İztuzu Beach: Dalyan’s Turtle Beach
A long sandbar between the sea and the Dalyan river, and a nesting beach for loggerhead turtles
In short: İztuzu, often called Turtle Beach, is a sandy beach of about 4.5 km where the Dalyan river meets the sea. It is one of the most important nesting beaches in Turkey for the endangered loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta). You can swim and sunbathe here by day, but in the nesting season the beach is closed to visitors at night, from 20:00 to 08:00. Get there by river boat from Dalyan or by road.
Last checked: 10 November 2026. Rules for the nesting season are announced each year; follow the signs and the staff on the beach.
Why the turtles matter
Every year from late spring, female loggerhead turtles crawl up the beach at night to lay their eggs in the sand, and from midsummer the hatchlings dig their way out and head for the sea. Nests are marked and protected, and a team from DEKAMER, the sea turtle research and rescue centre run by Pamukkale University at the beach, watches over them through the season. In the 2026 season the first nest at İztuzu was recorded in late April.
Beach rules in the nesting season
- No entry at night: from 20:00 to 08:00 the beach is left to the turtles; staff ask visitors to leave in the evening.
- Keep away from nests: marked nests must not be touched, and you should follow the signs and the staff.
- No lights, no litter: lights confuse hatchlings, and rubbish on the sand is a danger to them.
Getting there
- By river boat: boats leave from the Dalyan riverside and cruise through the reed beds to the beach; it is part of the classic Dalyan day out with the rock tombs and the mud baths.
- By road: in season, dolmuş minibuses run from Dalyan centre to the beach; you can also drive and park.
- See our guides to Dalyan and ancient Kaunos.
Visiting tips
- Bring shade and water: the beach is wide and open, with little natural shade.
- Best time: mornings are quieter before the boats arrive.
What real travellers say
- “Arriving by boat is half the fun.” Many visitors love the trip through the reeds.
- “A beach with a purpose.” Seeing the protected nests makes the day special.
- “Respect the evening closure.” Visitors appreciate how well the beach is protected.
Summarised in our own words from travel guides and holidaymaker reviews. We don’t list prices because they change often.
Sources we checked (November 2026): Go Türkiye: İztuzu Beach · DHA: nesting season at İztuzu (Turkish) · Gazete Birlik: first nest of 2026 (Turkish) · Haber7: night closure (Turkish) · Turkey Travel Planner: İztuzu Beach
İztuzu Beach: questions
Can I visit İztuzu beach at night?
Not in the nesting season: the beach is closed to visitors from 20:00 to 08:00 so the turtles can nest and the hatchlings can reach the sea.
Will I see turtles?
You may see marked nests, and sometimes turtles in the water, but nesting happens at night when the beach is closed, so sightings are never guaranteed.
How do I get to İztuzu from Dalyan?
By river boat from the Dalyan riverside, or by dolmuş or car along the road.
Header photo: Turtle Beach, Dalyan. Photo: Ebru73, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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