I wasn’t sure whether I should write a separate blog post about my last few days in Turkey, because they definitely weren’t what I was expecting. Are Fethiye and Marmaris worth a visit? And what about taking the ferry to Rhodes?
My days in Fethiye and Marmaris, two places I honestly didn’t even think I would make it to on this trip, felt more like a transition. I was trying to find that spot in Turkey that I really connected with again. But where would it be? In my last blog post, I did mention that it might be difficult to top Kaş, didn’t I? Thinking about my experiences in both Marmaris and Fethiye, I realized how different each destination felt during my journey.
Read my blog post on Kaş here: Diving in Kaş and kayaking in Kekova
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Fethiye & Oludeniz beach
I was really looking forward to spending some time at Çalış Beach and Ölüdeniz Beach near Fethiye after reading so many great reviews. However, after exploring the area by scooter, I ended up staying just one night in the centre of Fethiye. It simply wasn’t what I expected from Fethiye and Marmaris compared to my earlier adventures.
The area really had no appeal to me. Not even the supposedly amazing Ölüdeniz Beach. Maybe it was because I visited during the off-season, when almost everything was closed and the whole place felt abandoned for the Turkish winter? Unlike my expectations for both Marmaris and Fethiye, the atmosphere was surprisingly quiet.
Either way, I’m sure the area is booming with tourists during the summer. But during my visit? I just didn’t feel it. Is Fethiye and Marmaris worth a visit? Fethiye not so much. Marmaris? Read below…
During my one day in Fethiye, I walked up to the ancient rock tombs, visited the local markets and rode my scooter up the very steep hill to the old village of Kayaköy. That was actually quite amazing! Out of Fethiye and Marmaris, sightseeing in Kayaköy stood out the most to me.
Other than that, it was time to make some new plans for the week ahead. Where to next? Considering options after Marmaris and Fethiye, the possibilities seemed endless.
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Let’s go to…
So, with a spare week on my trip, I decided to hop on a ferry to Rhodes, Greece! I was actually really looking forward to seeing more of the Greek islands, as so far I had only hiked Mount Olympus, explored plenty of inland ruins and enjoyed Athens.
Read here about my Greek trips so far: Hiking Mt. Olympus & My 24 hours in Athens
Fethiye and Marmaris – worth a trip?
Originally, I thought about staying another day in Fethiye and renting a car to explore the Lycian ruins of Tlos. But I had to get to Marmaris to catch my ferry to Rhodes. Once I arrived in Marmaris, it turned out the ferry was delayed by a day anyway. So, there really was no reason to rush after all. Oh well! At least it gave me more time to update my latest blog posts. And to enjoy Marmaris. Because I really liked it!
Marmaris
Originally, Marmaris wasn’t on my list of places to visit. However, during the off-season, it was the only place I could catch a ferry to Rhodes. Once I found my hotel, perched on top of a narrow hill in the old town and overlooking the harbour and its very expensive yachts, I headed out to book my ferry.
My expectations for Marmaris weren’t particularly high, especially after my experience in Fethiye. But, to my surprise, Marmaris felt completely different. While Fethiye had left me wanting to move on almost immediately, Marmaris pleasantly surprised me, and for reasons I definitely hadn’t expected.
I didn’t want to venture out too much here, so I spent my days doing my usual discovery walks through the narrow streets and bazaars, while also searching for the perfect local restaurant. Which I found, by the way… ROTA Restaurant. Delicious Turkish food!
Overall, Marmaris had a great vibe. I liked it! Fethiye and Marmaris had turned out to be two completely different experiences for me, and Marmaris was definitely the surprise of the two.
And there was a castle! With beautiful views over the old town and harbour. What more could I ask for?
Let’s hope the ferry goes tomorrow!
Travel tip: Be aware of the irregular ferry schedules to Greece during the off-season. Ferries don’t run every day and the schedule can be a little unpredictable, so make sure to check the departure times before making your plans!
And so
Are Fethiye and Marmaris worth a visit?
I think it really depends on what you want to do. The markets and tourist activities, paragliding, shopping, swimming and so on, are fairly similar in both places. So, if you have to choose between Fethiye and Marmaris, I think Marmaris has just a little more charm. At least, it did for me. And there are plenty of luxurious yachts to look at!
Would I visit Fethiye and Marmaris again? Maybe. But if I had to pick just one… Marmaris wins this round.
(post 118)
