Dalaman
Dalaman is a resort region in southwestern Turkey, facing the Mediterranean coast, with an administrative center of the same name. The region includes resort villages located between 7 and 30 kilometers from the small city of Dalaman. Travelers will find in this picturesque corner of the country clean sea and long sandy beaches, wonderful landscapes of hilly valleys planted with orange orchards and olive groves. Resort hotels and private villas, restaurants and cafes await guests. Local attractions include the ruins of an ancient city, ancient rock tombs, sea turtle sanctuary, healing thermal springs.
.Video: Dalaman
Contents- Highlights
- History of Dalaman
- Geography
Climate - Dalaman City
- Sights of the resort region
- Beaches
Activities in Dalaman - Spa treatments
- Shopping
- Cafes and restaurants
Where to stay - Transportation
- Renting a car
- How to get there
Highlights
Dalaman has gained the status of an international resort relatively recently, one of Turkey’s new vacation destinations is being created here. The tourist infrastructure in the region is still being formed, but already now there are about 50 hotels and about a hundred guest estates. Today it is a typical beach seaside resort, but with a twist – the area has several thermal springs and therapeutic mud, they are used in health centers. The low-populated coastline also lends itself to a serene family vacation. The best time to visit Dalaman is from July to September.
.Bright sights here are few, for their examination will be enough for a one-day sightseeing tour by bus, and then nothing will distract from the rest by the sea. Large entertainment centers have not yet been created here, but on the equipped beaches at the hotels there are water attractions, sports equipment rental, available to rent boats and yachts for boat trips or diving.
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In the city of Dalaman built an international airport, receiving a stream of tourists going on vacation in the coastal southwestern part of Turkey. Hotels in the resort region are located within a radius of up to 30 kilometers from the city, to them run buses, shuttles and cabs. Large hotels send their own transport for guests and organize return transfers to the airport.
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History of Dalaman
The Dalaman neighborhood is located on a land with thousands of years of history. Ancient Greeks built colonial polis on the sea coast of Asia Minor, from here ships with grain, wine and olive oil were sent to the metropolis. The ruins of the ancient polis of Kavn (in another transcription – Kaunos) have been preserved in the region. According to ancient legends, the city was founded by the mythical hero Kavnos, grandson of Apollo himself, who fled here from neighboring Caria to forget about his mad passion for his sister, the beautiful Byblos.
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The delta of the Dalaman River is inhabited by colonies of waterfowl. The mouth of the waterway serves as a conventional boundary between the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. The local sea coast is cut by bays, in the vast bay scattered rocky islands. These places are extremely popular among yachtsmen and scuba divers.
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In a convenient bay of the resort town of Gecek, 18 km east of Dalaman, there is a huge marina. Hundreds of yachts and boats are docked here.
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Climate
Dalaman has a Mediterranean climate: winters are rainy and warm, while summers are hot and dry. In winter, the sea is often stormy. In January the air temperature varies within +6…+10 °С, but it can be much warmer. The winter climatic record was fixed on January 5, 1971: +25 °С. January 1973 was the coldest January, when on Epiphany in Dalaman for a few days hit frosts to -4 ° C.
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By mid-May the air in the resort region warms up to +20…+22 ° C, on the beaches you can already sunbathe. Bathing season here opens in late May – early June, when the average water temperature at the sea coast reaches +21 ° C, swimming at the resort until the end of September. In summer in Dalaman it is usually +25…+27 °С, and the temperature of sea water at the beaches is about the same. July of the 2010 holiday season was record hot: the sun in Dalaman then baked up to +43 ° C.
.City of Dalaman
In the small provincial Dalaman, where about 25,000 people live, tourists do not stay long. However, there are good hotels here, in the central district of the city the doors of restaurants and bars are open. It is worth looking in one of the stores where carpets are sold, because weaving in Dalaman has been flourishing since the XIV century. The cost of the products depends on the material, complexity and beauty of the pattern.
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Sights of the spa region
The remains of ancient Roman fortifications and port facilities have been preserved in Kavn. Due to the siltation of the river mouth, the sea coast gradually changed its shape, retreating further and further south. The port lost its purpose in the first centuries of the new era, and today the former harbor is located 7 km from the sea shores. The ruins of the amphitheater, gymnasium, agora, several temples and other buildings are available for viewing. At the end of the century before last, expeditions of English archaeologists worked here. The most valuable artifacts were sent to the capital of the kingdom, they are exhibited in London’s British Museum.
.Entrance to the archaeological location is paid – 12 lira (€1.9). Excavations at the ancient city continue. It is interesting to see the ancient sights from aboard a boat. A motorboat can be hired for 10 € per hour.
.Beaches
It is forbidden to stick umbrellas into the sand on the beach, as this may inadvertently damage the buried turtle eggs. For the same reason, you can not come here in cars and motorcycles, bring pets on the beach. Nevertheless, turtles are often injured. There is a special hospital for them, available for free examination. Volunteer biologists will answer all the questions of tourists, tell about the habits of their little patients. If you are lucky, you will see how after treatment turtles are released into the sea. After the visit it is customary to leave a small amount in the donation box.
. The turtle is one of the symbols of Dalaman. In the central square of the capital of the resort region there is a fountain with a bronze turtle. Souvenir dishes, cups, T-shirts and caps are also decorated with images of reptiles..
Active vacations in Dalaman
Dalyan offers fishing on the river and in the channels of the delta, in Lake Kejegiz. In these waters comes to spawn sea mullet, on the way back it awaits fishing nets. Actually, Dalyan in Turkish means a fishing net, a net. Rainbow trout are also found here. You can go for morning fishing in the open sea on board a yacht, rods and tackle are provided by the skipper of the boat. After fishing, the yacht comes to one of the islands, where tourists will have lunch prepared from the catch and supplies of koka.
If you wish, local fishermen will teach you how to catch skittish blue crabs, which are found off the coast in the river delta. The prey can be boiled with spices and tasted.
The resort villages offer jeep safaris, horseback riding, trips to the nearest golf clubs. Fans of noisy nightlife should go to Dalyan or Marmaris.
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Спа-процедуры
Thermal springs and therapeutic muds were discovered on the shores of Lake Kejegiz, not far from Dalyan, in ancient times. Two mud baths were erected over them. Hundreds of tourists throng the place during the day, buses and boats bring more and more groups. The time of stay in the mud cure is limited to 60 minutes. Both old and young are quickly covered with mud with the addition of extracts of healing herbs in small pools. Then it is supposed to dry and wash off the mud crust under the shower or by taking a dip in the lake. The next stage of procedures is radon baths and a quick bath in pools with hot water from thermal hydrogen sulphide springs. The visit to the thermae ends with a tea party in the cafe. Teas to choose from – black, green, herbal, floral. Try, for example, sour carcade from hibiscus petals or delicious tea from orchids.
.Many tourists in reviews express disappointment and doubt in the health-improving properties of these “conveyor” hospitals, where there is a lot of fuss, no consultations with specialists about possible contraindications and lack of any medical control. True, there is an ambulance on duty at the pools.
Comfortably spend time here can be in the morning hours, when the crowds of tourists are still just heading here after excursions.
.Healing mud is sold in a local store. The package is incredibly overpriced at 175 Turkish Liras (€27).
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For those who want to really recover with the help of thermal waters and mud, there are several specialized hotels. For example, you can recommend SPA & Thermal Hotel Thermemaris 4*, located 6 km south of Dalaman airport. It is not a bad thermal sanatorium with various procedures. It is located away from the sea, but the beach is in walking distance, you can walk to it in 15 minutes. Twice a day a special bus goes from the hotel to the beach, the schedule is posted in the lobby. There are 10 swimming pools with mud and mineral water, saunas and Turkish baths, jacuzzis, drinking fountains, treatment and massage rooms in the buildings and on the territory. Russian-speaking doctors work in the medical center. The cost of procedures is 22-40 €. The sanatorium has rooms of “economy”, “luxury” class and separate bungalows with their own mini-pools filled with thermal water. Accommodation here will cost 27-79 € per day, meals and medical services are paid separately.
.Shopping
On Saturdays, a market opens in Dalyan. Farmers from all over the area bring fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, honey, and homemade olive oil for sale. Here you can inexpensively buy seasonal products – watermelons, melons, figs, pomegranates, cherries, apples, peaches, quince. There is always a wide selection of nuts, pickled olives. The Saturday market has meat and fish rows. Gourmets should look here for tender lamb, tasty sea mullet and river trout. A similar market operates on Thursdays in the city of Dalaman.
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There are no large shopping centers in most resorts in the region. Dalaman is home to mostly stores with an assortment of basic necessities, they also sell beach supplies and light clothing. In the resort village of Sarigerme there is a whole street of stores, but there are no fashion boutiques there. Experienced travelers recommend going shopping in Fethiye or Marmaris, where buyers will find many shopping centers with a huge selection of goods.
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To say goodbye to the resort, check out the Duty free stores in the departure area of Dalaman Airport. There’s a good selection of souvenirs, branded drinks and sweets.
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Cafes and restaurants
Restaurants and snack bars in the resort region are much more than hotels. It should be said that menus in Russian in Dalaman are a rarity.
If you arrive in Dalaman, stop by the restaurant Gonul Kahvesi Dalaman and taste the delights of the national Turkish cuisine. Main courses of fish and meat with vegetable side dishes cost only 2-3 €.
.The resort of Dalyan is famous for its Caretta restaurant, located on the embankment at the river bend. Here masterfully prepare dishes of Mediterranean and Turkish cuisine. There is a menu for vegetarians. Price range for main dishes is 8-23 €. The restaurant is open from 09:00 to 23:45.
.A little cheaper, but no worse, you can dine at the stylish Babylon Bar & Restaurant. The tables are set on the panoramic veranda. Main courses are offered at the price from 4 to 18 €. After a hearty meal, guests go down to the cozy English pub on the first floor to chat over a mug of pale ale.
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Restaurants located on the beaches have higher prices. The average check for a two-person lunch in seaside restaurants is €30 (without drinks).
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Where to stay
There are few hotels in the city of Dalaman, tourists arriving at the resorts do not linger here and go straight from the airport to the seaside. Booking services offer travelers about one and a half hundred options for accommodation in the resort region – hotels, villas, guest houses, hostels. Among the staff of large hotels there are administrators with a fair command of Russian, but in most hotels and restaurants with foreign guests communicate in English or German.
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The Karacan Park Hotel is located in the center of Dalaman. There are stores and a bus station within walking distance. Several categories of rooms are offered here: standard double, family, two-room “suites”. The cost of daily accommodation is 50-78 € (breakfast included).
.Dalaman Airport Lykia Resort Hotel 4* is located 4 km from the airport. It offers a swimming pool, Turkish bath, spa, massage and cosmetic rooms, cocktail bar. The restaurant has a buffet system, there is an opportunity to order lunch and dinner à la carte. A single room costs 27 €, a double room is available for 34 €.
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Airport Guest House is located in the airport area. Rooms open onto a veranda in the courtyard-patio area. Free Wi-Fi is available. Breakfasts are served in the living room and halal and vegetarian options are available. An equipped kitchen is at guests’ disposal. A barbecue and barbecue facilities are available in the garden. Smoking and noisy parties are not welcome on the premises. This is a convenient place to stay for travelers expecting an early morning flight from Dalaman. To the departure terminal, a cab takes 5-7 minutes. Accommodation at this guesthouse costs from 21 to 39 € per night (breakfast included).
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The cozy Princes of Ozalp Guest House with a lounge bar and outdoor pool in the courtyard offers apartments with kitchenettes for 22-40 € per night. A grocery supermarket and a bakery are a stone’s throw away. For walks along the Dalyan River, the owners provide boats, organize excursions and picnics in nature.
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In the off-season it is very inexpensive to stay at the Hotel Caria Royal. A daily stay with breakfast in the restaurant will cost 14-28 €.
.The resort of Sarigerme has a wonderful beach and comfortable hotels. Not all hotels are lined by the sea, but from them to the beaches on a schedule runs free buses. Among the best hotels of the city is the luxurious Hilton Dalaman Sarigerme Resort & Spa 5*. This is a whole hotel complex with its own beach on the Mediterranean coast. On the vast territory there is free parking, 10 swimming pools, Elysion spa center and fitness salon, hammam, massage and cosmetic rooms. Six restaurants specializing in certain cuisines – European, Turkish, Italian, Indian, Chinese – are waiting for guests. The menu of Vela restaurant includes an extensive selection of fresh seafood dishes. In the rooftop bar you can enjoy the panorama of the sea and mountains. In the evenings, guests are entertained by a show program. The price range for a daily stay is 95-447 €.
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In Sarigerme you can stay cheaper, for example, at Dolphin Apart Hotel. The hotel is located 750 meters from the sea. There is a restaurant, snack bar, outdoor pool and “frog” for kids, game room. A grocery supermarket is just a few steps away. A standard double room with minibar, TV and air conditioning costs 43 €, family rooms with 3-4 beds are available for 50-60 €. A villa with two bedrooms and a living room for five people is built in the garden on the territory of the hotel. The cost of a daily stay in this cottage is 100 €.
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Even cheaper provides apartments with kitchen Apart Hotel Street61. The hotel restaurant is open until 03:00. A double studio room will cost 37 € per night.
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In the town of Gecek, east of Dalaman, you can have a lot of fun. This is the world of luxury yachts, in summer in the local marina gathers about 1000 snow-white beauties from all over the Mediterranean. Not shy in means travelers stay in the hotel Rixos Premium Gocek Suites & Villas 5*, located 100 m from the marina. Guests enjoy a private beach where light snacks and drinks are served free of charge. The hotel’s services are all-inclusive. The hotel has a tennis court, swimming pool, spa club and Turkish baths. There are bars and six restaurants. In one of them throughout the day is open access to showcases with a variety of buffet dishes. Daily accommodation costs €114-256.
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Unpretentious tourists who spend all day on the beaches or on informative sightseeing trips will find very inexpensive accommodation in Gocek from 14 € per night.
.The resort region of Dalaman is home to villas where travelers who prefer comfort and privacy surrounded by beautiful landscapes stay. The average price of villa rentals starts from 150 €. Villa Karya is built 3 km from the city center of Dalaman and is designed for families. It comfortably accommodates a company of up to 6 people. On the territory there is a parking lot, garden and swimming pool. The villa has 3 bedrooms, a living room, a bathroom and an equipped kitchen. The patio has a summer dining area with a barbecue. The total area of the apartment is 125 m². The villa is available for daily rent starting from 139 € and increasing in high season.
Transportation
There are several bus routes in Dalaman city, with dolmushi and cabs being the main passenger transportation. The city is connected to the seaside resorts by shuttle buses and the same dolmushas.
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At the resorts around the Dalyan River and Lake Kejegiz, the popular transportation is flat-bottomed cab boats covered with a tent. Many of these motorboats run from Dalyan to the mouth of the river where the sea beaches are located. The owners of the boats offer tourists walks on the lake for 5-10 €, with them you can also agree on fishing, a trip out of town for a picnic.
.Rent a car
It is most convenient to rent a car right at the airport. In the arrival terminal on the first floor there are offices of several leading car rental companies – Avis, Europcar, Garenta, Hertz. The cost of renting a car starts from 25 € per day. Local rental companies offer cheaper cars, but you should carefully read the rental agreement. Most likely, the difference in cost is the lack of insurance. In case of an accident, the savings will turn into unpleasant troubles, they will be aggravated if you do not speak Turkish or English.
.Cars are waiting in the parking lot to the left of the terminal exit. The cost of parking at the airport is quite high. You have to pay 2 € for 1 hour and 6,45 € for a day.
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How to get there
In summer seasonal flights and charters depart from Moscow and other Russian cities to Dalaman. At any time of the year you can get here via Istanbul or Ankara, from where domestic airlines regularly fly to Dalaman. The transfer will take two or three hours. You can find a convenient connection on the website Aviasales.ru.
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Dalaman Airport also serves as an air harbor for tourists heading to the resorts of Marmaris (95 km northwest) and Fethiye (45 km southeast).
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