Things To Do in Datca Peninsula and Dalyan

As trips to the beach go, the one to Iztuzu is pretty impressive. Take the boat there and you’ll pass Dalyan’s Lycian rock tombs and see birds swooping through the reeds on the river. And once you’ve settled into a sunlounger, you can lie back and gaze at the pine-covered mountains. Just watch out for the wooden stakes, which mark the turtle nesting sites.

A short boat trip across the river brings you to the ruins of ancient Kaunos, where you can see what’s left of its city walls and the temples, baths and churches inside them. The main attraction is the tombs – the grand resting places of the kings of Kaunos – which were carved into the side of the cliff around 400BC.

Given its name, you probably won’t be expecting Persian throws and bowls of tangerines on the tables – but that’s exactly what you get at this cosy, laid-back bar. But owner Mufit reverts to the rock bar theme with a motorbike parked up inside, and live rock and folk music at the weekends. He also throws in a dartboard, pool table and outside seating.

Dalyan holds an annual festival to celebrate its Loggerhead sea turtles. During the 3-day event, Turkish singers and pop groups entertain the crowds at free stadium concerts. And down at the beach there are lots of watersports – the oily pole contest, where locals try to grab a flag without slipping down into the sea – provides the most comedy value.

Rub shoulders with the locals at Dalyan’s Saturday market, held in the square in the centre. You’ll find everything from pomegranates to Turkish delight, local spices and fake designer gear. There’s a wide range of footwear, and the quality leather slippers are a particularly good buy. Between haggling, you can fill up with delicious gozleme, or pancakes, sold at the stalls here.

For its size, Dalyan has a huge number of restaurants. There are lots in the streets in the centre, but the most popular dining spot is on the riverfront, where you can look across to the cliffside tombs while you tuck into mezes of tzatziki and aubergine dip. As for mains, kebabs feature heavily on the menus, along with juicy casseroles and sea bass.

This relaxed, family-run restaurant just off Market Square does home-style cooking at fair prices. Crocheted tablecloths and gourd lamps give the place a cosy feel, and the friendly staff will talk you through the meze dishes – do try Ladies Thigh, a kind of meat patty. As for a main, the guvec – a local take on lamb stew – is delicious. It all comes with a laid-back jazz music soundtrack.

When the sun goes down, you can take a river cruise towards Lake Koycegiz. The ancient tombs as you pass them look spectacular lit up after dark, and as you feast on a delicious Turkish barbecue you’ll be entertained by live music. If you don’t want the evening to end, when you get back to Dalyan at midnight you can head for the late-opening places on Bar Street.