This charming old fishing village, stretching ¾ ml along the coast from E to W and ½ ml inland from N to S, has some "old-world" streets, a colourful little harbour with a marina full of gulets (traditional sailing vessels) and an ancient amphitheatre a short stroll from the centre. Modern construction has taken place on the steep hill slopes and the peninsula to the W, though the remote location and terrain may be enough to temper the developers' zeal.
A resort with something for everyone. Not as lively or noisy as Marmaris or Alanya, it nevertheless has enough nightlife to keep younger people happy, while more mature couples, seeking something quieter, can find peace in hotels away from the centre. This is a year-round resort with particularly low humidity.
Location: In SW Turkey, on the Mediterranean coast. 80 mls SE of
Fethiye. 110 mls SE of Dalaman airport.
Position: Set on the edge of a
steep incline within a sheltered coastline, facing the Greek island of Meis
(Kastellorizo); the village nestles between small, rugged, steep-sided mountains
sweeping down to the sea.
Dialling Code: 242
A few larger hotels now supplement the many small family concerns of above-average standard.
There is no beach to speak of in the village; paved terraces serve as alternatives, boasting bars, sunbeds and parasols with steps down to the sea. Several pebbly and rocky stretches are within easy reach and have clean, clear water.
Souvenir shops and small minimarkets. A central market place.
Daytime: nearby beaches, hotel facilities or local excursions; yacht cruises;
glass-bottomed boat tours; scuba diving.
Nightlife: choice of bars and small
nightclubs; open-air disco on the outskirts; regular harbour parties in
summer.
A handful of genuinely local restaurants serving local specialities, namely seafood. Little in the way of international cuisine, unless you include the ubiquitous pizza and hamburger.
Regular buses and minibuses ply highway 400, linking Fethiye and Antalya and places in between. Regular and cheap dolmus (minibus) service to outlying local beaches; taxi boat is an alternative. There is a frequent boat service to Liman Agzi Beach in a scenic bay, ½ ml from the harbour.
Boat trips; undersea ruins at Kekova; ancient city of Xanthos; ruins and beach at Patara; rock tombs and the church of Father Christmas (aka St Nicholas) at Demre (Myra); Greek island of Kastellorizo (Meis).
Dalaman (DLM)
Flight
time from the UK: 3 hrs 45 mins