Marmaris sits in a bay where the mountains come right down to the sea and the pine forest touches the shore. That view is what sets it apart from the other Aegean resorts. The town itself is lively and loud, so anyone after quiet picks one of the neighbouring villages. No visa is required, and Dalaman airport is ninety kilometres away. Below I have written down where to stay and what to do.
The town, the castle and the marina
Marmaris castle dates from the sixteenth century and holds a small museum inside; from the top you see the bay. The narrow streets of the old town run around the castle. The marina is one of the largest yacht harbours in Turkey and the most comfortable place for an evening stroll.
Bar Street gets very loud at night and runs until morning. If you are coming with the family, choose a hotel well away from it — that is the mistake people repeat most often. The Uzunyalı seafront is the town’s main promenade.
İçmeler, Turunç and the boat tours
İçmeler is eight kilometres from Marmaris, the water is cleaner and the shore quieter. Turunç is further still and reached by a mountain road; its bay is small and beautiful. Both are served by dolmuş minibuses and sea buses.
The day boat tours stop at the Phosphorescent Cave, Paradise Island and a few bays. The Dalyan tour is the more interesting one: you pass through the reed beds, see the rock tombs and stop at İztuzu beach, where the sea turtles lay their eggs. Taking these tours in advance settles the availability question in the summer months.
From Marmaris to the island of Rhodes
The Greek island of Rhodes is about an hour away by ferry and a day trip is possible. There is one condition: you need a Schengen visa for it, and no visa is issued at the island’s gate. If you have one, this can be the most interesting day of the trip — the knights’ town has survived just as it was.
Read more: A Turkey travel guide: Istanbul, Antalya, Cappadocia, the Black Sea and the thermal resorts
Season and prices in Marmaris
The swimming season runs from the end of May to the middle of October. June and September are the best-balanced months, with the weather around 30 degrees. July and August climb to 38, and because of the pine forest the humidity is noticeable too. In winter most of the resort closes.
An all-inclusive four-star hotel is 60–120 euros in summer and 40–75 out of season. The options on the İçmeler side work out better for families. A boat tour is 20–35 euros a head and the Dalyan tour 35–50. The official information is on the Go Türkiye site.
A last word
Marmaris is that rare resort where the pine forest meets the sea, and the choice comes down to the town or İçmeler. Stay away from Bar Street, give the Dalyan tour a day, pick June or September. For anyone who wants the flight, the hotel and the transfer in one place, it is easier to look at ready-made resort packages. For the visa and the route, fill in the application form.
Note: the prices in this article are as of the publication date and can change with the season.
