You can feel genuine Turkish hospitality and friendliness in a surprisingly quiet place of Dalyan (Turkey). This is a paradise where you can relax your body and soul. The resort town, surrounded by lush gardens, offers picturesque views, and during the river cruise you can see the famous Lycian rock tombs, where the remains of ancient kings rest.
Holidays in Turkey: Dalyan
You can plunge into the real Turkish culture by visiting the tiny town of Dalyan (Turkey) in the province of Mugla. The area is famous for its wealth of natural beauty, as well as numerous historical sights. Significantly less developed in terms of noisy entertainment than other Turkish resorts along the Mediterranean coast, Dalyan provides an opportunity to quietly and calmly explore the rich historical heritage without the need to stand in long lines.
It is an ideal place to immerse yourself in real Turkish culture. Excursions in the surroundings are a great chance to get in touch with nature. The resort is surrounded by wetlands, which serve as a refuge for birds and other wild animals, while thermal springs and local mud baths will give vacationers an unforgettable experience and improve their well-being.
Popular Attractions
A favorite place to visit for privacy is the Municipal Tea Garden. To get there, you need to take a short walk from the city center to the end of the river embankment. Entering through the open gate into the tea garden, you will find yourself in the best place where you can enjoy a wonderful view of the main attraction of this quiet resort - carved into the rocks on Mount Lycian Tombs on the opposite side of the river.
Right in the center of the city is a mosque, the most visible building in the city of Dalyan (Turkey). Built in 1552 during the Ottoman Empire, the building was restored relatively recently (in 2008), the minaret was replaced, as lightning struck it. Although in general the ancient mosque has the same appearance as it was many centuries ago. Opposite the mosque is a statue of Kemal Ataturk holding a hat.
Comfortable hotels in Dalyan (Turkey)
Hotels located within the city usually offer guests excellent service and a comfortable stay. All standard rooms are equipped with a shower, hairdryer, air conditioning, minibar, satellite TV, direct dial telephone, Wi-Fi access and an in-room safe (some services require extra charge). Many hotels offer a wellness service that provides a wide range of treatments, from massage to nail care.
If you wish, you can visit the sauna, swim in the outdoor swimming pool and sunbathe on the sun loungers. Guests can work out in the gym or, for an additional fee, ride a bicycle, canoe or play tennis. Travelers with young children should pay attention to age restrictions when booking a hotel, as there are hotels where children under 6 years old are not allowed.
Ancient ruins
Located on the other side of the river from the city of Dalyan (Turkey), Kaunos was a city of ancient Caria in Anatolia. A vast valley with many ruins and remnants of an ancient civilization recalls its former greatness. Fans of hiking and archaeological artifacts can take an excursion to the best-preserved monuments of the Roman imperial period - the huge Roman bathhouse and the Dome Church built in the second half of the 1st century BC.
The artificial terrace in the courtyard of this ancient church, surrounded by tall columns, opened a wonderful view of the port of the ancient city of Kaunos. Some of the most impressive ancient ruins of the ancient settlement of Kaunos near a city like Dalyan (Turkey) are located in the amphitheater, which is located on the slopes of the Acropolis hill. From the highest level of the ancient theater offers a beautiful view of the surroundings.
Kaunos Harbor and Lake Piyavok
In the old days, Sukluklu (Lake Piyavok) played an important role in commercial traffic, and the harbor on its shores functioned as a port. However, gradually the water receded, and the ancient city of Kaunos lost its importance as a shopping center.
Near the old port is Agora, once a market in which merchants held shops or shops to sell their goods against the backdrop of beautiful colonnades. This place was decorated with beautiful monuments and statues. Now in these ruins ruined by merciless time, you can see grazing cows and sheep.
Iztuzu Beach and Turtle Island
The river delta is a nature reserve with about 120 species of birds, including storks, which often visit these places throughout the year. Translated from Turkish, “dalyan” means “fisheries,” and fishing really helps support the local economy.
In 1980, they planned to build a luxury hotel in a place called Turtle Island (Dalyan, Turkey). However, a group of environmentalists, led by naturalist David Bellamy, opposed the development, as this would entail the destruction of the habitat and nesting of rare and endangered species of turtles. The city even has a statue depicting these charming and cute creatures.
The clean and wide Iztuzu Beach, also called Turtle Beach, is a haven for endangered sea turtles, making this place a protected area. This place is unique in that it is a natural barrier between freshwater and saltwater.
To get to this place, organized 15-minute river cruises, crossings through a winding picturesque river. Iztuzu beach meets its visitors with a small wooden pier. As with most beaches along the Mediterranean Sea, there are endless rows of umbrellas and sunbeds.
An ideal place for a romantic trip
Vacationers leave exclusively positive comments about visiting the city of Dalyan (Turkey), especially fans of a quiet and relaxing holiday and romance. If you are looking for stormy fun and noisy night parties, you are welcome to other resorts in Turkey. Photos taken during a honeymoon or a romantic trip in the resort of Dalyan (Turkey) for a long time will delight lovers.
Want to look 10 years younger?
For lovers of pampering themselves with mud baths, welcome to Lake Cajegiz. As local guides like to say, the queen of ancient Egypt, Cleopatra, often went to the mud baths in Dalyan and visited the thermal waters of local springs. The hot sulphurous waters on Lake Cagegiz help in healing rheumatism and skin diseases.
After bathing in sticky and incredibly useful mud, you need to wait a bit until it dries in the sun, and then you can swim in a special pool at a temperature of 40 degrees, thus cleaning yourself from mud therapy. Will this procedure rejuvenate for ten years? Who knows, but improvement of well-being, a charge of vivacity and a lot of positive emotions are guaranteed!