Dalyan comes alive at night with local people and visitors alike wandering among the riverside and brightly-lit back streets. There are many traditional goods on offer such as Turkish delight in all its many varieties, leather goods, carpets and rugs, jewellery, spices, cotton or linen goods.
Several of the local tailors will copy any design you may have and you will have the completed garment in a few days.
There are several good small supermarkets in Dalyan where you can buy everything you may need for your stay, including food, drinks, fresh bread, newspapers and toiletries.
Generally; shop opening hours are Monday to Saturday 09.00 to 18.00 hrs and do not close for lunch. Some of these shops may also open on Sundays. However, shops selling goods to tourists close much later, about 22.00 hrs.
The local market day is on Saturday – see Dalyan map for location.
Traders are setting up their stalls in the market place from around 8.00 in the morning. The market is a riot of colour, smell and sound going on until dusk. On display are an extraordinary variety of fruit and vegetables, cheeses, honey and olives.
As well as traditional fabrics and linen, you can find T-shirts, jeans and bags. There are several eating places overlooking the market place where you can take a break while you watch the hustle and bustle.
Thursday’s Muğla market is by far the most interesting and traditional of the street markets in this area. Approximately 90 kms from Dalyan, as well as its fascinating market, Muğla’s arasta bazaar, a network of narrow alleyways where craftsmen, notable blacksmiths, work and trade, nestles at the base of a hillside of Turkey’s finest Ottoman houses. There is a dolmuş service from Dalyan to Muğla market which departs from the station at 10.00 hrs. Seats should be pre-booked.
If you miss Dalyan’s market, or you would like to see a little more, traders travel to Ortaca on Friday and Köyceğiz on Monday. Buses leave from beside the PTT every half-hour from 09.30, but if your ideal holiday would exclude all forms of road transport, there is also a service across the lake to Koyceğiz market. The boats leave Dalyan jetty on
Monday at 10.30 hrs and return at 18.00. It is advisable to book the previous day.
The town of Göcek is a haven for yachts and gülets. Market day is Sunday and passengers and crew alike come ashore to bargain and afterwards to sample the upmarket restaurants and shops that line the harbour.
There are very large street markets in Fethiye and Marmaris on Tuesday and Friday respectively however they lack the charm of Muğla and are solely for the most determined shoppers.
For guests who have a particular interest in purchasing carpets or rugs, the Carpet Weavers’ Association is situated outside of Dalyan and has an immense variety from all over Turkey. I am happy to provide directions or arrange for you to be picked up from your property as you prefer.