Babadağ Cable Car Guide: Prices, Hours & Tips

The Babadağ Cable Car climbs the forested slopes of the 1969-metre mountain that rises directly above Ölüdeniz. The ride from the base station up to the 1700 m station takes around 15 minutes each way, and the highest point currently open to visitors is the 1800 m level, reached by chairlift. From the cabins you look down over the pine forest to the Blue Lagoon, the beaches and the Mediterranean coastline.

Babadağ Cable Car Ticket Prices in 2026

One ticket covers the return cable car ride, the 1700–1800 m chairlift and whichever levels are open that day, at no extra charge. There is no one-way fare. Keep your ticket with you throughout: it is scanned at each station on the way up and down.

Rates as of October 2026.

Note for families: children aged 7 pay the standard fare, but the 1800 m chairlift has a minimum age of 8, so a 7-year-old can only travel as far as the 1700 m station.

How to Get to the Babadağ Cable Car

The base station is on the main road between Fethiye and Ölüdeniz and can be reached from Fethiye, Hisarönü and Ovacık by dolmuş (shared minibus), taxi or private car. The dolmuş sets you down at the roadside, about 60 metres from the ticket office.

By Public Transport (Dolmuş)

From Fethiye town centre, take the Ölüdeniz dolmuş either from the stop behind Yeni Hamidiye Camii (White Mosque) or from the stop behind Fethiye Otogar (Bus Station). Tell the driver you are going to the Babadağ cable car. Dolmuş fares can be paid in cash or by contactless Visa or Mastercard.

From Hisarönü or Ovacık, take any dolmuş heading towards Ölüdeniz and ask for the cable car.

If you are staying in Çalış or Kargı, you can still get there by public transport, though you will need to change in town. Take a dolmuş towards Fethiye and get off at Migros Kavşağı (Migros Junction) on İnönü Boulevard. From there, cross the road, board the Ölüdeniz dolmuş and ask the driver to let you know when to get off. From Çalış the full journey takes about 40 minutes; allow a little longer from Kargı. It is cheaper than a taxi, though the dolmuş can get hot and crowded around midday.

By Car (Parking & Drop-Off)

Parking: There is a large car park on site. The first 20 minutes are free for a quick drop-off, and you pay by the hour after that. Rates are displayed at the car park.

Free electric shuttle: A shuttle runs between the car park and the ticket office.

Tickets, Access and Practical Information

Tickets & Payment: Tickets are sold only at the base station, and there is no online booking. The ticket office accepts cash or card. Euros, US dollars and British pounds are also accepted, in cash only.

Ticket Validity: Tickets are valid on the day of purchase only, and each one covers a single person. Look after yours: lost, torn or soaked tickets are not replaced or refunded, and the turnstiles will not let you through without one. If you buy a ticket but decide not to travel, speak to staff at the ticket office on the same day regarding a refund.

Turnstiles & Moving Between Stations: Your ticket is scanned at turnstiles rather than checked by hand. You leave the cabin at 1200 m and scan again to carry on up to 1700 m. Once you pass through the turnstiles to head down, you cannot return to the upper levels. This applies at every station, so finish at each level before you descend.

Families & Accessibility: Pushchairs are allowed in the enclosed cable car cabins as far as the 1700 m station. The 1200 m and 1700 m stations have step-free access via lifts. Pushchairs are not permitted on the open-air 1800 m chairlift, and it is not suitable for travellers with limited mobility.

Cabins & Boarding: Each cable car cabin can carry up to 8 passengers, and at peak times you should expect to share with other visitors. There is no air conditioning, so in midsummer the 15-minute ride can feel hot and stuffy when all eight seats are taken; bring water and avoid the middle of the day if you struggle with the heat. The cabins slow briefly as they pass through each station, which is normal.

Luggage: Each passenger may carry one bag of up to 8 kg. If you have extra bags or bulky items, check with staff before boarding.

Food and Drink: Water is the only outside food or drink permitted on site. It is also the only drink allowed in the cabins and on the chairlift; eating is not permitted on either, so finish anything you buy on the mountain before you board.

Toilets: There are free toilets at the base station and on every level.

Babadağ Cable Car Opening Hours in 2026

The 1700 m station and the 1800 m chairlift are seasonal, so outside their months only the 1200 m station runs.

On smaller screens, swipe sideways to see all columns.

*Hours shown are for the 1800 m chairlift. The 1900 m chairlift is not currently in operation.

Station Guide: 1200 m, 1700 m and 1800 m

The cable car ride up passes through dense pine and cedar forests, with wildflowers on the slopes in spring. The main terraces and facilities are at 1700 m. The 1800 m station sits one chairlift ride higher, and the air is noticeably cooler at that level.

1200 m: Restaurant, Theatre and Playground

Everyone leaves the cabin at 1200 m before scanning through to the next section, so it is a natural place to stop for the view.

• Anatolian Restaurant: Terrace seating, with a short walking path nearby.
• Open-air theatre: Used for concerts and cultural events.
• Children's playground: A small outdoor play area for families with young children.

1700 m: Main Terraces, Restaurants and Paragliding

You will find large viewing terraces and several dining spots, including 1700 Grill & Wine Bar. The Glass Bridge, a transparent walkway, extends out over the slope, and there is a small koi pond beside the terraces, where koi swim among water lilies that took root naturally.

For dinner at one of the terrace restaurants, ask in advance whether you can book a table for sunset.

The paragliding take-off area is on the 1700 m terrace. Even if you are not flying yourself, pause to watch the pilots lay out their wings and take off from the edge. Allow at least 30 minutes at this level for the views and the flights.

For a flight of your own, see the details of our tandem paragliding tour.

1800 m: Upper Chairlift Area

An open-air chairlift takes you up to the 1800 m level. From here, the view opens out across the surrounding mountains. On a clear day you can sometimes make out Rhodes on the horizon, and aircraft arriving at or departing from Dalaman Airport in the distance. Burger House is here too, making it the highest place to eat on the mountain.

Because it is open-air, the chairlift feels much more exposed than the enclosed cable car cabins. It only runs when the wind allows, so check at the base station before heading up.

• Age rules: Under-8s are not permitted. Those aged 8–12 must ride with an adult.
• Wind warning: It can be much windier higher up, so secure hats, sunglasses and any loose items before boarding.

Riding the chairlift adds time, so do not leave your descent until the last minute. The queue for the final ride of the day can build up quickly.

Nature & Wildlife on the Mountain

The Turkish red pines that cover the coast give way to black pine and Taurus cedar higher up, trees that do not grow down in Fethiye town and thrive only in the cooler mountain air. Golden eagles are occasionally seen along the ridgeline, and Eleonora's falcons, a migratory species that nests on Mediterranean cliffs and islands, can sometimes be spotted between late spring and early autumn. Between the 1700 m and 1800 m stations, wild goats (Capra aegagrus) occasionally pick their way across the rocky slopes. Around the 1200 m level in late winter and early spring, look out for the Babadağ crocus (Crocus babadagensis), a species found nowhere else in the world. It is critically endangered and a target for plant collectors, so please leave any you find where they are.

When Is the Best Time to Visit Babadağ?

The best time depends on whether you want clear views, fewer crowds, sunset light or paragliders overhead.

• For photography and a quieter experience: The air is usually at its clearest between 08:00 and 11:00, before the heat haze builds. From June onwards the base station opens at 08:00, but between January and April the first cabins do not run until 10:00, and in May not until 11:00, so in those months the earliest slot is opening time.
• For the best sea views: In summer, the colour of the water is at its richest in the mid-afternoon, once the harshest midday glare has softened. The air is hazier than in the morning, so choose the afternoon for colour and the early hours for distance and detail.
• For golden hour: Head up 60–90 minutes before sunset outside peak season, because the terrace at 1700 m fills up quickly. In the busiest weeks of summer, allow 2–2.5 hours from the ticket office, as the queue to go up builds sharply before sunset. The 1800 m chairlift stops running before the sun goes down from July to September, so ride it earlier in the afternoon and save sunset for the 1700 m terrace. By then the terraces are also cooler than at midday.
• For watching paragliders: To catch take-offs, do not leave it until just before sunset. Flights depend on the wind and often stop as the light fades, so mid- to late afternoon is the safer bet for seeing pilots get airborne.
• Peak-season tip (mid-July to late August): This is the one time of year when queuing takes up a significant part of the day. On the busiest dates, expect around an hour of waiting on the way up and as much as 90 minutes coming back down, with the longest queues for the descent forming right after sunset. Head up well before the evening rush, then either descend before the crowd builds or sit it out at the top until things clear.

How Much Time Should You Allow?

Allow 2–3 hours at Babadağ. That is enough for the cable car ride, the main viewpoints and a break at the top, though you should allow considerably longer at the height of summer.

• Queues: Cabins run continuously, so outside peak season even a long queue usually moves steadily. In peak season, expect around an hour of queuing on the way up and up to 90 minutes coming down.
• Short walks: Short footpaths link some of the viewing areas at both the 1200 m and 1700 m stations, so allow extra time if you want to explore on foot.
• Dining: For a sit-down meal, add an hour or so. Prices are generally higher than in Fethiye, and the terrace restaurants get busier later in the day.

Frequently Asked Questions