The charming, modern town of Fethiye, Turkey, sits on a pretty harbor sheltered by 12 small islands 340 mi/550 km south of Istanbul.
Although most of the buildings were constructed after a 1957 earthquake, the city has a number of ancient tombs scattered throughout town (the best being the Tomb of Amyntas, cut into the rock face above the town).
The harbor is filled with traditional wooden sailing ships and makes a good spot for a pleasant evening stroll. There are beaches at Calis (2 mi/3 km around the bay), and Olu Deniz is one of the most beautiful beaches in the country (6 mi/10 km west). Many visitors choose to explore the town and surrounding countryside on rented scooters. Cruises to Marmaris and Antalya are also popular, especially in the high season.
Also nearby are the ruins of Xanthus (the ancient capital of Lycia) and Letoon (a Lycian religious center), as well as the melancholy but beautiful abandoned Greek hillside village of Kayakoy, a 5-mi/8-km walk from Olu Deniz.
Accessible by car, bus or air (the nearest airport is 25 mi/40 km west in Dalaman) a trip along the coastal highway toward Antalya, passing through Kalkan, Kas, Demre and Olimpos makes for a scenic journey.
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