Ölüdeniz Belcekiz Beach in winter
Ölüdeniz is one of Turkey's most famous sights, a permanent on Turkish tourism brochures and videos. Amazing blue of the waters enters a sand beach and goes inland amid pine forests.
Ölüdeniz is the small lagoon connected to the sea through a narrow straight and Belcekiz is the cove the straight opens to. When people refer to Ölüdeniz they mean Belcekiz beach about two kilometers long strip of beach that meets aquamarine blue of the Mediterranean sea.
Ölüdeniz first came into spotlight in the 1970's but until the late 1980's there was only one hotel in Ölüdeniz. It was mostly a camping spot for backpackers and young people. Nowadays Ölüdeniz has many hotels including some luxury ones. Yet, its natural beauty has been well preserved, there is no residential development in the area and the hotels are not directly on the beach but slightly inland so the beach area is as it was before.
One of the most interesting sights in Ölüdeniz are the paragliders' colorful chutes dotting the blue skies like kites. They jump from Babadağ above and land on the beach in Ölüdeniz. So while on the beach look not only to the sea beyond but also above!
There is plenty to be done in the area, if you rent a jeep or a car you may visit Kayakoy, Faralya, Butterfly Valley, Saklikent Gorge, the ruins of Tlos or take a boat trip from Fethiye to 12 islands.
Ölüdeniz has nightlife though less than Ovacik Hisaronu up the hill.
You can see some of the sights in Fethiye Area Video Clips.
Public transportation to the city center of Fethiye from Ölüdeniz is very frequent, one every few minutes in summer.
Ölüdeniz is the postcard image of the Turkish coast. The Blue Lagoon is a protected national park — shallow, turquoise, and calm. The long beach of Belcekiz stretches for two kilometers, with mountains rising behind it and Babadağ (1,700 meters) as the backdrop. The lagoon is the famous view, but the beach is where people spend their days. The water is clean, the sand is soft, and the mountains make the sunset dramatic. It is busy in summer, but the beach is long enough that you can always find a spot.
The town of Ölüdeniz is not the attraction. The beach and the lagoon are the attraction. The town exists to serve them — restaurants, hotels, and tour offices. Stay here if you want to walk to the beach. Stay in Fethiye or Hisaronu if you want more nightlife or lower prices.
Paragliding is the second reason people come to Ölüdeniz. Tandem flights launch from Babadağ at 1,700 meters and land on Belcekiz Beach. The flight lasts 25-30 minutes, depending on conditions. The view of the lagoon from above is the classic Ölüdeniz photo. You do not need experience. You sit in a harness with an instructor who controls the wing. The landing is on the beach. Book with a licensed operator; the cheaper operators cut corners on safety.
The best conditions are in the morning (calmer air) and late afternoon (lighter but more stable). July and August have the strongest thermals; flights can be bumpy but are still safe. The season runs from April through October.
The lagoon remains protected. No new hotels have been built on the beachfront. The beach itself is still public and free (the lagoon has an entrance fee). The number of sunbeds has been reduced slightly to prevent overcrowding. The paragliding companies are well-regulated; accidents are rare.
The town has more restaurants and bars than it did a decade ago, but the beachfront is still low-rise. Prices for accommodation have risen, especially for hotels within walking distance of the beach. The dolmus to Fethiye is still frequent and cheap.
The main change is the popularity. Ölüdeniz is not a secret anymore. Visit in May, June, or September to avoid the worst crowds. July and August are packed, but the beach is long enough that it never feels unmanageable.
Accommodation options range from campsites and budget guesthouses to mid-range hotels and a few luxury resorts. Hotels closer to the beach cost more and book earlier. Staying in Hisaronu or Ovacik (10 minutes up the hill) is cheaper, with more nightlife options and frequent dolmus to the beach. Staying in Fethiye gives you more restaurant choices and lower hotel rates, but you need to take the dolmus to the beach each day (20 minutes).
For hotels in the region, see Fethiye Hotels.
Dalaman Airport (DLM) is the closest, about 1 hour by car (60 km). Flights from Istanbul take 1 hour 15 minutes. From the airport, take a taxi, pre-booked transfer, or Havaş shuttle to Fethiye, then a dolmus to Ölüdeniz.
Public transportation to the city center of Fethiye from Ölüdeniz is very frequent, one every few minutes in summer.
By car from Fethiye, follow signs to Ölüdeniz. The road passes through Hisaronu and then descends to the beach. Parking near the beach can be difficult in summer; there are paid car parks at the entrance to the beach area.
Day 1 — Beach and Lagoon: Morning at the Blue Lagoon (arrive early, before 9:30 AM, to avoid crowds). Swim in the calm turquoise water. Afternoon on Belcekiz Beach — sunbeds, swimming, watching the paragliders land. Sunset from the beach or from the hill above the lagoon. Dinner at a beachfront restaurant.
Day 2 — Paragliding and Nearby Sights: Morning paragliding flight from Babadağ (book in advance). Afternoon: rent a car or take a tour to Kayaköy ghost village (15 minutes drive) or Saklıkent Gorge (45 minutes). Return to Ölüdeniz for a relaxed evening.