Fethiye holidays

History buffs can explore the past just by ambling around Fethiye. Look out for the Lycian sarcophagus near the city hall, then pop in on Fethiye Museum. Here you can discover the region’s ancient Lycian history that goes back to the 15th century BC.

Travelling to Fethiye is straightforward, as there are direct flights to Dalaman Airport less than an hour away and shuttle buses straight to Fethiye.

July and August will be very hot and dry, with highs nudging 40C, and even in September you can bask in 30C-plus heat. October is still comfortably in the mid-20Cs, as is November, but that’s when many of the beach facilities wind down. Autumn in Fethiye is particularly appealing, as the sea will have kept its summertime warmth.

The poster child for beaches of the Turquoise Coast, Olu Deniz beach curves around a sheltered bay and around a thin strip of land into a blue lagoon and a nature reserve. The main beach is actually in Belcigez, but it’s more often referred to as Olu Deniz.

It’s only about 13km (8 miles) south of Fethiye, and there’s a good number of restaurants, beach cafés and hotels. If you’ve ever wanted to try paragliding, this is the place to give it a go.

Amyntas rock tombs

Follow the winding road that bounds the southern edge of the city and you soon come across one of Fethiye’s most dramatic sights. Carved into the mountainside in 350BC, the Amyntas tombs were built by the Lycians and are an impressive sight.

Wedged into the mountainside are three Ionic columns and a portico in the ancient Greek style. Admire them from the road or pay a nominal fee to climb the steps to the tombs and have a look inside its unexpectedly large interior.

Island cruises

Strung out along the coast around Fethiye are no fewer than 12 islands, all begging to be explored on a leisurely cruise. Various agencies around Fethiye offer day cruises to the islands on a traditional Turkish wooden boat (gullet), and it’s an idyllic day out.

You’ll slowly cruise around the uninhabited islands, have lunch and drop anchor now and again to swim in tiny coves.

Kayaköy

Back in 1928, the Greek Orthodox inhabitants of Kayaköy were forced to leave during a population exchange between Greece and Turkey. Since then, the evocative ruins of 600 roofless stone houses of this “ghost village” have become one of the region’s top attractions.

While a new village has been growing just north of Kayaköy, the original place has remained eerily empty – apart from visitors. If you’re there in the summer, come first thing in the morning to avoid the tour groups.

Lycian Way

Hikers have one of Europe’s greatest long-distance walking trails right on their doorstep when they visit Fethiye. Starting in Olu Deniz, the Lycian Way meanders for 540km (336 miles) past Fethiye and around the Lycian coast until it reaches Geyikbayiri near Antalya.

Along the way, you’ll soak up sublime views of the Mediterranean as well as the pine-covered mountains of Turkey. The whole route is a bit of an undertaking but you can get a taste of it during your Fethiye holiday.