Sarıgerme: long sandy beach near Dalaman

Sarıgerme is a small coastal village in the Ortaca district, about 20 km and 25 minutes from Dalaman Airport. Its long, gently shelving sandy beach, backed by pine woods and looking out to Baba Island, is also a nesting site for loggerhead turtles. A handful of large resort hotels sit behind the beach and the village lies a little inland. It is a quiet beach holiday, with Dalyan and Göcek close by for days out.

Where to stay in Sarıgerme

Sarıgerme itself is small: the big hotels along the beach and the village behind them. If you want more going on in the evening, nearby Dalyan or Göcek are the alternatives.

Times are from Dalaman Airport (DLM).

The beach and Baba Island

Sarıgerme beach

The beach runs for several kilometres of fine sand with pine woods behind it. The sea slopes in gently, which makes it one of the better beaches on this coast for small children; see our family guide for comparisons. The hotels have their own sections with sunbeds; there is also a public part of the beach, where facilities and sunbed hire vary by season.

It is open to the sea, so on windy afternoons there can be waves. There is not much natural shade on the sand itself, so bring an umbrella or rent one.

Baba Island

Baba Island (Baba Adası) lies just off the beach and gives Sarıgerme its familiar view. In summer you may find small boats or canoes going over from the beach. It looks closer than it is: do not swim out alone, and check the current and the wind with locals or the lifeguard first.

Turtle nesting: how to be a good guest

Sarıgerme is one of the beaches where loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) come ashore to lay their eggs, roughly from May to August; hatchlings emerge until about September or October. During the season the beach is usually closed to visitors at night, and nests are marked with cages or stakes.

Follow the signs on site: stay off the beach after dark, keep sunbeds and umbrellas in the permitted zone, do not dig deep holes or leave sandcastles, take your rubbish with you and never touch a turtle or a hatchling. Lights facing the beach confuse the hatchlings. The exact rules and hours can change, so check them locally or with the official conservation notices.

Around Sarıgerme

Dalyan and İztuzu

Dalyan is about 20 minutes away by car. River boats take you past the rock tombs of Kaunos, to the mud baths and to İztuzu, another turtle beach at the river mouth. It is the classic day out from Sarıgerme; see our Dalyan guide.

Göcek and the islands

Göcek, on the other side of the airport, is the base for the day cruises around the Göcek islands, with swimming stops in sheltered bays. See the Göcek guide, our boat trips page and Dalyan or Göcek if you are still choosing a base.

Fethiye, Ölüdeniz and further afield

Fethiye is roughly an hour's drive and Ölüdeniz a little more, so both work as day trips by car or on an organised tour. Rafting on the Dalaman river is also sold in the area. Compare what the tour includes (transfers, lunch, entry fees) before you book. More in the Fethiye guide.

Eating out and evenings

Be realistic about the evenings: most visitors stay all-inclusive and spend the night at the hotel. The village has a few simple restaurants and shops, but there is no promenade, no bar street and little nightlife.

For dinner out, the riverside restaurants in Dalyan are the easiest option; Ortaca, the district town, has supermarkets, a bigger weekly market and everyday shops. See market days for the markets on this coast.

Sarıgerme suits families, beach lovers and anyone who wants a short transfer and a calm stay. If you want to walk out of your hotel into a lively town, Fethiye or Çalış will suit you better; see our Çalış guide.

Getting there and around

Dalaman Airport is about 20 km away, roughly 25 minutes by car; see the Dalaman Airport to Sarıgerme transfer guide and all routes under Dalaman Airport transfers. Flying via Antalya instead is a much longer drive; our airports guide explains the options.

Minibuses connect the village with Ortaca, but they run less often outside the season. If you plan several day trips, a rental car for a few days is the most flexible choice; taxis are available but add up quickly.

When to go

The season runs from May to October. July and August are hot and the hotels are full; June and September bring warm water with fewer people, and turtle tracks are sometimes visible on the sand in the early morning. Many hotels close in winter. See weather by month and the holiday budget calculator.