The beach is pleasant, with safe swimming in crystal clear water from April to October, and there are several watersports such as parasailing, pedal boating and jet skiing on offer. For those looking to step off the beach for a day trip or overnight stay, there are several interesting excursions such as trips to the historic sites of Ephesus and Aphrodisias, visits to traditional Turkish baths, boat rides or microlight flights in the Dalyan Delta and jeep safaris in the mountains. There is also a regular dolmus (minibus) service to Marmaris for those looking for more action, and a nice alternative to the bumpy mountain road is to get there by water.

Turkish is the official language, but English is widely understood in the main tourist areas.

The official currency is the New Turkish Lira (TRY), which was introduced on 1 January 2005, whereby six zeros were dropped from the TL and the sub-unit New Kurush was created. Currency can be exchanged at banks, exchange booths, post offices, airports and ferry ports; banks have the worst rates and highest commissions, but will exchange lesser known foreign currencies. Banks open mainly Monday to Friday, but some are open daily in tourist areas. ATMs are widely available in major cities and tourist areas, but Turkish ATM keypads usually do not have letters of the alphabet on their keys. Most bank branches have ATMs which accept Cirrus and Plus. Major credit cards are widely accepted; the most popular are Visa or MasterCard, but American Express is accepted in many of the more expensive places. Travellers cheques can be exchanged at some banks and currency exchange offices, but are not as welcome as cash or credit cards. US dollars or Euros are preferred. Some pensions and hotels in the most popular destinations accept US dollars as payment.

The resort doesn't have much in the way of a nightlife.

There are a few lively bars in Turunc and at least one disco, but nothing stays open very late and the town is not well-suited to anyone looking for a party.

Most restaurants in Turunc offer both Turkish and English food. Fish and lamb are local specialties, and sweet and savoury pancakes in the tea gardens are pleasant. Bondjuk is popular for its lamb kleftikos and live jazz music, and Sahin is a well-known steakhouse.

Turunc also has a large range of shops, offering the usual fake designer goods, leather items, souvenirs and jewellery, as well as a chance for holiday makers to improve their bargaining skills at the market on Mondays. The atmosphere is more laidback than some towns, but haggling is still a must if you want a good deal. Popular souvenirs include honey, Turkish delights, and 'evil eye' charms.