Where to Stay - Turkey

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Ovacık
Just a short distance from Hisarönü, is the newer
resort area of Ovacık, which is essentially a
collection of hotels and apartment buildings,
blending in with the stunning mountain scenery.
It is more peaceful than its neighbour, and all
facilities are in the centre of Hisarönü just a
short walk or dolmuş ride away. Ovacık makes
a good base for those who want to walk in the
surrounding countryside.
Fethiye
Fethiye is a traditional market town set around
a beautiful natural harbour. It is a big centre for
scuba diving and boats leave from here for day
trips around the stunning coastline. The most
popular is the 12 islands boat trip, a relaxing
way to spend the day, touring the beautiful
coves and islands of the Gulf of Fethiye, with
breaks for lunch and swimming. Life here
continues all year round, and recently, many
British nationals have chosen to make this
relaxed area their home. There are a number of
hotels in the town itself, which mostly attract
older couples, who enjoy the traditional lifestyle
and also like the fact that it is flat and easy to
get around. There is a greater variety of shops
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En yakın plaj nerede?
Where is the nearest beach?
in the narrow streets of the bazaar area, Paspatur,
offering more competitive prices than those
in any of the resorts. In the evenings head for
this lively area for live music and Turkish bars.
There is no beach in Fethiye itself although
there are hotels which have access to the sea
for swimming. Once the site of the ancient city
of Telmessos, all that remains are the Lycian
rock tombs, which overlook the modern town,
a couple of Lycian sarcophagi and a small
Roman theatre.
3The spectacular and unforgettable
SaklıkentGorge
Çalış Beach
The nearest beach to Fethiye is Çalış beach, a
pebble and coarse sand beach in a beautiful
setting, which can be reached by boat or dolmuş
from the town centre. The seafront promenade
with its hotels and restaurants is closed to traffic
during the summer, making it safe for children.
The resort has expanded around the beach, and
has a relaxed feel popular with families and
older couples.
Kayaköy
One of the highlights of a stay in this area
is a visit to the eerie ghost town of Kayaköy,
literally ‘stone village’. Once the Greek town
of Karmylassos, it was abandoned in the 1920’s.
It has recently been the subject of renewed
interest as it features as the setting for Louis de
Bernières novel, ‘Birds without Wings’which
provides a fascinating insight into life here and
the period of dramatic social change which took
place in the time leading up to the foundation
of the Republic of Turkey. There are around
400 houses here together with churches and
other public buildings. It can be visited by
dolmuş, on foot from Hisarönü or even on
horse-back.
Göcek
Göcek is popular with yachting types who come
here for its excellent marina. It is a charming
resort with a range of sophisticated hotels and
upmarket restaurants and boutiques.
Saklıkent Gorge
Known in Turkish as the ‘hidden city’,
Saklıkent is a stunning mountain gorge some
44 kms from Fethiye, a narrow opening stretching
an incredible 18 kms into the rockface of
Mount Akdağ. A wooden walkway has been
constructed above the icy cold waters of the
mountain springs of Gökçesu and Ulupınar. If
you are feeling particularly brave you can take
a dip here, but otherwise the waterside cafes
provide a relaxing break and a chance to enjoy
the spectacular setting.