Ölüdeniz, about 14 km south of Fethiye in Muğla Province, is Turkey's most iconic Mediterranean beach, world-famous for the calm turquoise Blue Lagoon (Kumburnu) sheltered from the open sea by a sandy spit. The lagoon lies inside the protected Ölüdeniz Nature Park (a national nature reserve where construction is prohibited), and the towering Babadağ mountain (~1,960 m) behind it makes this one of the planet's premier tandem-paragliding sites. As of 2026 the area is still very crowded in peak season (July–August), so May–June and September–October offer warm water with far calmer beaches.
The Blue Lagoon (Kumburnu): wave-free, shallow turquoise water ideal for swimming, kayaking and families, inside the paid nature park.
Belcekız Beach: the free public pebble beach facing the open sea, and the landing zone for paragliders.
Paragliding off Babadağ (~1,960 m): tandem flights launch from near the summit and glide over the lagoon for roughly 20–40 minutes.
Babadağ cable car (teleferik): viewing terraces around 1,700 m and 2,000 m give panoramas of the lagoon and bay without needing to fly.
The signature scene of the white sandbar wrapping the lagoon beneath pine-clad slopes — a regular on 'world's best beaches' lists.
Good to know
SafetyBook paragliding only with licensed, insured operators. Flights can be cancelled or delayed by wind and weather, and you should confirm the pre-flight safety briefing.
SafetyBelcekız's open-sea side is pebbly, drops off steeply and has cold freshwater-spring patches. The shallow, calm lagoon (Kumburnu) is safer for families — always swim within the buoy-marked zones.
SeasonJuly–August bring peak heat and crowds, so arrive before 10:00 to get a spot. May–June and September–October are the sweet spot: warm water with far fewer people.
RulesThe Blue Lagoon (Kumburnu) sits inside the paid nature park, so carry cash for the entry fee (roughly 150 TL on foot, vehicles extra). Glass bottles are banned on the sand and drones are prohibited near the paragliding corridors — confirm current fees and rules.
CautionAgree paragliding, boat-tour and taxi prices upfront and check whether photos/video are included. The dolmuş (minibus) from Fethiye is cheaper by transit card than cash.
MannersThis is a protected reserve, so pack out your rubbish and avoid cooking or camping outside designated areas. Cover up when leaving the beach for the village or a mosque.
Practical info
From central Fethiye (stops behind the White Mosque or the otogar/bus station), the Ölüdeniz dolmuş minibus reaches the beach in about 25 minutes. The Blue Lagoon charges a nature-park entry fee while Belcekız public beach is free; opening is broadly sunrise to sunset with staff on site in peak season — verify entry fees, hours and cable-car prices before you go.
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