Where the Taurus mountains drop into the Mediterranean, Fethiye and Ölüdeniz sit at the heart of the Turquoise Coast: pine-covered hills, a lagoon of improbable blue, islands reached only by boat and Lycian tombs carved into the cliffs above town. It is the stretch of coast most travellers picture when they think of a Turkish summer.
Ölüdeniz and the Blue Lagoon
Ölüdeniz means “dead sea”, a name that refers to its calm water. A long pebble beach faces the bay, and a protected lagoon behind the sand spit is shallow, warm and sheltered. Above it rises Babadağ, almost 2,000 metres high, the launch point for one of the best-known tandem paragliding flights in Europe.
What to do around Fethiye
The 12-island boat trip: a full day on a gulet among the islands of the Gulf of Fethiye, with swimming stops in coves you cannot reach by road.
Butterfly Valley: a beach at the foot of a steep canyon, reached by boat from Ölüdeniz.
Saklıkent Gorge: one of the deepest gorges in Turkey, where you walk in ice-cold water from the Taurus.
Kayaköy: a hillside village of stone houses, abandoned after the population exchange of 1923.
The Lycian rock tombs: temple-fronted tombs cut into the cliff above Fethiye, the most famous being the Tomb of Amyntas.
Dalyan and İztuzu Beach: a river boat below more rock tombs, then a long beach where loggerhead turtles nest.
The Lycian Way: the long-distance trail starts near Ölüdeniz; even a short section gives superb views.
When to go
May to October is the season. June to September is hot and the sea is at its warmest; May and October are calmer, still warm enough to swim, and better for walking and visiting ruins. Many boats and beach businesses close in winter. See our guide to the best time to visit Turkey.
Getting there
Dalaman airport is about an hour’s drive from Fethiye, with flights from Istanbul and direct seasonal flights from many European cities. Antalya airport is further east, around three to four hours by road along the coast.
Fethiye on a wider trip
Fethiye pairs naturally with Pamukkale, a few hours inland, and with the coast towards Kaş, Kekova and Antalya. On a two-week trip it is the beach chapter after Istanbul and Cappadocia: see our 7, 10 and 14-day itineraries.
Fethiye with KAMPA Tours & Events
The Turkish Riviera in 7 Nights stays two nights in Fethiye, with Ölüdeniz, Dalyan, İztuzu Beach and Kekova. The Blue Tour adds Suluada, Saklıkent Gorge and a swim in the Ölüdeniz lagoon. Turkey: Off the Beaten Path ends with two nights in Fethiye and a full-day islands cruise with lunch on deck.
