48 hours in Fethiye – A 2 day Itinerary

Enjoy Breakfast at Kamkat Cafe

Start your 48 hrs in Fethiye with breakfast at Kamkat Cafe, a relaxed restaurant near Fethiye’s Çalış Beach.

They have a covered outdoor terrace and serve a range of local Turkish and Mediterranean dishes as well as more classic breakfast dishes (bread, preserves, pastries, etc.) that you might be more used to back home.

Lake Köyceğiz

Lake Koycegiz is 100 km up the coast from Fethiye but it’s totally worth travelling the distance. Plus, there are other things to do in this area that make the journey worthwhile.

Lake Koyegiz isn’t just a beautiful lake, but it also has natural mug baths, a sandy lake-side beach and beautiful views of the surrounding area.

You could also take a boat ride on the lake or simply stroll around the promenade if you don’t feel like getting wet (or getting muddy).

Visit İztuzu Beach

There are many great beaches in Fethiye but some are better than others. While Fethiye’s local beach Çalış is long and sandy with great waters for swimming in, Iztuzu Beach has something that it doesn’t: loggerhead turtles! Plus, it’s just a short distance away from Kale Koycegiz.

These turtles lay their eggs from May to October and access to the beach is usually prohibited during the night at this time to protect the eggs. Hatching season is from November to April. 

Grab Lunch at Turtle Beach Restaurant

While you’re at Iztuzu Beach, stay for lunch at the local beachside restaurant. It’s a relaxed seafood eatery with excellent reviews. You can either consume your catch in the restaurant or get your food to take away and eat on the beach.

Amyntas Rock Tombs

Head back to Fethiye and discover one of the most important historical ruins in the town. The Anyntas Rock Tombs of Fethiye are similar to the Lycian Rock Tombs of Myra which are much further down the coast. 

These rock tombs are much closer to Fethiye as they literally overlook the harbour so they’re in a much more convenient location at the end of the Fethiye Kordon hiking trail. Or you can take this day tour to see Anyntas Rock Tombs.

They are the remains of the Greek ancient city of Telmessos dating back to the 4th century BC. Like Petra in Jordan, they are hewn into the cliff face.

They are one of the ancient architectural wonders of Turkey and are well worth visiting up close. Not to mention the view of Fethiye from where the rock tombs are is spectacular.

Eat Dinner at Middoor Restorant Cafe&Bar

Back in Fethiye, enjoy eating dinner at Middoor. It’s located right on the beach and has a relaxed, covered outdoor terrace overlooking the coastline. They serve a mix of local Turkish dishes and seafood.

Shop at the Fethiye Market in Old Town

Fethiye is a beach town that really comes alive at night. Take the opportunity on the first night of your 2-day itinerary for Fethiye to get lost in the winding cobbled streets of the Old Town. Stop by Fethiye Market to see if you can source any cool, local items or souvenirs to take home with you. 

Enjoy Breakfast at Gogo The Eatery

Instead of eating right on the beach for breakfast on your second day in Fethiye, head into the heart of the Old Town and stop by Gogo The Eatery. This café has a cool vibe and serves artisanal coffee with western breakfasts like eggs benedict. They have a beautiful, upmarket outdoor terrace too. 

Discover the Ghost Town of Kayaköy

Yesterday you explored the coastline west of Fethiye, today it’s time to explore the cool spots along the eastern coast. The first stop on your itinerary will be the ghost town of Kayakoy. 

Kayakoy was first inhabited during the time of the Ancient Greeks and remained inhabited until the 20th century during the Greco-Turkish War. All Greek Orthodox residents (which was most, if not all of them) were exiled and therefore left the village abandoned.

It’s an incredible sight to see so many old houses left completely empty and it’s a must-see when staying in Fethiye.

Swim in the Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon

After visiting Kayakoy, head further down the coast to the Oludeniz Blue Lagoon. Unlike the Blue Lagoon in Iceland, this is simply an area of coastline near Oludeniz that is an incredibly vibrant and vivid blue.

Part of the coastline is almost totally enclosed due to the shape of the beaches so this part, especially, is Oludeniz’s Blue Lagoon.

You can swim in it as the whole coastline is very clean and calm or you can just admire how blue and beautiful it looks! Visiting in summer is key because only then will you see the vibrancy of the water.

Grab Lunch at INCI_restaurant

Before leaving the area, enjoy lunch at INCI Restaurant on Oludeniz Beach which is also near the Blue Lagoon. It’s in an easy-to-reach location and serves standard western food alongside seafood stews and Turkish dishes. It’s relaxed and the view is lovely.

Boat Ride to Butterfly Valley 

There are several ways to reach the Butterfly Valley nature reserve, but the easiest is to take a ferry or water taxi from Olundeniz as it’s right on the coast. Otherwise, you’d have a long, arduous hike as there are no main roads that access this largely untouched area! Another option is joining this tour.

Hiking through Butterfly Valley will allow you to be completely surrounded by over 100 species of rare and diverse butterflies. Some of the rare species are the orange, black, and white Jersey Tiger varieties.

In total, the Butterfly valley is around 86,000 sqm. You’ll only be able to see a small fraction of that on your trip but you won’t regret making the effort.

Sunset Paragliding Experience

Finish your 48 hours in Fethiye with a bang by braving one of the most popular adrenaline-inducing activities in the area: paragliding! It’s the best way to truly appreciate the vivid blues of the Blue Lagoon and the stunning Fethiye coastline. 

There are lots of tandem paragliding companies by the beach so you’ll have no problems finding one with availability and great reviews.

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Paragliding at Fethiye

• 2 hours 
• Range of departure times

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Eat Dinner at The PineHill Alacarte Restaurant

Take the ferry back to Olundeniz and dine at The PineHill A La Carte Restaurant. It’s a beautiful stone building that serves Mediterranean food and has a great wine selection.

River Cruise and Dalyan Mud Baths

There are lots of natural wonders around Fethiye and this tour combines many of them. You can take a cruise up the River Ortaca, visit Turtle Beach (its official name is Iztuzu) and explore the Dalyan Coast. 

This tour also includes a visit to Köyceğiz Lake and the Lycian tombs so if you’re short on time you’ll be able to many of the wider Fethiye area’s highlights in one go with a knowledgeable, local guide on hand to explain a lot of the local history too.

Scuba Diving Experience

Fethiye’s calm, clear turquoise waters (it is the Turquoise Coast, after all) make this a fantastic place for a diving experience if you’re a scuba diving newbie and want to try it out. This half-day tour will give you the perfect taster.

You’ll explore coral reefs, submerged caves, and lots of colourful fish on this at least two epic dives. Safety is paramount and lunch is also included.

Day Trip to Saklikent National Park

Turkey has 45 national parks and Saklikent National Park is only 45 km/28 miles or a 50-minute drive from Fethiye. It’s the perfect place for a half-day or full-day tour!

You can hike up the deep river Saklikent Gorge and visit the ancient Lycian city of Tlos near the national park. 

How many days do you need in Fethiye?

When deciding how many days in Fethiye you want to spend, you need to know what kind of trip you want. If you want a relaxing beach break, you might want to stay for a week. 

However, if you’re looking for a fun coastal city break or are visiting Fethiye as part of a backpacking trip, you only need two full days in Fethiye. There are plenty of tours and excursions you can take around the local area if you’re spending three or four days, though.

Is it worth going to Fethiye?

It is absolutely worth going to Fethiye! Fethiye has so many historical and natural wonders that it offers something for all types of travellers. Plus, Fethiye is a cheaper alternative to other Turkish resort towns like Antalya.

In a nutshell, it’s better to stay in Fethiye than in Oludeniz!