2 Weeks on the Turkish Turquoise Coast
At a Glance
Best for: Beaches, culture, food, history & adventure
Where I stayed: Fethiye • Kaş • Antalya
Solo Friendly: ★★★★★ (Very easy to travel solo, with plenty of tours and activities)
Budget: $$ (Generally affordable, though prices rise in the more popular coastal towns during summer)
Transport: Long-distance buses, local public transport, taxis & organised tours
Fethiye/Calis: 7 Days
Calis, a small part of the Fethiye region and where I normally stay with my aunt, is more catered to tourists/holiday-makers than solo-travellers who prefer a bit more of a local experience. I have to say though, the main centre and surroundings of Fethiye have really been improved a lot in recent years and is super lovely to bike around.
In terms of what to do here, there’s a very nice variety of tours and activities to do and at rather affordable prices. Let’s take a small example: the 12 islands boat tour, including lunch (actually 4 swim stops, so a bit of false advertising but they’re gorgeous), which cost just 25 euro approx per person. There are also great opportunities for those wanting to try diving (if you’re experienced like myself, it’s likely not worth it), and adventure-goers, such as paragliding, jeep safaris, gorge visits, rafting and water parks. History-buffs also need not worry as Fethiye is home to rock tombs and a shit-tonne of other archeological sites to see.
I’d say you could quite easily fill 7 days or even 2 full weeks between these activities, beach lazing and more chilled, pool days. Speaking of beaches though, you’d probably be best going to Oludeniz for sand, since Calis and Fethiye is mostly stone.
Turkish breakfast with a view at Sardunya
For a decent-sized boat without too many people, I’d recommend booking with …..
Kaş: 8 days
Okay hold on, who the hell said just a few days in Kas was more than enough? We need to have words.
Alright in all fairness, it probably is sufficient for a quick stopover to say you’ve been and to have a few days of chill-time. But I wholeheartedly urge you not to do less than a week if you can. Kas, as mentioned in the full dedicated guide, is a new favourite holiday destination for me, alongside Sicily, because of its dramatic and stunning views, spectacular sunsets, delicious food and crystal clear water. At the same time, although it does welcome many tourists, it feels much more local than let’s say Bodrum, Calis and Marmaris, keeping to its traditions a bit more and welcoming more Turkish vacationers than expected. I even found it difficult sometimes to communicate in English, which is a great sign.
I cannot say this enough but I absolutely hated leaving Kaş and already plan my return next year. It’s really the first time I allowed myself to holiday more, in a relaxing way without overdoing it, and without the laptop being open every day. Bliss!
→ Find out more in my Kaş Mini Guide
Antalya: 1.5-2 days
I’ve been here before and was supposed to stay a bit longer, but Kaş, for the reasons explained above, convinced me to extend my stay by another day and a half. While Antalya Old Town is nice and there are some cool activities, I visited many years ago and didn’t feel any desperate urge to spend too long here.
A nice to do while you’re there rather than just exploring the old town or swimming, is having a tea break at ÇaY-Tea’s Boutique Café. It’s a gorgeous and cosy little cafe, owned by a Dutch lady who moved to Turkey in 1993 and has run the business for 10 years. She was so friendly, and there were a variety of special teas, coffees and drinks, both hot and cold, alongside lovely snacks and bits to eat. I got the Gourmand, their take on an “afternoon tea”, which I actually preferred to the ones in the UK as they’re usually a bit heavy and much.
On the tray: a cheese and tomato toastie, cappuccino (you can choose your drink), a mini lentil/bean and dill salad, small yoghurt with sesame breadsticks, a selection of biscuits, strawberry tart, tiramisu, walnut cake and a blueberry cake instead of baklava.
General good to know:
Antalya has trams running directly from the city to the airport for just 50 lira (€1). At peak hours, though, they get very full, so squeezing on with luggage can be a bit awkward.
Day 10 - One last morning & then off to Qatar
And just like that, it sadly was time to leave Oman. I kept my last morning pretty slow, just a little breakfast, one last walk around the hotel and swim, then off to the airport.
After ten days of diving, mountains, mosques, forts, bloody good food and meeting some very lovely people, I was definitely disappointed to be leaving. But, on to Qatar next!
Would I go back? In a heartbeat!
→ Want to know the little things I wish I'd known before going? Read Oman Will Welcome You With Open Arms.
→ Curious about my trip after, to Qatar? Jump in!