Is this the best destination in Turkey for family holidays?

Known for its pristine beaches, turquoise-blue sea, towering limestone cliffs and pine-fringed coves, the Dalaman area on Turkey's (Türkiye’s) southwest coast has long been a popular choice for family holidays. And beyond the obvious attraction of soft sands and crystal-clear waters, the region is packed full of fun things to do. 

There’s a colourful world waiting to be explored on snorkelling or scuba diving trips, and on dry land there are ancient sites and cliff face rock tombs, once the final resting place for kings. The lofty mountains hide dozens of walking routes and scenic biking trails and provide a cinematic backdrop for paragliding adventures. There are thrilling jeep tours, easy-going kayak tours and, depending on the time of year, a chance to witness baby turtles making their way out to sea. 

It’s an idyllic spot for family adventures with a huge range of luxury and all-inclusive hotels on offer as well as affordable apartments. Add to this, short direct flights from the UK to Dalaman airport and a summer season that stretches from May to October and you’ve got the perfect family holiday destination. 

Note: Prices correct at time of writing.

Mumsnet user, shivermetimbers77

The beaches are stunning

You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to beaches in the Dalaman area, with many of them awarded Blue Flag status. Top of our list is Icmeler Beach, a wide, curved strip of soft golden sand located just a short drive from lively Marmaris and its waterparks. With clear and calm waters, it’s ideal for families with younger children, plus it is well equipped with toilets, showers and changing rooms. 

Sarigerme Beach is another favourite, a stunning four-mile stretch of pine-fringed golden sand with beautiful views of the Taurus Mountains. The warm shallow waters are perfect for novice swimmers and there are sunbeds and umbrellas for hire. Sunkissed Iztuzu Beach is not only one of Dalaman’s prettiest beaches, but the sweep of sand is home to loggerhead turtles. Between May and July, the Caretta caretta lay their eggs in nests along so-called Turtle Beach and baby turtles hatch between July and September; during turtle season the beach is closed overnight to protect the eggs. 

You can’t visit the Dalaman area and not go to the Blue Lagoon. This much-photographed beach is famous for its ever-shifting shades of turquoise waters perfect for swimming, snorkelling and kayaking through.

What Mumsnetters love about Dalaman

Dalyan is absolutely lovely. There is some incredible countryside around, a beautiful lake, natural mud baths, Lycian rock tombs and a lovely boat ride along the delta to Iztuzu beach, which is 6 km of unspoiled beach, with no buildings as it’s a world heritage turtle nesting site.” - shivermetimbers7

Another vote for Dalyan. A magical place and amazing beach” - Arcadia

Marmaris is a decent sized resort with a good indoor permanent market, a marina and plenty of bars and restaurants with Icmeler on the same bay which is quieter and more village like. Fethiye is pretty with a decent beach.” Isseywith3witchycats

Fethiye, Marmaris and Bodrum have a better climate. Last year we stayed in Hillside Fethiye which was amazing and very child friendly. They had amazing food and it's very upmarket.” OnePlusOneEqualsThree

The best things to do with kids in Dalaman

One of the highlights of any trip to Dalaman is the mud baths at Dalyan. Believed to be rich in cleansing and healing properties, the mud has been used for centuries as a natural spa treatment. This is possibly the only time when you will actively encourage the kids to get dirty! 

The landscape of the Dalaman region is stunning so it pays to leave the sand and sea behind for a day and explore the interior on an off-road jeep adventure. Travel through dense pine forests to hidden waterfalls, journey across towering limestone peaks and visit small rural villages. In doing so you will experience a side to Turkey (Türkiye) that many visitors miss. 

Take to the Dalyan River and cruise along the meandering stretch of water on a boat, kayak or stand-up paddleboard tour and look up to see the Lycian rock tombs. Carved into the cliff face, these magnificent burial spots date back to 400 BC and were the final resting place of the kings of Kaunos. 

Don't miss the Marmaris Aqua Dream Waterpark in Marmaris or the Orka World Aquapark in Oludeniz, two of the largest water parks in Turkey (Türkiye). Enjoy a day of water slides, rafting, tunnels, wave machines and more.

Dalaman: what to eat and drink 

Turkey (Türkiye) is famous for its delicious cuisine and the Dalaman region is no exception with fresh seafood, seasonal fruit and vegetables and traditional Turkish (Türkish) delights on the menus at seaside taverns and family-run village restaurants. 

Kebabs are a culinary staple - perfectly seasoned pieces of marinated chicken, lamb or beef, served with fluffy rice, grilled vegetables and a tangy yoghurt sauce. Less well known, perhaps, are Gözleme, crispy traditional Turkish (Türkish) flatbreads stuffed with a variety of fillings such as spinach and feta, or spiced beef or lamb. Kids will love Turkish (Türkish) pide, a savoury flatbread not dissimilar to pizza. Meanwhile parents can enjoy a glass of raki with their meze.

The seafood in Dalaman is second to none thanks to its rich coastline. Dine on grilled sea bass, indulge in a hearty seafood stew filled with mussels, enjoy tender calamari and more at any local restaurant.  

In Marmaris it's well worth popping into Marmaris Balevi, a honey house and bee museum. Turkey (Türkiye) is one of the top five honey producing countries in the world and the number one producer of pine honey. 

How to get there

Direct flights to Dalaman Airport are available from UK airports including Manchester, London Gatwick, Birmingham, Bristol, London Stansted, Newcastle, Glasgow, London Luton, Edinburgh, East Midlands, Leeds Bradford, Liverpool, Belfast, London Heathrow, Cardiff, Aberdeen, Norwich, Bournemouth, Exeter and Teesside. The flight time is around 4.5 hours and there’s a 2-hour time difference so you won’t incur any jet lag.

About On the Beach 

On the Beach are a team of holiday enthusiasts that started their journey in sunny Macclesfield back in 2004, before hitting the London Stock Exchange listings in 2015. Now, they send over 1.5 million customers off on their jollies every single year, and they love every second of it, because – SURPRISE – they love holidays! They’re an Online Travel Agent which means you can browse and book your break without even changing out of your slippers and dressing gown (they actually recommend that you don’t. Get comfy!). Their handy-dandy website and app are packed FULL of jollies, and whether it’s through their epic holiday perks, customisable packages or flexible payment options, they’re with you every step of the way. Well, apart from for your drunken Celine Dion renditions. They don’t need to be there for that part, but they can recommend the karaoke bar where you do it…

About the author 

Katja Gaskell is a freelance journalist and blogger with over 20 years of experience producing travel content including guidebooks for Lonely Planet, hotel reviews for Mr & Mrs Smith and feature articles for a range of publications including The Telegraph, Wanderlust Magazine and the Mail on Sunday. She's passionate about family travel and loves to explore new places with her husband and three kids, documenting their adventures on her blog, globetotting.com