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Things to do guide

The best things to do near Dalaman

Updated 1 October 2026 · 15 things to do

Pictured: Sundia By LibertyExclusive Fethiye- Adults Only+16

Land at Dalaman and you're minutes from one of the most varied corners of the Turkish coast. Pine-covered mountains drop into turquoise bays, Lycian tombs are carved into the cliffs, and an abandoned village sits silent on a hillside. Most people base themselves in Ölüdeniz, Hisarönü, Çalış or Fethiye, and every one of them is a short hop from something worth the trip.

This is a place for doing things. Float down a river, throw yourself off a mountain under a paraglider, wade through an icy gorge or spend a lazy day on a gulet. Between times, there's good grilled fish, fresh gözleme and long, slow sunsets.

Don't miss

  1. 1Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon
  2. 2Paragliding from Babadağ
  3. 3Kayaköy
  4. 4Saklıkent Gorge
  5. 5Dalyan and the Kaunos tombs

Ölüdeniz and the mountains

The postcard end of the coast.

  1. Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon

    Beach

    The sheltered Blue Lagoon at Ölüdeniz
    Photo: Kadirxmert, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A sheltered, almost impossibly calm lagoon of turquoise water, backed by pine forest and a sandy spit, and looked over by the bulk of Mount Babadağ. The lagoon itself is a protected nature park, and the long public beach beside it's the one that fills up in summer. Go early, rent a sunbed and swim.

    Tip: July and August are crowded. Arrive in the morning, or visit in May, June or September.

  2. Paragliding from Babadağ

    Activity

    A paraglider launched from Babadağ over the Blue Lagoon at Ölüdeniz
    Photo: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0

    Ölüdeniz is one of the best-known paragliding spots in Europe. Tandem flights launch from the top of Mount Babadağ, with a pilot doing all the hard work, and glide down over the lagoon to land on the beach. The views are the point, and you don't need any experience.

    Tip: Book with a licensed operator, and ask what the weather means for your flight time.

  3. Butterfly Valley

    Nature

    Butterfly Valley's steep canyon and beach near Fethiye
    Photo: Ezzeldin.Elbaksawy, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A steep-sided canyon opening onto a small, wild beach, with a waterfall at the back. There's no road in: take a boat from Ölüdeniz and spend a few hours swimming, walking up the valley and eating by the sea. It's a lovely contrast to the busier beaches nearby.

  4. The Lycian Way

    Nature

    One of the best-known long-distance walking trails in Turkey starts near Ölüdeniz and follows the old Lycian coast for hundreds of kilometres, past ruins, pine forests and empty bays. You don't have to commit to the whole thing. A few hours on the first stretch above the sea is a good way to see the coast without the crowds.

Fethiye and old Lycia

  1. Fethiye harbour

    Neighbourhood

    Boats moored in Fethiye harbour
    Photo: allen watkin from London, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0

    Fethiye is a working town with a big, busy harbour, a seafront promenade and plenty of restaurants where you can pick your fish. It sits on the site of ancient Telmessos, and its old quarter is worth a wander. The Tuesday market is the one to know for fruit, spices, olives and textiles.

    Tip: Boat trips around the gulf leave from the harbour, so book your day out here.

  2. The Amyntas rock tombs

    Landmark

    The Lycian rock tombs carved into the cliff above Fethiye
    Photo: Dosseman, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Carved into the cliff face above Fethiye, the Tomb of Amyntas has a temple-style front and dates from the Lycian era, more than two thousand years ago. You can climb the steps up to it for a view over the town and bay. Floodlit at night, it's a landmark you'll spot from anywhere in town.

  3. Kayaköy

    Landmark

    The abandoned stone houses of Kayaköy on the hillside
    Photo: Nikodem Nijaki, CC BY-SA 3.0

    A hillside village of hundreds of roofless stone houses and two churches, abandoned in the 1920s after the population exchange between Greece and Turkey. It's quiet, haunting and strangely beautiful, especially in the late afternoon. Allow an hour or two to walk up through the ruins and look out over the valley.

    Tip: Wear sturdy shoes, as the paths are steep and rocky, and go early or late to avoid the heat.

  4. Tlos

    Landmark

    Lycian rock tombs cut into the cliff at Tlos
    Photo: Nikodem Nijaki, CC BY-SA 3.0

    One of the oldest Lycian cities, perched on a rocky spur above the Xanthos valley, with tombs cut into the cliff, a theatre and a hilltop fortress. It's far quieter than the big names on the coast, and easy to combine with a trip to Saklıkent Gorge.

Days out

  1. Saklıkent Gorge

    Nature

    The rock walls of Saklıkent Gorge
    Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Jedyooo assumed (based on copyright claims), CC BY-SA 2.5

    A deep limestone gorge in the mountains inland from Fethiye, where a cold, fast stream runs between towering rock walls. Wooden walkways take you in, and then you wade upstream through the icy water. Afterwards, lunch at a riverside restaurant, with trout from the local farms.

    Tip: Take water shoes, a change of clothes and a dry bag for your phone.

  2. Dalyan and the Kaunos tombs

    Day trip

    Rock-cut Lycian tombs at Kaunos above the Dalyan river
    Photo: Rev Stan from London, UK, CC BY 2.0

    Dalyan is a riverside town set among reed beds, a short drive from Dalaman. Boats run up the river to the Lycian rock tombs of ancient Kaunos, carved into the cliff above the water, and on to mud baths and the long sandy spit of İztuzu Beach. İztuzu is a nesting beach for loggerhead turtles, so follow the rules about where and when you can go.

    Tip: Do not touch or feed the turtles, and keep clear of any marked nesting areas.

  3. A boat trip round Fethiye Bay

    Day trip

    The bay's islands and coves are best explored by water, and the classic trip is a full day on a wooden boat from Fethiye, with swimming stops, lunch on board and plenty of time on deck with a drink. Choose a smaller group if you want it quieter.

  4. Göcek

    Day trip

    Yachts anchored in Göcek Bay
    Photo: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0

    A quiet yachting town not far from Dalaman airport, with a marina, restaurants along the waterfront and a calm, sheltered bay dotted with islands. Many sailing holidays start here. Come for lunch, a boat trip and a stroll along the harbour.

Eat, drink and unwind

  1. Gözleme

    Food

    Gözleme being filled and baked on a griddle
    Photo: William Neuheisel from DC, US, CC BY 2.0

    Thin pastry rolled by hand, filled with spinach and white cheese, potato or minced meat and cooked on a griddle. You'll see women making it at roadside stalls and in village cafés all over the area. It's cheap, hot and exactly what you want after a morning of walking or swimming.

  2. Çalış Beach sunsets

    Beach

    Çalış faces west across Fethiye Bay, so the sun goes down over the water. Walk the promenade as the light turns orange, stop at a beachfront bar and watch the boats come in. It's the easy, relaxed end of the coast.

  3. Hisarönü’s bar strip

    Nightlife

    Up the hill from Ölüdeniz, Hisarönü is the area's party centre, with a long strip of bars, live music, karaoke and late-night restaurants, and a very British crowd. It's lively and loud, so choose your hotel accordingly.

Where to stay in Fethiye

Not sure which area suits you? Read our guide: Where to stay near Dalaman →

Getting around

Dolmuş minibuses link Fethiye with Ölüdeniz, Hisarönü, Çalış and Kayaköy and are cheap and frequent in season. For Saklıkent, Tlos and Dalyan, an organised trip or a hire car is easier. Boat trips are the best way to see the coast.

When to go

Late spring and early autumn are ideal: warm sea, lighter crowds and comfortable walking. July and August are hot, so give the gorge, the boats and the beach the afternoons and do any walking or ruins early in the day.

Questions about visiting Fethiye

What is there to do near Dalaman?
The Blue Lagoon and paragliding at Ölüdeniz, the ghost village of Kayaköy, Saklıkent Gorge, the Dalyan river and Kaunos tombs, boat trips around Fethiye Bay and the Lycian Way.
Is there much to see in Dalaman itself?
Dalaman is mostly a gateway. Most visitors head straight to Ölüdeniz, Fethiye, Dalyan or Göcek, all of which are an easy transfer away.
What is there to do near Dalaman with kids?
Boat trips with swimming stops, the beaches at Ölüdeniz and Çalış, a river trip at Dalyan and paddling through Saklıkent Gorge with the right shoes.
Do you need a car near Dalaman?
Not necessarily. Minibuses and organised excursions cover most of the main sights, but a car makes Tlos, Saklıkent and quieter beaches easier.

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