Dalyan

About

Nestled on the banks of its namesake river, Dalyan is still largely a traditional fishing village. In 1987, it gained international recognition when environmentalists rallied together to prevent the development of a luxury hotel on the nearby İztuzu Beach, which is an important nesting ground for endangered Loggerhead sea turtles, but outside the main tourist street, life here is as it always has been. Within the town proper, you’ll find traditional houses and some excellent seafood restaurants, but the main attractions lie outside of town. Just a short boat ride will bring you to the “King’s Tombs” - a cliff face carved to resemble the facade of classical temples in the 4th century BC. On the other side of Lake Köyceğiz, you’ll find the ruins of the ancient city of Kaunos, where you can still see fortified walls, an ancient theater, a church, a bathhouse and a temple. Please add 90 minutes to your stop if you’d like to visit both archaeological sites.