Next Up... Fethiya, Turkey

Exploring Fethiye: Marina Charm, Hillside Views, and Turkish Flavors

Our next destination was Fethiye, Turkey, a few hours up the western coast. The town has a relaxed marina vibe—fishing boats alongside sleek yachts, a lively nightlife (as far as we could tell), and the Turkish charm we’ve come to enjoy.

Our Airbnb was perched above the old town, accessible only by a long set of uneven stairs lined with quaint local homes. Judging by the “before” photos, the apartment may have been one of those “buy it for $1” deals. The owner turned it into a lovely place with views of the town and the water.

Once again, we were greeted by a welcoming group of local cats—Tara’s feedings had clearly earned us some neighborhood favorites. We tend to name them based on their looks so we had Lefty (missing his right eye), Fanta (you can guess the color), Scratchy (cut along his face) and Fluffy (yep). The cats we don’t like as much don’t get named btw.

I kept active to some extent by renting a bike and riding into the hills, while Tara stayed on track with her regular gym visits. Midway through our stay, we were hit by a massive rainstorm—over six inches in a single day. Streets turned into rivers, water cascaded down the uneven stairs, and the town below flooded briefly before running into the sea. It was a wild reminder of how quickly the coast can change, and we happily embraced the rain, having chased the sun for most of the trip.

For a unique local experience, I visited a Turkish men’s barber. What started as a simple haircut became an elaborate ritual, complete with meticulous attention to detail, hot towels, arm and hand massage, and old-school touches you just don’t get back home—a memorable cultural moment.

Partway through, we drove up to Bodrum for two nights which is 3.5 hrs further north. The town leaned heavily on tourism but with fancy hotels around with overpriced beach clubs it gave the “uppity” vibe. The highlight was our stay at The Marmara Bodrum, a hotel we both loved and would gladly return to as it was a ways away from town but had great views of the bay.

We also took a ferry to Rhodes, Greece—surprisingly close! Walking into Rhodes Old Town felt like stepping back centuries, with medieval stone walls, hidden backstreets, and quiet squares full of character. Wandering those lanes was the perfect way to end our coastal journey, though it also reminded us of the traditional European vibes of Spain, Portugal, or France—Turkey has its own charm, but it’s different.

True to our Turkish mission, we continued our quest for the local desserts almost daily—whether baklava dripping with honey, flaky pastries from small bakeries, or new sweets we hadn’t tried before. As we saw initially in Istanbul, desserts are very popular here with the locals and tourists alike.

All in all, Fethiye offered a memorable mix of relaxation, culture, and adventure, wrapped in the slower rhythm of coastal life. Turkey overall has been great. With us now spending over a month in Turkey this year, we have grown to really love it. Though we are ready to shift to something new, we will miss Turkey.