There is plenty to see and do on holiday in Dalyan. Boat trips are immensely popular, as are jeep safaris, mountain biking, sea kayaking, paragliding, fishing, snorkelling and more. A definite holiday must is a microlight flight over the spectacular Dalyan Delta, providing incredible views and possible turtle spotting on the golden sands of Iztuzu beach, home to the rare Caretta Caretta or loggerhead turtle. Wildlife enthusiasts will also enjoy the fantastic bird-watching opportunities.

For the less active, the Dalyan hot springs and mud baths provide relaxation, as does a visit to a Turkish hamman for a massage and Turkish bath. Relaxing on the spectacular Iztuzu beach and bathing in the warm, shallow water is also a must. History buffs will enjoy the fascinating Lycian cliff tombs that house the kings of Caunos, and at Caunos itself the remains of this once large port can be seen, including a theatre, temples, churches and baths.

For those looking for more action while on holiday in Dalyan, there are regular dolmus trips to neighbouring resorts and towns such as Marmaris. Beach BBQs are also a favourite (they can usually be booked through a tour operator or hotel).

Turkish is the official language, but English is widely understood in the main tourist areas.

The official currency is the New Turkish Lira (TRY), which was introduced on 1 January 2005, whereby six zeros were dropped from the TL and the sub-unit New Kurush was created. Currency can be exchanged at banks, exchange booths, post offices, airports and ferry ports; banks have the worst rates and highest commissions, but will exchange lesser known foreign currencies. Banks open mainly Monday to Friday, but some are open daily in tourist areas. ATMs are widely available in major cities and tourist areas, but Turkish ATM keypads usually do not have letters of the alphabet on their keys. Most bank branches have ATMs which accept Cirrus and Plus. Major credit cards are widely accepted; the most popular are Visa or MasterCard, but American Express is accepted in many of the more expensive places. Travellers cheques can be exchanged at some banks and currency exchange offices, but are not as welcome as cash or credit cards. US dollars or Euros are preferred. Some pensions and hotels in the most popular destinations accept US dollars as payment.

Dalyan can be a bit more expensive than neighbouring holiday resorts and as it is a more family orientated resort, party animals looking for late nights and pumping clubs should be head elsewhere. Mosquitoes can be a problem.

Dalyan is not the place to come on holiday for a buzzing nightlife, but there are several bars and a few clubs (including Sweet Sixteen and Zilli), and many establishments have regular Turkish nights offering up a more traditional experience of belly dancing, traditional music and special food.

There are a number of restaurants catering for a range of tastes in Dalyan, including several that offer tasty traditional Turkish dishes. Unlike many resorts, this is not the place to look for British style food or McDonalds. Paradise Restaurant is the best place to go for fish and chips, though. Some favourites include Ali Baba's, La Perla and Simarik café (formally Mulberry). Riverside Restaurant has beautiful views of Caunos.

The Dalyan local market on Saturdays provides an excellent way to pick up bargains while on holiday; as with anywhere in Turkey, haggling is key and there are unbelievable deals to be had. There are several small shops, including local arts and crafts and carpet dealers, and there is also the usual range of very cheap, but fake, designer goods. There are also several mini supermarkets.