Fethiye

With holidays to Fethiye you get a cobbled old quarter, traditional markets and Turkish hammams – not to mention a beach across the bay.

Old and new

Fethiye – on Turkey’s Turquoise Coast – was hit by an earthquake in 1958, but it rose again to become a flourishing holiday town. The place comes with a traditional market, atmospheric old town and a marina filled with yachts, not to mention plenty of bars and restaurants. Not only that, it has some great beaches in easy reach.

Handy beach

A bus or taxi ferry whizzes you across the bay to the nearest beach at Calis. It’s a lovely long strip here, with the sand and shingle dipping gently into crystal-clear waters. And the whole stretch is backed by bars and restaurants serving up snacks, cold drinks and lunches, making it an easy place to while away a day.

Old world charm

The town is mainly modern, thanks to the post-earthquake rebuild, but the Paspatur – or old quarter – is the place to explore cobbled streets that curve past whitewashed mosques. Gift shops sell bags and pottery, and there are friendly cafés where you can stop for a sweet, strong Turkish coffee.

Local daytrips

Butterfly Valley – a boat trip away from Fethiye – is a big draw. It’s got plunging cliffs, white sands – and, yes, butterflies. You can camp overnight to soak up the tranquillity. A 40-minute dolmus ride takes you to the ghost town of Kayakoy, abandoned nearly 100 years ago. There’s something eerily atmospheric about the crumbling houses and churches.