Oludeniz is a miniature resort village in southwestern Turkey, located 12.5 km southeast of picturesque Fethiye. This is a fairly lively tourist area, which is famous for its picturesque landscapes and turquoise sea waters. The season here lasts from May to October, and the water temperature in the summer months ranges from 24-28 °C. Oludeniz beaches differ in their size and level of amenities. Some of them are crowded and cramped, while others are comfortable and peaceful.
In total, the resort has three main beaches: Blue Lagoon, Belchekiz and Kidrak. And in the vicinity of the village you can find a unique Patara beach and a picturesque corner of the Valley of Butterflies. You can learn about the features of each of them in our article.
Blue Lagoon
Perhaps one of the most famous beaches of Oludeniz in Turkey is the Blue Lagoon, which is a protected area. It is worth noting that the beach is included in the list of the best on the coast of all of Turkey. It is located 4 km southwest of the center of the resort village and is a picturesque area surrounded by lush greenery, cedars and pomegranate trees that cover the nearby hills. It is quite easy to get here on foot or by public bus.
This is a fairly long beach, and its length reaches almost 1000 m. The surface near the coast consists of small pebbles and sand, so the Blue Lagoon can be attributed to sandy and pebble beaches.
The entrance to the water here is gentle and convenient, the depth begins only after 5-6 meters, and at 30 meters the bottom is no longer visible. This area is not characterized by strong waves, so many families with young children choose this beach. In the sea, even without a mask, you can see a lot of different fish, and if you take snorkeling equipment, you will have the opportunity to see much more — the underwater world of the lagoon is quite interesting and diverse.
The Blue Lagoon is equipped with everything necessary for a comfortable beach holiday: restrooms, showers, changing cabins and toilets are available. There are a lot of sun loungers, which can be rented for $7 (2 pcs + 1 umbrella). Entrance to the Blue Lagoon area has recently become free. There are several cafes located near the coast, so there are no problems with food here. In the sky, you will constantly see flying paragliders. Paragliding in Oludeniz is very popular, and the jump costs about $70.
Photos of the Blue Lagoon in Oludeniz are certainly beautiful and make you want to visit this place, but, unfortunately, the beach is not as perfect as it might seem at first glance. During the high season, during the daytime hours, its territory is so overloaded with tourists that sometimes it is not possible to find a free place to relax. Sun beds and umbrellas are crowded, tightly fitting to each other, which creates discomfort. In addition, with large crowds, the promised clear turquoise water, which can be observed in the early morning hours, turns into a muddy green mixture. Therefore, we recommend visiting this beach in low season or early in the morning.
Oludeniz Beach (Belchekiz). Promenade
The turquoise municipal beach known as Belcekiz is located 3.7 km south of the center of Oludeniz in Turkey. You can get here by public transport, taxi or on foot. Oludeniz Beach has a length of about 1500 m and an average width of 100 m. On the one hand, the coast abuts against the rocks, on the other it turns into the Blue Lagoon beach.
On Belchekiz, you will be greeted by a sand and pebble surface consisting of fine light gray pebbles and medium-sized sand. The sea floor here is lined with pebbles, there are large stones, so it is most convenient to swim in special shoes. The entrance to the water is uneven, and the depth increases quite quickly. The area is characterized by waves, and only in the morning hours the sea waters remain calm. So this beach can not be called convenient for recreation with young children.
Admission to Oludeniz Beach is free, but everyone can rent sun beds with umbrellas — $7 per set. The territory is equipped with the necessary infrastructure: toilets, showers and changing rooms are available. Along the coast stretches the embankment, where there are several hotels, restaurants and playgrounds. Paragliding is very popular in Oludeniz, which is confirmed by numerous athletes landing on the embankment near Belchekiz.
In high season, it is quite crowded, but since the beach is wide, there is no feeling of crowding. Belcekiz can be a great alternative to the Blue Lagoon in Oludeniz in Turkey.
Many tourists who have visited here note that the territory, although well-maintained, is not perfectly clean. However, the beach has a Blue Flag certificate, which confirms its safety.
Valley of Butterflies
When looking at photos of beaches and the promenade in Oludeniz in Turkey, you can often find a picture of a secluded picturesque corner hidden between steep cliffs. This is the Valley of Butterflies, where many tourists come to admire the breathtaking scenery and swim at the local beach.
This place is located 11 km south of the center of Oludeniz, and there are only two ways to get here. In the first case, you can buy an excursion to the Valley of Butterflies, and in the second – go here yourself on a regular boat that departs from the pier of the city’s Belchekiz beach. The cost of a round trip is $12-15, and the journey time takes about 30 minutes.
The beach in the Valley of Butterflies is a narrow strip of coast, no more than 200 meters long. The beach is covered with medium-sized pebbles, and here and there there are areas with an admixture of sand. The bottom here is uneven with large stones, so entering the water can not be called comfortable. Since the beach is surrounded by rocks, the waves in the sea are weak, but due to the constantly arriving tourist yachts and ships, oily fuel spots are often found in the water. There is no infrastructure on the shore, only in the far part of it there are several sun beds, which, as a rule, are always occupied. A couple of cafes and a fish restaurant can be found near the coastal area.
The coast in the Valley of Butterflies is not suitable for recreation with children, and adults themselves will not be very comfortable here. In the daytime, the beach is crowded with tourists, tourist ships and boats constantly come up to it, so it is uncomfortable and unsafe to swim. There is no point in going to the Valley of Butterflies purposefully for swimming, but it is quite a good idea to visit this beach in Oludeniz as part of a study tour and take a couple of beautiful photos here. You can also spend the night camping in a bungalow or tent ($23 and $17, respectively).
Kidrak (Paradise Beach)
If you are looking for privacy and tranquility, then Kidrak Beach in Oludeniz is perfect for your holiday in Turkey. Paradise Beach is located 6 km from the center of the village in a protected park, admission to the territory of which is $1.1 per person and $3.3 per car.
You can get here on foot from the municipal beach of Belchekiz in 40-50 minutes or by hourly dolmush plying in the direction of Fethiye-Kabak, disembarking at the stop “Kidrak”.
The coastline, which stretches for a distance of about 1000 meters, is a picturesque corner framed by rocks and pine trees. The beach surface consists of sand and small pebbles, and in its southern parts there are mainly large stones. The water is clear, turquoise in color, somewhat cooler than on other beaches of Oludeniz due to the springs that gush here. The approach to the sea is uneven, steep, and the terrain is characterized by strong waves.
Kidrak has toilets, changing rooms and showers. But renting sun beds with umbrellas is problematic: sometimes, even in high season, they simply do not rent them out here. But if you are still lucky, and the sun beds are available, then you will have to pay $6 for their rental (for 2 pieces). On the territory of the beach there are barbecue areas, you can rent barbecue equipment at the entrance to the park. Next to the parking lot, there is a cafe where you can have a snack.
In general, due to its distance from Oludeniz, this beach in Turkey is quite clean, there are no crowds of tourists, there is the necessary infrastructure, but because of the uneven bottom and cold water, Paradise Beach is not suitable for holidays with young children and is more suitable for travelers looking for serenity and silence.
Patara
Among the beaches of Oludeniz in Turkey, photos of which fascinate with their picturesqueness, a place called Patara deserves special attention. First, it is one of the longest beaches in the country, with a length of up to 20 km. And, secondly, it is one of the few coasts in Turkey with soft light sand.
Patara is located 80 km southeast of Oludeniz. For the most part, this is a wild beach, and for recreation there is only a modest area of 500 meters. The area is characterized by clear water and clean territory with fine sand, the bottom is flat, gentle, great for families with children.
Patara is a paid beach, you need to pay $5 for entry by car, the ticket is valid for 4 days. The territory is equipped with all related attributes, including restrooms, showers and changing rooms. On request, you can rent sun beds with umbrellas for $3.5 (2+1). On the coast there is a restaurant where you can order drinks and snacks.
If you are vacationing in Oludeniz in Turkey, the easiest way to get to Patara is by rented transport, following the D 400 highway. You can also take a regular bus from Fethiye to Kas, asking the driver in advance to drop you off at Ova village, from where you can get to the beach by taxi or dolmush. If you do not want to waste your time on the road to Patara, we recommend visiting other beaches of Oludeniz.
