Dalyan

Whether you’re cruising Turkey’s Turquoise Coast or sailing on a day tour from Marmaris, your itinerary likely includes the scenic Dalyan River and its namesake port town. The area’s top attraction is Iztuzu Beach (Turtle Beach), a strip of sand between the river and the Mediterranean Sea. With its location at the mouth of the freshwater delta, Turtle Beach is important to endangered loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) that come ashore to lay eggs in breeding season.

• Accommodation options in Dalyan range from luxury 5-star hotels to campsites in nature.

• Dalyan is the perfect place to pick up souvenirs—the streets are lined with shops selling artisan goods, and shopkeepers are receptive to haggling.

• Wheelchairs and strollers can easily manage the flat, paved streets in the town center.

Daylan’s closest airport is Dalaman International Airport, which is 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the town center. From the city of Istanbul, coaches take around 13 hours, so you’re best to hop on a plane if you’re short on time.

Thanks to its mountainous surroundings and Mediterranean climate, Dalya is a year-round destination. To beat the crowds and still enjoy long, sunny days, visit in either June or September outside of the European school holidays. Sunset is the perfect time to take a cruise down the Dalyan River. A local market selling food and souvenirs takes place every week on Saturday.

Other top sights along the Dalyan River include the Köyceğiz-Dalyan Special Environmental Protection Area around Köyceğiz Lake, the ancient ruined city of Kaunos and a series of Lycian rock tombs carved into coastal cliffs. Be sure to visit the mineral-dense mud baths and sulfur hot springs in the village of Sultaniye, renowned for their healing properties.