With all the major highlights and attractions within easy walking distance, Dalyan is an ideal family holiday location. Local transport is cheap and easy to use to get around town, and further afield.
Sitting on the banks of the Dalyan River, Dalyan offers frequent cheap public boats to transport you to the nearby beaches and mud baths!
Our
Dalyan Transportation Guide below will give you all the transport advise you will need for getting to, from and around Dalyan. Booking onto one of the great Dalyan
tours we have available is a great way to learn about the surrounding region and culture. See our
Turkey Transportation Guide for general information about
travelling in Turkey.
Dalyan Transportation GuideDalyan has managed to remain true to its roots and its rustic character making you feel like you've found your own undiscovered piece of paradise. Every evening the main centre of the village is shut down to vehicular traffic for the safety of pedestrians who come out in droves. This is the time when you too can venture out for a stroll along the tiny lanes and enjoy a drink with the locals.
Getting to DalyanBy AirAir travel between Dalyan and the large
airports in Turkey is quick and easy. The nearest airport to Dalyan is the
Dalaman Airport, which is a short 25-minute drive away. If you're based in Europe, the cheapest route to Dalyan is by a chartered flight. Avoid booking a whole package tour, though; you can get by on your own if you just book the flight with a travel agent or tour company. It is cheaper and most convenient.
Depending on the time of year you're travelling it can sometimes get expensive if you aren't taking a charter, so do check for prices well before you fly. You can get well-priced connections from
Istanbul and other cities on domestic and regional airlines.
Remember all foreigners
travelling to Dalyan need a visa. Depending on where you're coming from, the price of this visa could be anywhere from 10 Euro to 10 pounds. All visa fees need to be paid for in cash.
For transport from the airport to the city (or from the city to the airport), we recommend
Green Path Transfers, who offer eco-friendly airport transfers in hundreds of destinations around the world.
Visit our partner Air Valid for Airline Reviews and Information about Turkey or visit our partner cheapflights.co.uk for cheap flights to Dalyan.Getting around DalyanBy bus
Turkey's buses are an economical and practical way to get around. The bus station at Ortaca is a major hub for international buses and national buses that go to
Antalya,
Ankara, Izmir and, of course,
Istanbul. For tourists travelling on their own without a tour group, these buses are a wonderful way to mingle with the locals and a comfortable way to commute without putting too much of a strain on the wallet.
The local mini buses or dolmus are the cheapest transportation option for getting
around Dalyan. The stop near the mainsquare connects to the bus station in
Ortaca from where you can hop on one of many national service buses serving key towns in the area and further afield. The fare between Dalyan and Ortaca (one way) is 2.50 TL. You'll have to pay the driver directly.
Buses can also get you to most of the major sights on most days of the week. They also take you to the beaches in the area, including the
gorgeous turtle (Iztuzu) beach. The bus route itself is fixed and the scheduled stops are limited but you can ask the driver to stop for you almost anywhere along the route and they'll usually agree. The mini
buses in Dalyan are immensely popular and basic etiquette demands that the young give up their seats for older passengers and women. In case you have toddlers or young children, put them on your lap for the journey - people won't take kindly to a whole seat being occupied by your little ones. In case you board a packed bus and can't get to the driver to pay the fare, don't panic! It's perfectly acceptable to ask your co-passengers to pass your fare along to the driver.
By boatThere are regular boat trips to the beaches, lake and beyond. The hugely popular
Iztuzu Beach is best reached by the Public Shuttle Boat that operates from the
Dalyan harbour. The less interesting way to get to the beach is by dolmus, but you may regret passing up on the gentle ride through the tranquil waterways.
Local tour operators will take you on a whirl of the sights and it may be good to have a guide who can keep you enthralled with legends of the historical sites that you visit. It's well worth the money!
By road Two roads lead into Dalyan. The road from
Köyceğiz in the direction of Ortaca is about 24km long with a right turn when you're 10km short of Ortaca. The road itself is in pretty bad shape. The one from Ortaca to Dalyan is wide and in far better condition.
If you're trying to get to
Sarıgerme, then you'll need to take the Osmaniye-Sarıgerme turn that you'll see on the road connecting
Dalaman and Ortaca. You'll pass the
Osmaniye village before arriving at the coastal area of Sarıgerme. Either try the road from
Dalyan leading through the mountains and passing some small villages (Gokbel and Mergenli) and turning to S
arigerme.
By taxi
Taxis in Dalyan are inexpensive and fairly reliable. For longer journeys try and settle on a price before you leave and stick with the larger operators. You can identify a taxi by its bright yellow colour and the ‘Taksi' sign displayed on the roof.
Car rentalCar rental is an option, but you can do without a set of wheels. For travellers who choose to
rent-a-car in Dalyan, remember to keep your driving licence with you whenever you're in the car and do ensure it is valid. If you're caught driving without your licence you could end up paying a hefty fine.
On foot/bicycleDalyan's natural environs lend themselves to a variety of outdoor activities like hiking,
cycling, boating, fishing and more, and the landscape changes unexpectedly from hilly slopes to flatlands and beaches in a flash. If you can leg it to the top of the higher slopes in the mountains you'll be well rewarded with
breathtaking views and stunning vistas. Other must-try activities for the more active are a bicycle ride to Iztuzu beach and a walk up to the Ekincik Bay. You won't be disappointed.
