Things to Do in Fethiye Besides a Boat Trip: 10 Ideas

Babadağ Paragliding and the Cable Car

Tandem flight adventure

If you've never flown before, a tandem flight is made with a professional pilot, so no experience is needed. The flight usually lasts 30–45 minutes, and in that time you get a bird's-eye view of all of Ölüdeniz's beauty. On Prime Turist's Ölüdeniz paragliding there's no age limit, and the weight limit is 130 kg (above 100 kg, a heavy-passenger pilot is arranged at extra cost).

Insurance and all the safety equipment are included. You can also have photos and video taken during the flight: Prime Turist's photo and video package costs 2,000 TL (it's included if you choose a female pilot). Flights run all year whenever the weather allows, with the most regular flying from April to October.

Tip: choose an early morning flight if you can; the air is often calmer and the views are clearer for photos. Adding the photo and video package in the booking box when you book makes things easier on the day.

Up to the top by cable car

If you don't want to paraglide but would still love the view from the top, the Babadağ cable car is the perfect solution: it takes you up the mountain in a matter of minutes.

From the restaurants and viewing terraces up top, you can sit and take in panoramic views over Fethiye. Watching the paragliders take off, especially later in the day, is quite a sight. It's a perfect choice for families and older visitors.

Saklıkent Gorge Jeep Safari and Water Fun

Ask what to do in Fethiye besides a boat trip, and the Saklıkent Gorge jeep safari should be one of the first answers. This full-day tour in open-top 4x4s is designed for nature and adventure lovers.

At Saklıkent Gorge you can wade and walk through ice-cold water. The narrow passages and towering rock walls of the gorge are a true natural wonder. On Prime Turist's jeep safari, the stops also include the ancient city of Tlos, Gizlikent Waterfall, Yakapark and a mud bath; the order of the stops can change from day to day.

Water fights between the jeeps in the convoy and other fun along the way are the highlights of the day. Lunch and hotel pickup are included, while entrance fees (Saklıkent, Tlos, Yakapark, Gizlikent) are paid on the spot. The tour costs 1,250 TL per person; children aged 0–5 go free and 6–12-year-olds pay half price. A sociable day out for families, groups of friends and couples, it's one of the most popular things to do in Muğla. (It isn't suitable during pregnancy.)

Watch out: the entrance to the gorge can be uneven and slippery, so wear suitable shoes. The water can flow fast, so keep a close eye on children.

Things to Do in Fethiye: Culture and History Trips

Away from the adrenaline, cultural and historic trips are a big part of what Fethiye has to offer. The region is a treasure trove of Lycian remains. But it isn't only about archaeological sites: local life, food and crafts are all part of Fethiye's rich cultural fabric too.

Kayaköy ghost village

Kayaköy is one of the most unusual historic places in Turkey. With its abandoned Greek houses and churches, left empty after the population exchange, it feels like an open-air museum. Walking the narrow lanes between the stone houses is like travelling back in time.

There's an entrance fee to the village, so check the current price and opening hours before you go. You can get there on your own by car, taxi or dolmuş (no Prime Turist tour stops at Kayaköy), and a visit is a chance to learn about the area's 1920s population exchange first-hand. For photographers it's a paradise, where every corner and every window tells a story. There are walking routes in the surrounding countryside too, and the footpath from Kayaköy down to Ölüdeniz is popular.

The Amyntas rock tombs and a culture walk in the town centre

The Amyntas rock tombs in Fethiye centre are important remains from the Lycian period. Carved into the rock face, they show the architectural and artistic skill of the ancient world, and they look especially atmospheric above the town in the evening light.

A wander round Paspatur, Fethiye's old bazaar, is another of the things to do in town, and it's about more than souvenir shopping. In the narrow lanes, among the shops of local traders, you can find traditional carpet-weaving and ceramics workshops. Chatting with locals in the little cafés and tea houses of the bazaar gives you a close-up view of everyday life in Fethiye.

A food trail through Fethiye

One of the most authentic things you can do away from the boats is to discover Fethiye's local cuisine. In the town centre and the surrounding villages there are small restaurants run by local families, off the usual tourist trail.

Fethiye's fish market (Balık Hali), in the town centre close to Paspatur, is especially lively in the evening. Here you can see the day's fresh catch and haggle, a real taste of local Mediterranean life. You choose your fish at the stalls, and the small restaurants around the market cook it for you. Fethiye's famous meze (tarama, hummus, çiğ köfte), local olive oil and cheeses are at their most authentic in places like these.

At the weekly market (Fethiye's big market day is Tuesday) you can buy local produce, from vegetables, fruit and spices to crafts, straight from the people who make or grow it. In villages inland from Fethiye (Tlos, for example), family-run boutique hotels and restaurants serve village breakfasts and traditional dishes.

Combined archaeological sites trip

Within easy reach of Fethiye are important Lycian sites such as the ancient city of Tlos, Letoon and Xanthos. Visiting them is fascinating not only for archaeology fans but for anyone who wants to follow in the footsteps of an ancient civilisation.

Tlos shows off the hallmarks of Lycian architecture, with its theatre, rock tombs and hilltop castle; it's a stop on Prime Turist's jeep safari and Saklıkent tour (entrance paid separately). Letoon and Xanthos can be visited together and are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. All three sites charge an entrance fee, so check current prices and opening hours before you go. Guided tours explain the historical and cultural importance of these sites in depth.

Tip: start cultural trips early in the morning. Archaeological sites get busier as the day goes on, and in summer you'll want a hat, sun cream and plenty of water to cope with the heat.

Lycian Way Walks and Guided Trekking

For walkers, the Lycian Way is one of the world's great long-distance trails. Starting near Fethiye, this waymarked route links ancient paths and Lycian sites along the coast towards Antalya.

Local guides and trekking companies run guided walks on the Lycian Way at different levels of difficulty, with popular stretches around Ölüdeniz and Faralya. Along the way, guides share the history of the ancient Lycian civilisation.

On the trail you can enjoy the quiet of nature and see ancient remains up close, and guided walks come with route-finding and logistical support. Spring and autumn are the best seasons for walking; in summer the heat can make it hard going.

In short: always take plenty of water, sun cream and suitable shoes on the Lycian Way. Walking with a guide removes the risk of getting lost and lets you explore the area's history in depth.

Things to Do in Fethiye: ATV Safari and Adventure Sports

For adventure sports fans, the answer to what to do in Fethiye besides a boat trip lies in thrilling activities such as an ATV safari and rafting.

ATV safari adventure

An ATV safari along forest tracks, through valleys and pine woods is an adrenaline-filled experience. Riding dusty, muddy trails puts you right in the middle of nature.

On Prime Turist's ATV safari, guests aged 16 and over ride their own quad and need no driving licence; under-16s ride as passengers behind a parent on a double ATV. A short riding briefing is given at the start, and then you follow forest tracks and trails with a guide. Riding equipment and insurance are included, and hotel pickup is optional (500 TL per person). There are morning, midday and late-afternoon sessions, and the tour runs in winter too.

It's a favourite with younger visitors and thrill-seekers, giving you a big dose of adrenaline in a short time and plenty of fun in the great outdoors. You will get dirty, so wear clothes you don't mind ruining.

Dalaman River rafting

The Dalaman River, not far from Fethiye, is one of the best-known rafting rivers in the region. Courses of different difficulty are run with professional guides.

Prime Turist's rafting tour is a full day out, with about 4 hours on the river. Professional rafting guides, a helmet and a life jacket are provided, and breakfast, lunch and hotel pickup are included. It's open to guests aged 12 and over who can swim; no experience is needed.

Teamwork and fun are the key ingredients. Being some way from Fethiye centre means the setting is quieter and more beautiful. It's a physical activity, so it helps to be reasonably fit.

Exploring Underwater: Scuba Diving

For sea lovers, scuba diving is high on the list of things to do in Fethiye. Dive trips with professional instructors in Fethiye's clear water let you discover the underwater world.

If you've never dived, there are try dives: on Prime Turist's Ölüdeniz dive (ages 12 and over) you make one 20–30-minute dive with an instructor, in a session of about 3 hours in all, and on the full-day Fethiye dive trip (ages 14 and over) you make two dives, at Aquarium Bay and Tarzan Island, with lunch and hotel pickup included. You don't need to be able to swim. Local dive centres also run PADI and CMAS certification courses. Underwater photos and video are available as an optional package (2,000 TL per person).

Fethiye's underwater world is home to plenty of fish and interesting rock formations, and even people without a diving certificate can join a try dive. If you have sensitive ears, though, diving can be uncomfortable, and seasickness is worth bearing in mind too.

Fethiye in the Evening: Things to Do at Night

Fethiye's evening spots add a lot to a holiday. After a busy day, the evening is a time to relax and have fun. And nightlife isn't just restaurants and bars: there's plenty for families, children and visitors with all kinds of interests.

Seaside dinners and local music

The restaurants and bars along Fethiye's seafront come alive in the evening, and dinner by the sea is a real taste of the Mediterranean atmosphere. The fish restaurants around Paspatur and the beach bars at Çalış Beach often have local music and live performances.

Turkish folk songs and Mediterranean tunes from local musicians add to the atmosphere over dinner, and some venues hold live music nights every week. Fethiye's nightlife changes with the season: it's livelier in summer and much quieter in winter.

Evening activities for families with children

Families with children have their own options beyond the boats too. Prime Turist's aquapark tour is a full day out from 10:00 at a water park with slides, a wave pool and children's areas (April to October); hotel pickup and park entry are included, and it costs 1,850 TL per person.

The parks and playgrounds around town, along the seafront for example, are popular with families in the evening, when they're cooler and more comfortable than in the heat of the day. Some places also have mini golf and other games for children.

Seasonal options: evenings in winter and spring

As there are no boat trips in winter, evenings in Fethiye take on a different feel. Exhibitions and events at the town's cultural centres and art galleries are open in the evening, and the Fethiye Museum, with finds from the ancient Lycian period, is worth a visit during the day; check its opening hours before you go.

In winter (November–March) Fethiye has a programme of cultural events, with plays by local theatre groups and concerts, often organised by the municipality and usually free or low-cost. In spring, open-air events start up again.

Night markets and social events

In summer, evening markets are held in some resort areas, selling local crafts, souvenirs, clothes and accessories. The atmosphere turns shopping into a social outing.

Hotels put on evening entertainment such as Turkish nights and foam parties, though how often depends on the season: they're most frequent in summer (June–August), while in winter quieter, family-friendly events, such as breakfast gatherings and cultural talks, take over.

Seaside strolls and nature at night

Fethiye's seafront is lovely for an evening walk. A stroll along Çalış Beach at night brings a calm sea and starry skies, and in winter, with fewer tourists about, the seafront is even more peaceful.

Some local guides offer evening nature walks to spot nocturnal wildlife; in villages around Fethiye, such as Tlos and Faralya, an evening walk is also a chance to see local life up close. Ask locally what's on during your stay.

In short: when choosing evening activities, think about the season and how long you're staying. Summer brings livelier, more varied options, while in winter quieter cultural events take centre stage. For families with children, choosing safe, educational activities makes the holiday even more enjoyable.

Useful resources

GoTürkiye, the official tourism portal of Türkiye's Ministry of Culture and Tourism

The Lycian Way: Culture Routes in Turkey, the organisation that waymarks and maintains the trail

Prime Turist tour pages: prices, times, what's included and booking for each tour

Frequently asked questions

What can you do in Fethiye besides a boat trip? There are lots of alternatives: paragliding, a jeep safari, walking, an ATV safari, scuba diving, rafting and cultural trips. For thrill-seekers there's the Babadağ cable car and paragliding, for history lovers Kayaköy and the Amyntas rock tombs, and for nature lovers the walking routes of the Lycian Way.

What can you do with children in Fethiye besides a boat trip? Good options for families include the Babadağ cable car, the Saklıkent Gorge jeep safari, a visit to Kayaköy and the Amyntas rock tombs. The cable car is exciting but safe, and the jeep safari is fun for the whole family (on Prime Turist's jeep safari, children aged 0–5 go free and 6–12-year-olds pay half price). For younger children, walks around the town centre and cultural sites may suit better.

What can you do in Fethiye in the evening? Evening options include shopping in the Paspatur bazaar in the town centre, seeing the Amyntas rock tombs above town in the evening light, a walk along the seafront and dinner at local restaurants. Later in the day, the Babadağ cable car is also a great way to enjoy the views from above; check the time of the last cable car before you go.

How long does a walk on the Lycian Way take? Different stretches of the Lycian Way take different amounts of time. Short sections take 2–4 hours, moderate routes 4–6 hours and long stages 7–8 hours. On guided walks, professional guides adjust the route and pace to suit the group's fitness.

Are the things to do in Fethiye different in summer and winter? Yes, there are seasonal differences. Diving, water sports and the jeep safari are summer-season activities (April–October); in winter, Prime Turist's paragliding (weather permitting), ATV safari, Ovacık horse riding and Rhodes ferry trip carry on, and the cooler weather can make walking more comfortable. Spring and autumn give ideal conditions for the Lycian Way, while the summer heat can make it hard going.