Fethiye
Turquoise coast paradise
Fethiye is where the Aegean meets the Mediterranean, creating some of Turkiye's most spectacular coastal scenery. The famous Blue Lagoon at Oludeniz, the Lycian Way hiking trail, and peaceful Butterfly Valley make it a nature lover's dream recovery destination.
Fethiye is where the Aegean Sea meets the Mediterranean, creating a stretch of coastline so beautiful it has been named the Turquoise Coast. This charming town and its surrounding area encompass some of Turkiye's most spectacular natural scenery — from the world-famous Blue Lagoon at Oludeniz to the dramatic Saklikent Gorge, from the peaceful Butterfly Valley to the ancient Lycian rock tombs that gaze silently over the modern town. Fethiye itself is a pleasant, mid-sized town with a lively harbour, an excellent weekly market, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere that draws visitors back year after year. The region is paradise for outdoor enthusiasts — it's the starting point of the famous Lycian Way, one of the world's greatest long-distance hiking trails, and offers world-class paragliding, sailing, diving, and kayaking. But Fethiye is equally suited to those who simply want to relax on a stunning beach, take a gentle boat trip through island-dotted waters, and enjoy fresh seafood in the warm evening air. For medical tourists, Fethiye offers a recovery experience that combines natural beauty, gentle adventure, and genuine Turkish hospitality in one of the most beautiful settings in the Mediterranean.
Places to explore in Fethiye
Discover the landmarks, attractions, and hidden gems that make Fethiye an unforgettable destination.
Oludeniz Blue Lagoon
Oludeniz (meaning 'Dead Sea' in Turkish, referring to its calm, still waters) is home to the most photographed beach in Turkiye and one of the most beautiful in the world. The Blue Lagoon is a sheltered inlet where the turquoise water is so calm and clear it looks like a swimming pool. The lagoon is part of a nature reserve, ensuring it remains pristine and uncommercialised — there are no buildings on the beach, just a perfect crescent of white sand backed by pine-covered hillsides. The main beach at Oludeniz stretches alongside the lagoon, with sunbed and parasol hire, beach bars, and water sports. But what makes Oludeniz truly extraordinary is its setting. Behind the beach, Babadag Mountain rises 1,969 metres, creating a dramatic backdrop that has made Oludeniz one of the world's premier paragliding destinations. Watching the colourful paragliders float down from the mountain summit to the beach below, against the backdrop of turquoise water and green mountains, is a mesmerising sight. If you're feeling adventurous (and your recovery allows), a tandem paragliding flight from Babadag is an unforgettable experience — the 25-minute descent offers views of the entire coastline, the lagoon, Butterfly Valley, and the Aegean islands.
Butterfly Valley
Butterfly Valley (Kelebekler Vadisi) is a narrow, dramatically steep-sided gorge that opens onto a small, secluded beach, accessible only by boat or by a very steep (and somewhat precarious) footpath from the village of Faralya above. The valley takes its name from the Jersey Tiger butterflies that breed here in huge numbers, attracted by the unique microclimate created by the gorge's towering walls and the freshwater stream that cascades down from the mountains above, creating a small waterfall. The beach at the mouth of the valley is a strip of white pebbles and sand, lapped by clear turquoise water. The valley itself is a lush, green paradise of dense vegetation, with fig trees, oleander, and wild herbs growing in profusion. Boats run regularly from Oludeniz and Fethiye harbour to Butterfly Valley, and many visitors spend a day here, swimming, hiking a short way into the valley, and relaxing on the beach. There is a small campsite and cafe at the beach, giving the place a wonderfully bohemian, Robinson Crusoe atmosphere. For a post-treatment escape, the boat ride to Butterfly Valley followed by a few hours of swimming and lounging on this beautiful, secluded beach is perfect medicine.
Saklikent Gorge
Saklikent (meaning 'Hidden City') is one of the deepest canyons in Turkiye and the longest in the Mediterranean region, stretching 18 kilometres through the Akdaglar Mountains with walls that rise up to 300 metres on either side. The gorge is fed by icy meltwater from the mountains, which flows as a river through the narrow canyon, sometimes just a few metres wide. Visiting Saklikent is an adventure — you begin by walking along wooden walkways bolted to the canyon walls above the rushing river, then wade through the knee-deep (sometimes waist-deep) water deeper into the gorge. The experience of standing in this vast, narrow canyon, with sheer limestone walls rising hundreds of metres above you and cold, crystal-clear water flowing around your feet, is genuinely awe-inspiring. At the entrance to the gorge, platforms built over the river serve as open-air restaurants where you can sit cross-legged on cushions with your feet in the cold water while enjoying freshly grilled trout, gozleme, and glasses of chilled ayran. Saklikent is located about 50 kilometres from Fethiye, and many visitors combine a visit with the nearby ancient Lycian city of Tlos. Note that the gorge involves wading through cold water and walking on uneven surfaces, so it's best suited for later in the recovery period when you're feeling strong and mobile.
Available treatments
Best time to visit
May–October for beach weather
Airport
Dalaman Airport (DLM) — 45 minutes away
Free cancellation before 15 days
Medical tourism in Fethiye
Fethiye has dental and aesthetic clinics that cater to both locals and the town's large international community (many British and European expats have settled here permanently). The clinics offer quality treatments at very competitive prices, and the relaxed, personal atmosphere of a smaller town means you'll receive attentive, individualised care. For patients who prefer the intimacy of a smaller clinic over the volume-driven approach of larger cities, Fethiye is an excellent choice. The town's proximity to Dalaman Airport (45 minutes by transfer) makes it easily accessible from major European airports.
Culture & history
Fethiye's cultural heritage is dominated by the ancient Lycian civilisation, whose remarkable rock-cut tombs can be seen carved into the cliff face above the town. The most impressive is the Tomb of Amyntas, a 4th-century BC temple-style tomb that is illuminated at night and visible from much of the town. The Fethiye Museum houses an excellent collection of Lycian artefacts, including inscribed stones and sarcophagi. The ruins of the ancient Lycian city of Tlos, set dramatically on a rocky hilltop overlooking the Xanthos Valley, are well worth a visit. The nearby ghost village of Kayakoy — a Greek settlement abandoned during the 1923 population exchanges — is a haunting and beautiful place, with hundreds of roofless stone houses and two churches slowly being reclaimed by nature. The village was the inspiration for Louis de Bernieres' novel 'Birds Without Wings'. Fethiye's weekly Tuesday market is one of the largest and most colourful in the region, with stalls selling everything from fresh produce and spices to leather goods and textiles.
Food & cuisine
Fethiye's cuisine combines the best of Aegean and Mediterranean traditions. Fresh seafood is the star — the fish market in the town centre is one of the best in Turkiye, where you can select your fish and have it grilled at one of the surrounding restaurants. The meyhane (tavern) culture is strong, with long evenings of meze, fresh fish, and rakı accompanied by live music. Local specialities include gozleme (savoury flatbreads filled with cheese, spinach, or meat), pide (Turkish pizza), and the region's excellent honey, produced from the pine and wildflower-rich hillsides. The Paspatur area of the old town is full of atmospheric restaurants and cafes set in narrow streets hung with vines and bougainvillea. Kayakoy also has several excellent restaurants set among the ruins, offering organic, farm-to-table cuisine with views over the valley.
Where to stay
Fethiye offers a wide range of accommodation, from beachfront resorts at Oludeniz to charming boutique hotels in the old town and eco-lodges in the surrounding countryside. Oludeniz has large resort hotels and smaller pensions overlooking the famous Blue Lagoon. Hisaronu, in the hills above Oludeniz, has a lively nightlife scene. For a quieter experience, Kayakoy has beautifully restored stone houses converted into guesthouses, and the hamlet of Faralya, perched on cliffs above Butterfly Valley, has a few intimate hotels with breathtaking sea views. In Fethiye town itself, the harbour area has modern hotels and apartments within walking distance of restaurants and the market.
Getting around
Fethiye and its surroundings are served by regular dolmus (shared minibuses) connecting the town to Oludeniz, Hisaronu, Kayakoy, and other nearby destinations. Water taxis run between the harbour and various beaches and bays along the coast. For exploring the wider region — Saklikent Gorge, Tlos, the Lycian Way — renting a car is the most flexible option. Boat trips departing from Fethiye harbour offer a wonderful way to explore the coast and islands, with full-day '12 Islands' cruises being the most popular.
Recovery in Fethiye
Fethiye is an ideal recovery destination, offering the perfect balance of relaxation and gentle activity. After your treatment, you can spend your days on the stunning beach at Oludeniz, take a gentle boat trip through the 12 Islands, explore the old town's markets and restaurants at a leisurely pace, or simply sit at a harbourside cafe watching the fishing boats and yachts. The warm, clean sea water is wonderful for gentle swimming during recovery, and the coastal walks offer light exercise with beautiful views. The town's excellent fish market and restaurants ensure you'll eat well throughout your stay, and the relaxed, friendly atmosphere makes solo travellers and first-time visitors to Turkiye feel immediately welcome. Fethiye's international community also means you'll find English widely spoken, which removes any language barrier stress during the recovery period.
The Lycian Way
The Lycian Way is a 540-kilometre long-distance walking trail that stretches along the coast from Fethiye to Antalya, and it is consistently ranked among the top ten long-distance walks in the world. While hiking the entire trail takes about a month, many shorter sections can be walked as day hikes from Fethiye and the surrounding villages. The trail passes through some of the most spectacular coastal scenery in the Mediterranean — clifftop paths with views over turquoise bays, ancient Lycian ruins hidden in pine forests, remote beaches accessible only on foot, and mountain passes with panoramic views of the sea and the Taurus Mountains. For recovering patients, the easier coastal sections near Oludeniz and Kayakoy offer gentle walks with magnificent views. The trail from Kayakoy to the beach at Gemiler (St. Nicholas Island) is particularly recommended — a relatively flat, 45-minute walk through olive groves and pine forest, ending at a beautiful bay with the ruins of a Byzantine church on an island just offshore. Walking in this landscape — ancient, beautiful, and peaceful — is one of the great pleasures of a visit to Fethiye.
Fethiye at a glance
Travel tip
Oludeniz is the must-visit beach. For a quieter stay, Kayakoy village offers beautiful stone ruins and peaceful guesthouses. Try paragliding if you're feeling brave!
Ready to visit Fethiye?
Book your treatment in Fethiye today. Hotel and transfers included. Free cancellation before 15 days.
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