Fly into Dalaman for west-Lycia, into Antalya for east-Lycia, and book an open-jaw fare if you’re crossing both halves. Pre-book a private transfer to anywhere beyond Fethiye/Ölüdeniz; the public-transport saving doesn’t justify 2 hours with luggage.
The single most-asked question is “Dalaman or Antalya?” The honest answer is geography, not preference: Dalaman is closer to the western half (Fethiye, Ölüdeniz, Kalkan, Patara, Kaş — all under 90 minutes), Antalya is closer to the eastern half (Olympos, Çıralı, Adrasan — also under 90 minutes), and they’re 220 km apart so you don’t want to use the wrong one. Open-jaw routing (fly in DLM, out AYT) saves you the 3-hour airport return trip if you’re traversing the coast — and most airlines allow it at no extra fee.
The three airports — what each gives you
Dalaman (DLM) — the west-Lycia airport
The closest airport to the western half of the Lycian coast. Single terminal, fast walk to ground transport, low congestion outside peak August. Direct seasonal flights from London (LGW/STN), Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Berlin (BER), Amsterdam, Paris CDG, Copenhagen, Oslo, Düsseldorf, Brussels, Moscow, Kyiv. Pegasus and Turkish Airlines fly domestically from Istanbul (SAW) and Ankara. Flights from outside Europe usually require a connection through Istanbul.
Strengths: closer to most western Lycia destinations, smaller and faster than Antalya, easy car rental pickup. Weaknesses: fewer flights outside European summer schedule, limited late-evening/early-morning options, fewer shopping/dining options inside.
Antalya (AYT) — the east-Lycia airport (and the big hub)
Turkey’s third-busiest airport, the major Mediterranean tourism gateway. Two terminals, lots of flights, very frequent shuttle bus into the city. Direct flights from across Europe (London, Berlin, Amsterdam, Paris, Stockholm, Madrid, Vienna, Munich) plus the Russian-speaking world (Moscow, St Petersburg, Kyiv, Almaty), the Middle East (Doha, Dubai, Tel Aviv), and seasonal direct flights from the US, Canada, Far East. The hub of choice if you’re flying from outside Western Europe.
Strengths: way more flight choice than Dalaman, year-round flights from many cities, easy onward bus to Olympos / Çıralı (1.5 hours, frequent). Weaknesses: 220 km from Fethiye, and that’s 3.5 hours of slow coastal road; not the right airport if you’re heading to the western half.
Bodrum (BJV) — the Aegean alternative
Bodrum (Milas-Bodrum, BJV) is on the Aegean coast 4 hours north of Fethiye. The relevant airport only if you’re combining Lycia with a Bodrum / Marmaris stop, or flying with one of the few carriers that prices Bodrum routes lower than Dalaman. Drive Bodrum → Fethiye is 4 hours via the back road through Köyceğiz; ~5 hours if traffic is heavy. Bodrum → Kaş is 6+ hours and not sensible. Don’t fly Bodrum for a single-Lycia-destination trip.
Transfer costs from each airport (current 2026 prices)
From Dalaman (DLM)
| Destination | Drive | Private (1–3 pax) | Public option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fethiye otogar | 1h00 | €30–45 | £5–8 shuttle |
| Ölüdeniz / Hisarönü | 1h15 | €40–60 | £8–12 shuttle |
| Faralya / Kabak | 1h30 | €55–75 | via Fethiye + dolmuş |
| Kalkan | 2h00 | €60–90 | via Fethiye otogar bus |
| Patara village | 2h00 | €70–100 | via Fethiye + Patara junction dolmuş |
| Kaş | 2h30 | €80–120 | via Fethiye otogar bus |
| Kekova / Üçağız | 3h00 | €100–140 | via Kaş + dolmuş |
From Antalya (AYT)
| Destination | Drive | Private (1–3 pax) | Public option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antalya old town (Kaleiçi) | 0h30 | €20–30 | £3 Havaş bus |
| Olympos | 1h30 | €60–80 | £5–8 bus + £1.50 dolmuş |
| Çıralı / Adrasan | 1h30 | €65–85 | via Olympos junction |
| Demre / Myra | 2h30 | €90–120 | £8–10 intercity bus |
| Kaş | 3h30 | €140–180 | £10–14 intercity bus |
| Patara village | 3h30 | €150–190 | via Kalkan |
| Fethiye / Ölüdeniz | 4h00 | €180–230 | £14–18 intercity bus |
Private rates are 1–3 passenger saloon-car rates from our transfer directory. Add €15–30 for a 4–7 passenger minivan; €40–60 for a luxury or VIP vehicle. Night/early-morning premiums (10pm–6am) typically add €10–20. Always pre-book — meet-and-greet at arrivals is the standard, and rates are fixed in advance so there’s no haggle on arrival.
Open-jaw flying — the underused trick
The single most efficient routing for a multi-base Lycia trip: fly INTO Dalaman, OUT of Antalya (or vice-versa). Saves you the 3.5-hour return trip back across the coast just to meet your outbound flight. Most airlines allow this as “open jaw” or “multi-city” pricing at no extra cost — sometimes even cheaper than two return flights from the same hub.
Public transport — when it makes sense
Havaş airport buses
Both Dalaman and Antalya are served by Havaş — the official Turkish airport-bus operator, fixed schedule, fixed fare. Antalya: 30 min to the otogar (£3). Dalaman: doesn’t run a city bus because Dalaman has no city; instead seasonal shuttle buses run direct to Fethiye otogar (£5–8) and to Ölüdeniz/Hisarönü (£8–12). Buy at the desk at arrivals; departures every 30–60 min.
Intercity buses
Pamukkale, Kâmil Koç, Metro Turizm — Turkey’s major intercity bus operators. Coaches, air-con, free wifi, comfortable. Antalya↔Fethiye runs ~10 times a day (£14–18, 4 hours via the coastal road). Antalya↔Kaş (£10–14, 3.5 hours). Fethiye↔Kaş (£6–8, 3 hours). Buy at the otogar (bus station) on arrival or via obilet.com in advance — discount is small but seat selection helps in summer.
Dolmuş (shared minibus)
The village-to-village network. Cheap (£0.50–2.50 per ride), no booking, runs every 30–60 minutes in season. Pay cash in lira on board. Connects every coastal village including Faralya, Kabak, Çıralı, Üçağız, Patara junction, Kalkan. The single most useful thing to learn about Lycia transport.
Renting a car — when it earns its keep
Useful for
Multi-base 7–14 day trips visiting 4+ towns, family groups with luggage, mountain villages off the dolmuş network, photography trips needing dawn/dusk flexibility, any itinerary that wants to drop into Saklıkent / Kabak / Tlos / Sidyma without a tour booking.
Not useful for
Single-base beach trips (the rental sits idle 5 days a week), budget travellers (€280–380 for 10 days dwarfs £40–80 in dolmuş costs), Lycian Way walkers (no value when you’re not driving), couples staying in 1–2 hotels for the whole trip.
Where to book
Avis, Sixt, Enterprise, Hertz at airports for €25–40/day. Local brands (Hizmet, Decar, Yes Rent) at ~10–20% less for similar cars. Always insist on a credit-card hold instead of a debit deposit; Turkish rentals will charge for tiny scratches if you don’t document the car at pickup with photos.
One-way (DLM → AYT)
Most companies allow rent-and-drop between Dalaman and Antalya (or vice-versa) for a one-way fee of €30–50. Worth it if you’re traversing the coast and want flexibility to stop at the small mountain villages between (Bezirgan, Aperlae, Ovacık etc.) that public transport doesn’t reach.
Driving in Lycia — what to know
Roads and conditions
The D400 coastal road runs the length of Lycia from Fethiye to Antalya. Almost all two-lane, frequently winding, mostly well-maintained tarmac. Speed limits: 90 km/h on coastal stretches, 50 km/h through villages — both enforced by speed cameras and roadside police checks (usually genuine, sometimes hopeful for tourists; carry your passport).
Petrol
~€1.40–1.50/litre in 2026. Stations every 15–30 km on the D400; sparser on inland roads. Many stations are full-service (attendant pumps, you tip ₺10/£0.30 if they wash your windscreen). Carry cash for small stations.
Mountain driving
The Faralya–Kabak road, the Tahtalı road, and the Geyikbayırı approach are all narrow, switchback, and steep. Use low gears descending — sustained brake use will fade your brakes. The Kabak Valley road in particular is single-lane in places with no passing room.
Parking
Free in most villages; paid (₺20–60/day) in Fethiye, Kaş, Kalkan town centres in season. National park sites (Patara, Olympos, Kekova) charge ₺40–100 per day for car parking on top of entry fees. Pension hotels usually have free parking.
By ferry — the Greek-island option
Seasonal ferries from Greek islands run April–October:
- Rhodes ↔ Fethiye — ~50 min, 1× daily May–Oct, €60–80 single. Useful if you’re combining Rhodes with a Lycia start in Fethiye.
- Rhodes ↔ Marmaris — ~1h, 2× daily May–Oct, €60–80 single. From Marmaris it’s 2.5 hours by bus to Fethiye.
- Symi ↔ Datça — small craft, infrequent, niche. Same connection logic.
- Kastellorizo (Megisti) ↔ Kaş — ~25 min, daily May–Oct, ~€25 single. The shortest ferry, runs from a tiny Greek island to Kaş harbour. Worth doing as a day trip if you’re in Kaş; standalone, only useful if you happen to be on Kastellorizo first.
Bring your passport + onward ticket; expect EU/UK passport stamp on entry/exit if travelling between Schengen and Turkey. Visa-on-arrival not currently needed for UK/EU/US passports for tourist visits up to 90 days.
Putting it together — three example routings
Beach week in Ölüdeniz (4–7 days)
Fly into and out of Dalaman. Pre-booked private transfer DLM → Ölüdeniz hotel (€40–60, 1h15). Don’t rent a car; take a taxi or dolmuş for any day trips. Total transfer cost: ~€100 incl. tips. See full Ölüdeniz guide.
Multi-base 10-day west-east traverse
Fly into Dalaman. Stay 2 nights Fethiye + 2 nights Patara + 2 nights Kaş + 2 nights Olympos + 2 nights ending in Antalya. Open-jaw home from Antalya. Use intercity buses + a half-day rental car for the Saklıkent + Tlos detour. Total transfer cost: ~£60–90 in buses + €100 in transfers. See the full 10-day itinerary.
Lycian Way section walk (10–14 days)
Fly into Dalaman. Pre-booked transfer to Faralya village. Walk Faralya → Patara → Kaş over 7–8 days (pension nights, no tent needed). Optional rest day in Kaş. Continue walking or transfer to Olympos. Fly out Antalya. Full Lycian Way guide.
Frequently asked
Which airport should I fly into for Lycia?
Dalaman (DLM) is the closest for the western half of Lycia (Fethiye, Ölüdeniz, Kalkan, Patara, Kaş) — under 90 minutes by transfer to all of them. Antalya (AYT) is closest for the eastern half (Olympos, Çıralı, Adrasan) and is the bigger airport with more flight choice from outside Europe. Bodrum (BJV) is only worth considering if you’re combining Lycia with a stop on the Aegean coast. For a multi-stop trip: fly into Dalaman, out of Antalya — most airlines allow open-jaw routing at no extra cost.
How much is a transfer from Dalaman airport?
Pre-booked private transfer prices in 2026: Dalaman → Fethiye centre €30–45, Dalaman → Ölüdeniz €40–60, Dalaman → Kalkan €60–90, Dalaman → Patara €70–100, Dalaman → Kaş €80–120. These are saloon-car rates for 1–3 passengers; minivan transfers (4–7 pax) add €15–30 per trip. Shared shuttle buses run from Dalaman to Fethiye (£5–8) and to Ölüdeniz/Hisarönü (£8–12) on a fixed schedule. See operator listings on the transfer directory.
Can I get to Lycia by train or ferry?
There’s no train. The Turkish rail network doesn’t reach the Mediterranean coast south of Konya. By ferry: in summer there are seasonal ferry connections from Greek islands (Rhodes → Fethiye and Marmaris, Kastellorizo → Kaş), useful if you’re island-hopping but not a primary route from outside the region. From Istanbul or Ankara: domestic flight is the practical option (Pegasus, Turkish Airlines, AnadoluJet fly direct from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen and Ankara to all three Mediterranean airports for £30–90).
How long does it take to drive across Lycia?
Fethiye to Antalya is 220 km and takes 3.5–4 hours by car (the road is mostly two-lane and follows the coast — slow but spectacular). Section breakdown: Fethiye–Kalkan 1 hour, Kalkan–Kaş 30 min, Kaş–Demre 1 hour, Demre–Olympos 1 hour, Olympos–Antalya 1.5 hours. Don’t try to drive end-to-end in a day with sightseeing — plan 7–10 days minimum for a full west-east traverse with stops.
Should I rent a car?
Useful for: multi-base trips visiting 4+ towns in 7–10 days, family groups with luggage, off-the-beaten-path itineraries. Not useful for: single-base beach trips (rental sits idle), budget travellers, Lycian Way walkers. Rent at the airport (Avis, Sixt, Enterprise, plus several local brands) for €25–40/day; one-way DLM → AYT is allowed by most companies for a one-way fee of €30–50.
What’s the cheapest way to get to Lycia?
Cheap-airline flight to Dalaman or Antalya (~£60–150 return from London/Berlin/Amsterdam) + Havaş airport bus + dolmuş minibus. Total airport-to-pension cost £8–15 if you’re heading to Fethiye, Ölüdeniz, Olympos or Antalya old town. The savings on private transfer are typically £25–50 per trip; if you’re a couple or group, the per-person economics tilt towards splitting a private transfer. See full budget guide.