The drive from Antalya to Dalyan takes about 4 hours on the faster inland route via Korkuteli (roughly 250–260 km), or around 6–7 hours on the scenic coastal road via Kaş and Fethiye (roughly 360–380 km). The fast route gets you there in an afternoon; the coastal route is a classic road trip best spread over 5–10 days, with ancient cities, canyons, beaches and boat trips on the way.
This guide covers both options, the best stops, what to do in Dalyan, and how to drive it in reverse from Dalyan to Antalya.
Quick facts
- Distance: about 250–260 km inland via Korkuteli; about 360–380 km on the coast via Kaş and Fethiye
- Approximate drive time: around 4 hours inland; 6–7 hours non-stop on the coast
- Recommended days: 1 day inland; 5–10 days on the coast
- Best season: May to June and September to October; July and August for beach lovers who don't mind the heat
- Nearest airports: Antalya at the start, Dalaman (about 35 km from Dalyan) at the end
Route options
Option 1: inland via Korkuteli (fastest)
From Antalya, the road climbs north-west into the Taurus Mountains towards Korkuteli, crosses the high plateau and then descends towards Fethiye. From the Fethiye area you continue west past Göcek to Ortaca, the town on the main road closest to Dalyan, and turn south for the last few kilometres into Dalyan.
This route runs on mostly good, fast roads and is the choice for anyone who wants to get from Antalya to Dalyan in a day. It also passes close to two of Antalya's best inland sights, Termessos and Karain Cave, so you can start the day with one of them.
Option 2: the coastal road via Kaş and Fethiye (scenic)
The D400 follows the coast west from Antalya through Kemer, Kumluca, Finike, Demre, Kaş and Kalkan to Fethiye, then on to Dalyan. It is winding in places, with superb views, and it passes most of the Lycian coast's highlights. This is the route of our Antalya to Dalyan route idea, and the coastal part is described in detail in our Lycian coast road trip guide.
Option 3: mix both
A practical compromise: drive the coast as far as Kaş or Kalkan, enjoy the best of the sea, then continue to Fethiye and Dalyan. Or, if you are short of time, take the inland route one way and the coast the other.
Stops near Antalya
Termessos
Termessos is one of the most dramatic ancient cities in Turkey, built high on the slopes of Güllük Dağı, more than 1,000 m above sea level, inside a national park. Its position was so strong that Alexander the Great is said to have given up on taking it. The theatre, perched on a ridge with mountain views, is unforgettable.
Allow a few hours and wear good shoes, because the site is spread across steep, rocky slopes with a fair amount of walking from the car park. Termessos lies off the Antalya–Korkuteli road, which makes it a natural first stop on the inland route.
Karain Cave
Karain Cave, in the hills north-west of Antalya, is one of the most important prehistoric sites in Turkey. Finds from the cave show it was used by humans over a very long period of the Palaeolithic, and there is a small museum at the site. It is a short visit that pairs well with Termessos.
Göynük Canyon
On the coastal route near Kemer, Göynük Canyon is a gorge with a cold, clear mountain stream. Depending on the season, you can walk up the valley, swim in the pools or join a guided canyoning trip. It is a refreshing stop on a hot day, and an easy first-day add-on if you are driving the coast.
Lycian coast stops on the way
If you take the coastal road, these are the highlights in order from Antalya:
- Phaselis: an ancient port city with three harbours, where you can swim beside the ruins under the pines.
- Olympos and Çıralı: a ruined city in a wooded river valley, a long beach, and the natural flames of the Chimaera (Yanartaş) after dark.
- Myra and Demre: cliff-face Lycian rock tombs above a Roman theatre, and the Church of St Nicholas.
- Kekova: the sunken city, seen by boat or kayak from Üçağız or Kaş, and the castle village of Simena (Kaleköy).
- Kaş: a charming harbour town and the best base on the coast for two nights.
- Kaputaş: a small turquoise beach below the cliff road between Kaş and Kalkan.
- Patara: one of Turkey's longest sandy beaches, with the ruins of a major Lycian city behind it.
- Xanthos and Letoon: together a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the political and religious heart of ancient Lycia.
- Saklıkent Gorge: a deep, narrow canyon where you wade through an ice-cold river.
- Ölüdeniz and the Blue Lagoon: a sheltered turquoise lagoon below Babadağ mountain, with paragliding, boat trips to Butterfly Valley and the ghost village of Kayaköy nearby.
From Ölüdeniz to Dalyan is roughly 75 km, about 1.5 hours via Fethiye, Göcek and Ortaca. Our Antalya to Blue Lagoon route idea ends at Ölüdeniz, if you prefer to finish there.
Sample coastal itinerary: Antalya to Dalyan in 7 days
| Day | Route | Approx. drive | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Antalya – Göynük Canyon – Phaselis – Olympos | 85 km, 1.5 h | Olympos / Çıralı |
| 2 | Olympos – Myra – Kaş | 125 km, 2–2.5 h | Kaş |
| 3 | Kekova boat or kayak trip | short | Kaş |
| 4 | Kaş – Kaputaş – Patara – Saklıkent – Ölüdeniz | 115 km + detours | Ölüdeniz |
| 5 | Blue Lagoon, Butterfly Valley, Kayaköy | short | Ölüdeniz |
| 6 | Ölüdeniz – Dalyan | 75 km, 1.5 h | Dalyan |
| 7 | Dalyan – Dalaman Airport | 35 km, 40 min | – |
Add a day at the start for Termessos and Karain Cave from Antalya, and a second night in Dalyan if you can.
Dalyan: what to see and do
Dalyan is a small, relaxed town on a reed-fringed river channel that links Lake Köyceğiz with the sea. Most sights are reached by the river boats that leave from the town's waterfront, which makes it a very different experience from the rest of the trip. Read more on our Dalyan page.
The Kaunos rock tombs
The cliff across the river from Dalyan is carved with monumental rock tombs in the form of temple façades, the town's signature view. They belonged to Kaunos, an ancient city on the border between Caria and Lycia. Seen from the riverside at sunset, they glow gold. The tombs are best viewed from the water or the waterfront rather than up close.
Kaunos ancient city
The ruins of Kaunos itself, with a theatre, baths, a basilica and the remains of its old harbour, lie a short boat ride downriver. Boats drop you on the far bank, from where a short walk leads to the site. It is far less visited than the big Aegean sites and very atmospheric.
İztuzu beach and the turtles
At the mouth of the river, İztuzu beach is a long sand spit between the sea and the delta, and one of the most important nesting beaches in Turkey for loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta). The beach is protected: nesting areas are marked, and night-time access is restricted during the nesting season to protect the turtles. A sea turtle rescue and research centre operates at the beach.
You can reach İztuzu by river boat from Dalyan or by car along a road through the countryside.
Mud baths and hot springs
On the shore near the river, the mud baths are a Dalyan tradition: coat yourself in warm, sulphurous mud, let it dry, then rinse off in the thermal pool. Nearby, the Sultaniye hot springs on the shore of Lake Köyceğiz have been used since antiquity. Most river boat tours combine the mud baths, the springs, Kaunos and İztuzu in a day.
Lake Köyceğiz and around
Lake Köyceğiz, behind Dalyan, is a large lake surrounded by mountains, with the quiet town of Köyceğiz on its northern shore. Rafting on the Dalaman River is also possible nearby, and the lagoon-side villages make good bike rides.
The reverse trip: Dalyan to Antalya
The Dalyan to Antalya road trip works just as well in reverse, and it is often easier to plan, because Dalaman Airport is close to Dalyan while Antalya Airport sits just east of the city.
- Fast route: Dalyan – Ortaca – Fethiye – Korkuteli – Antalya, around 4 hours. Stop at Termessos on the way down into Antalya.
- Coastal route: Dalyan – Ölüdeniz – Kalkan – Kaş – Olympos – Antalya, spread over several days, ending at Kaleiçi, Antalya's old town.
- One-way rental: dropping the car at Antalya after picking it up at Dalaman (or the other way round) is common, but should be arranged in advance.
In this direction, the coast saves Phaselis and Antalya for the end of the trip, which makes for a lovely final day.
Driving tips
- Inland route: watch for fog and, in winter, ice or snow on the high plateau around Korkuteli.
- Coastal route: many sections are winding with steep drops; drive in daylight and use the official viewpoints.
- Side roads to Olympos, Üçağız and Patara are narrower and twistier than the main highway.
- Dalyan town centre is small, with limited parking along the waterfront in high season; ask your hotel where to park.
- More practical advice is in our guides to driving in Turkey and renting a car in Turkey.
Plan it as a self-drive trip
Road Trip Turkey designs tailor-made self-drive trips between Antalya and Dalyan, in either direction. We plan the route and the number of nights at each stop with you, book your hotels and rental car, and offer 24/7 support while you are on the road.
Tell us your dates, whether you want the fast inland road or the slow coast, and how much beach, boat and ruin time you'd like, and we will send you a personal itinerary based on our Antalya to Dalyan route idea or entirely your own.
