. Turkish pipes too are found in all shops. On Fridays there is a big market selling a variety of stuff from fruits, vegetable and honey to clothes, shoes and jewelry.

Restaurants

Ovacik houses a small number of tavernas that dish-up authentic Turkish fares for a moderate price. Hisaronu, which is just a few kilometers away, has a collection of decent restaurants that cater to the tastes of all the tourists. Hisaronu has an excellent variety of restaurants to cater to the needs of international tourists. From spicy Mexican to traditional English to sizzling Italian almost all types of cuisines are on offer. Most restaurants are along the main street, and some of the favorites include the Indian Restaurant Shine and the Chinese favorite Dragonara. Tourists can visit The Olive Tree to enjoy traditional Turkish delights. Fethiye offers a wide variety of culinary options but is mostly popular for local Turkish dishes and excellent sea food. Alongside a cool stream there are 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

Ovacik presents a laid-back nightlife. Here, in this serene resort nightlife is confined to sipping the favorite drink while watching the world go by. The nightlife on the 'Turquoise Coast' is quite legendary. There are clubs and pubs that stay open till the early hours during the summer season. These clubs offer everything from the 60s discos to Turkish theme nights.

Activities

Visitors can enjoy a few water sports like swimming, windsurfing, boating and fishing in Ovacik. Tourists can enjoy boat trip as well to the neighboring resorts.

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

The lovely lagoon of Olu Deniz, which is a short distance away, with its white sands and clear waters increase the charm of the region. Visitors seeking adrenal thumping pursuits can enjoy paragliding from 2000 meters in Olu Deniz. 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. Another 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.