40+ Epic Family-Friendly Things to Do in Fethiye and Nearby

After several years of slow travel and location-independent life, we slowed down even more and took up a short-term residency in Turkiye for an entire year! We based ourselves in the gorgeous turquoise coastal town of Fethiye and, from our comprehensive and thoroughly enjoyable experience, Fethiye has no shortage of things to do!

From island hopping to zooming down water slides, hiking parts of the Lycian Way, or even visiting a local cat pod, we can totally recommend it as one of Turkiye’s most family-friendly, must-visit destinations.

Whether you’re heading to Fethiye on vacation or are planning to stay longer, here are 40+ suggestions of the most epic Fethiye attractions, activities and things to do to make sure you have a wonderful time too!

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The Turkish Coast: Beautiful Beaches and Turquoise Waters

Fethiye and its surrounding areas have numerous gorgeous beaches for you to spend a few hours or a full day. Here are a few of our favorites.

Oludeniz Beach and the Blue Lagoon

Just 20 minutes on the Dolmus from Fethiye is the small town of Oludeniz. Where, instead of looking skyward at birds, you’ll be mesmerized by paragliders soaring and gliding overhead all day. Just watch out when they come to land!

Aside from being a world-class paragliding location, you can swim in the inviting blue waters of the blue lagoon, a short walk away. Its beautifully clear, calm, and shallow waters make it a perfect swimming area for families.

Arguably the region’s most famous beach, Oludeniz is a tourist hotspot, so it doesn’t have the same authentically Turkish feel you might get in other small towns. However, if you can get past that, the pristine nature gives it a major wow factor. It’s certainly a well-looked-after and much-loved place.

A nicely paved path takes you to the blue lagoon, and you can rent sun loungers, shade, pedalos, kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, and snorkel gear.

Traveling on the dolmus (local bus) from Fethiye to Oludeniz is easy. Oludeniz is also a fantastic place to enjoy a beautiful sunset. We’d highly recommend a visit!

Calis Beach

We loved hanging out at Çaliş Beach and often met up there with other worldschooling families. There’s a wonderful boardwalk (that links all the way back to Fethiye town center) and a stretch of beach that continues much further towards Karatas Beach.

This makes it a popular destination year-round and an especially busy place in the summer when it experiences an influx of tourists.

One outstanding feature to enjoy is the beautiful natural backdrop of nearby hills, mountains, and islands. And the sunsets are incredible. You are guaranteed a stellar sunset to rival those in Bali pretty much every night at Calis.

It’s not a sandy beach and the water is more likely to be calm there early in the morning or later in the evening. However the water is warm enough to swim until late in the year, and the wind during the day can make it an ideal place for water sports such as kitesurfing, windsurfing, and sailing.

The Calis waterfront has several hotels and plenty of restaurants. You can even choose from cuisine such as Chinese and Indian here.

If you’re traveling with family, we’d recommend eating at Anna’s restaurant as there’s a little ball pit with slides inside for little kids. They also let our kids use their kids’ bikes, so it’s a great place for evening relaxation while the kids play!

You can also check out Wonder Bar, where you can enjoy a rooftop sunset while the kids play in the semi-abandoned playground below. Even though it’s a little rough, our kids loved it!

Karatas Beach

Karatas Beach is a smaller and quieter alternative to Calis Beach. Separated from Calis by a small but scenic hill, you could walk or cycle there in about 30 minutes from the beach end of Calis or even less in a car.

There are sun loungers to chill on, rocks to walk over, and ice cream and beer to enjoy from the beach hut. What a great way to spend an afternoon!

Karaot Beach

Karaot Beach is a lovely little-developed beach that is loaded with natural abundance. It is only about 20 minutes’ drive from Fethiye and is a relaxing place to spend the afternoon.

It’s a nice spot to park up your campervan, walk through the forest, along the beach, over the headland, and to a little lake. There is also a pier, which is popular for fishing although comparatively still very quiet.

We found plenty of animals near the beach, too, including goats, turkeys, chickens, puppies, and cats?

Kidrak Beach

One of Fethiye’s lesser-known beautiful beaches, Kidrak Beach is a chilled spot to hang out near Fethiye. We enjoyed hanging out at places like this over the quieter months. It’s busier in the summer, but beaches like this are still relatively quieter than many others.

This one is just one beach over from the ever-popular Ölüdeniz Beach. There’s a small beach hut serving food and drink, and that’s it. It’s simply a fantastic place to enjoy the beach, water, and playing around the rocks.

Parks and Playgrounds

Fethi Bey Park

A totally free and open park space, Sehit Fethi Bey Park is home to probably the most incredible array of playgrounds that we have visited in our travels to date. (That’s a big call from us because our kids are pretty much professional playground goers!)

Knowing this park was nestled between Fethiye and Calis was a big drawcard that attracted us here to begin with. We do spend a fair amount of time at playgrounds!

The cycle trail from Calis to Fethiye runs through the park, and the park is so much more than a series of awesome playgrounds.

It’s situated on the waterfront, which makes it an even more spectacular setting. There’s an awesome skate park, plenty of fitness equipment, a pond area with bridges and stepping stones, and even a reading area. There’s also a waterfront promenade and decent toilets, which even boast a baby change table.

The whole place has been very well thought out, and it’s a superb spot to visit, whether you have kids or not. On the Fethiye side of the park, you can rent an electric scooter to enjoy a speedy ride along the cycle trail.

Fethiye Adventure Park

Fethiye Adventure Park is located on the main road between Fethiye and Ovacik. It’s more of a big kids’ adventure park than an all-ages one. There’s an easier-level green trail that kids can do on their own. But it wasn’t quite as simple as the clip-on, clip-off system we’ve used before.

There are a couple of courses that you can do as a family or by yourself for 12 years and up. The landings can be a little hairy, and you might have to hoist the kids on some parts. Channel your inner Lara Croft or Indiana Jones, and you will be fine!

Watch out for the littles. There are a few places they could fall if they’re not paying attention. There’s also a nice swing to keep them entertained for five minutes.

The staff are friendly too and might even watch your kids while you’re climbing. They were so nice to us that they even gave us a ride back to Fethiye when they saw us waiting for a Dolmus on the main road. (It’s kind of a dangerous spot to try and do so).

Oh, and they kindly rescued one member of our party from high in the trees during a meltdown! Overall, the Fethiye Adventure Park offers an adventurous day out that may or may not be suitable for everyone in the family?

Sultan’s Aqua City Water Park

Sultans Aqua City water park in Calis Beach is a heap of fun in the summer season if you’re into that sort of thing (which we certainly are!).

There are some fun big slides and a couple of kids’ pools with slides. After trying it out a few times, we realized that even little Romy could go down the winding helicopter slide between mum and dad! (We put her on the lap of whoever was in the back).

They’re not the most extreme water park slides, but we found them exhilarating. Okay, so the snake slide is extra fast?.

There’s also an on-site restaurant with nice food (much better than the fast food that is often on offer at places like these). It was easy for us to spend the whole day here.

You can even do a bungy jump here if you wish. To find the water park (near the main entrance to Calis Beach), just look up and spot the bungy jump crane!

(Note that there’s another waterpark near Fethiye. It’s called Orka World and is in Ovacik. We decided to skip that one as the prices are higher, and Romy wasn’t able to go on any of the big water slides).

Yaka Park

Yaka Park is a pretty awesome spot to stop with the family, just a few minutes along the road from the Tlos ruins.

We loved the leafy green surroundings, paths, water features, and, of course, the swing. It’s an all-around fun place for the whole family to have a wander and enjoy nature.

You can order food and drinks from the restaurant. We also enjoyed getting involved in the messy job of pomegranate preparation!

Boat Tours and Day Trips

Enjoy a Full-Day Fethiye Bay Boat Trip

There are several boat trips you can take straight from the Fethiye harbor. We took the 12 islands boat trip, which was fantastic.

It’s a full-day excursion from about 10:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. and includes a yummy buffet lunch on board. I think most of the boats have bars, too, so you can purchase drinks.

We had four stops at different islands on our trip. We enjoyed amazing turquoise waters at the first stops and then a super deep blue at the last one… very beautiful.

The kids and grown-ups loved jumping off the boat and warming up on the sun loungers on the top deck afterward. You can go on boat trips year-round from Fethiye, but between May and October is best for swimming.

This is one of the classic 12-islands boat tours in Fethiye, including a grilled lunch. Or, book a private full-day boat trip for up to 15 people.

Alternatively, you could also book a private boat trip from Fethiye. These smaller, private boats usually visit the quieter bays of Fethiye, and depending on your budget, offer a range of service options to give your trip that special personal touch.

Take the Oludeniz Taxi Boat to Butterfly Valley

Located on Turkey’s famous, 500km Lycian Way and only accessible by water, the 86,000 sqm Butterfly Valley is a nature reserve reputedly home to roughly 100 species of butterflies.

It’s also a fun summer day trip from Fethiye where you can enjoy chilled-out beach vibes and a nice walk to a waterfall.

Many of the boat tours from Oludeniz visit Butterfly Valley. For example, this 6-hour Oludeniz boat tour visits the Blue Cave, Butterfly Valley, St. Nicholas Island, Aquarium Cove, Camel Beach, and Soğuksu Koyu (Cold Water Bay).

We took the taxi boat, which has regular daily departures and returns in summer. We seemed to get a somewhat wavy sea day, so both our girls threw up in both travel directions?.

It was Romy’s first ever spew, and I don’t think she knew what was coming. Neither did Colin until his shirt was covered in puke. It was nothing a swim in the sea couldn’t sort though!

We found a shady spot to chill out and eat our lunch. There are also two restaurants plus a market. Butterfly Valley is a pretty sweet spot for camping too. There are plenty of tents dotted around the valley in shady areas.

The noisy pirate boats come in and park up a while, and then leave, so there are moments of quiet in between?.

We enjoyed the waterfall walk, only around 20 minutes in each direction. The kids stopped about 50 meters short of the waterfall as it got steep and slippery. They were happy splashing around in the small rock pools with some mini waterfalls trickling down.

There are ropes to help you on the last part of the waterfall walk. The waterfall itself is small but pretty and very refreshing⛲. We’d recommend Butterfly Valley as one of the fun things to do near Fethiye with kids as long as you’re up for a mini adventure getting on and off the boat and potentially during the boat ride if it’s a wavy day!

Explore Gemiler Beach/Island (AKA St. Nicholas Island)

St. Nicholas Island, also known as Gemiler Island, is a fantastic place to go for a day out near Fethiye. It can be rather busy on summer weekends, but if you can get past that, there’s plenty of fun and exploration to be had.

To get to St. Nicholas island, first head to Gemiler beach, 10 or so minutes drive from Kayakoy. There’s a restaurant there, and it’s a nice spot to swim and hang out, more frequented by locals them tourists.

From there, you can take a five-minute boat ride across to St. Nicholas. Tourist boats, including the big noisy pirate boats, will come and go from St. Nicholas throughout the day. Of course, that’s the other way to see the island – jump on one of the many boat excursions from Oludeniz that take you from place to place, with this island being one of them.

For example, this 8-hour boat trip takes you from Oludeniz to Butterfly Valley and Gemiler Island, with lunch included.

The big boats don’t often stay long, but there’s a steady stream throughout the day. It wasn’t until 5 p.m. that we got a nice swimming space on the island that wasn’t crowded with boats and people.

We arrived at the island in mid-afternoon. We knew it would be busy, so we went to the hills to explore the ruins. A few people from the big boats explored but turned around early rather than heading for the top.

The island’s trails are fun to explore, and there are plenty of ruins to appreciate, including an impressive tunnel and the remains of several churches. You can walk all the way to the lighthouse and enjoy superb views from several points on the island.

We highly recommend visiting Gemiler and St. Nicholas Island if you are looking for things to do in Fethiye!

Visit Saklikent Gorge (AKA Saklıkent Canyon)

Saklıkent translates as ‘hidden city’ and though it’s hardly hidden these days, a visit to the Saklikent National Park is well worth the time it takes to navigate the 40 kilometers or so from Fethiye.

Its gorge is both a natural wonder and recognized as the deepest canyon in Turkey (and one of the deepest in the world). The length measures 18 kilometers, with varying heights of up to 1000 meters at different locations.

Visitors can explore the canyon carved by a river by wading through its icy waters, making it a thrilling adventure.

You can also enjoy river tubing, where you float down the river in an inflatable tube. Afterward, savor delicious Turkish cuisine at the nearby restaurants. It’s a fantastic destination for nature lovers and adventure seekers alike.

We did the canyon walk and made it most of the way with the kids. Make sure you bring suitable water shoes, or you can purchase some on-site. We spent the rest of our time relaxing near the river, and the kids enjoyed using the swimming pool.

There are tons of tour options for Saklikent if you don’t want to visit independently. This 6-hour combination tour visits the Saklikent Gorge, and the Tlos ruins from Fethiye. Or, take a 7-hour jeep safari tour to the Saklikent Gorge and Gizlikent waterfall, including lunch.

Other Popular Outdoor Activities

Ride the Babadag Teleferik (Cable Car)

If you’re looking for a spectacular scenic thing to do in Fethiye, we highly recommend a ride up and down the Babadag Teleferik. You can get on the Fethiye-Oludeniz Dolmus and get off outside the cable car on the way down the hill.

The kids went up to the 1200-meter station in the fall. Colin and I went up to 1200 meters in May for a sunset dinner when the higher stations weren’t yet open for the season. The paragliders were launching from there as the upper mountain wasn’t open.

In July, we went for another date day, and this time caught the cable car all the way up to 1700 meters. The ticket price is the same, whether you go to 1200 meters or higher. We loved it so much that we spent five hours up there, a welcome escape from the mid-summer heat down on the beautiful turquoise coast.

It’s still warm enough for summer clothing, just with a slightly cool breeze. I imagine the evenings are cooler. When we went to 1200 in May, it was pretty cold up there in the evening if you were outside. At 1700 we enjoyed a delicious meal and got a better close-up view of the paragliders launching off, including kids as young as 5 or 6 flying tandem.

Walk or take the chairlift to the top

There was a chairlift open to take you from 1700-1800 meters. Another chairlift from 1800-1900 meters wasn’t yet open. The whole setup is relatively new, and we believe it’s still under development.

There was a burger bar at 1800 and a tapas bar at 1900, neither of which was open. There are launch pads at each level for the paragliders.

Colin and I decided to walk from 1700 to 1900, which was perfect. There are wooden loungers at the top, a helipad, and fantastic panoramic views. Then we walked back to 1900 and took the chairlift to 1800 for ice cream and pastries??.

We’d highly recommend the Babadag Teleferik as a fantastic day or evening out from Fethiye.

Go Tandem Paragliding Off Babadag Mountain

Colin tried his hand at tandem paragliding here just before we left, and he loved it! During the flight, passengers have the opportunity to observe breathtaking views of Oludeniz, Belcekiz, Kayakoy, and Fethiye.

Usually, the paragliding operator transports you from Oludeniz beach up to the top of Babadag for launching. The ride finishes on Oludeniz beach, so we got to watch Colin and a few of our other friends come in to land.

Check out this top-rated 2-hour tandem paragliding tour from Oludeniz for some action and adventure during your Fethiye vacation!

Drive Around the Fethiye Peninsula

The Fethiye Peninsula is an ideal location for taking a scenic drive. Enjoy beautiful greenery super close to the city. You can reach the end of the Peninsula in just a 20-minute drive from town. Then continue around the other side to explore the entire area.

Stop at one of the gorgeous lookout spots to take in the awe-inspiring vistas. Some people like to stop for a cliffside picnic… Just be careful if you choose to do so!

There are beaches en route. In summer, you can hang out at one of the beach clubs if you wish. Or, stop and enjoy one of the other many little beaches that make up this interesting part of the Turkish coast.

Walk or Ride the Calis-Fethiye Bay Waterfront Path

If you’re looking for fun and free things to do with kids in Fethiye, it can be as simple as enjoying the amazing waterfront cycleway between Fethiye and Calis.

At a grown-up pace, it takes around an hour to walk the path length. If your kids have wheels, the cycle path offers a fun excursion. Cycle, scoot, or skate along the path and stop at the many playgrounds along the way. There are also plenty of waterfront restaurants.

Another option to experience the path is to try out the community electric scooters (install the Marty, Hop, or Beam apps) and zoom from one end to the other in a matter of minutes!

Visit the Calis Bird Sanctuary

The Calis Beach Bird Sanctuary is at the far south end of Calis Beach, on the way to Fethiye. It’s pretty nondescript but can be a good place to spot native and migratory birds. Before we went, I was excited to check it out, yet when we arrived, I was surprised to see there wasn’t much to it.

Whether you’re treated to an impressive array of feathery friends or not, it’s a nice area to walk and enjoy nature amid the urban landscape.

More Fun Times! Some Indoor (Rainy Day) Activities

Fethiye primarily attracts sun-worshippers and outdoor enthusiasts, but you’ll be pleased to know it also has a few child-friendly rainy-day entertainment options.

Erasta Play Park for Kids

The Play park in Erasta Mall in Fethiye is a good option for things to do with kids on cold, rainy, or very hot days!

Okay, so it’s a little noisy and over-stimulating for some, but most kids will probably love it. The play space is supposedly for up to nine years. Our eight-year-old loved it as long as she had friends to go with. If your kid is three years or younger, you’ll need to go inside the play area with them.

The play space is currently 45tl for 30 minutes or 60tl for an hour (per kid). However, if you get one of the nifty cards they have, you can get free credits. For example, I put 300tl on our card but got 400tl credit.

The credit can also be used for the other arcade games and rides, most of which are 5tl each. And for older kids, there’s bowling and a pool table beside the arcade area.

The Ovacik Escape Room

The Hotel Room Escape is a fun and popular activity for older kids, teens, and adults located a short bus ride from Fethiye. Kids are allowed in, but they’ll likely need an adult to help with a few things.

This Escape room is at the Gondol Apartments in Ovacik. It’s designed for 2-5 people. We had two adults and four kids aged 8-10 (they let us all in, and we found there was plenty of space for everyone). The kids did a lot of it and just needed prompting or interpretation of a couple of things.

In this Escape room, you’ve got an hour to get through it. We did it in about 52 minutes. There are codes to crack, puzzles, riddles, and clues to help you get through the three adjoining rooms to escape. It’s a fun challenge for younger and older brains alike ?.

Just book a date and time on the Escape Room website. You could also use the swimming pool and enjoy a meal there. We highly recommend this Escape room as one of the fun things to do with kids in Fethiye. This Escape room is changed annually.

Check Out the Children’s English Library

Families staying longer than a short vacation in Fethiye may be interested in learning about the kids’ English library.

Having this wee library nearby was been an absolute treat for us. As a major book-loving family, libraries are one of the things we miss most about our full-time slow travel lifestyle. It has been very rare to find libraries with English books in the countries we’ve traveled to.

This little volunteer-run library opened in the winter of 2021/2022, and books are donated by people visiting Fethiye.

It’s aimed at 0-17-year-olds, but there is also a small shelf of grown-up books, and the collection is growing as more people donate. Sometimes the library staff organizes activities such as crafts mornings.

The library is at the Fethiye town hall, upstairs, at the back of the big main square. They are generally open a few days a week, but you should always check before you go. They’re called “Kahev Book Club” on Facebook.

‘Downtown’ Fethiye

Take a Water Taxi Ride

The Fethiye-Calis water taxi is our pick for the best way to travel between Fethiye and Calis during the warmer months. You get a relaxing trip and a cheap boat ride at that. If you’re really lucky, your kids might even get a turn driving the boat. No guarantees…depends on who’s in charge?.

Even when the kids aren’t allowed to drive, they still love the ride. Sometimes ours stood in the middle and danced like crazy (again, it depends on who’s in charge and if they want to crank up the music!).

The ride takes 30 mins, and the boats leave every 30 minutes during the warm months (up until November). They start again in spring. Even though it’s only 10 minutes to drive to Calis or Fethiye, we think it’s worth taking the boat when it’s going!

The boats leave from the canal down by the main entrance at Calis Beach and right opposite a pretty sweet park on the Fethiye waterfront. So if you’ve got kids, that can be your outing for the day pretty much sorted (maybe with a waterfront meal or ice cream thrown in, too?)

Note: The taxi doesn’t stop anywhere in between. So don’t use it if you want to visit Fethi Bey Park.

Fethiye Fish Market

If you’re indeed looking for seafood, the Fethiye Fish Market is a vibrant and lively place in central Fethiye where seafood lovers can indulge in a delightful culinary experience. This bustling market lets you choose fresh fish and seafood, which local restaurants will then cook to your preference.

If you’re seeking a seafood feast in the heart of Fethiye while soaking in the bustling atmosphere, you’ll love this place. I’m a dedicated vegetarian, but I still enjoyed having lunch there with friends for the wide range of delicious vegetarian mezze available.

Fethiye Museum

The Fethiye Ethnographic Museum is a treasure trove of history and culture. Inside, you’ll discover ancient artifacts and archaeological wonders that tell the story of the region’s rich past. Marvel at beautifully preserved relics from ancient civilizations, including Lycian, Roman, and Byzantine artifacts.

The museum offers a fascinating journey through time, allowing you to explore the heritage of Fethiye and its surroundings. It’s an educational and enlightening experience for history buffs and those interested in the cultural heritage of the area, although it’s not overly engaging for kids.

Live Life as a Local – Some Lesser-Known Cultural Attractions

Here’s a couple of tips if you want to immerse yourself in Fethiye’s local neighborhood life…

Visit Fethiye’s Amazing Local Markets

One of the things we love about Turkey is the awesome markets. We lived in Southeast Asia for three years, and I tried to love the markets. However, getting past the intense fish smell in the mix was hard while I was buying my veggies!

Turkey’s markets are amazing: rows and rows of fresh produce as well as areas for eggs, dairy, honey, fresh juices, and spices! And depending on their size, you can also find clothing, household items, and much more!

Pretty much every city, town, and village has some sort of market. In Fethiye, the markets are open twice a week, on Tuesday and Friday. In Calis, there’s a market every Sunday. These markets are also a place where you can really feel part of the community and get a taste of Turkish life.

It’s not just a morning thing either; the Calis market is open until about 7 p.m. Grab a gozleme with your choice of fillings, fresh juice, and some Turkish coffee, and enjoy a delicious brunch.

Some of my favorite things about the Calis market were the sourdough bread and filling my own bottle with fresh pomegranate, orange, or carrot juice ?. (With the added personal bonus there is not a fish in sight either!)

Visit a ‘Cat Pod’

Turkey is a great place to be if you’re a cat or dog as it may be one of the most animal-friendly countries in the world. The street animals here are more like community pets and are protected by law.

Walking past a green space, you might see little houses for our furry friends. You’re also likely to see food and water bowls on corners and piles of cat biscuits in certain locations.

There are lots of cats wandering around. They mostly appear to be very healthy. You’ll even see them in the supermarket. One cat has become famous for its ability to knock cat food down from the shelf just as an unsuspecting customer walks past! Then the customer often ends up buying the food for the cat. So clever!

In Calis, the International Friends of Hayed and Animal Aid are two of the organizations helping our furry friends. Animal Aid has a second-hand charity shop, and International friends of Hayed run a garage sale every two weeks.

International Friends of Hayed take in young and sick animals and care for them until they are well. They arrange for neutering and try to find homes for the animals.

When they cannot find homes, the cats are released to one of the cat pods around the place. We visited the one in a wooded area of Calis behind Cafe Pazaar. Volunteers top up food and water for the cats twice a day, and there are also chickens living there?.

If you’re an animal lover visiting Calis, check out one of the cat pods. The cats will love to see you for a cuddle?.

Ancient Cities, Ruins & Interesting Archaeological Sites

Here are some of the archeological sites you can visit in or near Fethiye.

Amyntas Rock Tombs

For a nice little walk and a taste of history, take a walk up to the Amyntas rock tombs that provide an eye-catching backdrop to Fethiye’s town center.

These Lycian tombs boast a nice hillside location with stunning views over Fethiye. You will also see the remains of the Fethiye castle across the road from the rock-cut tombs.

Walk up the steps and easily access the main tomb. It only takes 10 or 20 minutes to look around, and the entry fee is 12.5tl. It’s a fun, cheap, and easy idea for things to do in Fethiye with kids.

Explore Kayakoy’s Ghost Town

Turkey is full of ancient cities, and one of the most famous and easily accessible, the Kayakoy ghost town, is only a short ride from Fethiye city center.

Kayakoy is a gorgeous village in a lush green valley over the hill from Fethiye. You can get there on the dolmus from Fethiye, drive, take a taxi, or even walk over the hill if you have a few hours.

On the hillside in Kayakoy, you can explore an entire former Greek settlement. Abandoned in 1923, the ghost town has 14 chapels, two churches, and two school buildings among houses. It’s both surreal and beautiful and easy for family exploration. Afterward, grab a delicious meal or drink at one of the restaurants in Kayakoy.

The Tlos Ruins

One of many ancient sites around the region, the Tlos hilltop ruins were once a Lycian city. Reportedly built around the 3rd century the city remained inhabited until the 19th century. But was eventually abandoned during the ‘population exchange’ associated with the Greco-Turkish War and World War I in the early decades of the 20th century.

Located about 30 km from Fethiye in Turkey, the Tlos ruins are an easy and popular day trip from the city and are small enough for the whole family to wander around and get a taste of history.

You’ll find remains of a Roman theatre, an Ottoman castle, as well as the Lycian rock tombs. We recommend visiting Yaka Park just along the road after you have been to the ruins. Or you can continue on to explore the Saklikent National Park.

Check out this unbeatable 8-hour private tour to Saklikent, Tlos, and Patara from Fethiye.

Hiking & Hills

There are lots of hills and hiking trails close to Fethiye or a short drive away. Some I have discovered turn into dirt or gravel roads, but others are gorgeous narrow trails traversing rocky hillsides and green forests. Beware of aggressive dogs near small villages and dirt roads.

Weatherwise, where you don’t want it too hot or too cold, I found that spring and autumn are the best times of the year to hike in Southern Turkey.

Here are a few of my favorites. Some of which I did with the family, one or two on my own, and the rest where I hooked up with other keen hikers…

Walk Over the Hill At the End of Çaliş Beach

For a fun and easy family walk, head to the far (north) end of Calis Beach and walk up the little hill. It’s a short walk to the top, easily doable even for small kids.

You can also continue over to Karatas beach if you like. The littles will no doubt love exploring around the hill too. We were the only ones there on a cold day in March!

Hike between Fethiye-Kayakoy-Oludeniz

Fethiye to Kayakoy hike

First up, you can hike from the town center to Kayakoy. Beginning nearby to the Fethiye Marina, cross the road to find a narrow trail that starts through the forest. Don’t let the fallen trees lead you off track!

About two-thirds of the trail turns into a dirt road, so it’s not too interesting. And this was where I met a very aggressive German shepherd dog. I got lucky. After this encounter, I started hiking more prepared in case I met another angry dog.

You get some views over Fethiye on this part of the trail, but nothing compared to what you will see if you continue your walk from Kayakoy over the hill to Oludeniz.

Kayakoy to Oludeniz hike

Head up through the ghost town and over the hill for awe-inspiring views of the Turkish turquoise coast. The track is great, although getting off track on the rocky parts can be easy.

If you use maps.me, you’ll find the trail again easily enough. There are trail markers, but use a map rather than relying solely on them.

I went solo on this combined hike. It took me 2.5 hours from the bus station in Fethiye to Kayakoy, and the same again to central Oludeniz, so a good five hours total with a delicious coffee break in the middle.

I would have taken my 8-year-old on these as individual trails but probably not the 3-year-old!

Hike from Kayakoy to Cold Water Bay

You can walk on trails from Kayakoy over the hill to a choice of picturesque little bays. They’re a bit steep for little legs, and you need to pay attention to stay on track, but they’re fun and doable.

Head up to the top of the ghost town where the flag and lookout area is. There’s a trail down to the bays from there.

Partway down, there’s a fork in the road where you can go right to Cold Water Bay or left to some other little bays. We took the left fork. It ended up getting steeper than we anticipated, especially at the end. So we didn’t make it to the bay, but we did get to the lookout area not far above, which was plenty of walking for the little one!

On a different occasion, I walked with a group of mums. We took the right fork to Cold Water Bay and had an amazing early morning swim. The path was less steep than we encountered by going left at the fork, so this one would have been better for our 3-year-old.

Hike the Fethiye-Ovacik Trail

The Fethiye to Ovacik trail is the perfect family-friendly trail. Not too steep, it traverses through the forest for around one hour. It’s also shaded most of the way, and you may even see tortoises near the trail if you stop and look around.

We walked from Erasta in Fethiye, about 30 minutes through the streets, to get to the start of the trail. And then, we walked another 30 minutes along quiet roads from the trail’s end to the center of Hisaronu.

The whole thing took us 2.5 hours with kids. It would likely take around 1.75 hours at a standard grown-up pace.

This is the easiest and most accessible trail I would recommend if you want to go hiking in Fethiye or nearby.

Hike the First Part of the Lycian Way (Likya Yolu) from Ovacik to Faralya

Likya Yolu (the Lycian Way) is a walking trail from Ovacik (near Fethiye) to Antalya in Southern Turkey. It’s over 500 kilometers long, and the scenery is stunning.

We (four adults) completed the first stage from Ovacik to Faralya, which took around six hours (15 kilometers).

This part of the walk takes you through two small villages. We were even treated to fresh orange and pomegranate juice from an entrepreneurial local en route?.

This part of the walk is not difficult (around 600m elevation change), but we decided not to take kids on this leg due to the time it takes to complete it.

You can take guided excursions of the Lycian Way. For example, this 3-4 hour tour traverses the Fethiye to Faralya route and includes lunch. Or, this private 5-hour tour includes hiking near Fethiye for you and your group with an expert guide.

Hike the Second Leg of Likya Yolu from Faralya to Kabak Beach

We took a bunch of kids and adults on the second leg (from Fethiye direction) of Likya Yolu (the Lycian Way).

In under three hours, we walked from Faralya to Kabak beach, where we enjoyed an awesome beach afternoon.

The trail is pretty doable for most ages and fitness levels (the 4-year-old in our group walked most of the way!) with about 500m elevation, but perhaps a little more downhill than up!

For a mini adventure, simply get the dolmus to Kabak beach and walk down the hill. It takes about 30 minutes to walk down, or you can drive most of the way and just walk the last few hundred meters if you have a car. (Of course, you’ll need to walk 30 minutes uphill to catch the dolmus on the way out).

The beach is nice, with a fun area where our kids enjoyed jumping off rocks. There are a few guesthouses with restaurants on the way down and one very close to the beach.

If you’re keen on hiking a little more of the Lycian Way, check out my overnight adventure from Kabak beach to Patara!

Rest and Relaxation

If you’re too tired to try any of the above suggestions or need a rest after some of them, here are a few places you can go to rejuvenate!

Chill Out at Suna Village

Suna Village is an ideal place to relax near Fethiye for the day. You can catch a dolmus to Yaniklar and then a taxi up to the village, or you could drive there.

Suna Village is an accommodation facility, but they were happy for us to hang out and buy lunch there. The kids played in the playground, swam in the river, and played games on the field.

It’s a special place to stay if you’re looking for accommodation too. They have lovely beach-style huts with a small swimming pool attached to each one, plus a big shared pool. You can play football, volleyball, table tennis, or just chill by the river amid gorgeous forest surroundings.

Relax at Katranci Bay Nature Park

Katranci Bay Nature Park is popular with the locals and a lovely place to spend the day (or longer) near Fethiye. The Dolmus to get there is pretty infrequent and seems to be somewhat of an “on-demand” service, but with a bit of patience, we managed to get there and back on public transport. You could also catch a taxi from Calis or Fethiye or drive there.

There’s a small per person/per vehicle fee, which is well worth it for the amazing facilities. The park is surrounded by nature, and you’ll find plenty of shade and picnic benches. The water is calm, shallow, and sandy underfoot… perfect for kids.

There are two main beaches to choose from, with a nice easy path connecting the two. Both have platforms out in the water for jumping and sunbathing.

If you want to stay longer, Katranci has excellent camping facilities. Bring your own tent or stay in one of the small huts or family-sized tents on site. There are plenty of fridges, showers, and changing rooms, so it’s easy to stay awhile. And in peak season, the on-site restaurant is open.

We’d highly recommend a visit to Katranci Bay Nature Park… It’s one of the most kid-friendly swimming beaches we’ve been to on our travels!

Spend the Day in Nature at Yesil Vadi

Yesil Vadi is another summer destination in Yaniklar, just a short drive from central Fethiye. The lush, green landscape is perfect for immersing yourself in nature. If you want to feel revitalized, jump into the ice-cold water, and you’re sure to feel refreshed (and maybe even shocked to your core)!

Yesil Vadi is the sort of place you can easily play all day. You’ll find a swing made for flying off into the water, and a jumping platform, maybe three or four meters high.

Farm animals roam the grounds, and there’s plenty of space for the kids to run around. When it’s time to chill, you can sit on the waterfront, enjoy a meal, and even camp overnight. Some of the tents sit high on small platforms, so just be careful if you need to get up at night!

Explore and Dine on Solvalye Island (AKA Knight Island)

Solvalye Island is a fantastic place for lunch, dinner, or an all-day date from Calis or Fethiye.

Okay, so you could take the kids, but our top travel tip for this particular place is to try going alone ?! Just book a place at Ada restaurant on the island, and they’ll arrange to pick you up (at no charge) on one of their boats from Fethiye or Calis.

The restaurant is on the higher-end side, and it’s very worth it as the food is delicious and the views are amazing.

The whole island has a relaxed feel. This is the place to visit if you want to feel like you’re on vacation. We felt like we’d had a getaway and only spent about six hours there.

The island is easy to walk around. There are a few paths you can follow. There’s also a small beach with a jetty, ideal for swimming.

Enjoy a Traditional Turkish Bath Experience in Fethiye

Last but not least, consider visiting a traditional Turkish Hammam. I visited one in Calis, and there are several in Fethiye. They typically involve a vigorous full-body scrub down, sauna, shower, and steam room, with add-ons such as massage available.

This 3-hour Turkish bath experience covers all the basics, with hotel transfers, sauna, steam, scrub down, and 20-minute foam oil massage.

Things to do in Fethiye and nearby | In conclusion

We had a wonderful time during our year in Fethiye, so we hope these recommendations and travel tips are helpful for your upcoming stay or extended vacation.

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If you’re traveling to other parts of Turkiye, check out our top recommendations for things to do in Kas, Dalyan, Antalya, Cappadocia, and Pamukkale. Plus, check out our epic 10-day overland adventure from Turkiye to Georgia!

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