Dalaman holidays

Deals from £188 per person

Located at the heart of the Turkish ‘Turquoise Coast’, the Dalaman region is home to some of Turkey's most popular sights and attractions. You’ll find some stunning sun-kissed beaches all the way along the coast, and if you want some peace and tranquillity, there’s hidden caves and secluded bays to discover. The town has its own beautiful beach, which is famous for attracting Loggerhead Turtles and bright blue crabs.

Inland, you’ll find lots of places to explore on your holiday: soak up the splendour of the Butterfly Valley, wander around the 16th century Marmaris Castle, or dive into the local history with a visit to the ancient Lycian rock tombs. With so much to see and do, you can make your holidays to Dalaman exactly what you want them to be!

Places to stay

Dalaman lies right in the middle of the Turquoise Coast. A short ride east, friendly Fethiye sits in an idyllic harbour where you can enjoy a relaxed beach holiday. You’re also near Ölüdeniz lagoon – a magnet for once-in-a-lifetime paragliding onto one of Turkey’s most stunning beaches.

For a Dalaman holiday that's buzzing with nightlife, stay in Marmaris where the party is centred on Bar Street. Choose a hotel in the pretty riverbank town of Dalyan to see the dramatic Lycian tombs on the cliff face, and have fun splashing around in the therapeutic mud baths – the kids will have a whale of a time!

Enjoy the view at Kalkan

When you start to feel a bit hungry, you should head over to the charming fishing village of Kalkan and experience one of the many restaurants there. During the day you can pass the time on the golden beach and try one of the many water sports and at night, you can feast in one of the pop-up roof top restaurants for a great view of the moonlit bay.

Explore the underwater town of Simena

The nearby town of Kerkova has a whole town that has been underwater since ancient times. You can either take a guided boat tour and learn out about how it disappeared as the result of an earthquake, or hire a kayak and explore the market squares and rooftops yourself.

Chill out in a mud bath

For something a little different, there’s nothing quite like a relaxing mud bath to get you into a chilled-out holiday mood. The Dalaman River has its very own healing mud bath, so take a dip and let the mud rejuvenate your skin before washing it off in the shower. Afterwards you can splash around in the lake to make sure the mud has all gone, before taking a trip to Turtle Beach where loggerhead turtles go to lay their precious eggs.

Where is Dalaman?

If you’re wondering ‘where in Turkey is Dalaman?’ you’ll find it as part of the stretch of golden sands and sapphire seas, known as the ‘Turquoise Coast’. Famous for its beautiful, unspoilt beaches, Dalaman is perfect for sun-worshippers who want nothing better to do than laze on a beach and catch some rays. However, if you like things a little more up-tempo, you’ll find an exciting array of water sports on offer and some astounding natural attractions, such as a chance to see the rare Loggerhead turtles on Iztuzu Beach.

Butterflies and buttresses

Beyond the beaches, you’ll find other places to explore such as the beautiful Butterfly Valley, a nature reserve full of glittering waterfalls and the home of the Tiger butterfly. If history’s more your thing, the imposing Marmaris Castle offers an exciting insight into 16th Century life, and the eerie Lycian rock tombs give you an atmospheric peek into Dalaman’s ancient past.

Familiar food and local cuisine

Foodies will be in their element in Dalaman, with a stunning range of food on offer. While there’s plenty of pizzerias and burger outlets selling food that’s familiar for fussier palates, don’t pass up the chance to try some of the local cuisine that’s on offer in traditional tavernas and rustic restaurants.

For upmarket eating, head to the high-end harbourside restaurants in Marmaris or dine on simple but delicious dishes at one of the family-friendly beach cafés. Fethiye and Dalyan are both excellent for chilled-out bars where you can sip on chilled local beer or nurse a cocktail, as the sun slips over the horizon.

More Travel Guides

Map of Dalaman

10-26 ℃

To make the most of the higher Turkish temperatures, book your Dalaman holidays between July and August.

View live forecast

4 hours

Flights land at Dalaman International Airport, which is about five miles from the centre of town.

Dalaman is best for...

Quiet Nights Out: Ideal for couples and families, the nightlife is relatively low-key, with bars and restaurants preferring traditional Turkish music and dancing over thumping club tunes.

Nature lovers: Spot nesting caretta caretta (loggerhead) turtles bobbing in the water at the Marina.

Families: Take the kids sliding down the octopus arms at Atlantic Waterpark in Marmaris.

Fast facts for Dalaman

Language: The primary language spoken is Turkish. Although the locals understand basic English, pack a phrasebook or download an app to try out a few basics like ‘please’ and ‘thank you’.

Currency: You’ll need to exchange your Sterling for Turkish Lira before jetting off on your holidays here.

Local time: Dalaman is 2 hours ahead of GMT/UK time.

Fly to: Dalaman Airport. The transfer time to Dalaman is between 1.5 hours and 2 hours 40 minutes.

Flight time from UK: The flight time to Dalaman is 4 hours.

Visas and health: If you’re a British Citizen and you’re travelling to Dalaman for a holiday, you will not need a visa unless you are planning on staying for more than 90 days in a 180-day period. If you need any more advice on Turkey visas, or entry requirements - please visit FCDO website for the latest guidance.

Holiday destinations related to Dalaman:

Getting around Dalaman

Near the airport: Dalaman is a busy transport hub. You’re close to Dalaman International Airport, while a quick taxi ride will get you into the centre in just a few minutes. Save money by sharing a cab with your fellow travellers.

By minibus: Once you’re in the town centre, getting around is easy. You’ll find plenty of minibuses (dolmus) which run throughout the city. The otogar (main bus station) is in the city centre.

Events in Dalaman

Folk dancing: Take your holidays to Dalaman in May and you’ll be expected to join in with the celebrations at the Marmaris International Maritime And Spring Festival. Marmaris comes alive with every street hosting a different event. Expect everything from sporting contests to photography exhibitions and boat-building battles. Don’t forget to leave some time to see the sandcastle competition on the beach.

Sail away: October sees Marmaris International Race Week hitting the waves. You’ll see world-class yachts from around the world competing against each other in the most colourful regatta this side of the Mediterranean!

Turtle festival: Nearby Dalyan hosts the Caretta Caretta Festival, in honour of the local Loggerhead Turtles, with traditional songs and high-octane water sports.

Up in the air: In October, the Ölüdeniz Air Games in October fill the skies with multi-coloured hang-gliders, parachutes and microlight aircraft gliding from the top of the Babadağ mountain onto the lagoon below.

Dalaman safety and security

For up to date advice on travelling to Dalaman, please visit https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/turkey/safety-and-security

Dalaman weather

Temperatures: 10°C -26°C

As with the rest of Turkey, Dalaman enjoys hot summers and mild winters. If you want to get some sightseeing under your belt on your Dalaman holidays, the spring temperatures are cool enough to make it comfortable, hovering in the low twenties. However, if it’s heat you want, head over during the summer months, when the mercury climbs up to the low thirties. September through to November offers warm weather, while the winter sees conditions cool into the mid-teens.

Weather in Dalaman for