Dalaman or Antalya: which is best for a beach break?
Three words: Spoilt. For. Choice. Any holidaymaker forced to choose between Dalaman and Antalya, Turkey's top beach hotspots, has it easy.
Both destinations are encircled by sandy beaches that are great for watersports, entertainment and family fun. Both are blessed by endless sun. Here's the best news: Turkey has raised its holiday game. Next-level hotels feature spas, gyms and kids' clubs as standard, all at lower prices than anywhere else in the Mediterranean.
But which one's for you? To help decide between Dalaman and Antalya, we've factored in resorts, recreation, history and attractions. First up, let's describe each destination.
Getting to Turkey: find affordable breaks to resorts around both Dalaman* and Antalya* with TUI*, which departs from airports across the UK.
Dalaman: the epicentre of Turkish tourism
Don't visit Dalaman. You read that right. The actual town of Dalaman hosts a tea shop, a carpet store and a restaurant selling gözleme, spinach pancakes.
It's Dalaman Airport that's the gateway to Turkey's most fabulous beach resorts. Think Ölüdeniz*, with its gilded curve of beach. Marmaris*, for family fun. Kalkan*, with its boutiques and upscale villas.
Fethiye*, with its traditional centre and ritzy hotels. In the Dalaman hinterland, find hiking, rafting and Roman ruins. All within a swift taxi or bus transfer ride from the airport terminal.
Antalya: the historic city ringed by resorts
Julius Caesar hit the beach near Antalya. The Roman emperor Hadrian visited the city and bequeathed its giant stone gate. No Turkish destination combines heritage and holiday spirit with such allure.
Even Antalya Airport brings the vibe. On approach, airplanes skim above the beach towards the historic city centre. Depending on the angle, passengers might spot the Duden waterfalls, which tumble into the Mediterranean near the runway. An ultra-modern tram runs from the terminal into town, as do transfer buses.
Which is best for beaches?
Dalaman has the greatest choice. Ask yourself, do you prefer photogenic blue lagoons like Hisarönü? Hippy-chic barefoot beach clubs like Kabak? Or hidden coves familiar only to Turkish families, like Günlüklü? On this sun-drenched coast, picking a favourite beach is like choosing a favourite child.
A personal favourite is Kaputaş Beach near the elegant town of Kaş, which has gin-clear seas for snorkelling. Need more proof? It's used by the Turkish Tourism Board to showcase Turkey's allure.
By contrast, Antalya has miles and miles of sand. Konyaaltı* is the fabulously long town beach that stretches below the historic city centre. Olympos Beach is long, wild and empty. The endless sandy shoreline at Belek* is backed by golf courses and truly magnificent five-star resorts.
For what it's worth, my pick of Antalya beaches is Mermerli, right underneath the city's historic quarter. Visitors can hike down steep steps to find a scatter of beach bars, which service sunbeds suspended above the water. If only every city centre had the same.
Which is best for families?
Mum and Dad will decide, although my three kids love both destinations. Dalaman goes big on natural beauty. We're talking hike-friendly sights like Butterfly Valley.
And gentle strolls along Iztuzu Beach where, in season, loggerhead turtles scuttle on shore to lay their eggs. The whole family can get dirty together during a memory-making mud bath at Dalyan (fun fact: the sulphur in Dalyan's mineral-rich mud is great for osteoarthritis, skin conditioning and joint pain). Dalaman's hotels range from boutique guesthouses to blockbuster resorts.
In general, the hotels around Antalya* are bigger, bolder and more family orientated. If you want junior to toddle around a kids' club, or your teens to join in resort sports, Antalya has the edge.
What kids will love is Antalya's vibrant centre. Here's a quick list of what's on offer: pavement cafés, boat trips, rooftop bars, archaeological museums, skate parks and shopping malls. Even the fussiest child will find fun.
Which is best for adventure?
Adventures in both destinations range from 4x4 safaris to paragliding, from boat tours to snorkelling trips. By happy coincidence, Antalya and the resort of Fethiye near Dalaman bookend the Lycian Way, a 320-mile coastal path that zigzags through virgin forest via secret beaches. Compared to any other seaside destination, Turkey genuinely has it all.
In terms of adventure, Dalaman is all about the Dalaman River. This 142-mile waterway courses gently through central Turkey, then becomes a raging whitewater near the coast.
The most popular tour is a headlong paddle downstream in an inflatable raft; imagine clinging for dear life to the world's craziest log flume. And yet, near the sea, the river softens once more into a gentle flow. Explore this section by kayak or in an electric boat to spot kingfishers and Roman-era rock tombs.
The white water in Antalya is literally historic. The Köprülü Canyon National Park, for example, is scattered with Ottoman-era stone bridges, but most travellers will barrel through in an inflatable raft.
Göynük Canyon sits near the remarkably intact Roman town of Phaselis, yet it's better known for canyoning, where visitors wade through high water and scramble across Indiana Jones bridges.
Antalya wins in one section. It boasts the unbeatable Land of Legends. This is a theme park and Aqualand of dizzying proportions. The park's latest Nickelodeon section has new rides featuring SpongeBob, Paw Patrol and Star Trek.
And the winner is...
First, you're in safe hands. Both Dalaman and Antalya have enough activities, beaches and sights to satisfy the most demanding guests.
Second, there's little in it. Dalaman* has the widest selection of resort areas and beaches. Antalya has more history and bigger hotels. Both will bring a smile to snorkellers, shoppers, hikers and bikers alike.
Third, the weather is fab. I've sunbathed and swum with minimal fuss in both destinations from May through to December. Dalaman and Antalya offer the best of Turkey on a plate.
Compare weather
Use the graphs below to compare weather conditions in Antalya and Bodrum. Find out more about the climate in Dalaman and the climate in Antalya as well as conditions across the country in our complete guide to the climate in Turkey.
Antalya Coast vs Dalaman & Marmaris Coast
- Maximum daytime temperature
- Hours of sunshine
- Days with some rainfall
- Monthly rainfall
- Sea temperature
Maximum daytime temperature (°C)
Hours of sunshine per day
Days with some rainfall
Monthly rainfall (mm)
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