Ölüdeniz is probably Turkey's most photographed beach, and the photographs are not exaggerating the color: the lagoon really is that shade of turquoise. The geography explains the appeal. A curve of white sand beach shelters the lagoon from the open Mediterranean, so the water inside stays calm and shallow year round, good for families, easy snorkeling, and unhurried swimming, while the adjacent open beach faces the sea for anyone who wants waves. The whole area is a protected nature reserve, which has kept development off the shoreline itself. Behind the beach, pine-covered slopes rise toward Babadağ, the mountain the paragliders launch from; their canopies drift down over the lagoon all day in season. Entry costs about 50 lira. Come early, because the sand fills up by mid-morning in summer.

Pine-covered mountains drop straight into the sea around Fethiye. The coastline is among the most photographed in Turkey, and much of it is protected, so development stays back from the water.

Hikers get the most from this area. Sections of the Lycian Way pass close by, and spring and autumn are the best walking seasons.

First-time visitors and solo travelers both manage easily here. The area is walkable, and staff at most sites are used to tourists.

Most Fethiye attractions are easy to reach from the bay. The Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon is a short drive away, and the Lycian sites of Tlos and Xanthos make good half-day trips. Restaurants around the marina serve fresh seafood.

Markets near the harbor sell Turkish crafts and souvenirs. Waterfront cafes are a good place to try Turkish tea between stops.