Dalaman Airport to Dalyan: Transfer, Dolmuş and What to See
Short answer: Dalyan is about 30 km and 35 to 40 minutes from Dalaman Airport (DLM). A private transfer costs from €42 per vehicle and drops you at your door. The airport taxi list fare is ≈€30 (₺1,650) per car. The budget route is the Marmaris coach to Ortaca (≈€4 / ₺220) and then dolmuş 8-8 to Dalyan (₺87 on a two-ride card at the time of writing). Once you are there, the sights are the Kaunos rock tombs, a river boat to İztuzu turtle beach and the mud baths.
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Dalyan is a small river town beside a reed-fringed channel, with Lycian rock tombs cut into the cliff opposite the quay. It is one of the nearest resorts to Dalaman Airport, yet there is no direct coach, so how you arrive depends mostly on the time of day and how much luggage you have. This guide covers every way to get there, what each costs, and what to do once you arrive, including the seasonal rules on İztuzu beach.
Ways to Get From Dalaman Airport to Dalyan
| Option | Time | Cost | Changes | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private transfer | 35–40 min | From €42 per vehicle | None | Families, groups, luggage, late arrivals |
| Airport taxi | 35–40 min | ≈€30 (₺1,650) per car (list fare) | None | Turning up without a booking |
| Marmaris coach to Ortaca, then dolmuş 8-8 | Varies, as the coach leaves when domestic flights land | ≈€4 (₺220) per person, plus about ₺87 for the dolmuş | 1, in Ortaca | One or two people with light bags |
| Minibus 8-11 to Dalaman town, then bus to Ortaca and dolmuş | Slow, depends on connections | ≈€0.75 (₺42) to Dalaman town, plus the onward fares | 2 or more | Backup only |
Road times are without hold-ups; allow more in July and August. Transfer prices are per vehicle (Mercedes Vito, up to 6 passengers), and the exact price for your date and pickup time is shown before you pay. Public transport fares and timetables were checked on 22 October 2026 and can change.
Private Transfer
Our driver tracks your flight, so there is no extra charge for traffic or flight delays. The driver waits just outside the arrivals exit, and once you have landed sends you the exact meeting point and a short video on WhatsApp. Our drivers speak English. The price is from €42 per vehicle, not per person, and it takes you straight to your hotel or villa. Child seats are available on request. We also have a V-Class VIP, and a Sprinter for larger groups.
Send your exact hotel name or a map pin when you book, so the driver can find the entrance. You can book the return to the airport at the same time. Compare all routes on our transfer prices page, or book on our Dalaman Airport Transfer page.
Airport Taxi
Taxis wait at the rank to the left of the terminal exit around the clock. The Dalaman Airport Taxi Cooperative publishes a list fare of ≈€30 (₺1,650) per car to Dalyan, with no night rate. Agree the price and your exact address before you set off. In the busy hours after a wave of charter flights the rank can have a queue, which is the main reason to pre-book.
Coach to Ortaca and Dolmuş 8-8
The airport coaches run by Havaş and by MUTTAŞ, the Muğla municipal transport company, do not go to Dalyan itself. The Marmaris coach calls at Ortaca, the town where you change for Dalyan, for the same fare as Göcek: ≈€4 (₺220) per person. The coaches leave when domestic flights land rather than to a timetable, so after an international flight you may have to wait. Our Dalaman Airport guide to Fethiye and Marmaris explains how the coaches work and where to ask for them.
In Ortaca you change to the municipal dolmuş 8-8 to Dalyan. At the time of writing the fare is ₺87 on the two-ride Muğla Kart, which is the realistic fare for visitors (the personal card pays ₺68). From Ortaca the dolmuş leaves about every 15 minutes from 06:45, then about every 20 minutes after 20:00. From Dalyan it runs about every 15 minutes from 06:30 until around 19:00, with fewer departures until about 00:15. Bank cards are accepted on board. The dolmuş is cheap and frequent, but it is a minibus, so large suitcases are awkward.
There is a slower fallback. Minibus 8-11 runs from the Departures level to Dalaman town for ≈€0.75 (₺42), with the last departure at 17:20, and from Dalaman you can take a MUTTAŞ bus towards Ortaca. It only makes sense if you are staying in Dalaman, or if you missed the coach and have time to spare.
What to See Around Dalyan
Dalyan is small enough that a night or two covers it. Most visitors combine a trip to the tombs, a boat on the river and an afternoon on the beach.
Kaunos and the Rock Tombs
Kaunos was an ancient Carian port, and its rock tombs are carved into the cliff across the water from Dalyan. You can see the tombs from the river. The river boats pass below them for a view but do not land there, and the archaeological site itself has its own ticket. Ask at the quay or at your accommodation how to reach it on the day.
According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism the site is open every day from 08:30 to 18:00, and the ticket office closes at 17:30. Admission for foreign visitors is 3 euros in 2026, rising to 5 euros from 1 April 2027 under the published 2027 tariff. The ministry page showed summer hours on 22 October 2026. Winter hours are usually shorter, so check muze.gov.tr before you go.
River Boats and İztuzu Beach
İztuzu is a long sandy beach on a spit between the sea and the delta, and it is a nesting site for sea turtles. It is about 12 km and 20 minutes from Dalyan by road. There are two ways to reach it.
- River boat: the Dalyan boat cooperative runs shuttle boats from the quay, taking about 35 to 40 minutes each way. The cooperative sets the fares each season. In 2025 return tickets cost roughly ₺175 to ₺350 depending on the seller, so check the price board at the quay. Boats are seasonal, and the last returns in 2025 left around 16:00 to 18:00.
- Dolmuş 8-10: from Dalyan to İztuzu for ₺87 on the two-ride card at the time of writing. The October timetable was hourly from Dalyan between 09:30 and 17:00, and back from İztuzu between 11:00 and 18:00. The summer timetable may differ, so check the MUTTAŞ site for the current times.
A boat trip is also the easiest way to see the tombs from the water, and boat and dolmuş can be combined, going by river and coming back by road. Entry to İztuzu is free. Parking cost ₺200 per car in 2025, and sunbeds and umbrellas are extra (about ₺350 for a set in 2025).
The Night Closure on İztuzu
The beach is closed from 20:00 to 08:00 from 1 May to the end of September, to protect nesting turtles. Fires, barbecues, tents and vehicles are also banned at night in that period, and press reports gave the 2026 fine for individuals as ₺699,245. Some guides describe the closure as year-round, but the published rule covers the nesting season only. Outside those months this rule does not apply. Please leave any nests undisturbed.
Mud Baths and Hot Springs
The Sultaniye hot springs and mud baths are reached by boat, usually as part of a river tour that continues onto Köyceğiz Lake. Entry is a small cash fee, so bring some lira. Prices for these longer boat tours are set at the quay and vary with the length of the trip.
Where to Stay: Dalyan, Sarıgerme or Göcek
Most visitors stay in or close to Dalyan town, within reach of the quay, restaurants and the dolmuş stops. That suits you if you want the river, the tombs and an easy evening. It is not a beach resort: the sea is 12 km away at İztuzu, so you will use a boat or dolmuş every time you want to swim in the sea.
If you would rather have a sea-front hotel, Sarıgerme is 18 km from the airport (about 30 minutes, airport taxi ≈€20 / ₺1,100), and Göcek is 24 km away with its marinas (private transfer from €42 per vehicle). Both are easy day trips from Dalyan, and our Dalaman Airport guide compares all the resorts. Fethiye and Ölüdeniz are further along the coast: see the Fethiye and Marmaris guide, or our Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon guide.
Planning Your Arrival and Departure
- Late flights: the dolmuş 8-8 runs until about midnight, but a coach may not be waiting after an international flight. A private transfer or the airport taxi is the safer choice after dark.
- Early flights home: the dolmuş starts around 06:30, so for a morning departure book a pickup at your accommodation the day before.
- Summer: allow extra time on the roads between Ortaca, Dalyan and the airport in July and August.
- Cash: bring lira for the mud baths, parking at İztuzu and small boat fares.
You can see all fares and book on our Dalaman Airport Transfer page.
Sources — checked on 22 October 2026: Kaunos, Ministry of Culture and Tourism · MUTTAŞ dolmuş 8-8 · MUTTAŞ dolmuş 8-10 · MUTTAŞ airport coaches · Dalaman Airport Taxi price list · Rotasenin, İztuzu · Habertürk, night closure fines · İşçi Haber, İztuzu parking
Euro amounts at €1 = ₺55.6.
Related guides: Dalaman Airport (DLM) · Dalaman Airport to Fethiye & Marmaris · Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon guide · Antalya Airport to Kaş & Kalkan · Izmir Airport to Kuşadası & Ephesus · All airport guides · Butterfly Valley From Ölüdeniz · Saklıkent Gorge From Fethiye · Where to Stay Near Dalaman
Frequently asked questions
How far is Dalaman Airport from Dalyan?
About 30 km by road, which takes 35 to 40 minutes without hold-ups. Allow more time in July and August. Sarıgerme and Göcek are a little closer.
How much is a transfer from Dalaman Airport to Dalyan?
Our private transfer starts from €42 per vehicle, for up to 6 passengers in a Mercedes Vito, and the exact price is shown before you pay. The airport taxi cooperative's list fare is ≈€30 (₺1,650) per car.
Is there a direct bus from Dalaman Airport to Dalyan?
No. Take the airport coach towards Marmaris to Ortaca, which costs ≈€4 (₺220) per person, then change to dolmuş 8-8 to Dalyan. The dolmuş fare was ₺87 on a two-ride Muğla Kart at the time of writing. The coaches leave when domestic flights land, not to a fixed timetable.
How often does the dolmuş run between Ortaca and Dalyan?
About every 15 minutes in the daytime. From Ortaca the first one leaves around 06:45, and from Dalyan around 06:30. After about 20:00 it is less frequent, and the last runs are around midnight. Check the MUTTAŞ site for the current timetable.
Can I visit Kaunos and İztuzu in one day?
Yes. A common plan is the Kaunos rock tombs in the morning, when it is cooler, and İztuzu beach in the afternoon, going by river boat and returning by dolmuş or the other way round. Kaunos is open daily from 08:30 to 18:00 in summer, with the ticket office closing at 17:30, and winter hours are usually shorter.
Is İztuzu Beach closed at night all year?
No. The closure from 20:00 to 08:00 applies from 1 May to the end of September, during turtle nesting. Fires, barbecues, tents and vehicles are also banned at night in that period. Some guides describe it as year-round, but the published rule covers the nesting season.
How much does the river boat to İztuzu cost?
The cooperative sets the fares each season. In 2025 return tickets cost roughly ₺175 to ₺350 depending on the seller, and the ride took about 35 to 40 minutes. Check the price board at the quay before you buy.
Where does the driver meet me at Dalaman Airport?
Our driver waits just outside the arrivals exit. After you land, the driver sends you the exact meeting point and a short video on WhatsApp. Drivers speak English, and child seats are available on request.
Book your Dalyan transfer
Your driver waits just outside the arrivals exit and sends the exact meeting point and a short video on WhatsApp after you land. The price is per vehicle and shown before you pay.
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