The small port town of Fethiye occupies the site of the ancient city Telmessos, with an impressive ancient theatre and numerous Lycian rock tombs. Situated at the head of a pretty island-strewn bay, Fethiye is a popular destination on the stretch of the Mediterrean known as the Turquoise Coast.

THe town absorbs the tourist traffic and still retains a sense of its old fashioned rural character, with herds of goats and sheep blocking the roads on market days and the smell of herbs and spices in the air.

The bazaar is the biggest in the area and is a must have for bargain hunters. Fethiye is home to several remarkable ancient sites.

The most conspicuous are the rock tombs dating from the 4th century BC carved in hte hillside above the town. Beside the harbour is the Roman amphitheatre and the crumbling remains of a medieval castle built by the Knights of St John.

There is a good selection of restaurants on the habour front and in the narrow streets of the old town. Around Fethiye are numerous unspoiled rocky coves and beaches, crystalline seas, offshore islands, cliffs and pine-covered mountains affording as much relaxation or activity as one chooses.

Gulets (sturcy wooden yachts) can be hired in the harbour for day trips around these coastal waters. The beach resort of Oludeniz is just 25 minutes away by dolmus (the local minibuses) and offers numerous activities, including parasailing, diving, snorkelling and paragliding.