From the moment we arrived at Oludeniz Beach Turkey, it was easy to see why many say it’s one of the best beaches in the country! The bright blue sea glistened before us as dozens of travelers soared above Oludeniz paragliding. It was then that we walked further down to the beach clubs and caught a glimpse of the Oludeniz Blue Lagoon. So with so many great beaches in Turkey, is Oludeniz Beach worth visiting? Here are a few things to know before planning your own trip.
9 Reasons to Go to Oludeniz Beach Turkey
1. Getting to Oludeniz Beach is Easy
One of the best parts about Oludeniz Beach is it’s very simple to get to. Many travelers stay in the nearby coastal city of Fethiye and make the day trip to Oludeniz. Turkish minibuses run regular routes throughout the day back and forth.
The drive takes about 30 minutes, with the bus stopping to pick people up along the way. You can also take a taxi for around 150 Lira ($9 USD) from Fethiye to Oludeniz Beach.
The actual town of Oludeniz is set back in the hills above the sand. Here there are plenty of hotels, restaurants, and you will be just a 5 minute drive down to the water. Even though Oludeniz town is much closer, we still preferred to stay in Fethiye.
→ 10 Best Things to do in Fethiye Turkey on Your First Visit
2. Staying in Oludeniz Beach Turkey
There are limited accommodations, but you should know you can actually stay in Oludeniz Beach. So if you’re looking to be within walking distance of one of the most beautiful beaches in Turkey, this could be for you!
This may be especially appealing for travelers that plan to spend multiple days relaxing. Here are some recommendations for hotels in Oludeniz Beach.
- Blue Star Hotel: 3 minutes walk to the beach with an outdoor pool and spacious rooms.
- Ölüdeniz Blu Luxury Unique Hotel: Upscale resort set back from the beach. Perfect for couples!
- Salonika Suites: Beautiful place to stay just steps from Oludeniz Beach. Also, one of the stronger wifi connections we’ve seen in the area.
- Jade Residence: Well-located property with a 250 year old tropical garden and on-site restaurant.
3. Oludeniz Has the Best Paragliding in Turkey
One thing you’ll notice immediately is the Oludeniz paragliding! From sunrise to sunset, travelers soar through the skies high above the Turkish coastline.
Are you up for an adventure? Well, the good news is anyone can take the leap with a professional guide. Prices for Oludeniz paragliding range from $80-150 USD and fluctuate depending on the company and time of year.
Even if you’re not daring enough for this adventure sport, don’t worry! You are still able to take the Babadag Cable Car to the top of the mountain. Here you’ll have amazing views of the beach and Oludeniz Blue Lagoon.
→ Book a Tandem Paraglide Over Oludeniz Beach
4. Pirate Boat Party From Oludeniz Beach
The first day we were relaxing at Oludeniz Beach in Turkey we started to hear a loud sound in the distance… Then suddenly from around the corner a massive pirate ship appeared! Except instead of pirates, there were a group of probably 50 people partying, dancing, and having a blast.
It was after this that we saw several of these same themed boats in the harbor. Now not all of the tours offer the same hardcore party vibes as we saw on our first day. There are boats that cater to every traveler, from family-friendly cruises to Pirates of the Caribbean fans.
We would also find out that these tours go to several amazing sites around Oludeniz Beach Turkey. Most visit Butterfly Valley, Camel Beach, St. Nicholas Island, and include a BBQ lunch.
→ Book an Olduniz Beach Boat Tour Here!
5. Water Taxi to Butterfly Valley
Another incredible activity from Oludeniz Beach is visiting Butterfly Valley! The cool thing about this untouched paradise is that you can only enter it via boat.
The only other way is a treacherous hike that we would not recommend. Plus, the water taxi from Oludeniz Beach is only around 100 Lira.
The beach at Butterfly Valley is a nice switch-up from popular Oludeniz with its calm vibes and hippy-like atmosphere. It’s surrounded by cliffs and nature which provides unique scenery compared to the long sandy beaches you may see elsewhere.
So where does this beautiful beach get its name? Well, there are butterflies of course!
Yet, just be warned that you’re only likely to see them during the season in early June. The pirate cruises we mentioned above stop here as well if you want to include Butterfly Valley on a longer boat tour.
6. Swimming in the Oludeniz Blue Lagoon
There are several different parts of Oludeniz Beach Turkey to explore. The main beach is where the taxi and bus stand is located with a long strip of bars and restaurants. However, if you walk about 10 minutes to your right you will find the Oludeniz Blue Lagoon.
The water is protected by a small strip of land from the ocean which means it’s completely still. This makes the Oludeniz Blue Lagoon the perfect spot for families with kids. Keep this in mind if you head over there.
Billy’s Beach Bar is a popular hangout on the other side of the lagoon. You can even rent kayaks and standup paddleboards to get out on the water.
7. Oludeniz Beach Clubs
Next up is where we spent most of our time at Oludeniz Beach! On the other side of the Oludeniz Blue Lagoon, you will find numerous beach clubs that dot the shoreline. All offer sun beds, ice-cold drinks, and even food.
We loved grabbing a chair in the front row and dipping in and out of the crystal clear ocean water on a hot afternoon. It was so magical with a cold beer and a view of the mountains in the background.
→ Beginners Guide to Food in Turkey: 25 Delicious Dishes & Drinks to Try
8. Paying at Oludeniz Beach Turkey
There was one confusing part of our visit to the beach clubs that we didn’t quite understand at first. To make purchases easier, they gave us a “Beach of Lagoon” card when we bought our sun beds.
You can apparently upload money to it like a credit card at the connecting beach clubs. We only ended up using it for our sun beds as the bar took regular credit cards anyway. Still, if you’re there for multiple days you may want to think about adding some money to it to make purchases easier.
9. Oludeniz Beach Summer
As you might imagine, Oludeniz Beach is a premier vacation spot in Turkey! In addition to the many tourists that visit, it’s also a hot destination for domestic travelers.
Dalaman Airport is just a quick flight from Istanbul and other major cities. This means you will see plenty of Turkish families and couples here enjoying their summer holidays.
If your plan is to get a sun bed, you may want to show up early to claim it. Also, booking the boat tours and accommodations ahead for July and August is highly recommended.
→ Turquoise Coast in Turkey: 12 Best Tips For Visiting the Turkish Riviera
Is Oludeniz Beach Worth Visiting?
Yes! If you couldn’t tell from this article, we absolutely loved our visit to Oludeniz Beach. It’s just a quick drive away from many other attractions on the Turkish Riviera, and makes for a fun day trip.
From the Oludeniz Beach clubs to paragliding and excellent swimming spots, this is such a great place to see in Turkey!
Do you think Oludeniz Beach is worth visiting or have any questions about this article? Let us know in the comments below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
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More Turkey Tips
- Kaputas Beach Guide: How to Visit the Best Beach in Turkey
- Bodrum Turkey: Complete Travel Guide & 6 Things You Can’t Miss
- Kekova Island Boat Tour: Adventure to the Sunken City & Simena Village
- Fethiye Tuesday Market: What to Eat, Shopping, & More Fun!
Turkey Travel Planning
Flights: We always find deals using Skyscanner and Kayak. That’s how we got flights from Thailand to Siem Reap Cambodia for under $50 USD!
Rental Car: Discover Cars is our company of choice when abroad. It is especially popular to rent a car and explore the famous Turquoise Coast.
To pre-book long distance buses check Omio for the best routes all over the country.
Accommodation: Compare competitive sites for hotels such as Booking.com and Agoda. Also, Hostelworld should be your go-to source if you’re traveling on a budget.
Tours: Check out Get Your Guide for fun activities all over Turkey. You can book everything from a Hot Air Balloon ride in Cappadocia to a Turkish Dance show in Istanbul and even take a Full-Day Jeep Safari in Kusadasi to the National Park!
Travel Insurance: Never travel internationally without being covered. We’ve been using SafetyWing for the last few years on the road and they are there when we need them.
Packing Lists: Here’s all the inspiration you need with our Amazon packing lists! Including electronics and camera gear, must-have medical items, and long flight essentials.
We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
What would you say is the best beach bar along blue lagoon?
Author
Paradise Beach Bar is super fun!
We visited Blue lagoon and up loaded money onto lagoon card as understood from various articles you needed a card to purchase sunbeds, food and drink. However as we went over to the other side of lagoon to Beach 222, we discovered on leaving that they didn’t take the lagoon card which meant as day visitors from Calis we had to pay their bill in cash for food and drink and still had a lagoon card which we didn’t use. The whole thing is quite confusing!
We are returning tomorrow to use card as it has a substantial amount loaded on it. The girl at kiosk didn’t speak English and couldn’t tell us where the hotel was where refunds could be obtained. Bit shambolic!
Author
Yeah that was super confusing!! We only used it at the one restaurant/bar we stayed at so didn’t load much on. Such a strange system but hope it worked out for you okay.