The Turquoise Coast
Around Ölüdeniz and Fethiye, Turkey delivers a lagoon that looks Photoshopped, warm water into October and hotels that have perfected the all-ages formula.
- Best forFamilies · Beach lovers · Adventure seekers
- In January14°C · 11 rainy days
- Ideal stayA week to ten days
- Approx. flying time~14h 15m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyTRYTurkish lira
- LanguageTurkish
- Local time14:122h ahead of the UK
- PlugsType C / FBring an adapter
- Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
- Dialling code+90
Why go
Pine-covered mountains drop straight into water that earns the name, and the coastline between Fethiye and Kas is a run of bays, ruins and small resorts. Lycian tombs are cut into the cliffs above the towns, wooden gulets moor in the coves, and the sea stays warm well into October. It is heavily developed in parts and empty in others, often within the same twenty minutes of driving.
Families tend to base themselves around Fethiye or Oludeniz for the beaches and the boats, while Kalkan and Kas suit couples wanting less of a resort. A hire car opens up the Lycian coast road, the gorges and the inland ruins. June to September is hot and busy, while May and October stay warm, quieter and far better for walking. Dalaman is the airport and the transfer is short.
- Ideal stay
- A week to ten days
- The vibe
- Pine-fringed, blue, easy-going
From our guides
Toddlers paddle; teenagers paraglide off Babadağ mountain — tandem, supervised, unforgettable — or hit the Blue Lagoon's water sports. Boat trips with swim stops and lunch on board are the everyday miracle here.
Featured in Ten sunshine spots where toddlers and teenagers are equally happy
Things to do
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Ölüdeniz lagoon
A protected sandspit enclosing calm, shallow water, reached through a paying entrance and busy by mid-morning. The pebbly beach next door is free and just as warm.
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Paragliding off Babadağ
Tandem flights launch from platforms nearly 2,000 metres above the lagoon and take around half an hour to come down. A cable car carries spectators up.
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Kayaköy
A hillside of hundreds of roofless stone houses, abandoned after the 1923 population exchange. Walk it early, then continue over the hill to the coast on the old path.
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Saklıkent gorge
A long canyon with a walkway over the rushing entrance and freezing water to wade beyond it. Bring shoes you do not mind soaking through.
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Boat trips and gulets
Day boats out of Fethiye tour the islands with swim stops and lunch aboard, while multi-day gulet cruises run east along the coast towards Olympos.
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Patara and the Lycian Way
An 18 kilometre beach backed by dunes, with a substantial Lycian city behind it. The long-distance Lycian Way passes through, and short sections are easy to sample.
Getting there
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Fly to
Dalaman (DLM)
Nearest airport to Fethiye, about 30km away as the crow flies.
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Then
To Fethiye
Dalaman (DLM) is about 45 minutes to an hour by car or transfer coach to Fethiye and Ölüdeniz. Dolmuş minibuses also run the route from Dalaman for a fraction of the price.
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On the ground
Getting around
Dolmuş minibuses shuttle constantly between Fethiye, Ölüdeniz and Hisarönü, and boat trips to the coves and the Twelve Islands leave from Fethiye harbour. Paragliding operators collect you and drive up Babadağ.
Public transport: The dolmuş network is frequent, cheap and covers the whole coast, so a hire car is optional here.
Flights
Los Angeles Fethiye, Turkey
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Roughly 14h 15m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
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When to go
Daytime highs run from about 14°C in January to 34°C in July. Driest in July and August; wettest in January, with rain on about 11 days.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
January14° · rain 11 daysCool with rain most weeks.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Highlighted months are warm and mostly dry — April and July to October. Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
All-inclusive resort hotels around Oludeniz and Calis, boutique and family-run pensions in Kas and Kayakoy, plus villas with pools in the hills. Gulet cabins are the local speciality.
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Best base overall
Fethiye
A real town rather than a resort, with a harbour, a market and boats out to the bays, plus easy buses along the coast. The town beach is unremarkable, so you travel to swim.
Find stays in Fethiye -
Best with children
Ölüdeniz
The lagoon and its shallow, sheltered water, with family hotels and the paragliding landing strip as spectator sport. Small and crowded in high season, with steep hotel access roads.
Find stays in Ölüdeniz -
Best value
Kayaköy or Çalış
Calis has a long flat beach and cheaper apartments with a water taxi into Fethiye; Kayakoy offers village guesthouses by the ghost town. Both are a bus ride from Oludeniz.
Find stays in Kayaköy or Çalış -
Best for couples
Kaş
Further east, a bougainvillea-draped town of small hotels, diving and Greek island day trips. Swimming is off platforms rather than sand, and the drive from Dalaman is long.
Find stays in Kaş
Worth knowing before you book: Dalaman is the airport for Fethiye and Antalya is far too distant, so check transfers. July and August book from spring, and villa lets usually run Saturday to Saturday.
Search everything else in Fethiye by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Getting there
- Dalaman is the main airport, around 50 kilometres from Fethiye. Antalya works better if you are basing yourself at the eastern end of the coast.
- Driving
- A hire car makes the difference and the coast road is scenic and slow. Dolmus minibuses cover the main towns cheaply if you would rather not drive.
- With kids
- Sheltered, shallow swimming is easy to find, but pebbles are common so water shoes help. Sun is fierce from June and shade on boats is limited.
- Turtles
- Loggerheads nest on Patara and Iztuzu beaches. Sections close at night in season, and lights, umbrellas and digging are restricted.
- Timing
- July and August are hot and full. May, June, September and October give warm sea, walkable temperatures and much easier booking.
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Quick answers
When is the best time to visit The Turquoise Coast?
For warm, mostly dry days, April and July to October. That means highs of 20–34°C with rain on six days a month or fewer. Daytime highs run from about 14°C in January to 34°C in July. Driest in July and August; wettest in January, with rain on about 11 days.
How long should I spend in The Turquoise Coast?
Our suggestion: a week to ten days.
How do I get to The Turquoise Coast?
Dalaman (DLM) is about 45 minutes to an hour by car or transfer coach to Fethiye and Ölüdeniz. Dolmuş minibuses also run the route from Dalaman for a fraction of the price.
Do I need a car in The Turquoise Coast?
No. The dolmuş network is frequent, cheap and covers the whole coast, so a hire car is optional here.
What currency and language are used in The Turquoise Coast?
Currency: Turkish lira (TRY). Language: Turkish. Plugs: type C and F.
Who is The Turquoise Coast best for?
Best for families, beach lovers and adventure seekers. In a phrase: pine-fringed, blue, easy-going.