Fethiye (Turkey)

Fethiye is an Eastern Mediterranean port town located in Gulf of Fethiye (Aegean Sea) in southwestern Turkey. Port's naturally sheltered harbour makes it a popular stop for yachts and smaller-sized cruise ships. Fethiye Marina is at gulf's eastern side (in front of the town).

Severely damaged by earthquakes, Fethiye occupies the site of the ancient Lycian city Telmessos. Close to the quay are the Hellenistic theater and Lycian rock tombs covering the hillside above downtown's bazaar. At short walking distance is the Amyntas Tomb with its two Ionic columns. Behind the harbor (on the hillside) are the ruins of Knight's Castle (medieval fortress).

The deserted late-medieval city Kaya Koyu is southwest of Fethiye. It was abandoned in 1923 when around 6000 inhabitants were relocated to Greece in a population exchange - following the Greece-Turkey war (1919-1922). Panayia Pyrgiotissa basilica, two other churches and around 1000 ruined houses still remain. Further to northeast is the ruined mountain-top ancient city Kadyanda, which has a necropolis, agora (open space used for public assemblies and markets), theater, stadium, Roman baths.

Fethiye cruise terminal

Fethiye tours, shore excursions, hotels

City Tours and Shore Excursions

From Fethiye cruise port are offered shore excursions to Xanthos (aka Xanthus). Xanthos (historically known as Lycia) is famous for the ruins (an ancient acropolis) on the southern slopes of a hill in the town of Kınık's northern outskirts (on Xanthos River's left bank).

The river flows beneath the hill. A road encircles the hill and also runs through the Xanthos ruins. During archaeological excavations at Xanthos, many Lycian and Greek texts were discovered, including some bilingual that are useful in the Lycian language understanding. At the site was discovered even a trilingual recording (on the Xanthian Obelisk monument) which includes also the Anatolian (aka Milyan) language.