3 Best Sights in Ölüdeniz, The Turquoise Coast

Established as a preserve in 1981 to protect the habitat of some 100 species of butterfly, including the Jersey Tiger, this area was opened for tourism in part to provide funds to support conservation. Although it's only a 15-minute drive from Ölüdeniz, Butterfly Valley is a favorite stop for boat trips (it's either that or a treacherous climb down a very steep hill) thanks to its pretty beach and clear turquoise waters.

It attracts a laid-back crowd but can become overcrowded in high season. Those who brought sturdy sneakers can enjoy a bracing climb up to a little waterfall, and camping is allowed from April through November. If you aren't undertaking an excursion that includes Butterfly Valley as one of its stops, there's a taxi boat with scheduled service leaving from Ölüdeniz.

If you want to take a dip in the iconic sandbar that lies across the mouth of the lagoon, then you must first enter Ölüdeniz Nature Park. To do so, go down to the seafront, turn west, then left at the fork where you can see the toll booth; the charge is 27 TL per car or 9 TL per person on foot (kids are half price or free, depending on age). The setting is absolutely beautiful, which means you should expect crowds. Pretty much the entire pebbly beach is taken up by densely packed lounge chairs and umbrellas, either of which can be rented for 25 TL. Just around the corner, a concession rents pedalos and kayaks for about 50 TL per hour. The sea gets deep quickly here, and there are several diving platforms anchored a short swim out. Amenities: food and drink; parking; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: swimming.

Opened in 2021, this aerial tramway whisks you up to the 1,900-meter (6,200-foot) mountain Babadağ, the main launching point for paragliding over Ölüdeniz. There are four stations on the mountain, including the one at the peak, and each has its own restaurant, access to walking paths, and of course sweeping views. From November through March, only the lowest station (at 1,200 meters/3,930 feet) is open.