Sitting snuggly on the west coast of Turkey just north of Antalya is a charming working-class, waterfront village filled with tiny spots of history and lacking major tourism. It’s a dream location for a month’s long stay, or, if you only have a day, a great place to do a free walking tour of Fethiye.
We stayed for a month and really got to know the entire city from Çalış Beach, full of British Expats, to Ölüdeniz Beach where we watched the paragliders fly down from Babadağ and over Kayaköy. But hidden within the old town of Fethiye and along its waterfront, we found a bunch of cool, interesting, and historical stops along the way.
Come with us on our free walking tour of Fethiye. You can click on the interactive Google Map of our free walking tour of Fethiye, or you can download an even better interactive map of it from GPSMyCity.
We stayed in a wonderful flat right near the water, but you can find several boutique hotels in Fethiye, boats to live on for a short time, and even apartments and flats.
The Fethiye Sign and Community Park
You’ll start the walk at the Fethiye sign in Beşkaza Meydanı park, or 5 Judges Park. You’ll see a statue of the founding father of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, a clock tower, and the colorful Fethiye sign. This area is very active in the evening with families coming out to enjoy the beautiful evening weather.
The Lycian Sarcophagus in Fethiye
Around the corner, you’ll find the Lycian Sarcophagus. Built in the 4th Century, BC, it’s the largest remaining sarcophagus of its kind. Tomblike, the carvings in the stonework of war and buffet scenes reflect the social status of the warrior buried here in the original location.
Famous Local Musicians
Continue just a block to an interesting statue of two musicians. The figure on the left is Ramadan Gungorr. A child musician, he played the 3-stringed bağlama and pioneered the Şelpe technique of finger tapping. He played polyphonic folk music and passed away in 2004. The figure on the right is Hamdi Özbay. After a career at Istanbul Municipal Conservatory and Istanbul Radio together, he began playing bağlama at an old age, sharing his love with children throughout Turkey. He passed away in 2017.
Old Downtown Fethiye, Paspatur
Head along the boulevard to the old town of Fethiye, Paspatur Çarşısı. You can meander in and out of the alleys, enjoying the Turkish shops and cafes. Be sure to stop and smell some of the spices and sit for a spell to enjoy a Turkisk tea.
During Ancient times, Fethiye was known as Telmessos (which means “land of lights”), named after the son of the god Apollo and his princess love, Agenor. Over time, Fethiye has had many names and occupants, including Persians, Arabs, Greeks, and now Turks. In 1934, it was renamed from Meğri to Fethiye after a Captain in the Ottoman Air Force who died attempting the first flight from Istanbul to Cairo.
The Telmessos Amphitheater
As you walk through Fethiye, you’ll see the ancient ruin of the Telmessos amphitheater. A great way to see it is to take the stairs up into the neighborhood and see the view from the top of the theatre. You’ll also meet several cats along the way. This late Hellenistic theatre was built in the 2nd Century AD, updated by the Romans for gladiatorial usage, decayed, and now it’s being restored for future concerts and entertainment. You can’t enter the theatre at the moment, but you can walk up behind it for great views of it and Fethiye harbor.
The Fethiye Fish Market
Continue down the steps back through old town to the Fethiye Fish Market. If you’re hungry, you can pick your fresh fish from the display of hundreds of just-caught fish, and the fishmonger will cook it anyway you want it. Grab a seat at one of the blue and white checked tables, add some meze to your meal, and enjoy relaxing at the fish market. Or, you can buy your fish to go. Don’t forget to ask the fishmonger to filet and clean your fish for you before leaving!
Amyntas Rock Tombs
It’s time to walk off that lunch and head toward the Amyntas Rock Tombs. You’ve probably already noticed them from your view at the amphitheater. But the access point is north of town, so continue walking through the neighborhood. You’ll take a right and head up the hill. It’s steep, but the climb is worth it. You’ll be able to see several smaller tombs along the way. When you get to the top of the hill, there’s an entry into the tomb area of about $3. The entry allows you to go up to the biggest tomb, but you can’t enter.
The Amyntas Rock Tombs were built by the Lycians in 350 BCE and named after the son of Hermagios, who might be the descendant of the King maker of Cyrus the Great.
The Fethiye Market, a Don’t Miss
Walk down the hill and along the canal/river toward the Fethiye Market. If it’s Tuesday, you’ll find about a hundred vendors of various fruit, veg, and spices. On Friday, the dairy, nut, bread, shoe, and clothing vendors show up. The market runs from sunup to sundown, is basically all cash. The Fethiye Market is a good place to also try typical Turkish street food like gözleme, a turnover made from potato, cheese and spinach, or other fillings, and doner iskender, meat-based shavings of lamb, chicken or beef often served in a pita-like bread with a tomato sauce.
If the market isn’t running, just continue the walk thru the neighborhood to the last stop which features two things to enjoy.
A Park for Woman’s Rights and An Ode to Famous Turks
The first is the large park named after Bahriye Üçok, a Senator and Turkey’s first female theologan. She advocated for women’s rights and was the first person to conduct academic studies on Islam and women in Turkey. She was killed by a bomb hidden in a book in 1990.
Walk through the park and its playgrounds until you get to the boardwalk along the beach. Here you’ll find a small park of about a dozen busts of famous Turks in history. Be sure to use your Google Translate on your phone to interpret the sayings under each person. Atila the Hun’s saying is “Superficial purposes lead to superficial results.”
If you’re up for a bit more of a walk, you can then go south along the boardwalk back to where you began. You’ll get a chance to enjoy the sparkling bay of Fethiye. Be sure to stop and grab a fresh pomegranate juice along the way.
Chris Englert, the Walking Traveler, believes walking is the platform for life. Wanderlusting since the age of 5, she’s since traveled all 50 US states and 62 countries. Chris shares her love of walking while traveling via blogs, books, and presentations. A natural storyteller, she invites you along as she explores the world, one walk at a time.
Currently, Chris and her husband, Steve, travel the world, full-time as nomads, with just their two carry-ons. They’ve been traveling since May, 2021.