Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon: A Local’s Guide

Ölüdeniz means “Dead Sea” in Turkish, a name that makes sense the moment you see it: the lagoon is so sheltered that its surface barely moves. Locals and visitors also call it the Blue Lagoon. It lies 15 km south of Fethiye, at the foot of Babadağ mountain, and it is part of a protected nature park, so the shore around the lagoon itself has stayed green instead of filling with hotels.

Lagoon or beach?

There are two ways to swim at Ölüdeniz, and many visitors don’t realise it until they arrive.

• The Blue Lagoon (nature park): the calm, shallow, turquoise water you see in the photos. You pay a small entry fee at the gate. Ideal for children and anyone who likes to float rather than fight waves.
• Ölüdeniz public beach: the long pebble-and-sand beach facing the open sea, right next to the village. It is free, livelier, and the water is deeper and cooler. Paragliders land here all day in summer.

Our advice: spend the morning in the lagoon while it is cool and quiet, then move to the public beach in the afternoon to watch the paragliders come down.

The best time of day

Morning (before about 10:00) and late afternoon (after about 17:00) are the sweet spots. The water is fresh, the light is softer, and the crowds are smaller. In July and August the lagoon fills up quickly, and with many swimmers the shallow water can turn cloudy by early afternoon. After 17:00 the day-trippers start to leave and the lagoon becomes peaceful again.

Where to see the colour at its best

• From the road above: the winding road from Ovacık down to Ölüdeniz has viewpoints where you see the whole lagoon from above.
• From Babadağ: the mountain road up to the paragliding launch sites offers the famous postcard view. Many visitors go up for breakfast and watch the paragliders take off.
• From the air: a tandem paragliding flight over the lagoon is the most spectacular way of all. See our Babadağ paragliding guide.

Practical tips

• The lagoon entry fee is small but changes every season. Carry Turkish lira in cash, as card machines at the gate are not always reliable.
• Parking near the lagoon is paid and fills up early in July and August. The dolmuş (shared minibus) from Fethiye is cheap and frequent, and it stops right in the village.
• Sunbeds and umbrellas cost extra. You can also bring your own towel and spread it on the sand.
• Bring water, sun cream and a hat. Shade under the pines goes quickly on busy days.
• Keep the lagoon clean: it is a protected area, so take your rubbish with you.

Where to stay in Ölüdeniz

• Belcekız beachfront: hotels and apartments a short walk from the beach, the promenade and the paragliding landing field.
• Hisarönü and Ovacık: about 5 km up the hill, with lots of apartments, restaurants and nightlife, and frequent dolmuş minibuses down to the beach.
• Kıdrak bay: a few larger resorts on a quiet sandy cove just south of the lagoon.
• Faralya and Butterfly Valley: small pensions on the cliffs above the sea, for a peaceful, back-to-nature stay.

Getting there

• Dalaman Airport: about 65 km, roughly 1 hour by private transfer or car.
• From Fethiye: about 14 km; dolmuş minibuses run very often from the town centre to Ölüdeniz.
• Parking near the lagoon fills up early in summer.

Nearby

On our blog: Breakfast on Babadağ: watching the paragliders over Ölüdeniz.

Ölüdeniz is a good base for a few of the best days out around Fethiye: a boat trip to Butterfly Valley, the ghost village of Kayaköy just over the hill, and the start of the Lycian Way walking trail.

Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Header photo by dronepicr, CC BY 2.0; Photo by dronepicr, CC BY 2.0; Photo by dronepicr, CC BY 2.0; Photo by Tolga Kanik, CC BY-SA 4.0.