# Babadağ, Fethiye

> Babadağ is the 1,969 m mountain rising straight above Ölüdeniz beach and one of the world's best-known paragliding sites. A gondola climbs from the 226 m base station to restaurants and terraces at 1,200 and 1,700 m, with a chairlift beyond. A return ticket costs 950 TL; under-7s ride free. Hours depend on the weather. Allow 2 hours.

Web page: https://yesgo.io/turkey/fethiye/babadag

- City: [Fethiye](https://yesgo.io/turkey/fethiye), Turkey
- YesGo score: 22/100 (Yes, if nearby)
- Time on site: 2 h
- With kids: Fine with kids
- Return ticket: 950 TL, age 7 and over
- Students, visitors with disabilities: 700 TL with a card
- Children under 7: Free, but not allowed on the chairlift
- Opening hours: Not published, vary with the weather
- In winter: Local guides say only the 1,200 m level runs
- Chairlifts 1,700–1,800 and 1,800–1,900 m: Included in the ticket
- If the top is windy: Ticket valid to 1,200 m only, no refund
- Ticket validity: Day of purchase only
- Car park: 8:00–21:00, 50 TL for the first hour, free shuttle to the station
- Getting there: Ölüdeniz dolmuş from Fethiye's Yeni Cami minibus garage to the Teleferik stop
- Address: Ölüdeniz Caddesi 31/1, on the road down to Ölüdeniz
- Coordinates: 36.53032, 29.18093
- Facts checked: 30.10.2026

## Key facts

- **1,969 m** — height of the main summit (source: Wikidata; English, Russian and Turkish Wikipedia)
- **950 TL** — adult return ticket (source: Babadağ Teleferik — official site)
- **< 5 km** — from the summit to the sea — the reason it flies so well (source: English, Russian and Turkish Wikipedia)
- **226 m** — height of the base station on the Ölüdeniz road (source: Babadağ Teleferik; Bartholet Maschinenbau)
- **1,200 · 1,700 · 1,800 · 1,900** — levels with restaurants, terraces and paragliding launches (source: Babadağ Teleferik; babadagteleferik.com pilot weather site)
- **1,763 m** — topographic prominence (source: Wikidata; Russian and Turkish Wikipedia)
- **Cragus** — the ancient name — the chief mountain of Lycia (source: English and Russian Wikipedia)
- **Bartholet** — the Swiss firm that built the lift (source: Babadağ Teleferik; Bartholet Maschinenbau)
- **2021** — the year the cable car opened (source: Bartholet Maschinenbau; Fethiye Times)
- **16–20 min** — gondola ride up to 1,700 m (source: Fethiye Times; Shipped Away)
- **Belcekız** — the Ölüdeniz beach where paragliders land (source: Turkish Wikipedia; English Wikivoyage)
- **Limestone** — what the mountain is made of (source: Russian Wikipedia; English Wikivoyage)
- **Lebanon cedar** — grows on the upper slopes; the 1,700 m trail passes cedars (source: Russian Wikipedia; Babadağ Teleferik)

## Babadağ cable car tickets and price

A return ticket costs **950 TL** for anyone aged 7 and over; students and visitors with disabilities pay 700 TL on showing a card. Children under 7 ride free but are not allowed on the chairlift, and 8–12-year-olds may use it only with an adult. The official price list shows no separate fare for foreigners, and the operator's rules say the same ticket covers both chairlift lines, 1,700–1,800 m and 1,800–1,900 m.

Buy at the base station. The ticket is valid only on the day you buy it, and outside food and drinks other than water are not allowed on the lifts or the premises — you are expected to eat at the restaurants on the mountain.

Paragliding is sold separately by companies in Ölüdeniz and Fethiye, not by the cable car. If you are flying, you do not need a lift ticket: the operator drives you to the launch, and you come down by air.

> **Wind can close the top — then your ticket only covers 1,200 m** If wind or cold shuts the 1,700, 1,800 and 1,900 m levels, the operator's rules say your ticket is valid to the first station at 1,200 m only, with no partial refund. Fully cancelled rides are refunded. Ask at the desk what is open before you pay, and save a calm, clear morning for Babadağ.

## Babadağ cable car opening hours

The operator does not publish a timetable; its rules simply say working hours may change with the weather. In practice the lift runs through the day in the main season and can pause whenever the wind picks up, so treat any time you read elsewhere as a guide, not a promise.

Is it open in winter? Local guides Fethiye Times and Shipped Away say the lift runs all year, but in winter only the 1,200 m level is open, and the chairlifts run for fewer months than the gondola. If you are coming in late autumn or winter, phone the ticket desk first.

How long does the ride take? The gondola reaches 1,700 m in 16–20 minutes, depending on the guide (Shipped Away says 16, Fethiye Times 20), with an optional stop at 1,200 m. A return trip with time on the terraces fills about 2 hours.

Go early. Morning air is clearer, launches are busy, and if the wind rises after lunch you will already be back down. For sunset, go up an hour or so before dusk and book a table at the 1,700 m terrace. The car park by the base station is open 8:00–21:00.

## How to get to Babadağ cable car from Fethiye

1. From the Paspatur old bazaar by the harbour, walk about 5 minutes to Fethiye's central dolmuş garage by the Yeni Cami mosque.
2. Take a minibus signed “Ölüdeniz” or “Ovacık/Ölüdeniz” — in season they leave often during the day. The road climbs through Ovacık and Hisarönü, roughly 20 minutes.
3. Ask the driver for “Teleferik”: Fethiye Times notes that the Fethiye–Ölüdeniz dolmuş stops at the base station. It sits right on Ölüdeniz Caddesi, before the road drops to the beach — about 25–30 minutes in all, as the minibus calls at hotels on the way.
4. Buy your ticket at the base station, ride the gondola to 1,200 m and on to 1,700 m, then switch to the chairlift if it is running.
5. Head back on the same dolmuş, or carry on a few minutes down to Ölüdeniz beach. Driving? The pay car park (8:00–21:00) runs a free shuttle from its exit to the ticket desk.
6. From Dalaman Airport (DLM), the Havaş or Muttaş shuttle bus reaches Fethiye in about an hour. Paragliding firms collect you from hotels in Ölüdeniz and Fethiye themselves.

## Paragliding from Babadağ: what a tandem flight is like

Babadağ ranks among the world's classic paragliding mountains: the summit stands less than 5 km from the sea, and the landing field is Belcekız beach in Ölüdeniz. First-timers fly **tandem**, harnessed to a qualified pilot; all you do is run a few steps when told.

Launches sit at 1,700, 1,800 and 1,900 m and are chosen by wind direction. The flight itself lasts about 30–40 minutes according to Turkish Wikipedia, longer once you add the drive and briefing. Experienced pilots climb on thermals to 3,500 m. Flights are coordinated by the Fethiye slot centre, which closes launches in strong wind or storms even when the beach is sunny.

If you only want to watch, the lift ticket is enough: at 1,700 m pilots take off a few metres from the terrace railing. Russian Wikipedia notes aerobatic competitions over Ölüdeniz in October.

## Is Babadağ worth it?

Yes, on a calm, clear day. The view of the Blue Lagoon's spit and the bay from 1,700 m is the picture people come to Ölüdeniz for, and watching tandems launch below your feet is a show in itself. It is the easiest way to see the coast from above without flying.

It is less worth it in wind or haze. The upper levels close, your ticket stops at 1,200 m, and there is no refund for the difference. With a child under 7, plan on the gondola only. If the day looks grey, swap it for [Kayaköy](https://yesgo.io/turkey/fethiye/kayakoy) or [Saklıkent Gorge](https://yesgo.io/turkey/fethiye/saklikent-gorge) and come back another morning.

## What to see and where to eat at each level

- **1,200 m** — an Anatolian restaurant and a terrace café looking down on the lagoon; next to it is an open-air concert stage.
- **1,700 m** — a grill and wine bar with the mountain's sunset terrace, and the main tandem launch right beside it.
- **Nature trail at 1,700 m** — a short loop past a pond and Lebanon cedars; stay on the marked paths.
- **1,800 m** — a burger house with a panoramic view and another launch.
- **1,900 m** — a sandwich bar and the Patara and Kuzey (north) launches, looking inland and along the coast towards Patara.
- **The view** — the lagoon, Belcekız beach, the Ölüdeniz bay and, on clear days, the mountains running down the coast towards Patara.
- Restaurants take bookings through the official site or by phone — worth it for sunset.

## How high is Babadağ, and where is it?

The main summit is **1,969 m**, with a prominence of 1,763 m, according to Wikidata and the English, Russian and Turkish Wikipedias; a second peak, Karatepe, reaches about 1,400 m. The lifts stop below the top: the gondola ends near 1,700 m and the chairlifts reach 1,800 and 1,900 m.

It sits in Muğla Province, south-west Turkey, directly above Ölüdeniz and the [Blue Lagoon](https://yesgo.io/turkey/fethiye/oludeniz-blue-lagoon), about 15 km from Fethiye by road. The name means “father mountain”; the ancients called it Cragus, the chief mountain of Lycia, and the [Lycian Way](https://yesgo.io/turkey/fethiye/lycian-way) runs along its lower slopes. The road to the top was the finish climb of a stage of the 2023 Tour of Türkiye.

## Before you go: checklist

- [ ] A clear, calm morning — wind closes the upper levels
- [ ] A fleece or jacket — 1,700 m is far cooler than the beach
- [ ] Student or disability card, if you want the reduced fare
- [ ] Water only — other food and drink can't be brought in
- [ ] Child under 7? The chairlift to 1,800–1,900 m is off-limits
- [ ] Sunset table booked ahead
- [ ] Sunscreen and sunglasses — the sun is stronger at altitude

## Babadağ vs the Blue Lagoon vs Butterfly Valley

|  | Babadağ | Blue Lagoon | Butterfly Valley |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| What it is | Cable car to 1,700–1,900 m and a paragliding launch | Beach and sheltered lagoon at Ölüdeniz | Cove under cliffs, reached by boat |
| Best for | The lagoon from above, or a flight | A swim in calm water | A gorge and a waterfall |
| Time needed | ≈ 2 h, half a day with a flight | Half a day | ≈ 3 h with the boat |
| Best time | A clear morning or sunset | A hot day | June to September |
| Pack | A fleece | Swimwear | Swimwear and shoes for rocks |

Babadağ and the lagoon make one outing: come down the mountain and you are minutes from the beach where the paragliders land.

## Fethiye's best views compared

Every viewpoint around Fethiye rated by YesGo.

- [Lycian Way](https://yesgo.io/turkey/fethiye/lycian-way) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Free
- [Tomb of Amyntas](https://yesgo.io/turkey/fethiye/tomb-of-amyntas) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · €3 for foreign visitors, under-8s free
- [Kayaköy](https://yesgo.io/turkey/fethiye/kayakoy) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · €3 for foreign visitors
- [Babadağ](https://yesgo.io/turkey/fethiye/babadag) — YesGo score 22/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · 950 TL return, under-7s free
- [Tlos](https://yesgo.io/turkey/fethiye/tlos) — YesGo score 22/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · €3 for foreign visitors
- [Saklıkent Gorge](https://yesgo.io/turkey/fethiye/saklikent-gorge) — YesGo score 20/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · Entry 85–120 TL, verifying
- [Butterfly Valley](https://yesgo.io/turkey/fethiye/butterfly-valley) — YesGo score 19/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Boat fare; entry fee unconfirmed

## Ölüdeniz in a day: mountain and beach

The abandoned Greek village of Kayaköy in the morning, Babadağ before the wind gets up, then a late swim in the Blue Lagoon under the landing paragliders.

1. [Kayaköy](https://yesgo.io/turkey/fethiye/kayakoy) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · €3 for foreign visitors
2. [Babadağ](https://yesgo.io/turkey/fethiye/babadag) — YesGo score 22/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · 950 TL return, under-7s free
3. [Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon](https://yesgo.io/turkey/fethiye/oludeniz-blue-lagoon) — YesGo score 29/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Park 150 TL on foot; Belcekız free

## Good to know

Several places share the name: a town and a different mountain in Denizli Province, the town of Babadag in Romania and a Babadağ peak in Azerbaijan. This page is about the mountain above Ölüdeniz in Fethiye district.

## Tips

- Be there at opening time: mornings are calmer and clearer, and afternoon wind is what usually shuts the upper levels.
- For sunset, ride up an hour or so before dusk and book the 1,700 m terrace — it is the best seat on the mountain.
- With a child under 7, stick to the gondola: the chairlift to 1,800 and 1,900 m does not take that age group.
- Flying tandem? Skip the lift ticket — the company drives you to the launch, and you land on the beach.
- Come down and go straight for a swim in the Blue Lagoon, watching the paragliders land.
- Fit Kayaköy in first: the ghost village sits in the next valley over from Ovacık, a short ride from the cable car.

## Questions

### How much is the Babadağ cable car?

950 TL return for anyone aged 7 and over, 700 TL for students and visitors with disabilities with a card. Children under 7 ride free. Prices are from the operator's official site.

### What are the Babadağ cable car opening hours?

The operator does not publish fixed hours and says they vary with the weather. Go in the morning, when wind is least likely to close the upper levels.

### Is the Babadağ cable car open in winter?

Local guides say it runs all year, but in winter only the 1,200 m level is open. The operator publishes no seasonal timetable, so phone the desk before a late-autumn or winter visit.

### How do I get to the Babadağ cable car from Fethiye?

Take an Ölüdeniz dolmuş from the minibus garage by the Yeni Cami mosque and ask for the Teleferik stop — about 25–30 minutes. By car, use the pay car park with its free shuttle.

### Is the Babadağ cable car worth it?

On a calm, clear day, yes — it is the classic view of the Blue Lagoon from above. In wind the top levels close and the ticket only covers 1,200 m.

### How high is Babadağ?

1,969 m. The gondola reaches about 1,700 m, and chairlifts go on to 1,800 and 1,900 m; there is no lift to the very top.

### How long is a paragliding flight from Babadağ?

About 30–40 minutes in the air, longer with the drive and briefing. You fly tandem with a pilot and land on Belcekız beach in Ölüdeniz.

### Are there restaurants on Babadağ?

Yes, at every level: an Anatolian restaurant and terrace café at 1,200 m, a grill and wine bar at 1,700 m, a burger house at 1,800 m and a sandwich bar at 1,900 m.

### Can children go up Babadağ?

Yes. Under-7s ride the gondola free but may not use the chairlift; children aged 8–12 can ride it with an adult.

### How long do I need at Babadağ?

About 2 hours for the ride up, the terraces and the way down, plus half an hour from Fethiye. The gondola itself takes 16–20 minutes to 1,700 m. With lunch on the mountain or a flight, plan half a day.

## How we checked

Fares, children's rules, the “1,200 m only” wind rule, stations, restaurants, address and car park come from the official Babadağ Teleferik site. The site gives no opening hours, only a note that they change with the weather, so hours are marked “verifying” with no times. Fares and rules were re-checked on the operator's site on 30.10.2026: prices unchanged, and both chairlift lines (1,700–1,800 and 1,800–1,900 m) are included in the ticket. The child age limit is worded both as “free up to 7” and “fares from age 7”. Gondola data come from the builder, Bartholet: two sections, about 4,206 m long, 1,504 m height gain, base 226 m, top 1,734 m; the 2021 opening is confirmed by Bartholet and Fethiye Times (1 June 2021). Cabin size differs: Bartholet says 10 seats, the operator's rules and Fethiye Times say 8 passengers. Ride time to 1,700 m is 20 minutes per Fethiye Times and 16 per Shipped Away, so we give both. The winter pattern (open all year, levels above 1,200 m closed in winter) comes from Fethiye Times and Shipped Away's seasonal table; both date from 2023 and the operator publishes no seasons, so it is marked “verifying” and we do not repeat the table's times. That the dolmuş stops at the base station is from Fethiye Times; the “Ovacık/Ölüdeniz” sign and roughly 30 minutes come from a reader quoted by Shipped Away. The 1,969 m height matches Wikidata and three Wikipedias; Russian Wikipedia's Ölüdeniz article gives launches at 1,672 and 1,980 m, the pilot weather site 1,700–1,965 m, the operator 1,700, 1,800 and 1,900 m. The ancient name Cragus follows English and Russian Wikipedia (an English disambiguation page says Anticragus). Distances to Fethiye range from 12 to 17 km; we say about 15. Flight time: 30–40 minutes per Turkish Wikipedia, about an hour per Wikivoyage including preparation. The Tour of Türkiye stage is from English Wikipedia.

## Sources

- Babadağ Teleferik — official site: tickets and rules, stations and restaurants, car park, about, contact, 30.10.2026
- Bartholet Maschinenbau — reference sheet for the 10-seater gondola at Babadağ: height difference, length, stations
- Wikidata Q4837427; English Wikipedia: Babadağ (mountain, Muğla), Ölüdeniz; Russian Wikipedia: Baba (mountain, Turkey), Oludeniz; Turkish Wikipedia: Babadağ (dağ), Ölüdeniz, Fethiye
- English Wikivoyage: Ölüdeniz — dolmuş from Fethiye, paragliding, landing beach
- babadagteleferik.com — pilot wind forecast: launch heights
- Fethiye Times — guide to the Babadağ cable car: opening, ride time, winter levels, dolmuş
- Shipped Away — Babadağ cable car guide: ride time, seasonal levels, dolmuş

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