Fethiye is the relaxed end of Turkey's Turquoise Coast, a pine-backed stretch of the Mediterranean that swaps the mega-resort intensity of Antalya for something calmer and more scenic. The icon is Ölüdeniz, a sheltered turquoise lagoon so still and shallow it could have been designed for young swimmers, with the famous paragliders drifting down off Babadağ overhead for the kids to watch. The classic outing is a gulet boat trip, a slow day chugging between coves and tiny islands with stops to swim straight off the deck, which somehow entertains every age at once.

There is real history threaded through the pines too. Ancient Lycian rock tombs are carved into the cliffs above the town, the eerie abandoned village of Kayaköy invites exploring, and the gentle early stretches of the Lycian Way trail suit family hikes, with horseback riding for a change of pace. The marina and promenade keep the evenings easy, with plenty of relaxed dining. The accommodation has shifted toward high-quality resorts and boutique hotels built for families, many with kids' clubs, multiple pools, and roomy suites, without the wall-to-wall scale of the bigger Turkish resort hubs. Fethiye suits families who want the warm, shallow, all-but-guaranteed sun of the Turkish coast in a lower-key, prettier setting, where the boat trips and the scenery matter as much as the pool.