Things to do in Mediterranean Coast
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Taş Fırın
Opposite the centre's secondary school, the 'Stone Oven' is a hit with locals who chow down on cheap grills and kebaps.
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A
Sister's Place
This tiny Aladdin's Cave of herbs, essential oils and – for real – magic potions is where everyone comes for a cure and a spell. You're in good hands with Nesrin and her brother Tarık – trust us.
reviewed
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B
Side Paradise Restaurant
Our new favourite seafood place in Side, this family-first restaurant has a large play area for the wee ones, a substantial kids menu and very accommodating staff led by the affable Emrah. Adults, meanwhile, can enjoy fine sea views with their excellent meze and seafood.
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C
Side Museum
Contained within a 5th-century bathhouse, the museum has an impressive (if small) collection of statues and sarcophagi.
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Seven Capes
One of the best ways to see the Med up close is in a sea kayak. A very experienced outfit Seven Capes has both daily tours (€40), including an excellent four-hour one between Ölüdeniz and Kabak via Butterfly Valley (€50), and 'night paddling' (€45) under the stars from sunset to midnight. Surreal.
reviewed
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Seraser
The signature restaurant at the Tuvana Hotel and among Antalya's best, Seraser offers international dishes with a Mediterranean twist – try the seabass wrapped in vine leaves or the quail with mustard honey glaze – in especially fine Ottoman surrounds. (We love the pasha-style chairs and the glass-bead chandelier.) The Turkish coffee crème brûlée is legendary.
reviewed
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E
Saki
With a brilliant (and breezy) location right on the riverfront just over from Dalyan la Vie (they're friends), this very authentic eatery serves some of the most wholesome Turkish food in Dalyan. There's no menu; choose from the glass cabinet of homemade meze (TL7 to TL12) as well as meat and fish dishes.
reviewed
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Ancient Patara
From the highway turn-off, Gelemiş is 2km to the south and it's another 1.5km to the ruins, which includes admission to the beach. If you'll be staying longer than a day TL7.50 allows you 10 entries over 10 days. You'll pass under a 2nd-century triple-arched triumphal arch at the entrance to the site with a necropolis containing a number of Lycian tombs nearby. Next is a Harbour Baths complex and the remains of a Byzantine basilica.
You can climb to the top of the 5000-seat theatre for a view of the site; note the stones at orchestra level carved with gladiator dress and equipment. On top of the hill to the south are the foundations of a Temple of Athena and an unusual…
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F
Royal Castle Pub
The most bizarre of the venues making up the nightlife zone area just up from the harbour, the always busy RCP takes the phrase 'theme bar' to new heights (or depths, depending on your view). Staff dressed like Robin Hood (or Elvis or Zorro or Vikings, depending on the night/mood) bounce quality cocktails (TL16 to TL18) to giggling tourists. Big screens show all manner of sports, and the faux-Britishness extends to a menu of pub grub. You've gotta love it.
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Red Point Cafe Bar
The Red Point doesn't really get going until after 10.30pm, with late-night drinking and a spot of dancing on the small dance floor.
reviewed
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Reis
One way to taste Fethiye's fabulous fish is to buy your own (per kilo TL18 to TL25) from the circle of fishmongers in the central covered market, then take it to one of the restaurants opposite to have them cook it the way you like it. Our favourite is Reis, which charges TL5 per head for cooking the fish, plus a green salad, bread with garlic butter, a sauce to accompany the fish and fruit. They also do their own meze and meat dishes. You might book.
reviewed
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I
Pera Restaurant
This stylish new kid on the block, with a large open terrace near the market and large outdoor oven, serves excellent meze (TL7 to TL15) as well as grills and various types of guveç ('stews' cooked in an earthenware pot).
reviewed
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Pembe Restaurant
Next door to the Colıba, the 'Pink' is housed in an unmissable house of that colour (with a bit of purple thrown in) and does relatively inexpensive seafood and meat dishes. Meze come in at between TL3 and TL4.
reviewed
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Patara Jeep Safari
If you'd like to tour the Patara dunes (well away from the protected sea-turtle areas, of course), Xanthos and the Saklıkent Gorge at greater speed and on four wheels, talk to Patara Jeep Safari based in the centre.
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Paragliding
Daniel Craig jumps off 1960m-high Baba Dağ in the latest James Bond film Skyfall and so can you. The descent from the mountain can take up to 40 minutes, with amazing views over the Blue Lagoon, Butterfly Valley and, on a clear day, as far as Rhodes.
Various companies offer tandem paragliding flights, but prices can vary between TL120 and TL150. Just ensure the company has insurance and the pilot has the appropriate qualifications. Reliable companies include Easy Riders and Pegas Paragliding. Parasailing (TL100) on the beach is also possible.
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Panorama Restaurant & Bar
The marina-view terrace here is more famous than the food, though it's still a nice place for pizza or pasta and sunset drinks.
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Öz Adana
Despite its move close to the road to Kaş, the 'Original Adana' remains just that and serves some of the best kebaps, pide and lahmacun (Turkish pizza) in town.
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Ottoman Garden
This delightful open-air cafe-bar serves drinks and nargileh as well as simple grilled dishes like şiş kebap.
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Old Turkish Bath
Low-key and small, the Old Turkish Bath in Paspatur, the oldest section of Fethiye, dates to the 16th century. All manner of massage is available. Open to men and women.
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Old Orient Carpet & Kilim Bazaar
As solid as Gibraltar and reliable as rain, this shop is where the discerning buy their carpets and kilims, following the sage advice of carpet seller Celal Coşkun.
reviewed
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O
Ney
Up from the western marina, little Ney has atmosphere, in a 250-year-old Greek house. The home-cooked specialties include tavuklu mantı böreği (Turkish ravioli with chicken; TL14).
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Mutlu Kardeşler
This simple and exceptionally friendly place off the main square, much loved by locals, has tables on a little shaded terrace.
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Moon River
The erstwhile Harry's Bar has reinvented itself as a lounge with live music frequently throughout the week. It has very good coffee, and drinks are reasonably priced.
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Meryemana
The nourishing traditional tastes here, including mezes, spicy dips and homemade bread, draw a Turkish crowd as well as visitors. Try the mantı (TL6).
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Merdiven Kıtabevi
Kaş' best bookshop is small but stocks a good collection of new and used books, including local titles.
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