Best things to do in Dalaman

Beach-hop in Fethiye and visit the Blue Lagoon

Fethiye’s cobbled old quarter lines up whitewashed mosques, busy street markets and traditional Turkish hammams. And you can hop on a water taxi to the beach at Calis when you fancy some downtime on the sand. Fancy exploring a bit further? Head 25 minutes from Fethiye you’ve got Olu Deniz, home of the world-famous Blue Lagoon – probably Turkey’s most-photographed spot. Swim in the bonkers-blue water, sink into a beanbag on the sand with a cocktail in hand, and watch paragliders jump off the pine-clad mountains.

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Check out the marina in Marmaris

Marmaris doesn’t do anything by halves. It’s got a chic marina to match its charming old town. It’s got a historic castle and authentic hammams as well as cutting-edge contemporary restaurants and bars. And it’s got a supersized beach that outshines the lot. You can even take a catamaran over to Rhodes Town and find yourself on green soil in less than an hour, if you want to tick off two destinations in one hit.

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See ancient sites in Sarigerme

Sarigerme, a 20-minute drive from Dalaman, has a more villagey vibe and puts you in easy reach of some incredible archaeological sites and tombs. The ancient baths and amphitheatre at Kaunos are about a 30-minute drive away and well worth a visit. And if you’re going big, you can book a small group tour to Ephesus. This was the location of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World – the Temple of Artemis – and you’ll have an expert on-hand to show you around. After all that exploring, you’ll be grateful for Sarigerme’s long, sandy beach – which goes on for a good seven kilometres.

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Wallow in the mud baths at Dalyan

Dalyan – not to be confused with Dalaman – is a traditional fishing village and springboard for several daytrips in the area. One is to the mud baths at Lake Koycegiz – you’ll take a boat to reach this famous beauty spot, then sink into the pampering mud before rinsing off in the Sultanye thermal springs. Another biggie is a boat trip to Iztuzu Beach. This one is about half an hour away and known as Turtle Beach thanks to the famous Loggerhead turtles that breed here.