Frequently asked questions about the Dalyan area

What is Dalyan like?

Dalyan town is set on a river delta. Above the town is Lake Koyegic, to the south of the town is Turtle’ (Izuri) beach.

How do I get to the beach?

Both the lake and the beach are serviced by public river boats. These river taxis leave about every 15 minutes and cost about 5 lira return. (On the jetty you will see a black board which will say public boat – this is the beach boat).  
The trip to the beach is stunning. You wind up through the river among the reed beds passing the Rock Tombs, through the fish farm and on up to the beach. You will thoroughly enjoy this journey as it is both scenic and relaxing...great preparation for Turtle beach!

Is there any other way of getting to the beach?

Yes, you can drive to the beach or use the bus service (Dolmus). The journey takes about 20 min.

What facilities are on the beach?

The beach has a restaurant which serves nice snack food, burgers, pancakes, ice cream, beer etc. There are toilets and changing facilities and sun loungers to hire.

Is it ok to swim at the beach?

Yes, the sea is lovely and warm and the water gets deep gradually (no shelf). Avoid the entrance from the river to the sea as there is boating traffic and the current is strong.

What makes Dalyan famous?

Dalyan is home to the ancient ruins of Kaunos, sited on the other side of the river from the town (about a 20min walk). You get to the other side of the river by rowing boat which you will find at the end of the public boat jetty. You can do this yourself. Dalyan is also home to the mud baths and thermal springs which you will find on Lake Koyegic

What type of resort is Dalyan?

Dalyan is a small family resort made up of numerous shops, bars and restaurants. Many of the bars feature live music at night. There is one nightclub at the top end of the town. It would be considered a family resort and is a great base from which to explore the local attractions.

Are there supermarkets near the apartments?

Yes, there are many supermarkets. Migros would be the one we would normally use. It has a wide selection of goods including fresh milk. The supermarket around the corner is good for basics, fresh bread, water, beer etc.

Is there internet (wifi) access?

Yes, we have free WiFi. There are also several Internet cafes close by and most of the bars offer free WiFi. (Remember to turn off data roaming on mobile phones.)

What is the food like in Dalyan?

The restaurants in Dalyan are excellent. There is a wide range of Turkish & European cuisine. Local fish is a specialty as are the local kebabs. Prices are cheaper than Europe although wine can be expensive. Efes is the local beer. An evening meal in one of the restaurants at the top of town overlooking the illuminated rock tombs is a must!

Can you travel from Dalyan to other resorts?

Yes, Fetiyia and Marmaris are about 1 ½ hours away. They are nice resorts but we believe Dalyan is the Gem of the Turkish coast. There is a water park in Marmaris. You can catch the local bus (Dolmus) or hire a car.

What is there to do in Dalyan?

Most of the activities and trips from Dalyan involve water. A typical week might include:

*The Twelve Island Tour

*The Lake Koyegic mud baths & thermal springs tour (day or night)

*A day at the beach

*The Saturday market

*A visit to Kaunos

*A day at the pool with a good book!

Additional activities that we recommend:

Scuba Diving (Dalyan Dive)

White water rafting

(for more information see list of activities)

Is it better to use cash or credit card?

I would usually bring cash (English notes) and change it at the PTT (Post Office). The exchange rate is usually better. The disadvantage to cash is the security aspect. While break ins to villas or apartments are rare, I would be careful when leaving valuables behind. All restaurants etc. take cards and there are several fast cash machines in the town.

Can you drink the local water?

Apparently so, however we recommend that you drink bottled water.

Are there Mosquitos?

Yes. Some people are affected more than others. If you think you might be bitten best to take no chances and use an insect repellant after dusk. ('Sin off’ is good).

How many people does each apartment sleep?

The apartments have two bedrooms which consist of a double room and two single beds or bunks. There is also a double bed settee. All linen and towels are provided.

What type of area is the apartment in?

The apartment is set in a quiet residential area on the edge of town.

How close are the apartments to town?

They are a 5 / 6 minute walk to the town and jetty area.

Are the apartments private?

The apartments are set in their own maintained grounds surrounded with a low wall and gates. The garden is attractively planted out with scrubs and fruit trees.

What is the pool like?

The pool is a good size and approximately 1.6m deep. Very young children would need to be supervised. There are plenty of sun beds and additional terrace seating in the shade or on the balconies.

Are the apartments modern?

The apartments are newly constructed and have all modern conveniences including satellite TV & air conditioning.

There are several bikes around the apartments which are great for trips to the shops or exploring.

Please remember to switch off the air conditioning when you leave the room or apartment.

Advice on day trips

There are many different day trips from Dalyan. We can only offer advice on the ones we would regularly go on.

If you have a small party then we would suggest you use one of the many tour operators that advertise in the town.

For bigger parties we would recommend that you try and charter your own trip. This applies in particular to the Mud Baths and the Twelve Island trip. There are plenty of privately owned local boats that can be hired (with crew) for the day. (there is usually literature in the apartments about these charters).

All the other trips are down to individual preference. We enjoy Scuba Diving with ‘Dalyan Dive’ and the White Water Rafting.(White Water Rafting is about a 2 - 3 hr journey to get there, but you benefit from about 3hrs rafting. Journey time home about 1 ½ hr.