Fethiye

Fethiye's naturally sheltered seaport is an important yachting stop. The marina lies on the eastern side of Turkey's Gulf of Fethiye, directly in front of town. Most ships anchor in the bay and take guests ashore by ship's tenders; smaller vessels can dock in the center of town.

Fethiye, the region's main town, is on the Lycian coast about 150 km southeast of Mugla, the provincial capital. Numerous islands dot the gulf, which is closed by the small Island of Knights, known as the Cavaliere since 1936.

Known as Megri or Makri in the Ottoman Period, the town was renamed Fethiye by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk for Fethi Bey, an airman who crashed here. An 1856 earthquake devastated it, and a further earthquake in 1957 required much of Fethiye to be rebuilt.

Consequently, Fethiye is now a modern town with a long seafront promenade and lively bazaar. Its sheltered boating harbor and beautiful beaches have made it a popular holiday resort, served by Dalaman regional airport (50km northwest).

Fethiye Museum has a rich collection of ancient and more recent artifacts, documenting the succession of civilisations that existed here, beginning with ancient Lycia.

The marina provides a fairly long, pleasant walk, with restaurants and a nearby shopping district/market.

Taxis in town are cheap, easy to find and use regulated fares, though drivers may charge above the meter for longer journeys, so agree the fare first. Dolmus serves routes not covered by buses; the word means "To Fill", and a dolumus leaves once full. These minibuses, jeeps or vans fill quickly and can drop passengers along the route.

From just outside Fethiye port, a taxi can take you to KayaKoy, a deserted mountain town inhabited by Greeks before the government-mandated population exchange between Greece and Turkey in the 1920's. Its 'ghost town' of 3000+ houses is a striking sight.

The Old Town of Fethiye (paspatur), Hisaronu & Oludeniz have several pedestrian-only streets with shops selling jewelry, carpets, sunglasses, clothes and Turkish Delight. Traditional Turkish products, high-quality fashionable goods and lower-than-home prices make shopping in Fethiye enjoyable.

Turkish food is among the world's best. Because the country has enough climatic zones to grow most ingredients locally, there is a vast array of produce to delight the palate. Beyond famous kebab dishes are many traditional options. Meze (appetizers), for which Turkey is rightly known, comprises hundreds of small dishes, from cheese with melon to elaborately stuffed vegetables. They are served in all Turkish restaurants, traditionally with Raki, a clear anise-flavored spirit claimed as Turkey's national alcoholic drink.

Credit or debit cards can be used to withdraw local currency from conveniently placed cash machines in cities, towns and resorts.

Some hotels and restaurants/cafés, especially in large cities, provide free wireless connections.

Emergency Ambulance: call 112 (all over Turkey); Police: 155 (all over Turkey).

Opening hours in tourist and coastal areas are flexible; during summer, many shops stay open late, seven days a week, allowing visitors to browse at leisure and avoid the heat of the day.