Dalaman Holidays

Dalaman's got the lot: turquoise lagoons, incredible beaches, ancient rock tombs carved into cliffs, and all-inclusive resorts that'll spoil you rotten. Whether you're after waterpark fun with the kids, romantic sunsets over Ölüdeniz, or a big night out on Marmaris Bar Street, this gorgeous stretch of coastline delivers.

Highlights of your Holidays to Dalaman 2026

• The Blue Lagoon at Oludeniz - A sheltered curve of impossibly turquoise water inside a national park, and the single most photographed stretch of coast in Turkey. Calm enough to swim across, shallow enough for kids.

• Paragliding off Babadag - Runs launch from nearly 2,000m and land on the beach at Oludeniz, which makes this one of the highest commercial paragliding sites anywhere. You do not need any experience, only nerve.

• Lycian rock tombs at Fethiye - Carved straight into the cliff face above the town in the 4th century BC and lit up after dark. Climb the steps at sunset and the whole harbour opens up below.

• Butterfly Valley - A steep-sided canyon reachable only by boat, with a waterfall at the back and over a hundred butterfly species in season. Day trips run from Oludeniz all summer.

• Hisaronu after dark - Bar street, karaoke, and a party that runs more like a marathon than a sprint. Ten minutes up the hill from Oludeniz, which means you can have the quiet beach and the loud night in the same holiday.

• The 12 Islands of Gocek - A day of island-hopping through a sheltered bay of pine-covered islets, swim stops and lunch on deck. The classic Dalaman boat day.

Good To Know for your Holiday to Dalaman

• ☀️ Over 300 days of sunshine a year – summers hit 35°C while winters stay mild around 13°C with year-round swimming weather

• 💶 Proper budget-friendly – a pint runs about £2-3, a slap-up meal for two around £15-20, and the Turkish lira goes a long way

• 🐢 Home to İztuzu Beach, a 4.5km nesting site for endangered loggerhead turtles – visit May to October for the best chance to spot them

Dalaman is perfect for you if...

• You want one flight to reach about eight completely different holidays, from a party strip to a river town to a national park beach

• You would rather have a lagoon, a gorge and a boat day in the mix than seven days of the same sunlounger

• You want all-inclusive that is genuinely good value rather than merely cheap, because Turkey does the big family resort better than almost anywhere in the Med

• You are travelling with kids who need a waterpark and adults who need a proper dinner, and you would like both within twenty minutes

• You want somewhere warm enough for a beach holiday in May or October, when a lot of the Med has given up for the year

🗣️ Local Lingo - Talk Like a Local

The Dalaman region sits on Turkey’s stunning southwest coast, where Turkish is the main language, but in tourist areas you’ll often hear English, especially in hotels, restaurants, and beach resorts around Marmaris, Fethiye, and Ölüdeniz.

Turkish is warm, expressive, and full of hospitality. A little effort goes a long way, locals really appreciate it when you try.

• Merhaba, mer-hah-BAH, Hello

• Günaydın, goo-nigh-DUHN, Good morning

• Lütfen, LOOT-fen, Please

• Teşekkür ederim, teh-shek-KOOR eh-deh-RIM, Thank you

• Ne kadar?, neh kah-DAR, How much is it?

• Hesap, lütfen, heh-SAP LOOT-fen, The bill, please

• Çok güzel, choke goo-ZEL, Very beautiful (works on a view, a meal or a compliment)

• Şerefe!, sheh-reh-FEH, Cheers!

What are the best beaches in Dalaman?

Whether you're after a laid-back vibe to chill with a Fanta Lemon in hand or looking for boujee spots to flaunt your latest swimwear, Dalaman's got you covered.

• İztuzu Beach: Stretching over 4.5 mahoosive kilometres, this beach is a real whopper! It's not just a beauty spot; it's a haven for the adorable loggerhead turtles. Perfect for a day of sunbathing and feeling proper good about supporting eco-friendly tourism. And hey, the surrounding scenery is pretty delish, too!

• Sarsala Koyu: Nestled in a secluded bay, Sarsala Koyu is all about the crystal-clear waters and pebbly sands. It's a bit off the beaten path, making it a mega choice for those who love a bit of tranquillity with their sunbathing sessions. Plus, the surrounding pine forests? Absolutely popping off with greenery!

• Sarigerme Beach: If you're after a family-friendly spot, Sarigerme is the ticket. With soft sands and shallow waters, it's safe for the kiddos and perfect for building the biggest sandcastles. The beach is well-equipped, too – think swanky sunbeds and umbrellas, making it a proper good shout for a comfy day out.

• Kaputas Beach: Oh, talk about Instagrammable! Kaputas Beach, with its sizzling azure waters, is nestled between dramatic cliffs and is simply scorchio! It's a bit of a trek down the stairs, but trust us, it's worth every step. Ideal for a day of snorkelling and feeling like you've stepped into a travel influencer's feed.

• Oludeniz Beach: Last but not least, we've got the superstar of the Turquoise Coast. Oludeniz is famous for its Blue Lagoon, where the waters are so clear, you'd think you're floating in a dream. It's buzzing, it's beautiful, and it's downright boujee – perfect for paragliding adventurers and beach bums alike.

🏨 Where to Stay in Dalaman Holidays

Dalaman is less about a single city stay and more about choosing your base along the Turquoise Coast. Think beach resorts, mountain-backed bays, and laid-back towns with crystal-clear water.

• Oludeniz is about an hour away and the one on the postcards. The Blue Lagoon, the paragliders coming down onto the beach all afternoon, and a long pebble shore backed by pine. Best for couples and anyone who wants the scenery to do the work.

• Fethiye is fifty minutes and the most rounded base of the lot: a working harbour town with a marina, a proper old quarter at Paspatur, a fish market where you pick your dinner and hand it to a restaurant to cook, and boats leaving all day. Best for families and anyone who wants a town rather than a strip.

• Hisaronu is an hour, sitting up the hill behind Oludeniz. Neon, bar street, karaoke and a night that finishes when you do. Best for groups, and for anyone who wants the beach quiet and the evening loud.

• Marmaris is about ninety minutes and the biggest resort on this coast, with a three-and-a-half kilometre beach, a castle, a marina, the famous Bar Street and ferries across to Rhodes. Best for a first Turkey holiday where you want everything on tap.

• Icmeler is a little further round the bay from Marmaris and is its calmer, greener neighbour: pine-backed, tidier, and with the big-resort nightlife a short dolmus ride away when you want it. Best for families and couples who want the option rather than the noise.

What are the best hotels in Dalaman?

Dalaman's got brilliant stays across the region, from family-friendly waterpark resorts to luxe beachfront escapes for couples. Here's where to crash in style:

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 What are the best family hotels in Dalaman?

• Orka Sunlife Resort and Spa comes with free access to the waterpark next door, a shuttle down to the beach at Oludeniz, and swim-up rooms for anyone whose children have opinions about how close the pool should be.

• Garcia Resort and Spa has six outdoor pools with waterslides between them, a kids' club and a spa for the parents, ten minutes from Oludeniz.

• Club and Hotel Letoonia sits on its own peninsula outside Fethiye with private beaches on three sides, multiple pools and kids' clubs by age group. The closest thing on this coast to a self-contained village.

• Jiva Beach Resort is on Calis Beach with a natural lagoon running through the grounds, waterslides and shallow pools for smaller swimmers, and the Calis sunset a short walk away.

💑 What are the best hotels in Dalaman for couples?

• Liberty Fabay Hotel is a five-star all-inclusive near Fethiye with sixteen pools, nine restaurants, a private beach, Turkish baths and swim-up rooms. Comfortably the most facilities per square metre on this list.

• Hilton Dalaman Sarigerme Resort and Spa has mountains behind it, its own sandy beach in front, swim-up rooms and a serious spa, twenty minutes from the airport.

• Green Nature Diamond is a five-star on the seafront near Marmaris with five restaurants, a spa and an adults-only relax pool, so you get the buzz of the resort with somewhere quiet to retreat to.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 What are the best adults-only hotels in Dalaman?

• Liberty Hotels Lykia - Adults Only sits in forest above the sea near Fethiye with multiple pools and no children anywhere. The quietest five-star option on this coast.

• Club Munamar Beach Resort is an adults-focused beachfront resort at Icmeler, pine-backed and calm, with the Marmaris nightlife twenty minutes away if you change your mind.

• Mirage World is a well-run four-star at Icmeler with a big pool complex and a position that lets you walk to the beach and taxi to the noise.

🎉 What are the best hotels in Dalaman for groups?

• Orka World Hotel & Aquapark is up in Hisaronu with its own aquapark and villa options alongside the hotel rooms, which for a big group is the difference between one holiday and several arguments.

• Club Tuana Fethiye is a five-star all-inclusive with pools, entertainment and enough restaurants that nobody has to compromise on dinner.

• Golden Rock Beach Hotel puts you on the Marmaris seafront within striking distance of Bar Street, which is either the whole point or a warning depending on the group.

💰 What are the best value hotels in Dalaman?

• Pasa Beach Hotel is a four-star on the Marmaris beachfront at a price that leaves plenty over for the boat trips.

• Green Nature Sarigerme is a five-star twenty minutes from the airport, which is a rare combination of short transfer and low price.

• Prestige Garden Hotel is a straightforward four-star set back from the Marmaris seafront, for anyone planning to be out all day anyway.

👉 All hotels in Dalaman

All-Inclusive Holidays in Dalaman

Turkish all-inclusive is a different animal to the Spanish or Greek version, and the word to look for is "ultra". Ultra all-inclusive is the local term for the top tier, and at the resorts that run it you are generally getting branded spirits rather than local, several à la carte restaurants alongside the main buffet, snacks and ice cream through the afternoon, and something open at most hours of the day. At the same price point you would pay elsewhere in the Med, the package tends to include more.

The one thing worth checking before you book, because it varies resort to resort: à la carte restaurants are not always inside the package. Several of the big properties on this coast include the main buffet and the bars but charge a cover for the speciality restaurants, and some ask you to reserve them a day ahead. It is rarely much money and it is not a catch, but it is the difference between turning up with a plan and turning up hopeful. The same goes for imported spirits, fresh juices and cocktails, which sit outside the package more often than people expect.

Geographically the all-inclusive resorts cluster in three places. Fethiye has the biggest and most facility-heavy of them, spread along the coast either side of the town. Sarigerme, twenty minutes from the runway, is where you go if a short transfer matters more than a resort strip outside the gate. And Icmeler, round the bay from Marmaris, does the calmer, better-value end of it with the nightlife available when you want it and out of earshot when you do not.

What are the best all-inclusive hotels in Dalaman for families?

• Club and Hotel Letoonia runs three buffet restaurants plus à la carte options, with snacks and ice cream going all day and kids' clubs split into three age bands so the teenagers are not lumped in with the four-year-olds. Three private beaches and three children's pools on its own peninsula outside Fethiye.

• Hilton Dalaman Sarigerme Resort and Spa runs an ultra all-inclusive programme across seven outdoor pools, three heated indoor ones, an aquapark and a 650m private beach, with a kids' club and a petting zoo. Twenty minutes from the airport, which with tired children on a late flight is worth a great deal.

What are the best all-inclusive hotels in Dalaman for couples?

• Liberty Fabay Hotel is ultra all-inclusive done properly: nine places to eat, sixteen pools including an adults-only one with its own bar, and a patisserie that never actually shuts. One of the best-reviewed hotels on this stretch of coast, and it is a big resort that still manages to have quiet corners.

• Club Munamar Beach Resort is the value pick, sitting in the middle of Icmeler a minute from the beach with an adults-only relax pool away from the waterslides. Local drinks are in the package and the imported stuff is not, which is the trade-off that keeps the price where it is.

Dalaman Holidays 2026 Travel Guide

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 What are the best things to do on a Dalaman family holiday?

• Iztuzu Beach turtle spotting - The protected nesting beach at the mouth of the Dalyan river, with a conservation centre at one end explaining what the ropes and cages are for. Loggerheads nest from May to October.

• A Dalyan river boat trip - Flat-bottomed boats up the reed channels past the rock tombs to the mud baths, with a stop at Iztuzu on the way back. A whole day, and the one every family remembers.

• Atlantis Waterpark - Slides, wave pool and lazy river near Fethiye, and the obvious plan for the day everyone has had enough sun.

• Butterfly Valley by boat - A canyon you can only reach from the water, with a waterfall at the back and a shingle beach at the front. Boats go from Oludeniz most mornings in summer.

• Calis Beach - Long, shallow and gently shelving, with a promenade of cafes behind it and the best sunset on this coast. Easy with a pushchair, which not everywhere here is.

💑 What are the best things to do for couples on a Dalaman holiday?

• Paragliding off Babadag - Launching from nearly 2,000m and floating down over the Blue Lagoon to land on the sand at Oludeniz. Tandem flights need no experience and take about half an hour in the air.

• Sunset at Calis Beach - The whole promenade turns to face west and the bars put chairs on the sand. Costs nothing and beats most things on this page.

• A Turkish bath and the Dalyan mud baths - Sulphur springs and warm mud beside the river, followed by a proper hammam scrub. Deeply unglamorous and completely brilliant.

• The 12 Islands boat trip from Gocek - A slow day through a sheltered bay of pine-covered islets, swim stops and lunch on deck. Gocek is the prettiest marina on the coast.

• Kayakoy ghost village - A hillside of several hundred abandoned stone houses left empty since the 1923 population exchange. Go late afternoon when the light goes gold and the crowds have gone.

• Dinner on the Fethiye harbourfront - Pick your fish at the fish market in the middle of the square and hand it to one of the restaurants around the edge to cook. They charge a small fee to do it and it is the best value dinner in the region.

🎉 What are the top things to do for groups on a Dalaman holiday?

• Hisaronu and Marmaris Bar Street - Two very different nights out. Hisaronu is karaoke, cheap drinks and everybody up on the tables; Marmaris Bar Street is bigger, louder and runs later.

• A jeep safari through the pine forest - Convoys of open-top jeeps, a lot of water fights, and a stop at a river restaurant. Ridiculous and always the day people talk about afterwards.

• Diving the wrecks and reefs - The coast off Fethiye and Marmaris has good visibility, a couple of accessible wrecks and dive schools running beginner sessions daily.

• Saklikent Gorge - An eighteen-kilometre canyon you wade into over wooden walkways, with the water running ice cold even in August. About an hour from Fethiye and worth every minute.

• A day trip to Rhodes - Ferries run from Marmaris across to Greece and back in a day, which is a genuinely good use of a spare Tuesday.

• Hisaronu market - Haggling is the sport, not an inconvenience. Go late, take cash and enjoy yourself.

🎯 Dalaman Holiday must do's

These are the experiences you'll be talking about for years – the proper bucket-list stuff that makes a Dalaman holiday unforgettable.

• Paraglide over the Blue Lagoon Tandem flights launch from Babadağ Mountain at 1,900 metres with views that'll make your heart skip. Float down over Ölüdeniz and land on the beach like a total legend. Book through any resort or beach vendor – expect to pay around £80-100.

• Cruise to the 12 Islands Full-day boat trips sail from Göcek or Fethiye harbour, hopping between hidden coves and pristine islands. Swimming stops, snorkelling, lunch on deck, and that "is this real life?" feeling. Around £25-40pp including lunch.

• Wade through Saklıkent Gorge Europe's second-longest gorge with icy canyon waters surrounded by towering rock walls. Wade through the shallow sections, grab a gözleme at the wooden platforms, and cool off from the summer heat. About an hour from Fethiye.

• Get muddy at Dalyan Slather yourself in mineral-rich mud at the thermal springs, let it dry, then wash it off in the sulphur pools. Your skin will thank you. Combine it with a river boat trip past the Lycian rock tombs and a stop at turtle beach.

• Pick your fish at Fethiye Market Head to Fethiye Fish Market, choose your catch from the stalls, and have the surrounding restaurants cook it to perfection. Fresh-from-the-boat seafood with harbourfront views – doesn't get much better.

• Watch sunset at Çalış Beach The sunsets here are legendary – grab a drink at a beachfront bar and watch the sky turn pink, orange, and purple over the Mediterranean. Free, romantic, and absolutely worth the early evening trip.

📍 Nearby resorts

The Dalaman region is packed with brilliant resorts, each with its own personality. Here are the highlights:

Beach & Chill

• 🏖️ Ölüdeniz | 1 hour from airport Home to the famous Blue Lagoon — possibly Turkey's most photographed beach. World-class paragliding, stunning scenery, and that "pinch me, I'm dreaming" turquoise water. Perfect for couples and adventure-seekers.

• 🌊 Fethiye | 50 mins from airport Historic harbour town with Lycian rock tombs carved into the cliffs, brilliant markets, and easy access to the 12 islands. Great base for exploring with a proper Turkish town vibe.

• 🏝️ İçmeler | 1.5 hours from airport The quieter, more upmarket neighbour of Marmaris. Pine-clad hills, soft sands, and a laid-back promenade. Ideal for couples and families wanting peace without isolation.

Party & Nightlife

• 🎉 Hisaronu | 1 hour from airport Turkey's answer to Magaluf — neon-lit streets, karaoke bars, and parties til dawn. No beach in town but Ölüdeniz is just down the hill. Perfect for groups and nightlife lovers.

• 🕺 Marmaris | 1.5 hours from airport The big one. 3.5km of beach, legendary Bar Street, a castle, and ferries to Rhodes. Buzzing nightlife meets family-friendly beaches. Something for everyone here.

Further Afield

• ☀️ Antalya | 3 hours Turkey's biggest beach resort region on the Mediterranean coast. Five-star all-inclusives, massive waterparks, and the charming old town of Kaleiçi. Brilliant for families.

• 🏰 Bodrum | 3 hours The glamorous Aegean resort with a famous castle, chic marina, and legendary nightlife. Great for couples and groups wanting sophistication with their sunshine.