15 Top Things To Do in Fethiye and Oludeniz (Turkish Riviera)

We spent a wonderful week on our Turkey road trip in Fethiye and Oludeniz. We rented a car in Istanbul, drove to Bursa and Izmir, and then the Turquoise Coast, visiting Fethiye, Oludeniz, and Kas. We then went to Antalya, drove up to Ankara, and finished off in Istanbul.

Fethiye and Oludeniz were the perfect places on our road trip for some beach time and activity.

We loved the scenery, the clear turquoise waters, and the beautiful beaches. Plus, we rode the newly built cable car from Oludeniz to Babadag, where we also went paragliding on Arijana’s birthday. It was our first time paragliding and from almost 2000 meters!

Oludeniz is the best place to paraglide in Turkey and among the best places to go paragliding in the world. So, if you’re into adrenaline-pumping activities, this will be right up your street!

Overall, Fethiye has the perfect amount of things to do for what we love most: an excellent combination of a relaxing holiday and exploration. And that makes Oludeniz and Fethiye a great spot to visit on the Turkish Riviera.

Many of the things to do in Fethiye are similar to the things to do in Oludeniz, so we combined them into this one complete travel guide rather than writing two articles about the same things. After all, Oludeniz is just a neighborhood in Fethiye.

Top things to do in Fethiye and Oludeniz

Even though it’s not packed to the brim with must-visit attractions and sites compared to a destination like Antalya, there are still enough things to do in Fethiye and Oludeniz to fill up your time between relaxing and swimming on the beach.

Fethiye and Oludeniz Travel Map

1. Paragliding

As we already mentioned, Oludeniz is one of the top places in the world for paragliding. 

Paragliding is definitely the top thing to do in Oludeniz, so you can’t miss an opportunity to try it yourself! The best thing is that it’s still relatively affordable, and you don’t need any special skills – practically anyone can do it.

Paragliding in Oludeniz is unique because you can paraglide from almost 2000m straight down to 0m (sea level) at Oludeniz’s beach.

That means you get incredible views of Babadag Mountain, from which you jump off, and Oludeniz Bay, its beach, and the lagoon.

This is still a highlight from all our travels, and we got some of the most incredible photos while paragliding in Oludeniz.

TIP: Inform the tour operator what photos you would like; they usually help you get some incredible shots. We let them know it was Arijana’s birthday and that we wanted to publish these beautiful images on our blog, and boy, did they deliver!

We did our paragliding with Reaction Paragliding, one of the top paragliding companies in Oludeniz. But there are many great ones, so you can be sure you will be in great hands. They’re all certified and have many years of experience.

Our dedicated article explains our experience and everything you need to know about tandem paragliding in Oludeniz. Click here to read more.

For all the adrenaline enthusiasts, you can even ask them to do some tricks while in the air to make your heart pump. It’s so much fun!

TIP: Paragliding is, for a reason, among the top things to do in Oludeniz and gets fully booked in the season. We recommend booking in advance online to secure your spot.

But the best travel tip for your visit to Oludeniz is that if you plan to go paragliding, you should do it on your first day if possible and, if not, on day two. It’s very weather-dependent (for safety reasons), so you’ll want to do it immediately in case it’s canceled so you get another chance the next day.

It’s a very similar process to hot air ballooning in Cappadocia. 

2. Babadag Cable Car

Speaking of paragliding, we mentioned that you lift off from Babadag Mountain. But you can also get to the top of Babadag Mountain by cable car.

The cable car takes you from Oludeniz to the top of the Babadag mountain, where you can enjoy a fantastic 360 view of the area.

We rode the Babadag Cable Car right after its opening, and since then, it has become one of the top attractions in both Oludeniz and Fethiye.

There are a few different so-called levels of the mountain that the cable car stops at, and you can even grab something to eat or drink while enjoying the scenery.

The cable car takes you to the first stop at 1200 meters and the second at 1700 meters. From there, you can also get even higher with a chair lift. Plus, a path leads even higher from the chair lift and reaches the top of the mountain.

• Read next: Top Things To Do in Istanbul

In addition, Babadag Mountain is also a perfect place to observe paragliders taking off. Even if you might not want to try it, watching them jump and fill the sky is also a fantastic experience.

We weren’t planning on going paragliding, but the day before Arijana’s birthday, we went up with the cable car and watched them take off. And we decided it was just too good to miss out on.

Note: Watching the paragliders take off the day before paragliding got us super excited but also a bit scared. So we suggest visiting Babadag Mountain afterward!

3. Beaches

The Turkish Riviera, also known as the Turquoise Coast of Turkey, has fantastic beaches with beautiful turquoise water, and Fethiye and Oludeniz are no exception.

We couldn’t believe this color was genuine, and we kept getting wow-ed when going for a swim in Oludeniz and later also in Kas. It’s simply stunning!

The post-card and most famous beach in Oludeniz is the central 4-km-long Oludeniz Beach, also known as Belcekiz Beach.

Oludeniz Beach is unique because you can observe paragliders landing near the beach. We went for a pizza right next to the beach, and it was so fun observing them land.

• Read next: Top Things To Do in Kas

In Fethiye, the best beach is Calis Beach, as it’s very long. Although, it’s not as picturesque as the beaches in Oludeniz!

There are also other great beaches nearby Oludeniz, and our favorite was the smaller Kidrak beach. We saw it while driving to the Butterfly Valley Viewpoint, and it looked terrific.

We enjoyed swimming at Kidrak Beach, which was much less crowded than Oludeniz Beach, as it is further away from the main area.

4. Blue Lagoon

Another of the top things to do in Oludeniz is the Blue Lagoon, also known as the Dead Sea. In translation, Oludeniz means the Dead Sea, named after the shallow lagoon separated from the sea by a sandbar.

However, the lagoon is entirely commercialized, and you can find all kinds of amenities and businesses, as well as hotels on the north side.

A popular spot right at the entry to Blue Lagoon is Kumburnu Beach.

However, in the summer, most of the beach is taken over by sun beds and sun loungers, which cost upwards of 15 USD. If you don’t want to use the sunbeds, there’s not much space to lay down your towel, and it’s quite a crammed space.

However, the Blue Lagoon is a good place to go for families, as the water is shallow and the lagoon is wave-free.

We haven’t visited Blue Lagoon and its beach; we only observed it from the top and read through hundreds of recent reviews. And we don’t recommend it for most people if you’re not ready to spend much money. It’s costly and completely unenjoyable during the summer.

5. Butterfly Valley

One of the top things to do in Oludeniz and one of the most picturesque places to visit in Fethiye is Butterfly Valley, which is only accessible by boat.

Many write about Butterfly Valley as a hidden gem. However, it is frequently visited by boat tours from Fethiye and Oludeniz, so don’t expect a private experience, even though it is so inaccessible.

• Read next: Top Things To Do in Antalya

You can get a boat to Butterfly Valley from Oludeniz for about 10 to 15 USD (return). It’s one of the top Oludeniz attractions, so the services are quite developed.

The valley is becoming quite developed, so there is a bar, sunbeds, camping, and accommodation. Note: Many tours, especially party boat tours, come to Butterfly Valley, so it’s hard to avoid noise and music until they leave.

This is the easiest if you plan to spend a night or two at the Butterfly Valley Beach Glamping. However, it can be a bit more “rough around the edges” experience and pretty pricey. But this is the spot if you’re looking to stay camping overnight near a stunning beach.

Butterfly Valley Viewpoint

However, if you only want to see the beautiful Butterfly Valley, you can do so from above without paying for a boat.

You can drive the scenic route with ocean views from Oludeniz, a beautiful drive through the foothills of Babadag Mountain to the Butterfly Valley Viewpoint.

We drove this route a couple of times and never got bored. On the way from Oludeniz, you can also stop by a few beautiful beaches, like Kidrak Beach, which we mentioned earlier.

The view from the viewpoint is pretty impressive, so it’s worth a short stop. It’s especially stunning just before the sunset.

Travel tip: The viewpoint is pretty popular and will be crowded. If you want a more peaceful perspective, drive about 100 meters further, and you’ll find an equally beautiful view with fewer people. But be careful with your footing!

Photo tip: At the end of October, the valley was almost constantly in the shadow. We came three times during different times of the day and only caught it partially in the sun. So keep that in mind if you want great photos of this place.

6. Cruise and boat tour

Boat tours and cruises are the top activities in Fethiye and Oludeniz. They mostly follow a similar itinerary (except for the more upscale or private ones) with a few different stops. The starting point for boat tours is from Oludeniz Beach and the Fethiye marina.

Cruises and boat tours:

• A cruise featuring stops at Butterfly Valley and Yali Beach
• A full-day boat excursion
• A Turkish lunch cruise
• Multiple bays cruise 

Travel tip: Be careful when booking your boat tour in Fethiye and Oludeniz so you don’t end up on a party cruise if you’re not interested in that. Check our hand-picked tours below which are a much better option.

7. Shopping

Like many other coastal towns, Fethiye and Oludeniz have many shops selling clothes, souvenirs, and Turkish products.

One of the most famous things to buy is fake items, which you can find for a really good price. But you can also find Turkish classics, like Turkish Delight and spices. And what’s a trip to Turkey without buying some Turkish Delight?

• Read next: Top Things To Do in Cappadocia

We absolutely love Turkish Delight, and last time we were in Istanbul, we bought about 2 kilos. That took quite a bit of time to finish!

Shopping tip: Be extremely careful about the price you’re offered and try to think if it’s worth what they’re asking for. Not everyone is trying to scam tourists, but there are, unfortunately, lots of those that do. We heard especially troubling price-gouging tactics about the Fethiye Old Town and the market there.

8. Kayakoy Abandoned Village

If you’re looking for something fun to do for a few hours that’s not the beach, a great option is to visit Fethiye’s famous abandoned village of Kayakoy.

This ghost town is about a 15-minute drive from both Fethiye and Oludeniz, and it’s a great place to explore.

Kayakoy was abandoned in the 1920s after the Population Exchange, and it’s now a popular tourist destination that offers cool photo opportunities, so make sure you have your camera ready!

It’s also one of the bigger abandoned places of this kind, which is easy to explore on your own by walking around.

• Read next: Derinkuyu Underground City in Cappadocia

Want to learn more about this “ghost village”? Read our complete travel guide.

9. Saklikent Gorge

The Saklikent Gorge, meaning a hidden city, is an 18-kilometer-long and 300-meter-high canyon. However, even though it’s 18 km long, only around 4 km is walkable.

Walking through the Saklikent Gorge is the best outdoor activity in Fethiye. Right after paragliding, of course!

The gorge is about a 45-minute drive from Fethiye, and it’s well worth the trip. The scenery is absolutely stunning, so don’t miss out on this unique attraction!

The first part of the path is on a wooden boardwalk, and in the second part, you walk through ankle-deep water towards the end of the walkable path, which ends at a waterfall.

• Check availability: Saklikent and Tlos Day Tour

Note: The water at Saklikent Gorge can get up to knee-deep, depending on the season you visit, so it’s best visited in the summer months. In winter or early spring, the water level can be too high.

At Saklikent Gorge, you can rent water shoes for a small fee. Most people use these shoes to walk through the gorge, but we suggest taking your own.

We took our running/hiking shoes, which we didn’t feel too sorry for, and after washing the clay/mud off, they were good.

HOT TIP: One of the best things to do while visiting Saklikent Gorge from Fethiye is to take some of the mud/clay and make yourself a free face mask.

10. Tlos Ruins

On the way from Fethiye and Oludeniz to Saklikent Gorge, you can make a short detour to Tlos Ruins, which only adds another 15 minutes of driving time on scenic roads.

The ancient city of Tlos is among the popular Fethiye attractions, but it is still not that crazy busy. So they’re perfect for avoiding crowds and still seeing some beautiful ancient ruins. 

The ruins and tombs are located on a hill overlooking the village of Tlos. The Lycians built the tombs in the 4th century BC, and they’re a fascinating example of Lycian architecture.

While you can see a bit from the road, we highly recommend paying the ticket and getting to the top of the castle for a great view of the surrounding area.

Make sure you plan for at least half an hour to an hour at the tombs to explore them properly!

11. Amyntas Rock Tombs

The area in which Fethiye and Oludeniz are located is full of ancient tombs, and if you’re not up for driving out of town and still want to see some ancient tombs, you can visit the Amyntas Tomb.

The Lycian Tombs of Amyntas, built in the 4th century BC, are a great example of Lycian architecture, similar to Tlos.

• Read next: Ephesus Ancient City

The tombs are carved into the rock face and look impressive, but unfortunately, they are not well maintained. There is graffiti all over them and all kinds of carvings, which is sad to see. 

It’s one of the most accessible places to visit in Fethiye to see Lycian tombs. And you can get a nice view of Fethiye Marina from the top of the tombs. If you don’t intend to visit fully, you can see one part of the tombs pretty well from the street, too.

12. Lycian Way

The Lycian Way is a marked long-distance trail extending 500 kilometers along the coast of ancient Lycia. It offers some of the most breathtaking views from Fethiye to Antalya while passing by ancient sites dotted around the landscape.

It’s quite a new route, as Kate Clow, a British expat, first marked it in the late 1990s. Now, tens of thousands of travelers walk it each year.

Of course, only some people want to travel the whole 500km. That’s why you can walk a small part of the trail in each coastal town. We’d recommend it if you like chasing amazing views, and Oludeniz is the best place to do so.

We did a part of the Lycian Way above Oludeniz Bay, and it’s a really good spot for a walk and some lovely photos. Unfortunately, we arrived on the trail too late on our last day and didn’t reach any good viewpoints before the sun went down.

Travel tip: Be on the trail above Oludeniz for sunset, and you’ll see the sun setting down directly into the ocean.

You can find more information about the Lycian Way trails on AllTrails.

The trails are separated into stages, and the part we wanted to do is the Lycian Way: Ovacik to Faralya Trail. However, you don’t have to do the whole one to get great views.

13. Day trips

While there’s plenty to do in Fethiye and Oludeniz for an active holiday, there are also a few day trips that are worth taking.

Kas

Our next stop on our road trip through the Turkish Riviera was the beautiful small coastal town of Kas, located one hour and a half south. It’s also the perfect day trip from Fethiye and Oludeniz.

Some of the best things you can do there is visiting the absolutely stunning Kaputas Beach and joining the boat trip to Kekova. The boat tour was especially a highlight for us, as we visited some breathtaking bays with crystal clear waters, as well as a sunken city, and the beautiful Simena Castle.

• Check availability: Kas Kekova Boat Tour

Pamukkale

The furthest away destination for a day trip from Fethiye is Pamukkale, one of Turkey’s most fascinating natural wonders.

The drive to Pamukkale is about 2 hours and 45 minutes each way, so it’s best to rent a car for the day trip and start early in the morning so you can arrive for the opening at 8 a.m. and avoid crowds.

You might also consider staying overnight in Pamukkale.

Pamukkale is most famous for the white travertines, but we actually quite enjoyed walking around the other parts, like the ancient city of Hierapolis and its theatre, which is situated right above it. Plus, there’s also a hot spring where you can bathe.

• Check availability: Pamukkale and Hierapolis Day Tour

The whole complex at Pamukkale was much bigger than we anticipated. We highly recommend spending some time there to see Hierapolis.

• Read next: Pamukkale Travel Guide

Patara Beach & Patara Ancient City

Another day trip option from Fethiye and Oludeniz is Patara, the longest beach in Turkey. You can reach it by car in about one hour. Surprisingly, compared to other beaches, it’s still not built out.

What makes Patara Beach unique are the dunes in one part and the ancient Patara city nearby – one of the top archaeological sites in the area.

This is also one of the last few beaches in the world where endangered Caretta sea turtles still lay eggs, which is why this area is also a protected National Park. The best time to see turtles is between May and October.

14. Adventure Activities

Fethiye and Oludeniz are less famous for adventure activities than Antalya. However, if you have extra time, you can do some cool stuff besides paragliding and general water sports, like a 4WD/Buggy Adventure ride, sea kayaking, or even scuba diving.

Outdoor Activities in Fethiye and Oludeniz

• Saint Nicholas Island Sea Kayaking – check availability
• 4WD Buggy Adventure – check availability
• Scuba Diving – check availability

15. Gemiler Island

Not far from Oludeniz Bay, you can visit Gemiler Island, known for the remains of multiple churches built between the fourth and sixth centuries AD.

The island is also known as St Nicholas Island since it’s believed to be the site of the original St Nicholas’ tomb. There are also over 40 different buildings and over 50 tombs.

Nowadays, while people still visit to see those ruins, the island is mostly visited by boat tours from Oludeniz for swimming and sunbathing.

Best restaurants in Fethiye and Oludeniz

Fethiye and Oludeniz have a wide selection of restaurants serving dishes from many cuisines. You can find authentic local cuisine in Turkish restaurants, as well as plenty of Italian and Mexican food and a few excellent Indian/Pakistani spots.

Best restaurants

• Angora Restaurant (Italian, Mexican, Mediterranean)
• Narlibahce (Turkish, Mediterranean)
• Nazilli (Pide, Indian, Pakistani)
• Arty’s Fish And Chips (Seafood, Fast food, European)
• Sandinos (Indian, Thai)

The best restaurants in Oludeniz are not down by the beach but uphill in the town. However, a restaurant worth checking out near the beach is Inci Restaurant, which offers more Turkish dishes than other tourist restaurants at still normal prices (for a tourist area like this).

Although we did have a great pizza at Cloud 9 right next to Oludeniz Beach.

Where to stay in Fethiye and Oludeniz

Fethiye offers many different accommodations, so if you’re interested in staying in a resort, you can do that, but if you would like to save money (and maybe have a car), then an apartment is a better choice.

Hand-picked Fethiye Hotels

• Budget: Chillsteps Hostel – top-rated hostel close to the beach
• Mid-range: Ten Apart Hotel (with swimming pool), Alesta Seaside Residence
• Luxury: Körfez Suites, Jiva Beach Resort (Ultra All Inclusive)

Booking accommodation a bit out of town will get you a better deal. As it’s a small area, you can still reach anything very fast.

We stayed in F48 Apartments in Fethiye. Although it wasn’t really close to the town center or the beach, it was well-equipped with everything we needed for a comfortable stay, including a kitchen.

Hand-picked Oludeniz Hotels

• Budget: CC’s Butik Hotel
• Mid-range: Blue Star Hotel, Villa Symbola
• Luxury: The Pearl Ölüdeniz, Jade Residence

How to visit Fethiye and Oludeniz

If you’re thinking of flying into Fethiye and Oludeniz, the closest airport is Dalaman Airport (DLM), but you can also fly into Antalya Airport (AYT), as it’s well connected to the area.

There are buses from Antalya and Dalaman to Fethiye and Oludeniz. From Dalaman, you can also come by booking the airport transfer. If you’re coming from Pamukkale, you can take the bus from Denizli.

You can rent a car in either Izmir or Antalya and then drive to Fethiye. It should take around 3 hours to drive from Antalya and 4-5 from Izmir. We came by car from Izmir on our road trip through the Turkish Riviera.

Another option to get to Fethiye is the daily ferry from Rhodes in Greece, which takes about 2 hours.

Getting around

Local buses (called Dolmush) connect Fethiye and Oludeniz so you can travel between places in the area, including Kayakoy, without your own vehicle.

However, we recommend renting a car or scooter to explore the area around Fethiye and Oludeniz. It’s really the best way to get around comfortably.

How many days in Fethiye and Oludeniz?

If you’re only passing by, we recommend spending at least two full days in Fethiye and Oludeniz. Otherwise, they are a great spot for a week or two-week vacation, with plenty to do in between relaxing and swimming on the beach.

• Read next: Top Things To Do in Croatia

Prices in Fethiye and Oludeniz

The area of Fethiye and Oludeniz is not the cheapest in Turkey, but it is still somewhat affordable, especially if you book your accommodation and activities in advance. Hostels cost upwards of 25 USD, Hotels upwards of 50 USD, and food is about 5 to 10 USD per dish.

Best time to visit Fethiye and Oludeniz

The best time to visit Fethiye and Oludeniz is in the summer season (June to September), as you can comfortably swim on the beaches with minimal waves, enjoy the weather while hiking, or just soak up the sun at the pool.

However, we visited during the second half of October and had a fantastic time in Fethiye! The weather was still very pleasant, and we enjoyed swimming and paragliding. Plus, the restaurants and other businesses were still working.

We highly recommend visiting Fethiye and Oludeniz in the shoulder seasons of spring (April to June), preferably late summer/autumn (September to October), for a good experience with lower prices, fewer crowds, and still great weather.

Is it worth visiting?

Having spent a wonderful week in Fethiye and Oludeniz, we can comfortably say it’s worth visiting. It’s the perfect spot in Turkey for a vacation and a great stopping point if you’re doing a road trip along the Turquoise Coast like we did.

We enjoyed our time there and would happily return.

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Thank you for reading this article on Fethiye and Oludeniz. We hope we convinced you to visit and, above all, helped you plan your trip.

Continue reading

• Paragliding in Oludeniz
• Kayakoy Abandoned Village
• Babadag Cable Car
• Kas
• Antalya
• Pamukkale
• Cappadocia
• Istanbul
• Izmir