Exploring Enchanting Şövalye Island, Fethiye

If you stand in Fethiye, along the harbour – or along Çalış Beach – and look out into the bay, you will get the constantly changing view of Şövalye Island.

We say ‘constantly changing’ because it seems you only need to walk a few metres and the shape of the island has completely changed.

Long, stretching and low, viewed from most angles, from the southern end of Çalış Beach, you would be forgiven for thinking Şövalye is a mere protruding mound in the sea – albeit a mound with a sprinkling of villas clinging to the steep hillsides.

But this is just the tip of the island.

The tip of the island, concealing the treats which lie in store for those who make the short hop over there.

This is your view of Şövalye Island (sometimes shown as Fethiye Adası on maps) as you wait at the jetty for the various boat services to come and pick you up and take you across the water to the hotels and restaurants.

And if you’ve ever been on one of the Fethiye boat trips – especially those from the Çalış Boat Cooperative – you will have had a completely different view of the island.

A bit of a close up of the villas facing the open sea as you enjoy your final swim stop before heading back to the moorings.

Changing Faces Of Şövalye Island

As tiny as Şövalye Island is (we are told the population is around 100 in the summer months and 10 in winter) its geographical setting means it has lots of different faces.

From the northwest side of the island, gone are the calm waters of the sheltered beach area.

In their place are sheer cliff faces and crashing waves as they break against the rocks below.

Peaceful nature become has become powerful nature – the power of the Mediterranean sea. It’s a spectacular location.

And don’t be fooled by the fact that we’re only a stone’s throw away from the coast of Fethiye mainland here.

To the west of Şövalye Island, we’re looking beyond Red Island (Kızıl Adası) and out to open sea.

On a hot, summer’s day, you can feel the cool sea breezes as well as losing yourself in those magical views.

This small island feels like another world…

Exploring Şövalye Island

There’s a main pathway that guides you around the perimeter of the island.

And it’s all perfectly peaceful – because Şövalye doesn’t have cars. Wonderful!

Resembling a (very rough) letter T, the longest stretch, offering views over the bay towards the Fethiye mainland is only around half a kilometre in length, so your walk isn’t going to be too taxing.

With gentle undulations and wonderfully scenic views as a constant.

Island Life

And as you follow the pathway along the west side, the only sounds are the crashing of waves or the odd cicada. Or snippets of overheard conversations from people’s balconies and terraces.

Fishing boats and speed boats…oh, okay, and the odd bit of building noise from the private villas that are being renovated.

A little dose of real life doesn’t do any harm, though.

Eventually, when you round the tip of the island, another face is revealed. This time, we have the calm waters of the bay of Fethiye.

We’re overlooking Fethiye town and being watched over by Babadağ mountain, across the water.

Beyond the jetties, the bungalows of Letoonia all inclusive hotel can just be seen, peeping through the trees.

And at one of the highest points, you can catch a glimpse of the opposite coastlines of the island.

It’s a super slow pace of life on Şövalye Island. A very relaxed atmosphere and a peaceful retreat for those who come here.

Not a bad setting for a hammock, is it?

Gardens, both new and mature, decorate your route around the short pathway.

And, naturally, the sea views are constant. They just change a lot.

From one angle, you make out the observation deck in Fethi Bey Park in the distance.

Some villa owners on Şövalye Island have built or renovated with an ultra-modern look.

Others have gone for a rustic, traditional feel.

Walled gardens with pretty traditional wooden doorway around one villa.

Ancient History

As you wander, you’ll see a wide dusty track.

Don’t ignore this, as this track can take you full circle back to the beach with little treats of ancient ruins from the Byzantine era.

Şövalye Adası means Knight Island and refers to the Knights of St. John who are thought to have built the castle fortifications we can see on the hillside overlooking Fethiye centre, the bay and the island beyond.

Also known as the Knights of Rhodes (their main base was what is today’s Rhodes Old Town), it is thought they settled on the island.

The ancient ruins you see today are remnants of the Knights existence there; castle walls, a cistern, mosaics and main gate.

Some of the ruins of historical significance from ancient times can also be seen submerged in the shallow blue waters that lap against the shoreline of the island.

We’re not talking awe-inspiring Turkish historical sites, here. But that doesn’t make the ruins any less interesting.

They’re almost forgotten. Hidden. And all the more enchanting for it.

Take A Dip

There’s a small ‘beach’ on Şövalye where you can sit for a while and take a dip if you like.

Unfortunately, at the moment, Şövalye Beach has no facilities, so it really is just a spot to sit for a while or have a swim.

Eating & Staying On Şövalye Island

As well as the option of holiday villas for rent on Şövalye Island, there’s also a couple of small boutique hotels with spacious rooms and restaurants.

All of which – obviously – are in a picturesque setting.

Staying

On one of our wanders around the island, the path took us past the rear of Şövalye Hotel – a hotel that a reader had, by coincidence, told us to take a nosy at as they love the place.

The owner was in the garden, so he came over and offered to show us around.

This hotel has a restaurant and a private beach as well as amazing panoramic sea views over the gulf of Fethiye.

Ece Boutique Hotel is on the opposite shore and has views of the nearby islands, out to sea and along the Çalış shoreline.

It also has the added benefit of an infinity swimming pool.

Wherever you stay, it’s sure to be the perfect spot for a complete chill out break – whether for one night or longer!

Eating

If you want to head over to Şövalye Island for a meal, there are a couple of restaurants.

Mayikas is a high-end restaurant specialising in Aegean and Greek cuisine. Dancing and smashing of plates also takes place.

And, popular with lots of visitors to Fethiye, is the restaurant area of Ece Butik Hotel, Ada Restaurant.

This is set on a steep hillside with tables set in the terraced garden.

We can’t recommend either restaurant just yet, as we’ve never eaten at them. But, as with the hotels, both offer a complimentary pick-up and drop-off water taxi service.

These pickups are from the wooden jetty at the end of Çalış Beach, just before you get to Big Chefs Restaurant.

And that’s about it, really. Enchanting Şövalye Island is tiny. And it’s sleepy. But it’s a great place to chill and wander in a car-free zone.

Just another feather for Fethiye’s already feather-stuffed cap.

Şövalye Island, Fethiye – Useful Info

• Şövalye Island is a part of Fethiye (see map below). If you are booking a break to stay here, your nearest airport is Dalaman.
• If you want to visit the restaurants on the island, these have a boat service from the jetty at the end of Çalış Beach. You can arrange pick up time when you book. Journey time is around 10 minutes.
• In the summer of 2025, a new boat service between the island and downtown Fethiye is being trialled. The boat leaves from Fethiye harbour, in front of Pelican Cafe at 09:00, 14:00 and 19:00. It leaves Şövalye at 10:00, 15:00 and 20:00. The cost is 100 TL per person, each way.

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