Dalaman Airport (DLM) Flights & Flight Status

If you are flying into Dalaman, chances are you are starting your vacation, with the airport a jumping off point for Turkey’s stunning southwestern coast. You may be en route to Fethiye, with its ancient tombs, Ölüdeniz, popular with paragliders and known for its calm seas, or even preparing to tackle the Lycian Way, a long-distance walking trail. Whatever your reasons for visiting the region, knowing what to expect at the airport will go some way to getting your trip off to a good start.

The first impression of Dalaman Airport

Dalaman Airport is stunning. Designed by Turkish architect Emre Arolat, the international terminal is bright, airy and spacious. Huge windows offer views to the hills beyond – providing many travellers with a first glimpse of this intoxicating country, which may prove to be very different to everything they are used to, or had expected. The airport is capable of handling 35 flights at a time, but it is moderately sized, and not overwhelming. Finding your way around the terminal should present few challenges.

You will find the arrival process straightforward, without unnecessary queues or delays. The terminal is clean and the facilities good, even very late at night. Travellers exit the airport through gift shops and duty free. Many passengers will want to avail of the cheap cigarettes in Turkey – they represent one of the few bargains at the airport, even in the duty-free stores. Save your souvenir shopping for the local shops. The quality will be higher and the prices lower.

Exiting the terminal

Arriving in a new country can be disorientating and feeling flustered often results in us saying ‘yes’ when we really mean ‘no, thank you’. Turkey may not be as western as you expect, which will be evident as soon as you leave the terminal. You may be approached by local men trying to convince you to pay them to carry your luggage. Avoid this if possible.

In particular, avoid the temptation to buy a Turkish SIM card at one of the phone company stalls in front of the terminal. My partner and I bought a one-month-long SIM card each – they ran out four days later, resulting in a lot of hassle and extra costs. Buy your SIM card at a phone company store in town. The cards will be legit and likely to cost a fraction of the fee being charged at the airport.

New surroundings

As noted above, cigarettes are cheap in Turkey and as soon as you step out of the terminal you will notice the smoke. It’s not for everyone, but is part and parcel of visiting Turkey – you will find it hard to avoid.

A further warning: if you are susceptible to mosquito bites and are travelling at night, use insect repellent. You may find yourself waiting a while, outside the airport, for your transport – try not to become a late-night snack for the local insect population.

Onward travel

Most travellers arriving from overseas will have booked a package, including transfers. In front of the airport – down a few steps through terraced flowerbeds – you will find the bus station. Walk around until you find a bus marked with your destination or a guide carrying a sign bearing the name of your resort.

There is a small café here, with toilets and a very basic shop, selling drinks, snacks and essential toiletries.

Dalaman Airport is well situated for a number of key resorts. A transfer to Fethiye should take around two hours, Ölüdeniz is slightly further afield, while Marmaris can be reached in under an hour and a quarter.

Dalaman itself is less than 20 minutes from the airport. Many travellers will skip it for the better-known resorts, but it has several beaches, plenty of bars and restaurants and – just half an hour away – the famous mud baths at Dalyan.

Travelling under your own steam

All of the major car rental companies, and a number of local firms, operate at Dalaman – you can find them just a few minutes’ walk from the bus station. Most travellers opting for this means of transport will have booked a car online before travelling. Do make sure that you get the car, or category of car, that you have booked, however strong the temptation to ‘make do’ and rush off on your holiday. This stretch of coast can be very hilly and you will need a decent vehicle. Fuel is cheap in Turkey.

Dalaman Airport does not have a railway station. Public transport boils down to a choice between bus, taxi, or private transfer. Dalaman Bus Station is near the town centre, 6km north of the airport, and a taxi ride away. From there, minibuses connect Dalaman with the likes of Köyceğiz and Marmaris, Göcek and Fethiye via the main coastal highway. Intercity buses serve larger destinations such as Antalya and Istanbul, as well as relatively local towns, among them İzmir, Kaş and Muğla.

Taxis are generally plentiful at the airport – like the bus station, the taxi rank is easy to spot as you leave the terminal.

Private transfer companies are ten-a-penny. It’s worth looking into the options before travelling. Online booking is standard, but try to use a company recommended by someone you trust.

Night-time arrivals

If you are flying into Dalaman late at night, consider staying locally and setting off to your destination in the morning. We stayed in a local guest house and ate a fantastic breakfast next morning as we admired the view and got our bearings. You may find it works best to have the guest house owner collect you from the airport and have your car hire delivered to the guest house the following morning, as we did.

When it’s time to leave

If you are like me, you will have arrived in Turkey excited about being somewhere new and delighted with the prospect of two weeks of sunshine. By the time you leave, however, there is every likelihood that you will be dreading a return to your daily routine and desperate to stay in holiday mode. Leaving is never easy and a poor return journey can really affect how you remember your holiday.

In addition to the post-holiday blues, you will almost certainly find that departing from Dalaman is more arduous than arriving.

Head to the upper two levels for departures (you will have arrived at Dalaman on one of the lower two levels). Travellers not used to Turkish airports may be surprised by the number of security checks they have to undergo, both before and after checking in, as well as on their arrival at the gate. This is standard across the country.

Arrive at the airport at least 2.5 hours before an international flight and be prepared to spend quite a bit of time queueing.

Most travellers flying out of Dalaman will need to check-in luggage. At this stage in your journey, you will have your travel documents checked and you may be asked for a paper boarding pass, or find that staff hand you a printed boarding pass, regardless of you having already checked in online.

Airport facilities

Turkey is a cheap country. As a rule, food and drink are of a high standard and much cheaper than you may be used to. Unfortunately there is an exception to every rule, and in this case, that exception is Dalaman Airport. It is incredibly expensive – so much so, that I strongly recommend having a good meal before you arrive and if at all possible, saving your snacking for in-flight, where the prices will almost certainly be lower. Even the international fast food outlets are significantly more expensive than non-airport branches.

As with the shopping space you passed through on arrival, the retail options in departures are expensive and limited. Leave space in your luggage to buy souvenirs locally. They will be much better made and local makers will appreciate your support.

Lounges

Dalaman Airport offers several lounges, for domestic, international and private travellers. These must be paid for, and access depends on what airline or tour operator you are using. The lounges are also available to holders of certain airline loyalty cards.

At the gate

The gates at Dalaman do not have toilets. Having gone through another thorough security search on arrival at the gate, whether or not you are permitted to leave to use the facilities seems to depend very much on the staff. I had no problem but other travellers have reported different experiences. This is something to bear in mind if your flight has been delayed.

Connectivity

‘Premium’ Wi-Fi access is complimentary in the lounges at Dalaman, and at no cost for up to 30 minutes elsewhere in the terminal. To arrange this you will need to get a free access pin by verifying your identity at a Wi-Fi kiosk in the terminal. After the initial 30 minutes, Wi-Fi use is charged for. This can be booked online. Some retail and food outlets offer free Wi-Fi for purchases or orders over a certain amount.