Ölüdeniz Beach Guide: Blue Lagoon, Paragliding and Practical Tips

Ölüdeniz is the beach most people have in mind when they picture Fethiye: a sheltered turquoise lagoon, a long spit of pale pebbles, pine forest running down to the water and the bulk of Babadağ mountain standing behind it all. It sits roughly 15 km south of Fethiye town, and on a good day in late spring it is one of the most beautiful places on this whole coast. On a bad day in August it is also one of the busiest. This guide is meant to help you get the first kind of day.

What Ölüdeniz actually is

There are really three things people mean when they say "Ölüdeniz", and it helps to separate them before you arrive.

• The Blue Lagoon (Mavi Lagün) is the enclosed, almost waveless bay inside a protected nature park. You pay an entrance fee at the gate. The water is shallow, warm and very calm, which makes it the easiest place on the coast to swim with small children.
• Belcekız Beach is the long public beach just outside the lagoon, facing the open sea. It has gentle waves, sunbeds and umbrellas for hire, cafés and restaurants right behind it, and no entrance fee for the beach itself.
• Ölüdeniz village is the small resort area along the seafront promenade, with hotels, shops, bars and restaurants. It is lively in season and very quiet in winter.

The name means "Dead Sea" in Turkish. It has nothing to do with salt. It refers to the lagoon's glassy, motionless water, which is shielded from waves by the sandbar.

Blue Lagoon or Belcekız: which one?

Choose the Blue Lagoon if you want calm water, a tidy park setting with trees and shade, and an easy swim for kids or nervous swimmers. The entrance fee changes from year to year, so check the current price locally. Sunbeds are extra. It is also the best spot for photographs, because you can walk out along the sandbar with the lagoon on one side and the sea on the other.

Choose Belcekız if you prefer a more relaxed, free-access beach with more cafés close by and a little more life. The sea here has a gentle swell, the bottom shelves gradually and the water is clear. Both are pebble rather than soft sand, so a pair of water shoes makes entering the sea much more comfortable.

Getting there from Fethiye

The simplest option is the dolmuş, the local minibus. In season they run from the main bus station in Fethiye to Ölüdeniz frequently, and the ride takes roughly 25 to 35 minutes depending on traffic. Fares are posted on the vehicle or at the station, but they change, so ask before you board. In winter service is much less frequent.

A taxi is convenient if you are a group (agree on the price first), and a rental car or scooter gives you flexibility. Parking near the beach is limited and can fill up on summer weekends, so arrive early if you drive. Many hotels in Çalış and Fethiye centre will also arrange a transfer.

Paragliding from Babadağ

Ölüdeniz is one of the most famous tandem paragliding sites in the world. Flights begin from the slopes of Babadağ at around 1,700 m, and you glide down over the lagoon and land on the beachfront. The season runs roughly from spring to autumn, with the most settled flying weather usually in the warmer months.

Several things are worth knowing before you book.

• Only use a licensed operator, and ask what insurance and safety equipment they use. Do not choose purely on price.
• Flights depend on wind and visibility. A good company will tell you honestly if conditions are not safe and will rebook you rather than push you to go.
• The drive up the mountain is on a winding road, so take motion-sickness tablets if you are prone to it.
• If you have back, heart or other health issues, check with your doctor and tell the operator.
• Photo and video packages are usually sold separately. Decide in advance whether you want one so you are not rushed at the landing site.

If you only want the view without the flight, the Babadağ cable car takes you high up the mountain, and the panorama over the lagoon, the Seven Islands area and the coast is superb on a clear day. Check opening hours and prices locally, as they vary by season.

Boat trips from Ölüdeniz

Small boats leave from the beachfront for trips along the coast. Typical stops include Butterfly Valley, St Nicholas Island, the Blue Cave and a few swimming bays. These are leisurely days with a lunch on board. Small boats leave from the beachfront for trips along the coast. Typical stops include Butterfly Valley, St Nicholas Island, the Blue Cave and a few swimming bays. These are leisurely days with a lunch on board. If you are tempted by Butterfly Valley, read our Butterfly Valley guide first: the boat is the only safe way in.

When to go

For swimming, June to September is warmest, and the sea stays pleasant well into October. For beauty and calm, May, early June and late September are hard to beat: the water is warm enough, the light is soft and you can still find a sunbed without queuing. July and August are the hottest and busiest months, so go early in the morning or stay late into the evening, when the day-trippers have left and the mountain turns pink.

Outside the main season many beach businesses close and the sea is cool, but the walking weather is excellent. The Lycian Way, the long-distance trail that starts nearby, is at its best in spring and autumn.

Practical tips

• Sun: There is limited natural shade on the open beach. Bring a hat, high-factor sunscreen and plenty of water.
• Cash and cards: Most places take cards, but keep some Turkish lira for small purchases, dolmuş rides and toilets.
• Prices: Food and drink prices change from place to place and by season, so look at the menu before you sit down and ask if anything is unclear.
• Safety: Respect the flags and the lifeguards. Currents can be stronger outside the lagoon, and the sea floor drops away faster in some spots.
• Respect the park: The lagoon is a protected area. Take your rubbish with you and do not remove stones or shells.

Where to eat and stay nearby

The promenade has plenty of seafront restaurants serving fish, grills and pide. For a quieter meal, walk a few streets back from the water or head to nearby Hisarönü and Ovacık. Accommodation ranges from simple pensions to large resorts. If you want to be on the beach, stay in Ölüdeniz itself; if you prefer a lively evening scene with more bars and restaurants, Fethiye or Çalış are better bases and still only a short ride away.

How much time do you need?

A half day is enough to swim and see the lagoon. A full day lets you add a boat trip or a long lunch. If you want to go paragliding, add another half day to allow for weather. Many visitors return a second time simply because the setting is so pleasant.