The Beginning

The region where Dalaman is located was originally called Ahhiyava. In 3000 BC, immigrants from Greece and the western coast moved to the area. Agriculture, forestry and fishing were a large part of their lives and they lived of the land that today draws in travelers because of the area's beauty.

Since the time of Dalaman's first residents, many groups of people have made Dalaman their home. All inhabitants have played a part in making the city what it is today. Each group of people has affected Dalaman in different ways with each leaving a special mark. Persians, Helens, Athenians, Romans and Ottomans were some of the people that called Dalaman their home. One of the first groups living in the region, and perhaps the person residing longest, was the Lycians. This group stayed in the area for close to 1600 years. The Lycians even contributed to the original name of the region, which was Lycia. The name would later change to Karia during the Iranian rule of the area. Stone graves from both times can still be seen today. When the Ottomans ruled the region they called it Hıdıvi Abbas Pasa. Eventually, the city would find its present name of Dalaman.

For nearly 200 years, from the mid-1200s until the mid-1400s, Dalaman was tossed back and forth between 2 opposing powers. The Ottoman empire and the Mentese Bey (Beyliks founder) battled over the land and it was during the Mentese Bey rule in 1390 that much of the Turkish settlement of the area took place.

Growth of a City

In the early 1800s much of Dalamans' growth began to take place. Turks from other regions of the country were drawn to the natural beauty and resources that Dalaman offered. With ample wildlife, forests, and waterfront, the city was simply waiting to be expanded. The last Khedive of Egypt, Abbas Hilmi Pasha, was drawn to the abundant wildlife in Dalaman. He wished to build a lodge in the Turkish city and also a rail station in Egypt at the same time. A mistake was made and the building orders were switched. Instead of a lodge being built in Dalaman, a rail station was constructed in its place. Abbas Hilmi Pasha chose to build a farm next to the rail station. The farm  still exists today.

Rising Tourism

Through the 1940s and into the 1960s, Dalaman began to prosper economically because of its factories. Population was also on the rise due to the new job opportunities and increase in the economy. By 1981, Dalaman began to construct an airport. This offered a new and much easier way to get to Dalaman. Visitors were eager to see the natural beauty and history that Dalaman was able to present. Tourism was on the rise. The airport was of international status and in 1998 it became the third largest airport in Turkey. Upgrades to the major airport were made in 2002 and the Dalaman Airport continues to be a major transportation mecca in Turkey.

Dalaman is a city that wears its history on its sleeves. There is a vast background behind the city and, luckily, much of that history can still be viewed today.