Finike

Finike is a small (around 12,000 people) agricultural town on the southern shore of the Teke peninsula. Finike has a wide sandy beach which makes it a popular tourist destination, although free from the mass tourism that has spoiled so many places in the Antalya region.

History

Finike, known to the Greeks as Phoinix, was named after its founders the Phoenicians, who established a trading post here in the 5th century BCE. Finike developed as a trading port for the nearby capital of Lycia, Limyra. As part of Lycia, it was incorporated into the Persian Achaemenid Empire. Later it became part of the Empire of Alexander the Great, the Roman Empire, and the Byzantine Empire. It was taken by the Seljuk Turks and, after their decline, it was governed subsequently by the Beyliks of Menteşe and of Teke. Finally, in 1426, it ended up in the hands of the Ottomans.

Sights & Photos of Finike

Finike is famous for its sweet oranges. With the plains east of the town full of orange orchards, the cultivation of oranges has become the main source of income. It is no surprise that the orange was taken as the symbol of Finike. East of the town, there is a wide sandy beach that stretches for over 20 kilometers. As is the case for many other places on Turkey's coast, the beaches are nesting grounds for the Caretta Caretta loggerhead sea turtles. Also, the highly endangered Mediterranean monk seals are sometimes seen resting on the rocks.

Travel Information & Travel Tips

There are plenty of locals buses that connect Finike to other coastal towns such as Demre or Kaş. From Antalya by bus, it takes around 1h45m.
We had a pleasant stay at Hotel Şimşek (Tel. +90 242 855 57 71, in 2014 single room € 25,0). As for dinner, we enjoyed some nice meals and friendly service at the Petek Restaurant near the Marina.
Finike is a good base for excursions to Arykanda.