Ölüdeniz is a town in Fethiye district of Muğla province. Ölüdeniz beach was chosen as the most beautiful beach in the world in 2006 with eighty-two percent of the votes.

The town is quite developed in terms of tourism. It is known as the land of light and sun among the Lycians and as the “Far Land” in the Middle Ages. It is located on the Teke Peninsula in the southwest of Anatolia. It is one of the abalone (lagoon) formations in Turkey.

Ölüdeniz, as its name suggests, is a calm lake. While the shores of Belceğiz are struggling with waves on the stormiest days, only turbulence occurs in Ölüdeniz.

However, Ölüdeniz, which seems stagnant, renews itself almost every day for three invisible reasons. The first of these is that the intense spring water outlets in Ölüdeniz create a current from the bottom towards the open sea. Secondly, due to the salt difference created by these spring waters, there is a continuous circulation from the open sea in and out. Thirdly, the sea rises and falls by an average of half a meter every two or three days due to the tidal effect.

This provides a large amount of sea water inflow and outflow.

The legend that gave its name to Ölüdeniz

It is not possible to see Ölüdeniz when looking at the Belcekız coast from the open sea. You can enter Ölüdeniz through a short channel that makes a 90-degree angle when you get close to the shore.

The Lycian King, who was defeated by the Lydian King in the sea war, loaded his wounded and remaining elderly, children, women, men and young people onto his sailing ship and was caught in a severe storm off the coast of Belceğiz while on his way to a friendly coastal city. While they were looking for a shelter, the king’s son directed the ship to the Belceğiz coast. Because he is aware of Ölüdeniz, a natural bay that has never seen a storm.

However, as the ship approaches the shore, the King, who cannot see a harbor to take shelter, gives the order to behead whoever gave this order that brought the last remaining people of his people to disaster. The order is fulfilled. However, in the meantime, the ship has approached the shore and is about to enter the channel. Ölüdeniz awaits them with all its tranquility. The king and the last of his people and the ship carrying them are saved, but the king’s son is dead.

For this reason, this port has been called Ölüdeniz since then.

Paradise on Earth Fethiye-Ölüdeniz is a paradise on earth that has gained a well-deserved reputation worldwide with its natural beauties, rich historical and cultural heritage.

Ölüdeniz, called “The paradise given to the world by God”, is a world-famous tourism center with its fame extending beyond the country. Oludeniz, with its striking beauty, is as calm and still as its name. Ölüdeniz, 14 km away from Fethiye, suddenly strikes you with its blue color after the road stretching among the pine trees. When you walk along Belcekız Bay and the beach stretching within this bay, you see the unique Ölüdeniz.

The Dead Sea is motionless as if it were magical… There is not even a single seaweed at the bottom. It is covered with pure white sand. The light refracted by the water and the sand at the bottom gives Ölüdeniz its famous turquoise color… Ölüdeniz is a wonder of the world with its lush pine forests extending to the shores, its warm sea in which every shade of green, blue and purple can be seen, and its long beach. In recent years, 1975 m.

Those who parachute from the peaks of Mount Babadag encounter the most breathtaking view in the world. There are many tourist facilities, restaurants, shopping centers and units in this unique bay, which offers the opportunity to swim ten months of the year.

The Legend of Belcekiz

Belcekız, which gives its name to the bay here, is based on a legend. In ancient times, ships passing here would anchor offshore and go ashore in boats to get drinking water.

One day, when the young, handsome son of an old captain went out to the bay to get water, he saw the beautiful Belcekız. They fell in love with each other as soon as they saw each other. But the young man had to get the water and return. The ship sailed away. Belcekız always looked at the shore, watching for her lover’s path. The young man would come to get water every time the ship passed through here and they would meet. One day, while passing through here, a storm broke out.

The young man told his father that there was a sheltered bay here. His father thought that the young man risked destroying the ship to see his girlfriend. With the storm, the fight between father and son grew. Just as the ship was about to hit the rocks, the father threw his son into the sea with a stroke of the oar and clung to the steering wheel. And just then he realized the situation. The sea was turning and entering a sheet-like bay. The boy died there.

Belcekız, who was waiting for her beloved on the rocks, jumped onto the rocks and died. Since that day, the place where the girl died has been called Belcekız, and the place where the young man died has been called Ölüdeniz.

An area of ​​950 hectares in Ölüdeniz was declared Kıdrak Nature Park and was taken under protection. This area, which includes Ölüdeniz Lagoon and Kıdrak Beach, is also within the SIT zone and special environmental protection area. Kumburnu Daily Recreation Facilities within the area are owned by MELSA Ltd. affiliated with Muğla Governorship. Ltd. It is operated by hand. Nearly 400,000 people enter the area annually. There is an entrance fee. One large and two small cafeterias provide service.

In addition to selling fast food and beverages, pancakes are served at the Şark corner. There is also a picnic area for those who want to have a picnic. But barbecuing is prohibited between May and October. It is possible to rent sun loungers and umbrellas. Parking, shower and WC services are free. The parking lot, with a capacity of 650 vehicles, is under surveillance with security cameras and staff. There is also a water sports (canoe, parasailing, water ski, banana) facility on the beach.

Let’s note for those who are curious. MELSA also has a handicraft sales place. Handicraft products of the Muğla region are sold. Meticulous care is taken to clean and protect this extraordinary piece of nature. With the established laboratory, sea water measurements are made on a daily basis in the entire Belcekız Beach. Work has been initiated to obtain ISO 14001 certification for the beach. Kıdrak beach will have this certificate for the first time in Turkey.

NIGHT IN ÖLÜDENİZThose who enjoy holidays, trips and the sea throughout the day start to come to Belcekız beach as the weather begins to get dark. Some of the people wandering along the beach, which becomes more lively with those who eat buffet meals in the accommodation facilities they stay and join this crowd, relax with music in cafes and bars, while those posing in front of painters, visiting the jewelery galleries in the bazaar, shopping in souvenir shops, or visiting agencies for the day. Liveliness continues until late hours with those who watch excursions and paragliding videos. Meanwhile, the most common response from local tourists to the agency officials who make offers to those passing by for paragliding is “Are you crazy? I couldn’t keep silent about my death.” While Ölüdeniz starts another day with those who climb the mountain in the early hours of the morning as if they saw it in their dreams, almost all of the tourists who come to the region visit the ancient Kayaköy, which looks like an abandoned ghost town, via Hisarönü. They do not forget to visit the church, the fountain, and the uninhabited houses.

Location and climate

A typical Mediterranean climate prevails in the town, which is located on a small plateau rising to the south of Fethiye, at the foothills of Babadağ and Mendos Mountains, and on the coastline at its foot. Summers are hot and long, and winters are rainy, mild and short. The average air temperature is 10°C in the coldest winter months, and rises above 20°C on clear sunny days.

Sea water temperature does not fall below 15 °C. Therefore, except for a few rainy and cold days, swimming is possible all year round. The air temperature is 25-30 °C in spring and 35 °C in summer. Sea water temperature is 18 °C in spring. In summer it is 22 °C.

Transportation and accommodation

It is possible to reach the town by land, sea and air. There are regular bus services to Fethiye district from centers such as Antalya, Izmir, Ankara and Istanbul. Dalaman Airport is also an hour away from the town. The distance between Fethiye and Ölüdeniz is 12 km. There are regular transportation options from Fethiye to the town.

There are many qualified hotels, hostels and camping sites in the town. In the town, where all kinds of sea sports can be done, there are opportunities for safari, mountaineering, hiking and rafting, as well as the opportunity to jump with “Paragliding” from an altitude of 2000 meters on Babadağ.

Ölüdeniz Pictures

Dead Sea Travel Guide

Ölüdeniz Hotels and Pensions Contact Information