Fethiye packs more into its coastline and mountains than most Turkish resort towns. You can paraglide from a 1,960-metre peak, swim in a protected blue lagoon, walk through a Greek ghost village abandoned in 1923, hike a section of the 540km Lycian Way, and explore rock-cut Lycian tombs from the 4th century BC, all within 15km of town. Most activities centre on Oludeniz, 12km south of Fethiye centre, though the town itself holds the harbour, the Tuesday market, and the atmospheric Kayakoy ruins nearby. Here are the standout things to do, organised by category. For a complete overview of the region, see our Fethiye travel guide. For more on this, see our Fethiye weather by month guide.
Things to Do in Fethiye: Outdoor and Adventure
Paragliding from Babadag Mountain
Babadag Mountain (1,960m) above Oludeniz is one of the world’s premier paragliding launch sites, with a vertical drop of 1,700 metres to the beach and consistent thermals from April through November. Tandem flights cost 120-150 USD per person (2025 prices) including hotel pickup, equipment, and a 30-40 minute flight. The launch point at 1,700m has a purpose-built wooden ramp and windsocks monitored by the Babadag Teleferik (cable car) station. You land directly on Oludeniz Beach. Book through a registered operator like Sky Sports, Gravity, or Reaction; all have offices along the Oludeniz strip. The cable car (opened 2022) offers a non-flying option to reach the 1,700m viewpoint for 25 USD round-trip with a restaurant at the top. Flights operate daily, weather permitting, with the best conditions typically between 10:00 and 14:00. For more on this, see our best time to visit Fethiye guide. For more on this, see our Fethiye events and festivals guide.
Hiking the Lycian Way
Fethiye marks the official starting point of the Lycian Way (Likya Yolu), Turkey’s first long-distance hiking trail stretching 540km to Antalya. The trailhead is at Ovacik, 4km from Oludeniz, with the first section climbing to the summit of Babadag via pine forest and goat paths. Day hikers can tackle the Ovacik to Faralya section (12km, 4-5 hours), which passes the Butterfly Valley viewpoint with panoramic coastal views. The trail is marked with red-and-white painted stripes but a GPS track on your phone is recommended; the official app and the Kate Clow guidebook are the two essential resources. Best hiking months: April-May and October-November. July and August are too hot for all but the earliest morning starts. Carry at least 2 litres of water per person; there are villages with springs and small shops every 5-8km on the Fethiye section. For more on this, see our where to stay in Fethiye guide. For more on this, see our Fethiye travel tips guide.
Butterfly Valley (Kelebekler Vadisi)
Butterfly Valley is a steep-walled canyon accessible only by boat from Oludeniz Beach (30 minutes, 15-20 USD round-trip) or via a fixed-rope descent from the Faralya clifftop on the Lycian Way. The boat trip runs daily from May through October, departing Oludeniz around 10:00 and returning at 17:00. The valley holds a sandy beach, a waterfall at the back of the canyon reachable by a 20-minute walk, and a campground with basic facilities. Between June and September, the Jersey tiger butterfly population peaks, though numbers have declined in recent years. Entry to the valley is 2 USD. The beach bar sells drinks and simple meals. Bring cash, water shoes for the rocky stream crossing to the waterfall, and mosquito repellent. Overnight camping costs 8-10 USD per person in high season.
Oludeniz Blue Lagoon
The Oludeniz Blue Lagoon (Oludeniz Tabiat Parki) is a protected nature reserve with calm, shallow water separated from the main beach by a sandbar. Entry costs 2 USD per person, and sun loungers rent for 5 USD per day. The lagoon is ideal for families with young children: water depth increases gradually and there is no surf or current. The main Oludeniz Beach (Belcekiz Beach) outside the lagoon is public and free, a 3km crescent of pebbles and coarse sand backed by hotels and restaurants. The beach gets extremely busy from 11:00 to 16:00 in July and August. Arrive before 09:30 to claim a spot. Parking at the main lot costs 3 USD per day. Changing rooms, showers, and toilets are available at both the lagoon and the main beach.
Things to Do in Fethiye: Historical Sites
Kayakoy Ghost Village
Kayakoy (Levissi) is an abandoned Greek village 8km south of Fethiye, emptied during the 1923 population exchange between Greece and Turkey. Some 500 stone houses, two churches, and a school spread across a hillside, all roofless and slowly being reclaimed by vegetation. Entry costs 3 USD. The site is open daily from 08:00 to 19:00 (summer) or 08:00 to 17:00 (winter). Allow 90 minutes to walk through the upper and lower sections. The Upper Church (Panagia Pyrgiotissa) at the top of the hill still has visible frescoes and offers a panorama over the valley. Dolmus minibuses run from Fethiye otogar to Kayakoy every 30 minutes (1 USD, 20 minutes). The walk from Kayakoy down to Oludeniz takes about 90 minutes on a marked trail through pine forest, a shorter alternative to the Lycian Way for an afternoon hike.
Lycian Rock Tombs and Amyntas Tomb
The Tomb of Amyntas, carved into the cliff face directly above Fethiye town centre, is the most prominent of the Lycian rock tombs dating to the 4th century BC. The temple-front facade with Ionic columns is illuminated at night and visible from the Kordon. Entry costs 2 USD, with a steep but paved 10-minute climb from the street. The tomb interior is a single chamber. The surrounding cliff holds dozens of smaller tomb facades, best viewed from the Kordon promenade at sunset when the low light rakes across the rock face. The site is open 08:00 to 19:00 daily. Combine a visit with the Fethiye Museum (1 USD entry) on the harbour front, which holds Lycian, Roman, and Ottoman artefacts including the Trilingual Stele found at Letoon.
Things to Do in Fethiye: Boat Trips and Water Activities
12-Island Boat Tour
The 12-Island boat tour is a full-day excursion departing from Fethiye harbour at 10:00 and returning at 18:00 (May-October). The route visits five to six swimming stops around the Gulf of Fethiye, including Yassica Islands, Gocek Island, and Tersane Island with its Byzantine ruins. Lunch (grilled fish or chicken, salad, pasta) is included. Prices run 25-35 USD per person depending on the boat. Book a day ahead at any harbour kiosk or through your hotel. The boats hold 30-60 passengers; for a quieter experience, avoid the largest party boats that play loud music and choose a mid-sized gulet. Bring sunscreen, a towel, and cash for drinks. The water is clearest at the outer islands, with visibility of 15-20 metres in calm conditions.
Scuba Diving
Fethiye has 15-plus dive sites within a 30-minute boat ride of the harbour, suitable for beginners through advanced divers. Discover Scuba Diving (introductory) courses cost 60-70 USD for a half-day including one dive. Two-dive day trips for certified divers run 50-60 USD including equipment. Key sites include the Samanlik wreck at 27m, the Oksuz Island wall with groupers and moray eels at 18m, and the Afkule cave system for advanced divers. Visibility averages 15-25 metres and water temperature is 17-18 deg C in winter (5mm wetsuit) and 24-28 deg C in summer (3mm shorty). European Diving Centre and Divers Delight are the two longest-established operators, both with offices near the harbour. Best months for visibility: May-June and September-October.
Things to Do in Fethiye: Day Trips
Saklikent Gorge
Saklikent Gorge, 50km southeast of Fethiye, is a 300-metre-deep canyon carved by meltwater from the Akdaglar mountains, with 18km of walkable gorge. The entry fee is 2 USD. From the entrance, you wade upstream through knee-deep to waist-deep water (ice-cold, 4-6 deg C year-round) past towering limestone walls. Most visitors walk 1-2km before turning back; the full route requires canyoning gear and a guide. Rubber water shoes are essential and can be rented at the entrance for 2 USD. There are riverside restaurants on raised platforms where you eat sitting cross-legged over the water. Dolmus minibuses run from Fethiye otogar (1.5 hours, 4 USD). Go early (before 10:00) in July and August to beat the tour bus crowds. The gorge is usually closed December through March due to high water levels from winter snowmelt.
