Looking for recommendations for southern Turkey in November

You really can't go wrong in that part of Turkey. There is great food, gorgeous landscapes, and a lot to explore in just about any place.

My gut reaction would be to stay in Dalyan, which is close to some incredible rock cut tombs and would put you half way between Marmaris and Fethiye.

Other options would be:

• Gocek - very beautiful but kind of pricey
• Fethiye - More rock cut tombs and beaches
• Kas - centrally located for a lot of ancient sites.
• Patara - Nice beach and ancient ruins. I have heard good things about it on this forum, and I am hoping others chime in.

I have spent a fair amount of time in Antalya. On my first visit, I didn't much care for it, thinking it too touristy. On subsequent visits, I discovered that it's a great launching point for exploring ancient cities (if that's your thing). It's especially good if you are thinking about relying on buses and public transit. Other cities might be better if you are thinking about renting a car.

Are you thinking more about beaches/relaxation or historical sites?

Sometimes I plot all the places I want to see, and then see what is most central. I am not much of a beach person and lean more toward exploring ancient sites.

My current list of places I have seen or want to see in that general part of Turkey:

• Bozukkale (Marmaris)
• Amos (Marmaris)
• Kaunos (Dalyan)
• Gemile Island (Fethiye)
• Kayakoy (Fethiye)
• Pinara (between Fethiye and Patara)
• Tlos (between Fethiye and Patara)
• Patara
• Myra (Demre)
• Arykanda (Finike)
• Lmyra (Finike)
• Olympos (between Finike and Tekirova)
• Phaeselis (Tekirova)

And some places farther south from the Dalaman airport:

• Termessos (Antalya)
• Perge (Antalya)
• Aspendos (Antalya)
• Side (south of Antalya)

And some places farther north (closer to Kudasi):

• Herakleia
• Didyma
• Miletus
• Priene

And places somewhat inland (all of which would be a longer drive from the coast):

• Aphrodisias
• Laodicea
• Hierapolis/Pamukkale
• Sagalasso
• Kibyra

Thank you, Marie. I will investigate these places in more depth. In November, beaches don’t make sense. I am not able to walk or climb much, but do like to see interesting nature sites. We really like exploring smaller cities or communities. We typically settle down for a week or more in a place, so looking for a place that is interesting in itself, not based around just a tourist site or two,

Dalyan has a lot of American and British expats. I only had lunch there, but it seemed very nice. In addition to the Kaunos ancient site, I think they also have mud baths, and there is a sea turtle nesting area.

Fethiye is another strong choice, but I haven't spent enough time there to give you specific advice. It was our disembarkation point from four night blue cruise in 2015. The Bay of Fethiye is spectacular. Gemile Island and Kayakoy, both not far out of the city, were fascinating, but I don't know a lot about the city itself.

Not necessarily trying to sell you on Antalya, but I stayed there for several multi-week dental visits in 2022 and 2023, and so I know it well. Kaleici, the old town, turned out to be a great place to stay. Some of the restaurants and bars get a little noisy in the summer high season, but it's much quieter -- and cooler -- in November. (Why someone would want to go there in the summer is beyond me. I was there in May 2022, and the temps were in the high 90's. Russians seem to love it in the summer, though.) Anyhow, Kaleici itself is a fun place to wander and get lost. There's a Roman gate and a Roman fortress, a pretty marina, small but nice boutique hotels to suit any budget, lots of small (touristy) shops, plenty of restaurants, and hamams. There are a number of day cruises from the marina. Food anywhere in Turkey is amazing, and there is no shortage of options in Antalya. Just across the way from Kaleici is the bustling downtown, with a modern streetcar and cheaper restaurants and shops. There's a big bus terminal that can get you to lots of places up and down the coast. And, of course, many historical sites are just a tram or bus ride away. I never ran out of things to do and grew to love Antalya as I spent more time there.

Pictures from Antalya are here: https://mariematthews.smugmug.com/Antalya-2022/

A trip report about ancient sites, most of which were day trips from Antalya, is here: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/ancient-cities-of-western-turkey

Thank you again, Marie for your excellent information. Will plan to be in contact again as we get closer to our trip and making final decisions.