Hisarönü is a lively tourist resort offering everything for the modern holidaymaker. There are plenty of mini markets along with quite a few large supermarkets providing all your daily essentials.
There are lots of supermarkets such as Migros, Sok, Bim & A101 along with smaller markets, you can usually find what you are looking for in one of them. Migros do have a shopping discount card which gives you discounts as you shop.
If you start missing your bacon & sausages and other English home comforts there is a Shop called Gourmet Pork shop which sells lots of import products but bare in mind they come at a premium. This shop can be found on the Hisaronu to Ovacik road opposite SOK supermarket.
There are a vast amount of shops running up & down the main street from simple craft & souvenir shops to leather goods and furniture. With plenty of restaurants to sample offering Traditional Turkish and International dishes to suit everyone’s tastes.
The town comes alive at night, with its many bars, restaurants & nightclubs there should be something for all tastes. In the summer months there is a family cabaret type show which comes highly recommended which is called Glamour, it is located at its own venue opposite Time Out Bar in town.
The main road which runs through Hisaronu is closed on an evening from 7pm until 7am to enable pedestrians to walk freely through the town at night. During this time the Dolmus will take the back road down to the bottom round-a-bout.
Post Office – This is situated at the top of the town above the barriers just off the main round-a-bout to the right hand side.
Market – Again situated at the top of town on the large parking area on the left and usually runs from 8-30am until 6.30 pm every Monday. The market offers fruit & Vegetables along with clothes, handbags & souvenirs. It is quite normal (and expected) to barter for goods at the market.
Activities – Hisaronu has its’ own small fun fair to the back of the fun fair is a small park and a larger park can be found with swings, slide & see saws situated at the top of Hisaronu 100m up & to the right of the main round-a-bout (near Red Rose Hotel). The Turkish Bath is located on the main street, it is best to book during high season.
Doctors – There are a couple of Doctors ‘drop-in’ centers located near the top end of Hisaronu and also a Government clinic located next door to the post office. For simple ailements the chemist is the best place to visit. If you require advice & assistance from a local Doctor we can highly recommend English Speaking Doctor Hakan – located st the top of Hisaronu next to Abracadabra bar. You will find contact details in our links section
Cash Machines – You will find most of them located at the top of Hisaronu near the round-a-bout, both sides of the road and in the middle of town near the water fountains. Some of the machines give the choice of whether the money is issued in English or Turkish.
Exchange Offices – There are a two registered exchange offices, one near the fountain and Karlik Exchange above the barriers at the top of town.
Schools – There is a Government first & middle school from ages 4-14
Dining Out – There are so many restaurants in Hisaronu so it’s very hard to recommend as we’ve probably not tried them all, but here are some of our favourites:
Dragonara – Chinese Restaurant
Go down the side street by Attika and you will see the Dragonara in front, can recommend the special set menu at the back of the menu, it’s very good value for money & plenty of choices
Shine Indian Restaurant – Indian (they also do plain dishes for the non-Indian fans)
Towards the top end of Hisaronu on the right hand side after the barriers above Turkish Souvenir Shop
KafKas Restaurant – Mixed International
Just along from our office in Hisaronu, Kafkas can be found on the left just at the barriers. They do one of the best fillet steaks
Suzannes Turkish Restaurant – Mixed but mainly Turkish authentic Food
Found in central Hisaronu small side road down by Attika bar opposite entrance to Time out bar.
Codswallop – Fish & Chips
Up passed the Monday Market take a left and the restaurant is on the left.
Barracuda Café Bar Restaurant – Mixed International
Located at the top of Hisaronu, just off the big round-a-bout to the right. Lovely setting for a special meal and often have gentle live music on, good range of meals to suit all tastes.
Festival Restaurant – International & Turkish
In central Hisaronu on the road up from the Efes pub opposite Fez Bar
Ovacik is the neighbouring village to the very lively tourist resort of Hisaronu. There are plenty of bars & restaurants scattered around the village offering a mixed choice of dishes at prices to suit all which are easily reached by a short stroll along mostly well lit walkways.
The area covers quite a large distance stretching from Hisaronu Round-a-bout to the petrol station and also covers upper & lower Ovacik. The area provides everything that you could need from supermarkets, green grocers, butchers, barbers and hairdressers, together with car hire companies and excursion offices to name but a few!
For those with families there is a great water park in Lower Ovacik called Orka Waterworld, as its quite a distance from the main road, I would suggest booking with a local tour Company as then a pick up service is offered.
The transport links in Ovacik are excellent with regular dolmus (bus) service to the pretty harbour town of Fethiye (6km north west) and trademark beach and lagoon resort of Ölüdeniz (5.7km south) making it an ideal base for enjoying all the diverse aspects of this captivating area. The dolmus bus service runs all year round and is a popular means of transport due to its reliability and reasonable prices.
This area has proved popular with investors as the tourism trade is rife and rental potential fantastic. It is also a favoured choice by ex-pats seeking relocation and year round living. The views are stunning, from most areas you can see Babadag (Father) MOuntain where the paragliders descent from.
From Ovacik, Hisaronu can be easilly reached with a leisurely stroll but for those properties further out a Dolmus or Taxi may be required. Throughout spots in Ovacik are Taxi call buttons which operate all year round.
With Ovacik being situated higher up than Hisaronu it benefits from a cool mountain breeze which is much needed during the long hot summers.
A few of the many restaurants that Ovacik has to offer…
K Bar Gastrolounge & Pub – International Food Choice
On the main Road from Fethiye to Hisaronu left hand side
Sandinos Thai & Indian – Excellent choice of Indian & Thai Dishes
On the main Road from Fethiye to Hisaronu Right hand side
Karizma – Mixed International
Excellent for a special occaison, located along the top ovacik road up from Friar Tucks bar and turn left the restaurant is on the right.
FETHIYE itself is a thriving tourist town offering a great combination of ancient sites and modern convenience. It boasts a large marina and waterfront promenade, having a wealth of shops, seafood restaurants and bars as well as a daily fresh fish market and fruit/vegetable market in the centre of the town. The Paspatur, known as the Old City, is one of the most colourful shopping and entertainment areas of the town. Here you will find a traditional Turkish Bath (Hamam), many restaurants and bars, and various shops selling souvenirs and local goods. On the outskirts of the town an open market is held on a Tuesday, selling a wide range of local goods including clothes, shoes and linens etc as well as local produce and spices. A fruit and vegetable market is also held on a Friday where local farmers gather to sell their freshly grown produce.
Around the headland of Fethiye are a number of beaches which can be reached by public transport or Taxi, Help Beach provides a regular Boat Taxi service from the seafront in Fethiye.
Just a couple of kilometres to the north of Fethiye lies the beach resort of CALIS which can easilly be reached by public Transport/taxi or even water taxi
The stunning resort of OLU DENIZ, one of the most acclaimed in Turkey, is approximately 14km from Fethiye. The resort is low rise and spreads back gently up the mountain. There is an abundance of elegant restaurants, hotels and bars. Both the famous Oludeniz Blue Lagoon and Belcekiz Beach can easily be reached by dolmus from the centre of Fethiye. Babadag mountain, the backdrop of Olu Deniz, is a recognised area for paragliding and is deemed to be one of the best flying points in the world for this sport.The lively resort villages of HISARONU and OVACIK are located inland above Fethiye and offer a good choice of shops, bars and restaurants.
The area is most famous for Olu Deniz, one of the most photographed beaches in the world, and away from this protected stretch, studio apartments can go from £35,000, good quality villas with private pools from £140,000.
In Ovacik – where there is a new shopping mall and aquapark – apartments start from £50,000 or villas from around £100,000.
The wine-growing town of Uzumlu 15km inland from Fethiye appeals to those seeking to escape the bars and nightclubs completely for a more authentic Turkish experience. The village itself is a pretty with cobbled streets and Ottoman style cottages, and in the green valley around it, backed by mountains that are snow-capped in winter, you can get a wide choice of detached three-bed villas for around £100,000.
There are also many other places of interest, bays and beaches surrounding Fethiye which are easily reachable either by car or by boat and the area as a whole gives excellent opportunities for overseas buyers.
There are a number of Government Schools & Private schools, private Creches and further education colleges in and around Fethiye – all schools are taught in Turkish, there is no International school as yet
There are far too many Restaurants to mention but a few of our favourites are Carikli (Meat restaurant), DenizAti (Sea Food) & Pasa Kebab (Authentic Turkish).
Oludeniz literally means ‘Dead Sea’ when translated. A laid back beach resort set in a stunning bay where dramatic mountains reach the turquoise waters of the Med. Perhaps most famed for its picture postcard Blue Lagoon, Oludeniz is home to some of Turkeys most impressive costal scenery. A beach resort with an adventurous twist, Oludeniz has only been popular with tourists over the last 12 years with travellers from all over the world visiting its long sand and shingle beach, enjoying the relaxed beach bars and swimming in the shallow waters of the blue lagoon, the now signature costal image for Turkey. On first glimpse you suddenly turn a corner on the road and way below you see the beautiful colours of the sea, the little resort and invariably a sky filled with paragliders twisting and turning in the thermals high above. There are few places in the world where you can choose to be as lazy or as active as here. You can opt to lie on the beach or enjoy one of the many restaurants, beach bars and shops. Alternatively go on a real adventure and try diving, microlighting or paragliding.
The main beach in Oludeniz is fairly pebbly with quite a steep drop so care needs to be taken with children. The main dolmus stop is at the beach and from here you can walk along the front past the many bars, restaurants and shops. There are 2 main streets in Oludeniz, the front then a central road where most of the shops are. There are quite a few mini-markets selling essentials along with an ‘AZDA’ supermarket on the main street.
Turkish Bath – There is a very nice Turkish Bath at the Belcekiz Beach hotel, this costs approximately £10 per person & is definitely worth a visit – Reservations not always necessary
The Post office – this can be found along the front to the right of the dolmus stop just past the Jandarma office
Boat Trips – These leave from the main beach in Oludeniz at 10.30am every morning, it is better to pre-book as then they will provide free transport from your apartment.
The Blue Lagoon – The main part of the lagoon is the first entrance you see on the left just past Oludeniz PTT (post office), this is a good choice but can be busy. As this area is protected a small charge is levied at the entrance.
There are many other quieter beaches if you walk or drive further along, the 1st two beaches being Sugar Beach & Sea Horse Beach which are particularly good and have safe shallow water along with a man made sandy beach, ideal for children. At these beaches you will find a bar/restaurant which are generally a little bit more pricey than the ones in central Oludeniz due to the location. From these beaches you can hire pedalos or even a canoe and you may spot the giant Logger Head turtles that are found in these waters. Sugar Beach offer a free transport service from Hisaronu & Ovacik.
Restaurants & Bars. There are many to choose from serving a mix of traditional and international cuisine. The beach bars on the front are great to watch the sunset while you dine but are more pricey than those situated on the side roads. Mimoza on the back street is one of our favourites and always a warm welcome from Adnan and the staff there. Also Kumsal Pide on the far end of the front has an authentic Pide & Pizza oven and offers meals at good prices for the location.
You can not build or purchase land in Oludeniz due to restrictions the closest areas would be Hisaronu & Ovacik
Kidrak Beach
Kidrak is just around the coast from Oludeniz, it is a large, relatively unspoilt sand and shingle beach located just before you reach the large Lykia Liberty Resort Hotel just 5 minutes drive along the mountain road from Oludeniz. There is a small entrance fee with it being a protected area and a little restaurant serving snacks and drinks.
This beach is great for snorkelling and a lot quieter than the main beaches of Oludeniz. In the shaded wood areas at the side of the beach there are BBQs for you to cook on alongside picnic tables.
For those that want a true taste of Turkish life a trip to Kayakoy is a must. The Kayakoy valley is a million miles away from your average bustling holiday resort. Just 5 minutes from Hisaronu by car or walking along the tree lined roads from Evergreen about an hour! Kayakoy is famed as the inspiration for Louis de Bernieres novel— Birds without Wings. Following a forced population exchange between Turkey and Greece in 1926, the former Greek village lay abandoned. Having at one point had a community of 20,000, the intervening years have seen the towns stone buildings crumble and ruin leaving a fascinating and eerie atmosphere hence the term ’ghost town’. The valley itself is today a maze of rustic, single track roads leading to traditional restaurants, BBQ houses and pensions. A handful of traditional Turkish and seafood restaurants can be found and one or two bars are now present at the foot of the ruins. In all, Kayakoy offers you a great place to explore traditional village life.
Places of Interest:
Kayakoy Ruins. For a small fee you can walk around the fascinating former Greek houses and explore the abandoned ruins of the former town.
Traditional BBQ Houses. Kayakoy is home to many traditional BBQ houses. Perhaps the oldest and most well known is ‘Cin Bal’, a popular rustic Turkish place where you select the meat you wish to BBQ or choose the tasty Lamb Tandir and either cook the meat yourself or have a waiter cook it for you – Highly recommended for a lovely evening out, Sundays are very busy though.
Gozleme (Pancake) Houses. The centre has many little traditional pancake houses. They are remarkably cheap and tasty and a wonderful snack! The Antique restaurant is one we favour for daytime pancakes & snacks
Gemiler Beach & Gemiler ‘St Nicholas’ Island
If you carry on another 10 minutes through the winding roads of Kayakoy, through the forest and down the mountain road you eventually come to the pretty cove of Gemile. An unspoilt little sand and shingle beach overlooking the historic St Nicholas Island. There is a small charge to enter the beach but well worth it as the mountain views are fabulous and there are a couple of little wooden restaurants serving reasonably priced snacks and fresh seafood. Gemile Bay is a natural shelter for yachts and the island is easily accessed from the beach with the help of the local boats that are moored there. The island is full of historic ruins including the church of St Nicholas, it has even been suggested that the Tomb of Santa Claus himself may rest on its shores! A dolmus service operates down to Gemiler beach from Kayakoy every hour and the best way to visit St Nicholas Island is on the boat trip operated daily from Oludeniz.
Calis is defined as the most beautiful place for watching the sunset.
For those seeking a beach location, with good rental potential and an easily accessible resort you really cant go wrong with Calis. Unlike the rest of the resorts in the area, Calis is very flat so is ideal for those with mobility restrictions or young families.
Calis is still a growing resort but in recent years has become popular with UK and European tourists and properties here offer a perfect rental investment opportunity.
The sand and shingle beach appears endless, parts of the beach are protected due to its popularity with sea turtles which come to lay their eggs in the sand at night. The resort is mainly based along the seafront promenade where you will find an abundance of restaurants to suit all tastes, bars & Shops. There is a weekly market every Sunday and along the main road between Calis & Fethiye there is a good sized waterpark. Calis has quite a big ex pat community and even has its own Green Bowling and Ten Pin Bolling.
It is quite a laid back resort mainly centered around the sea front promenade where you can sit and look out to Sovalye Island or across the bay to Fethiye. There is currently a sea front investment project underway which will link Fethiye to Calis by way of a picturesque walkway, housing childrens parks, skate parks and other planned facilities.
There are plenty of Supermarkets spread all over the resort and also a rise in sports halls housing gyms and sports courses such as Gymnastics & Karate
Calis also boasts two very natural attractions – a cooling breeze, perfect for when the local temperatures soar in the summer months, and some of the most beautiful sunsets in the World.
It is conveniently located just 4.5km North of Fethiye Town, easilly reached by public transport/taxi or water taxi and 44km from Dalaman international airport with daily flights from Istanbul and year round flights from some UK airports.
The beautiful harbour town of Gocek is one of the more prestigious resorts in the area and has has been described by many as the Cannes of Turkey.
The whole of Fethiye region is steeped in history and Gocek is no exception, reputedly the landing place of Icarus who set about his mythical aerial adventure with wings made of wax!
Gocek is a tranquil bay looking out over the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean towards a scattering of pretty little islands and a backdrop of mountains. Gocek is nothing other than a truly beautiful location.
A mere 25 minute drive from Fethiye, it is known for its yachting and is frequently visited by yachts from around the world.
Along the harbour front is an eclectic mix of restaurants, bars and cafes and the main town street has recently undergone a refurbishment and now has a lovely paved street flanked by shops & cafes at either side.
There is plenty going on in Gocek, the belediye have recently installed a new childrens park and replanted all the central reservations with colourful flowers. Often there is entertainment at the mini amplitheatre along the front
Although Gocek doesn’t have its own beach there are regular water taxi services to nearby island beaches.
There are still many beautiful places in Turkey that remain relatively un-spoilt and Üzümlü can certainly be considered one. Yesil Üzümlü when translated means Green Grapes and this is what the village is famed for, well those and perhaps more importantly, its wine production. The village is small and feels a world away from the madding crowds of the nearby tourist resorts. It is an authentic Turkish village where traditional houses and, more recently, a number of tastefully built villas or restoration projects lie nestled into the foothills of the Taurus mountains towering a colossal 10,000 meters above.
A handful of local shops, a couple of bars and a restaurant can be found in the cobbled streets of the centre. The quaint village boasts its own wine house where the local produce can be tasted & bought. There are a number of small markets and craft shops and also a weekly market every Friday.
The area is rapidly becoming popular with those that want a true escape yet still wish to remain within easy reach of the bustling and interesting harbour town of Fethiye a mere 20 minute drive or bus ride away.
It is a great area for those that like walking as there are many outdoor areas to explore one being the Cadianda Mountain, at the the top you will find the ancient city of Cadianda along with the ruins of the sports area dating back to Roman times, and a stunning view from the top overlooking Uzumlu & Fethiye and out over the bay of Fethiye
The location is truly stunning with panoramic views of the Tlos mountain range, snow capped during the winter months, and magnificent protected pine forest. This opportunity really does provide a peaceful and tranquil alternative to the larger and busy tourism.
Üzümlü really is a great location to consider if looking for an investment opportunity. We believe this area will be a very popular spot for ecological and rural tourism in the near future.
Local authorities are becoming conscious of its potential and are beginning to regulate building in the area to ensure the style and feel of the place remains similar to how it was in Ottoman times. It is possible that in the near future they may pass an order to limit building in the area, this has happened before in the region eg. Kayakoy Ghost Town. Those that invested before the building limitations are now enjoying investments that have almost tripled in value over the last few years. They are also gaining sizable rental incomes due to the fact there are very few cottages or apartments to rent in the area.
Uzumlu`s location is ideal for those looking for a peaceful retreat during the long summer days yet still want to be within easy reach of a town and beach. With Dalaman airport only 45 minutes away now offering flights to the UK all year around, Üzümlü lies midway between the coast and the mountains so is ideally situated. The popular beach resort of Calis and the pretty harbour town of Fethiye with all its shops, markets, restaurants and nightlife are only a 15 minute drive or dolmus (bus) away, the famed beach and lagoon of OluDeniz is only 25 minutes, all offer all manner of activities from shopping and walking to water sports and paragliding.
Situated 1 hrs drive from Fethiye, Kalkan is a lovely small hilltop town that overlooks a tiny bay full of traditional white washed houses. Narrow winding streets lined with souvenir shops lead down to a charming marina with a selection of local bars, sea food and traditional Mediterranean restaurants.
Kalkan has a compact pebble beach and the town has man-made platforms for launching yourself into the sapphire waters.
Kalkan is a small resort with most of the properties being sited on the hillside with stunning views over the bay. It was originally a fishing village but its smart marina now houses glamorous yachts alongside the fishing boats and has recently turned into the most classy resort along this peninsular.
The town itself is still relatively uncommercialised, with its pretty cobbled streets offering bazaar-type shops, inviting restaurants and a varied nightlife for the more discerning visitor. The Guardian newspaper chose Kalkan as the most romantic town in Europe
Kalkan has been improved recently after a fire destroyed a large part of the harbour in 2014.
It remains a great place for villa rentals, especially if you have one of the newish typically Kalkan contemporary style villas with infinity pool and sea views over the bay.
There is a magic about unspoilt Northern Cyprus which, once experienced, is never forgotten. Known as “the Med’s best kept secret”, many visitors fall in love with its unique ambience and find themselves returning year after year to explore its rich and diverse history, landscape, culture, relaxing pace of life and quite simply gorgeous island climate and people. Few other vacation destinations offer the unique experience of Northern Cyprus.
Many visitors decide to make a home in Turkish Northern Cyprus for full-time or part-time living in this charming former British Colony where property is extremely affordable, English is widely spoken and where over 10,000 British residents live in a virtually crime-free zone happily alongside a multi-cultural population. New state of the art medical care, six international Universities plus new schools (teaching in English) and modern leisure facilities are now attracting ex pat residents and their families from all over Europe and the Middle East
There is something for people of all ages in Northern Cyprus – as a visitor or resident you can experience.
Lapta Area
Lapta sits on the Northern shores of Cyprus, being a popular town that offers social facilities, schools, hospitals, beaches and a small fishing harbour. It is just 8 miles West of more known Kyrenia.
Lapta has green mountain backdrops and stunning sea views deeming it the most beautiful part of the island in the greenest location, with picturesque vantage points, coastal walkways, and rich in history. Its name translates to “shining city”
The older side of the village is more elevated and is surrounded with citrus groves with a mixture of traditional houses, stone restorations and villas, whereas the newer side and coastal section is home to bars, restaurants, live music, casino, beach with water sports, and the local tourist hotspot with hotels and new style builds.
The area as a whole is a prime choice for expats looking for relocation homes with the most beautiful scenery and close to the clear blue waters of Mare Monte public beach. Ercan airport is approximately a one hour drive and also its one hour from the capital city of Nicosia, making it a great choice.
Alsancak Area
Sitting on the Northern shores of Cyprus, having incomparable green mountain backdrops and stunning sea views, deeming it the most beautiful part of the island. Surrounded with citrus groves there is a mixture of traditional houses, stone restorations and luxury villas, together with luxury 5- hotels and traditional pensions.
Alsancak is described as a colourful and cozy village but with well developed infrastructure. There are supermarkets, restaurants and numerous cafes by the sea and also in the mountains; a taste to suit all and nearby Kyrenia has hospitals, schools and all amenities.
There are good recreational opportunities which include parks, playgrounds, sports, dive schools as well as coastal hiking paths and numerous beaches (both public and private beach clubs)
There are rocky shores and many sandy beaches making it a great choice for all and its centrally positioned to visit neighbouring Lapta to the West (less than 3km) or Kyrenia/Girne to the East (14km)
Alsancak is famous for its traditional Cypriot atmosphere, in the greenest location, with picturesque vantage points and rich in history.
With neighbouring Lapta the most up and coming holiday hot spot in the country, this property is a prime investment opportunity and property prices are sure to sore with plans for a new marina. Lapta is less than 5 minutes drive and can be walked in less than 30 minutes.
For days out, Girne castle and shipwreck museum is 30 minutes drive from Alsancak, or closer to home you may like to explore the unusual relic of the Roman Lambousa fish tanks, ancient ruins and cave tombs. Overall a diverse area to explore.
The area as a whole is a prime choice for expats looking for relocation homes with the most beautiful scenery and close to the clear blue waters. Ercan airport is approximately a 50 minute drive and also its one hour from the capital city of Nicosia, making it a great choice
(Times are approximate & taking into account varying road types, tracks and highways)
