Ölüdeniz Beach and the Blue Lagoon: a practical guide
Ölüdeniz, literally "the dead sea" (named for water that stays calm even when the open sea is rough), is Turkey's most photographed beach. Here is the practical guide: what the two parts of the beach are, when to come, and where that famous photo is really taken from.
Two beaches, one bay
Belcekız Beach is the long open strip in front of the resort: free to enter, backed by cafés, and, uniquely, serving as the landing zone for paragliders, who drift down onto the shoreline all day long. The Blue Lagoon (Kumburnu) is the sheltered pool at the western end, enclosed by a sand spit. It is a protected nature park with a ticketed entrance; arrangements change seasonally, so check on arrival.
When to come
The swimming season runs long, roughly May to October. In July and August the beach fills by midday; mornings and late afternoons are calmer and cooler. The lagoon's famous colours are at their best in afternoon light.
About that postcard shot
The image that made Ölüdeniz famous, the sand spit curling around turquoise water, cannot be seen from the beach. It exists only from above. Tandem paragliding flights from Babadağ glide directly over it: the lagoon, the spit and the coastline in a single frame below your feet. How a flight works, step by step, is in our tandem guide, and the photos from up there are the ones you will actually frame.