Photo: William Neuheisel from DC, US, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Dalaman Airport to Patara (Gelemiş): how long, how much

Distance: 100 km
Driving time: 1 h 30 min
Taxi (meter): €110–140≈£95–120
Private transfer: €65–85≈£56–73
Shared shuttle: €18–28 per person≈£15–24

Prices checked 8 October 2026. Taxi fares are metered estimates for daytime; night tariff is higher. Private transfer prices are the typical range for a sedan (1–3 people) from the main booking platforms. For this route the distance and time are worked out from neighbouring routes rather than measured, and the prices follow from them — treat them as a guide, not a quote.

Patara is about 100 km from Dalaman Airport, roughly an hour and a half by car. The turn-off comes 15 to 20 minutes before Kalkan, so if you know the Kalkan road you are nearly there.

Transfer calculator

The route

East on the D400 through the Göcek tunnel, past Fethiye and across the Eşen plain, then the signed turn for Gelemiş. The last few kilometres drop down a narrow lane through the village to the ruins and the beach gate.

Where the hotels are

Almost all the accommodation is in Gelemiş, the village behind the ancient city: small pensions and family hotels rather than resorts. The beach itself has no buildings and never will — it is protected — so nothing is beachfront and everything is a walk or a short drive from the sand.

Tips for this transfer

Give the driver Gelemiş, not only Patara: the beach entrance and the village are two different destinations. Pensions are often on unpaved lanes, so send a map pin. Coming from Antalya instead is a three and a half hour drive, which is why most visitors fly to Dalaman.

Taxi, bus or transfer?

The drive to Patara (Gelemiş) takes about 1 h 30 min whichever way you go. The difference is price, waiting and how much luggage handling you want.

Option	Typical price	Suits	Worth knowing
Private transfer	€65–85≈£56–73	Families, late arrivals, lots of luggage	Price agreed before you fly; the driver waits if the flight is late.
Taxi (meter)	€110–140≈£95–120	Two people travelling light	Insist on the meter. Agree nothing in the car park.
Shared shuttle	€18–28 per person≈£15–24	Couples and solo travellers on a budget	Cheapest, but it drops other hotels first — allow extra time.
Public transport	A few euros	Only with light luggage and time to spare	No regular direct service: expect a change in the city or at the bus station, which is slow with suitcases.

Dalaman Airport is served by shuttle coaches (Havaş and Muttaş) to Fethiye and Marmaris. They are timed to flight arrivals rather than a fixed clock, and they do not always meet every international flight, so confirm your flight is covered before you count on one. Tickets are bought at the desk in arrivals. Checked 13 October 2026.

Our prices are typical ranges, not quotes — the date they were checked is at the top of this page. Nobody in the terminal should offer to "arrange" a transfer for cash: use the official taxi rank or a booking you made yourself. What a taxi costs to every resort

Is this the right airport?

There are no flights to Patara (Gelemiş) itself: it has no airport. Patara (Gelemiş) is served by Dalaman Airport, and no other airport is close enough to be worth the drive. Which airport suits which resort: which airport to fly to.

→ Patara travel guide

Frequently asked questions

How long is the transfer from Dalaman Airport to Patara?

About an hour and a half for roughly 100 km, with the turn-off 15 to 20 minutes before Kalkan.

Is Dalaman or Antalya closer to Patara?

Dalaman, by some distance: about 1 h 30 against around 3 h 30 from Antalya.

Can you reach Patara by public transport?

With a change: intercity buses on the Fethiye–Kalkan road stop at the Patara junction, and a dolmuş runs the last few kilometres down to Gelemiş in season.