Ölüdeniz

Ölüdeniz is a town near Fethiye in Turkey, famous for its 'Blue Lagoon'.

Blue Lagoon in the centre with the surrounding coves and mountains. In the lower right of the photo is the town of Ölüdeniz.

Understand

The village and the beach by the lagoon was locally known as Belcekız or Belceğiz before the area became a magnet for mass tourism, although today many people in the area have no idea about what Belcekız is. The town and the lagoon are both known as Ölüdeniz, which literally means "dead sea" and used to refer only to the lagoon.

Inland to the north, 2 km to Ölüdeniz, are the former villages of Ovacık and Hisarönü, with occasional family-run guesthouses only a decade ago, but are today concrete sprawls of hotels and bars, agglomerated almost without a gap with the town of Ölüdeniz. Both serve as "bedroom communities" that offer accommodation that is close to but cheaper than Ölüdeniz proper.

Get in

Ölüdeniz is connected to Fethiye with a wide road that is well-paved and is in a very good condition.

Most buses will drop you off at the bus station in Fethiye, from there you can take a very frequent minibus (dolmuş).

Get around

Dolmuş busses running from Fethiye to Ölüdeniz connect Ovacık with both cities.

See

the festival Ölüdeniz

• Blue Lagoon (Ölüdeniz). Access to the beach is shut by the evening, around 18:00. Known in Turkish literally as "dead sea" because of the stillness of the water, the lagoon is a nature preserve. To enter the park there is a fee of 7 TL per person. You will also likely have to hire a beach chair which are an additional 15 TL each (15 TL for an umbrella). 7 TL. (updated May 2018)

Do

Over the tip of the lagoon's sandbar

• Paragliding. A number of companies in Ölüdeniz offer paragliding opportunities from the summit of nearby Mt. Babadağ, about 1,900 m from the sea elevation. A "trip" from the top to the beach takes around an hour and offers stunning views of the Blue Lagoon and the valleys and mountains covered with pine forests around. Training and tandem flights are also possible for those inexperienced at paragliding. 
• Hike along Lycian Way. You can hike to Fethiye the western end of the Lycian Way or just start in the direction of Faralya (5 hr) and Kabak. While the views of the sea, the mountains and the Ölüdeniz beach are great, there isn’t much shade on the way to Faralya, so try to avoid the noon-heat, bring enough sunscreen and water (or some water purification if you intent to use the cisterns on the way). If you’re just doing a day hike you can take a dolmuş back from Faralya (last one leaving about 19:40). You can also take the dolmuş to Kabak and hike the coastal route to Faralya (4-5 hr) and again return by dolmuş, though it’s well worth staying at either village. 

Buy

Eat

There are lots of different places to eat a wide variety of foods from different cultures and countries. You can find anything from original English breakfast to true Mexican dishes, all for different budgets. You can check the menus right in front of the restaurants, or go in and see them before deciding.

Drink

There are a variety of international alcoholic beverages and wide selection of beers. You can try a lot of different cocktails but always be careful about suspicious cocktail bars with very cheap menus. They might be using counterfeit products, always look for trusted reviews and recommendations.

Sleep

Ölüdeniz and Ovacık are cluttered with hotels, most of which have an online presence and can be found through various hotel-booking websites.

Budget

• Sultan Motel, Kırıncağıl Mahallesi, Ovacık-Ölüdeniz (about 250 mt from Ovacık-Ölüdeniz highway towards the start of Lycian Way, follow the signs for Lycian Way or much bigger 'Montana Resort Hotel'), ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. A hotel at the trail head of Lycian Way, a very convenient base to get rest after/before your long hike. Rooms with en-suite bathrooms, air-con, and balconies, all with the view of large pool. Double rooms (low/high season): 25 TL/30 TL bed and breakfast per person, 35 TL/40 TL half board per person. 0-6 years of age free, 7-12 years of age 50% discount. 

Mid-range

• Aygul Hotel (600 m. from the beach), ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Family-owned, small hotel. Rooms with air-con, TV, and balcony. There are also a swimming pool with children section, playground, and safety boxes. Staff is friendly and fluent in English and French. The hotel is on the top of a small hill, so it has clean and cool air flow. View of the Oludeniz from the hotel is breathtaking. Double 75-210 TL. (updated Jul 2017)
• Orka Village (4 km from the Oludeniz beach and a short walk to the centre of Hisaronu), ☎ [phone] , [phone] (in the UK), e-mail: [e-mail]. Check-in: After 16:00, check-out: 12:00. Orka Village is set in a private complex with breathtaking views of the Babadag mountains. The site is beautifully landscaped and features a 650-m² swimming pool and a separate children’s pool. There is also a bar/snack bar on site. The complex also features a reception, secure parking and 24h security. 2-bedroom ground floor self-catering apartment from £250 per week. 

Splurge

Go next

• Butterfly Valley (Faralya) is a remote canyon to the south, on the sea-shore, with some rare butterflies and waterfalls. Boats and minibuses head there from Ölüdeniz. A little further south, at the end of the road is the village of Kabak, which has a canyon similar to Butterfly Valley, although a little easier to access.
• For a bit of history and a deserted ghost town experience in your trip, take the road to west from Hisarönü and head to Kayaköy, where hundreds of partially ruined houses cover the side of a hill.
• Ovacık to the north of Ölüdeniz marks the beginning of Lycian Way, a more than 500 km hiking trail leading to Antalya in the east.