Free Beaches in Fethiye
Where locals swim without paying an entrance fee, and which famous beaches charge one
In short: you can swim for free at Çalış, at Belcekız (the long open beach in Ölüdeniz) and at Karaot public beach near Yanıklar. On these public beaches you can lay your own towel; sunbeds and umbrellas, where offered, cost extra. Several of the most famous bays, including the Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon, are inside nature parks and charge an entrance fee.
Last checked: 9 November 2026. Rules and fees can change from season to season, so check on arrival.
“You can take your towel, your parasol, your tea, your coffee and your food and go to the public beaches, without renting a sunbed. Set up your table and it is lovely: swim, enjoy the sea and chat with your family and friends. Of course locals go to the paid bays too, they are beautiful. It depends on what kind of day you want.”
Free public beaches
Çalış Beach
A long beach right in front of the Çalış promenade, a short dolmuş ride from Fethiye town centre. Entry is free and you can sit anywhere with your own towel; the cafés and hotels along the front rent sunbeds. Famous for its sunsets. Read our Çalış Beach guide.
Belcekız, Ölüdeniz
The long open beach next to the Blue Lagoon is a public beach with no entrance fee, and its showers and toilets are free to use. Sunbeds and umbrellas are for hire. The sheltered lagoon itself (Kumburnu) is a protected nature park and charges an entrance fee. See Çalış or Ölüdeniz?
Karaot public beach (Yanıklar)
A long public beach about 15 km from Fethiye on the road towards Göcek, near the Akgöl freshwater lake. The beach café is run by the municipality, and visitors say sunbeds there are cheap to hire, though you are free to use your own towel. Facilities such as showers, toilets and changing cabins are basic, and reviewers’ reports about them vary, so come prepared. Visitors say the water stays shallow a long way out, but the seabed is rocky in places, so bring water shoes. It can get crowded on summer weekends. There is a caravan park beside the beach, and near some public beaches on this coast you will also see campervans and caravans. Sea turtles nest along this coast, so follow the signs and keep nest areas clear. You can get there by the Yanıklar or Günlüklü/Katrancı dolmuş from Fethiye; ask the driver for Karaot Halk Plajı.
İnlice, Göcek
A large public beach near Göcek, further west. There is no fee for the beach itself, though some services around it are paid.
Beaches with an entrance fee
These are some of the most beautiful bays around Fethiye. They are inside protected nature parks or national parks, so you pay at the gate (and usually for a car too). They are worth it, but they are not free:
- Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon (Kumburnu): the calm, shallow lagoon.
- Kıdrak: a sheltered sandy bay past Ölüdeniz, inside a nature park.
- Gemiler: a pine-fringed bay facing Gemiler Island, below Kayaköy.
- Günlüklü and Katrancı: forest bays on the road towards Göcek, with picnic areas.
We don’t list prices because they change often.
Tips for a free beach day
- Bring your own: towel, parasol, water and snacks. On public beaches nobody can make you rent a sunbed.
- Water shoes: many local beaches are pebbly or rocky near the water.
- Go early: in July and August the shade fills up by late morning.
- Take the dolmuş: parking near the beaches is limited in summer. See getting around without a car.
- Leave it clean: take your rubbish with you, and stay away from marked turtle nests.
Free beaches: questions
Is Ölüdeniz beach free?
The long open beach, Belcekız, is free. The sheltered Blue Lagoon (Kumburnu) is a nature park and charges an entrance fee.
Do I have to rent a sunbed?
No. On public beaches you can sit on your own towel. Sunbeds and umbrellas are optional extras.
What is the best free beach for children?
Karaot, where the water stays shallow a long way out (bring water shoes), and Belcekız in the morning, when the sea is calm.
Beach days by boat
🎟️ See all Ölüdeniz tours →Free cancellation on most tours · secure booking with GetYourGuide
Header photo: Çalış Beach in autumn, by a Çalış resident, used with permission
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