Villa Dalaria is nestled in the hills of the holiday hot spot of Hisaronu, a sixty-kilometre drive from Dalaman International Airport. It is perfectly situated betwixt and between the bustling town of Fethiye and the desirable resort destination of Oludeniz, both just fifteen minutes away. For holiday provisions, local shops and restaurants are just a four hundred metre walk away. Hisaronu is home to a host of supermarkets, cafes, bars, and restaurants, a busy nightlife, and some super souvenir shops too.
Take a short drive down to Oludeniz, where you will find one of the world’s best blue flag, golden sandy beaches, the iconic and much-photographed blue lagoon, and spit, with a selection of adrenalin-inducing water sports. In the evening, the town comes alive with buzzing seashore restaurants and bars and a chance to indulge in some exclusive shopping. From Oludeniz, you can hop aboard a water taxi to Butterfly Valley or cross the sea to Gemile Island. For the thrill seekers, head up the hill and take the cable car to the top of Mount Babadag, and paraglide back down to Oludeniz beach.
For shopping and the city, Fethiye is your go-to destination, a harbour town with yachts moored the length of the coastline, home to an ancient amphitheatre, a historical museum and rock tombs, and an embarkation point for the obligatory Twelve Island boat trip. There is a foodie-heaven fish market, souvenir shops selling your favourite designer brands, and a local Tuesday market.
The Region
Situated on the ancient city of Telmessos, Fethiye is named after one of its most famous ‘sons’, the aviator Fethi Bey. An earthquake in 1957 damaged central Fethiye, so many of its buildings have been built since then.You can, however, see a Lycian theatre, Lycian tombs (including the rock tomb of Amyntas) and visit the Fethiye museum for more history and artefacts. The centre of Fethiye boasts a covered market area, half of which is given over to the local fish market where you can choose your catch from one of the centre stalls and then get it cooked in any of the surrounding restaurants. The whole of the area is shadowed by the mountain of Babadag where paragliders take to the skies, landing on the beach at Oludeniz.
Fethiye’s Tuesday market is worth a visit. Traders come from the outlying villages to sell the wares from their smallholdings. Furrowed browed men with cloth caps, and ladies in floral bloomers will sell their produce amongst the lads trying to get you to buy their designer fakes! It’s all in good humour. Try a little bartering and see if you can do some good business. Go to the spice stall and you will get some amazing spices. Look for the Kar Serbeti, like a cinnamon slush or Ayran, a salty yoghurt drink both guaranteed to cool you down.
Oludeniz & Calis are where people tend to flock for a beach but there are now a few private beach clubs along the coast between Oludeniz and Fethiye which are worth a visit. There are also beach clubs situated around the lagoon, all with sunbeds, restaurants and drinks service. Hisaronu is more commercialised and hosts a large selection of bars, restaurants and gift shops.
