📅 Last updated: 10 October 2026

Ölüdeniz is famous for the Blue Lagoon, but the shoreline here is actually made up of two distinct beaches: Kumburnu, the sheltered lagoon beach within Ölüdeniz Nature Park, and Belcekız Beach, the public pebble beach facing the open sea. The two beaches sit side by side, backed by steep, pine-covered mountains. Paragliders drift down towards Belcekız throughout the day, and the dolmuş (the local shared minibus) from Fethiye centre drops you off a few minutes from Belcekız, with a short walk further to the lagoon entrance.

When Is the Best Time to Visit?

The best months to visit Ölüdeniz are May, June, September and October. July and August are the hottest and most crowded, with heavy traffic and very little room left on either beach by midday.

Late spring (May – June): The heat is comfortable rather than fierce and both beaches are far less crowded, so there is space to spread out for a full beach day. The sea is still cool in early May but warms steadily through June.

Peak season (July – August): These are the busiest months of the year. The sea takes on a deeper turquoise under the strong summer sun, and Belcekız grows crowded from late morning onwards. Parking is the biggest difficulty, so allow extra time if you are driving.

Shoulder season (September – October): The sea holds its summer warmth well into October, unlike May, when the water is still cool. Daytime temperatures are milder, the beachfront empties earlier in the evening and the drive into Ölüdeniz is manageable again. By late October, some beach businesses begin to wind down for the season.

Getting to Ölüdeniz

From Fethiye Centre: The simplest way to reach Ölüdeniz is by dolmuş. During the main tourist season, it runs frequently from the stop behind Yeni Hamidiye Mosque (White Mosque) in Fethiye centre, and also picks up at Fethiye Otogar, the town's main bus station. The journey takes around 25 minutes, depending on traffic. Look for the destination board reading 'Ölüdeniz' in the windscreen.

Fares and last service: You pay the driver directly, either by contactless card or in cash, and fares are charged in Turkish lira. As of September 2026 the fare is 115 TL in cash or 89 TL by card, so paying by card is cheaper. In high season, the last dolmuş back to Fethiye leaves at around 01:00, although the timetable changes from season to season, so check locally if you are planning a late dinner or an evening out.

Getting back in high season: In July and August, the queue at the Belcekız dolmuş stop builds up just after sunset, when beach visitors and paragliding spectators leave at once. If you are not in a hurry, staying on for dinner or a drink and travelling back after 21:00 means a much shorter wait.

From Dalaman Airport (DLM): You can take a Havaş or Muttaş shuttle bus to Fethiye Otogar and continue by local dolmuş. This is the cheaper option, although it can be less comfortable if you are travelling with luggage or arriving on a late flight. A private airport transfer runs door to door and takes roughly 80 minutes to Ölüdeniz, though the journey can take longer during the day in July and August, when traffic is at its heaviest.

🗺️ Map: Ölüdeniz Nature Park (Kumburnu / Blue Lagoon)

The map below marks the main entrance to the Blue Lagoon area.

2026 Entry Fees

Kumburnu sits inside Ölüdeniz Nature Park, so there is an entry fee at the gate. What you pay depends on how you arrive. Rates as of September 2026:

• On foot: 150 TL per person
• By car: 800 TL, covering the vehicle, everyone travelling in it and parking inside the park, with no separate pedestrian fee
• By scooter or motorbike: 450 TL, covering the rider, a passenger and parking

Kumburnu vs. Belcekız: Which Beach Is Right for You?

Kumburnu and Belcekız sit side by side, but they are very different in character. Belcekız, unlike the lagoon, is a free public beach on the open resort seafront. The table below sets out the practical differences.

Practical Tips for Both Beaches

• Calmest spot in the lagoon: After the entrance gates, turn right and walk along the sandbar. The curved shoreline there offers some shelter from the wind, so the water is usually more settled than in the exposed middle of the lagoon.
• Tip of the sandbar: At the very end you can see the lagoon and the open sea at once, though the nearest toilets and showers are about 200 m back.
• Where to find space at Belcekız: The central section fills up first, as boats load for their morning departures and day visitors arrive. For more room, head to the far right end of the beach as you face the sea; it is usually quieter.
• Cold patches in the water: The water at Belcekız feels noticeably cooler in places where freshwater springs rise from the seabed.

If both beaches are too crowded in peak summer, Kıdrak Beach (Paradise Beach) lies 3 km east of Ölüdeniz along the coast road. It is quieter and tree-lined, with more natural shade than either beach in Ölüdeniz, though there is an entrance fee here as well.

Beach Facilities and Practical Information

Kumburnu is a protected natural area and it is well set up for a day on the beach: showers, changing rooms, toilets, shaded seating areas and walking paths, along with a small prayer room. Lockers can be hired, though in peak season they are usually all taken by mid-morning. Wooden walkways and level ground make much of the park accessible to wheelchair users, although the sand itself is not.

Natural shade is limited, and the shadiest spots are taken early in high summer. Sunbeds and umbrellas can be hired in several parts of Kumburnu, with a set of two sunbeds and one umbrella costing 1,500 TL. Check the rate on arrival, as prices vary through the season.

Kumburnu holds Blue Flag status, and under the programme rules pets are not allowed inside the beach area. The restriction applies to the lagoon side only, so visitors with dogs can head for Belcekız instead.

Belcekız Beach has no entrance fee, and its showers and toilets are free to use. Sunbed and umbrella hire is available here too, at 600 TL for one sunbed and one umbrella (September 2026). For cheaper drinks, snacks and sun cream, stock up before you reach the beachfront: budget supermarkets such as A101 and Şok, along with larger chains like Migros, line the main road into Ölüdeniz, where prices are generally lower than at the beachside shops.

What to Bring for a Day in Ölüdeniz

Shops on the beachfront charge a premium, so it is worth packing these before you set off.

• Water shoes for getting in over the pebbles at Belcekız and for the uneven paths around Kumburnu.
• High-factor sun cream and a hat, especially from June to September.
• A dry bag if you plan to hire a pedalo or take your phone out on the water.
• A snorkelling mask for the shallow lagoon water at Kumburnu.

Paragliding, Boat Trips and Water Sports

Tandem Paragliding

Ölüdeniz is one of the world's best-known destinations for tandem paragliding. Flights land on Belcekız Beach and typically last around 25 minutes, depending on wind conditions. From above, the full shape of the Blue Lagoon comes into view: the curved sandbar, the sheltered inner lagoon and the deeper blue of the open sea.

Flights take off from Babadağ, the mountain behind the resort, which rises to 1,969 m. There are several launch sites at different heights, and the choice is made before each flight according to the weather on the day. All pilots are licensed. No previous experience is needed. Tandem paragliding flights in Ölüdeniz operate for most of the year, weather permitting. Schedules vary, so check availability before you book.

⛵ From Ölüdeniz

Ölüdeniz Boat Trip

For a change of pace at sea level, an Ölüdeniz boat trip is the easiest way to reach the coves beyond the lagoon. Stops include Blue Cave, Butterfly Valley, St. Nicholas Island and smaller bays you can only reach by boat.

Good to know: Tours leave in the late morning and return at around 17:30, with swim stops along the wilder stretch of coastline.

See Ölüdeniz Boat Trip →

Can You Visit Butterfly Valley Independently from Ölüdeniz?

Yes. A seasonal shuttle boat runs from Belcekız Beach to Butterfly Valley and back, with a crossing time of 15 to 20 minutes. If you would rather not give up a whole day to a boat trip, this lets you spend a few hours in the valley and still have the rest of the day in Ölüdeniz. A return ticket costs 500 TL per person, sold at the ticket booths on Belcekız Beach and payable in cash or by card. Boats start running at around 10:00, with the last return boat leaving at 18:00. Private water taxis also run on demand if you want to set your own timings, at a higher price. Our Butterfly Valley guide covers boat options, the Faralya clifftop viewpoint and what to expect once you are ashore.

Paddling and Pedalos in the Lagoon

To explore the lagoon at a more relaxed pace, you can hire pedalos, kayaks or paddleboards in Kumburnu. The rocky far shore of the lagoon is quieter, and in calm water it is a good stretch for first-time paddlers.

Water Sports Hourly Rates

• Single kayak: 500 TL
• Stand-up paddleboard (SUP): 700 TL
• Double kayak: 800 TL
• Two-seater pedalo (dolphin-shaped): 1,600 TL
• Four-seater pedalo with slide: 2,000 TL

After about 18:00, the pace slows and the lagoon begins to empty. The glare fades from the water, which makes it the most comfortable time of day to paddle.

Motorised water sports are not permitted in the lagoon, which is one reason it stays so much calmer than the open-sea side. If you want to explore beneath the surface, the diving centres in the main resort area run guided dives and courses for all levels.

Best Views and Photo Spots in Ölüdeniz

At sea level, the lagoon feels calm and sheltered. From higher up, the shape of the sandbar and the contrast between the lagoon and the wider coastline become much clearer.

Kumburnu is the simplest place to take photographs from the beach itself, especially near the tip of the sandbar, where you can look back across the water and along the coast. The tip is only a short walk from the busiest part of the lagoon beach.

For a higher vantage point on foot, the first stretch of the Lycian Way above the resort looks back over the water, away from the busy beachfront. In summer, walk it in the early morning or late afternoon.

Beyond the Beach: History and Scenic Walks

Belcekız Beach takes its name from a local legend. A young sailor put out to sea in bad weather, ignoring warnings that the crossing was too dangerous, and never came back. The woman he loved, Belcekız, is said to have died of grief soon afterwards, and the open beach has carried her name ever since. The lagoon's own name is more literal. Ölüdeniz means "dead sea" in Turkish, a reference to how still the water stays, even when the sea beyond is rough. The name later spread from the lagoon to the resort that grew up around it, which is why Ölüdeniz today refers to the whole area rather than the water alone.

The Lycian Way, one of Turkey's best-known long-distance walking routes, begins at Ovacık, just above Ölüdeniz, and climbs past the resort on its way to Faralya and the coast beyond. The trail runs for more than 500 km towards Antalya, following paths used since antiquity.

If you want a break from the beach, the abandoned stone houses of Kayaköy Ghost Town are only a 20-minute drive away. Late afternoon is the best time to go, when the ruins are quieter and the light is warmer.

Where to Eat

Inside the Nature Park, options are limited to snack bars and casual beach cafés. The Belcekız promenade has a wider mix of places to eat, from Turkish pide and grilled fish to pizza and burgers. Prices in Ölüdeniz are generally higher than in Fethiye centre, especially in peak summer.

The setting is the main draw, and the sunset views from the tables closest to the water are worth staying for. For better value and a quieter evening, though, many people drive back to Fethiye centre or on to the garden restaurants in Kayaköy.

Making the Most of Your Visit

The two beaches suit different times of day, so the easiest plan is to split your time between them rather than settling on one.

A Full Day in Ölüdeniz

• 08:00 – 10:30, Kumburnu: The lagoon water is at its clearest before swimmers stir up the sand, so this is the best window for snorkelling, and there is still shade and space to spread out.
• 10:30 – 13:00, out on the lagoon: Hire a kayak, paddleboard or pedalo, or walk the length of the sandbar.
• 13:00 – 17:00, Belcekız: Lunch on the promenade, then the open-sea side for the afternoon, keeping to the far right end if you want more room.
• From 17:00, paragliding landings: Pilots land on Belcekız throughout the day, weather permitting, but this is the best time to watch. The light is softer, so photographs come out better, and the air is cooler for standing on the promenade.
• After 19:00, dinner and the journey back: Eat on the promenade and travel back after 21:00.

If You Only Have Half a Day

• Morning only: Kumburnu from 08:00 until about 13:00 gives you the calmest, clearest water, the easiest parking and the pick of the shade.
• Afternoon and evening only: Arrive at Belcekız in good time for the landings from 17:00, then stay on for the sunset and dinner, or take the Babadağ Cable Car up in the early evening for the wider view over the lagoon.
• Half a day at Butterfly Valley: Take the shuttle boat over from Belcekız in the morning and come back in the early afternoon.

If you would rather spend the day at sea, an Ölüdeniz boat trip takes up the whole day, so it replaces the beach plan rather than fitting around it. Ölüdeniz is one of the most popular day trips from Fethiye, and a visit here is easy to combine with other spots along the coast.

Frequently Asked Questions About Ölüdeniz and the Blue Lagoon