Calis Beach Holidays 2024

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Why go to Calis Beach

Dwarfed by the Taurus Mountains, lapped by temperate, crystal-clear waters of the Aegean Sea and tucked away from the bustling resort of Fethiye, Calis Beach is perfect for a relaxing getaway.

For a chilled escape without compromising on services, the palm-lined Calis Beach is a worthy contender. A quieter option than its lively neighbour Fethiye, this small resort has all the bars and restaurants you’d expect of a relaxing beach break, with a long stretch of sand to match. With sandy shingle beaches and shallow temperate waters, it’s great for couples, young families and friends looking for a sun-drenched holiday.

The approximately 4km-long (2.5 miles) beach has a tempting range of waterfront restaurants and bars. At the southern end of the promenade, Calis Beach Bird Sanctuary welcomes more than 250 species of bird, so you’ll be joined on your holiday by the flocks of pink flamingos and storks who visit each summer.

Travel Information

Language

Turkish

Currency

Turkish lira

Average flight time(from London)

4 hrs

When to go to Calis Beach

A balmy Mediterranean climate draws the crowds to the Turkish Riviera, promising long, steamy summers with plenty of sun-drenched days and average temperatures hovering around 28C. The height of summer – namely July and August – is peak season for Calis Beach, when hotel rates are at their highest and beaches at their busiest.

The shoulder seasons of spring and autumn are particularly pleasant times to visit. Daytime temperatures regularly reach 20C, but you can't always count on endless sunshine. Thanks to the surrounding mountains, the weather can be changeable, so pack layers.

What to do in Calis Beach

A Calis Beach holiday promises sun, sea and shingle-sand shores, but there's much more to the area than simply kicking back on the beach with a cocktail. Make it a holiday to remember by visiting ancient rock tombs, browsing food markets or being pampered in an authentic Turkish bath.

Lycian Rock Tombs

Built into a craggy mountainside, the Lycian Rock Tombs – a 15-minute drive from Calis Beach – are where ancient Lycian kings now rest in relative peace. The most famous is the Tomb of Amyntas, built by European crusaders in 350 BC.

A visit is not for the faint-hearted – there are nearly 200 steps to climb up – but it's worth it for the sweeping views over Fethiye Bay.

Fethiye Old Town

More than a tourist resort, Fethiye is a thriving harbour town, with chatty fishermen, friendly market traders and a number of bustling food markets.

Wander through the leafy streets of Paspatur, Fethiye's atmospheric old town, stopping off for a beer or a Turkish coffee and baklava in one of the many pavement cafes. Peek into the mosque or book into the Old Turkish Bath for a traditional soapy hammam.

Fethiye Museum

Modern Fethiye has a history that stretches back more than 2,000 years, when it was the Lycian city of Telmessos.

Learn about its Lycian legacy at the Fethiye Museum, which explores the culture through the region's pottery, jewellery and other artefacts. A highlight is the Trilingual Stele, an ancient stone tablet from 338 BC, inscribed with Lycian, Greek and Aramaic text, found in the nearby town of Letoön.

Kayaköy

Spend a day away from the beach and head to Kayaköy, an eerie ghost town with crumbling, roofless homes, abandoned churches and a maze of overgrown narrow streets. A once-thriving town, it was deserted in 1923 after the end of the Greco-Turkish War.

Take a wander around some 350 homes and Greek Orthodox churches, which all sit empty, and spend an hour in the Kayaköy Museum, which tells the sad tale of the town.

Roman Theatre

Fethiye stands on the foundations of the ancient city of Telmessos, a former Roman settlement, and pockets of the past remain.

Hidden behind the old town is the old Greek-Roman amphitheatre from the 2nd century. Back in its heyday, it could seat around 6,000 people who would come to watch gory gladiator fights. Now, it's more a place to sit and contemplate.

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