to a land unknown - Fethiye, Turkey

Visiting Turkey is an experience you will never forget. While travel is a privilege, Turkey stands out as a highly accessible and affordable destination offering numerous accommodation options. Although popular places like Istanbul and Cappadocia are often the go-to destinations, we chose to venture slightly off the tourist path, discovering the charming town of Fethiye.

Nestled approximately an hour away from the Dalaman airport, Fethiye offers an idyllic setting along the "Turquoise Coast." The town is renowned for its azure waters, ancient rock tombs, including the striking 4th-century B.C. Tomb of Amyntas nestled in the mountainside overlooking the city, and its natural harbor.
Travelers can choose to fly into Antalya and drive up to Fethiye, but our preference was a direct flight to Dalaman, followed by renting a car through SunnyCars to explore this enchanting region.

Where to Stay

We were fortunate to have chosen a quiet time of year to experience Fethiye, which meant we had a lot of options when it came to accommodation. Fethiye offers a diverse range of options to suit various preferences and budgets.

We chose to stay at the Yacht Boheme Hotel proved to be an excellent decision. Nestled along the marina of Fethiye, the hotel surpassed our expectations from beginning to end. Situated just a 5-minute stroll from the Old Town Market, its location strikes the perfect balance between convenience and tranquility.

The hotel's all-morning breakfast, featuring delightful local ingredients and dishes accompanied by mimosas (just a little insider tip 😉), set a wonderful tone for each day. While luxurious rooms are available for those inclined to indulge, we found the Comfort room to be absolutely delightful for our stay.

The tastefully decorated pool area beckoned for relaxation, boasting a magnificent saltwater pool, hot tub, fresh water shower, and an array of inviting loungers. It was the ideal setting for basking in the Turkish sun, cocktail in hand – a pastime we enjoyed frequently.

The hotel's Mandala Bar offers an impressive selection of cocktails, wines, beers, and delectable cuisine, further enhancing our experience. Needless to say, our time at Yacht Boheme was truly memorable, and we wholeheartedly recommend it as a top choice for accommodation in Fethiye.

What to do in Fethiye

As previously mentioned, while Fethiye does have its touristy spots, don't let that deter you from discovering its true essence. We thoroughly enjoyed delving into the charms of the Old Town, relishing local cuisine (which we'll delve into shortly), meandering through narrow town streets, browsing spice markets, and perusing local jewelry stores. The limited use of English added to the allure, evoking a genuine holiday atmosphere.

Situated near Ölüdeniz, Fethiye offers proximity to one of the most stunning beaches we've ever encountered. However, it's important to note that during peak season, Ölüdeniz tends to become overcrowded with throngs of tourists and buses. Therefore, we'd recommend seeking out quieter spots away from the main tourist hubs. Nonetheless, if you're in search of exhilarating activities like paragliding, scenic boat cruises, or a lively dining and nightlife scene, Ölüdeniz is the perfect destination for such adventures.

On day three, with the weather in our favour, we set out for Kabak beach for a memorable day at sea with faralyabotanica. This incredible, understated business prefers to rely on word of mouth rather than commercial marketing, maintaining the authenticity of their service. We arranged a private excursion for the day, limited to a maximum of two people per boat, allowing us to explore the secluded coves and beaches along the Turquoise coast, inaccessible by land.

It truly was an unforgettable experience, made even more special by the fact that we had the majority of the day all to ourselves. We recommend packing light snacks and drinks, along with a towel, and be prepared to be mesmerized by the unparalleled blue waters. The beauty of this adventure lay in the freedom to stop whenever we pleased, immersing ourselves in the crystal-clear waters, strolling along pristine beaches, and soaking in the unspoiled splendor of nature.

We discovered Diana through doing some Instagram research. As a local, Diana shares insightful posts about the entire region of Turkey, including its beaches, restaurants, hotels, and more. Her recommendations proved invaluable as we explored and sought out new destinations to visit.

You may be wondering if we had a favorite beach spot, and indeed we did. It's called Könül Plaji, just a short drive past Ölüdeniz on the way to Faralya. The parking location is indicated here. Note that the beach isn’t visible from the road, so you’ll need to walk down – it's part of the adventure and definitely worth it. Park on the right side of the road, pass under the barrier, and hike down through the trees while looking for yellow and red stripes painted on the rocks. If you don’t see these markers, continue left along the rocks until you reach the beach. Despite the challenging path to this secluded beach, the effort is truly rewarding.

Highlight restaurants & coffee spots

We loved exploring Fethiye’s food scene. As usual we shared a lot, so that we could try more dishes. We were impressed with the flavours and options across Fethiye old town. We have put together a couple of spots for you to definitely try. We have given recommendations of mostly food places and the our favorite coffee spot, which happened to be just down the road from our hotel. So let’s get into it…

Mozaik Bahçe - They specialise in South east Turkish food including secret recipes that have been made since 1934. We shared the Mosaik Kebab and it was incredible, some of the best food we had on our trip.
Yengec Restaurant - Situated on the marina front, you are spoilt with a view here and accompanied with delicious food. We recommend booking a front row table at sunset, it really is a bucket list location for a meal.
Lokanta - The nicest food we ate in Turkey. A Mediterranean restaurant which specialises in local dishes using the freshest produce. We ordered the shrimp salad, Falafel with tahini sauce & pickled red onion (Tims absolute favorite) and to end we shared a cheeky Lotus Biscoff Cheesecake. This was a highlight spot and we would highly recommend going to experience all that Lokanta has to offer.
Incir Restaurant - This restaurant was a spoil and where we ended our week in Fethiye. It’s a spectacular spot for a sunset with an unspoiled 180 degree views above the old town. We shared a couple of dishes, and so glad we did, it gave us a great experience of what they offer.

Last, but no least, our favorite coffee was from a local spot called La Farine Hotel & Patisserie. It was hot everyday during our time in Fethiye, so we had cold coffee’s only, but they hit the spot and we would recommend grabbing at least one.