Dalaman is a peaceful village and known as a gateway to the beautiful region of Turkey where the Aegean and Mediterranean seas meet. This is called the Turquoise Coast. The region of Dalaman goes well for people who seek a wonderful beach holiday in the Mediterranean, with beautiful weather and a rich tapestry of culture and history. Dalaman has been declared a protected tourist area. You can stay at their vivacious resorts, like the Hisoranu and Marmaris. They have delightful authentic beaches in Icmeler and Olu Deniz, with a riverside view of Dalya.

Now the Agricultural Ministry has passed ownership of the states’ farm to the tourist industry for elite development. There are already over 1,000 people investing in Dalaman. At the moment the prices for Real Estate investors in big holiday areas are unrealistic, but Dalaman is a very up and coming resort. There are plans on building a new yacht marina sometime this year. Tourists will now have opportunities to spend their vacations in and around Dalaman all year round.

Getting There and Around Dalaman

Dalaman Airport receives a fair amount of passengers, and they travel for 45 minutes to a couple of hours to the coastal resort. There is also a tunnel underway to connect the town of Gocek and Dalaman, reducing the journey to only 5 or 10 minutes drive.Dalaman Airport now has many direct flights from many European countries. Before, holiday makers just go through Dalaman to get to their holiday resorts. They will have the third biggest international capacity in Turkey. Recent investments to Airport, road ways and the continuous development of the area are making it more accessible.

Upon arrival in the resort, you can get around by using local buses they call Dolmuses. They depart when they reach their capacity and follow a set route. Their taxis are colored yellow, just like most countries, before starting your journey try discussing the fare first. Over-development of the area is stopped to protect the rare loggerhead turtles that frequently go to the river and beach. The town is ideally situated for resort communities or compound and if you prefer a quieter place to base yourself Dalaman is still the destination of choice.

Dalaman Beaches

The most photographed beach in Turkey might well be Olu Deniz, due to its clear crystal blue waters. It has a very beautiful Blue Lagoon. In the summer time, it gets busy and loaded with tourists and they charge a small fee to enter the protected locale. You can stay at the vigorous hillside village Hisaronu for a great and memorable experience. There is also a small conservation area called Cleopatra’s Island. It takes a short boat trip to get there. The island is called so, because the area was given to her by Anthony and he even imported large grained sand to suit Cleopatra’s liking. One of the best beaches in the world is the blissful Patara, which stretches for 11 miles. It became part of a national park that breeds endangered loggerhead turtles.

Dalaman Sightseeing

A popular sight in Marmaris is Nestel Marina. It was an ancient Ottoman castle, and along side it is an amphitheatre surrounded by rambling mountains and pine covered hills. Dalaman is along the ancient city Telesis surrounded by ancient 4th century B.C. ruins with ornately carved tombs. There is a riverside resort near Dalaman called Dalyan. They have a soothing mud bath only a boat ride to the sea. From Dalaman, there is a 30 minute boat ride to a soaring gorge, used as a hippie hideaway, called Butterfly Valley. Sometime between June to September, countless butterflies come here to breed. There is a hiking road or sea kayaking in the Lycian way. You can try a soothing and relaxing Turkish massage and bath afterwards. You can enjoy the archeological site and carved tombs in Kaunos.

Family Attractions in Dalaman

In Marmaris there is an Atlantic Water Park with rides, slides and bowling. Dalyan has a nature reserve and breeding ground for turtles, as well as a 2 mile sand bar in Iztuzu beach. For the daredevils out there, Olu Deniz is famous for its paragliding. There is also a country side Safari and white water rafting near the Dalaman River.

Day Trips in Dalaman

An amazing showcase in the city is the ruins of Ephesus, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. A must see is Pamukkale, this is a three-four hour trip each way from the coast, with a cliff top and a cascading 35 degree Celsius thermal spring with thick white layers of limestone formed from left over calcium deposits. They have called this ‘the cotton castle’. This part of Turkey is related to trips on gullets. These are wooden motor sailing vehicles sail around the beaches and coves of the turquoise coast. There is a 30 minute hydrofoil trip from Marmaris to Rhodes.

Eating Out in Dalaman

At lunch time, the Lokantas offer cheap and hearty food. Their most delicious and popular dishes is seafood, but prices have soared because of over fishing. A recommended dish is Mezes. Many find this course filling and often pass on the main course. Another dish is the ‘arnavut cigeri’, a favorite dish in Turkey. It compromises of chopped and fried liver with onions. You can top it off with ‘baklava’, a flaky, syrupy buttery layer pastry with nuts. There are also familiar and usual things in the menu aside from the exotic dishes. You could also try ‘raki’, a traditional Turkish apple tea.

Dalaman Nightlife.

Marmaris has many late night clubs and bars for people who like the nightlife. Hisaronu also has a good night time appeal as well. A Turkish night usually involves local cuisine and some belly dancing. The harbor town of Kalkan, which is classily covered with bougainvillea, is known for their jazz bars and roof-terrace restaurants.

Dalaman Shopping

There are many bazaars and boutiques to choose from in Marmaris. Best choices are their leather goods, rugs, Meerschaum pipes, embroidery, Alabaster chess sets, Turkish delight and Mother of Pearl Boxes.