Fethiye & Oludeniz

About — Fethiye & Oludeniz

The nearest airport to Fethiye is Dalaman (DLM, 50 km, 1 hour), with more than ten daily flights from Istanbul in summer taking 1 hour 20 minutes. Oludeniz is 15 minutes from Fethiye centre and the prettiest place to stay; Hisaronu (hilltop, cheaper) and Calis (long beach, calm for families) are the alternatives. Three nights cover the sea, a boat trip and the canyon; four nights add a day trip to Kas or Dalyan.

The Oludeniz lagoon is shallow, waveless and turquoise, Türkiye's most photographed beach, and as a national park it charges entry. Tandem paragliding from Babadag (1,960 m), with a 25-minute glide over the lagoon, is one of the best spots in the world; ages 6 and up can fly. The 12 Islands and Butterfly Valley boat trips run daily with lunch on board and four or five swimming stops. Wading through ice-cold water in Saklikent Canyon (45 min) is refreshing in summer; the abandoned Greek village of Kayakoy and the Lycian rock tombs of Fethiye are for history lovers.

Family tips: the lagoon is a safe depth for children and has lifeguards; water shoes are needed for pebble beaches. Halal lunch and an alcohol-free option can be requested on boat trips; a private family boat starts from 300 USD for four. Hisaronu has restaurants with Arabic menus and Fethiye centre has mosques. Summer middays are 35°C; boat in the morning, pool in the afternoon and Fethiye bazaar in the evening is a good rhythm. The Tuesday market in Fethiye is worth a visit for local produce.