Recently, lovers of Turkey began to discover resorts on the shores of the Aegean. Resting in Marmaris, a small port town on the southwestern tip of the country, is gaining more and more popularity. The tourist infrastructure here is at a decent level, the beaches are pleasing with their diversity, and the city itself and its surroundings are full of attractions. You can learn all about Marmaris and its features from our article.
General information
Marmaris is a city and an important port located in the south-west of Turkey in the province of Mugla. Its population is just over 91 thousand people. The city is spread out in a valley surrounded by mountain ranges, the slopes of which are covered with lush pine trees. It is here that the Mediterranean Sea meets the Aegean, the clear waters of which create ideal conditions for snorkeling and diving. The resort is also considered a center for sailing.
Holidays in Marmaris in Turkey promises to be active and fun, because in addition to excellent opportunities for water sports, there are plenty of modern attractions. In the town you will find all kinds of bars, concert venues and clubs. And those travelers for whom sightseeing trips are priority will meet interesting sights, both natural and cultural.
Of particular interest is the Old Marmaris district, filled with ancient narrow streets and miniature houses. And on the main city embankment a real resort life is always seething: here in the evenings tourists and locals gather to relax in a cozy restaurant or take a leisurely stroll along the picturesque seashore.
sights
Any vacation trip is not complete without sightseeing events, so if you plan to visit the famous Turkish resort, you should familiarize yourself with its main attractions and choose the most interesting places for yourself. In order to better navigate in the objects described by us, we recommend using the Marmaris map with attractions in Russian, presented at the bottom of the page.
In the heart of Marmaris lies a beautiful square, which surprises with its very large size for such a small city. And in the center of the square are famous dancing fountains. Hundreds of tourists come here every day to watch a water show, which is performed to the music of various nationalities and is accompanied by laser projections. Particularly beautifully colored streams hitting the sky look against the background of the town hall: you can catch a unique shot and take unusual photos of Marmaris. Fountains are decorated with sculptures of fishermen and a mermaid, which looks very romantic in the evening.
- The show of dancing fountains starts daily at 21:00 and lasts about half an hour. In the high season, it repeats at 22:00.
- Watching the water performance is completely free.
- Near the attraction there are several cafes offering a comfortable stay.
- Address: Ulusal Egemenlik Cad., Marmaris, Turkey.
Across the city center along the coast stretches a neat promenade, dotted with flower beds and lush greenery. Here you can admire a variety of sculptures, among which there is a monument to Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, a statue of a bronze astronaut and a mermaid. The special atmosphere of the area is given by numerous sea vessels moored at the pier. In high season, music festivals are held in the city, where they organize unforgettable fun and relaxation. A chain of shops and restaurants lined the promenade, where travelers prefer to relax in between walks.
- You can come to the embankment for free at any time.
- Address: Atatürk Cd., Marmaris, Turkey.
In the heart of the Old District is an important historical landmark of Marmaris in Turkey – the Marmara Kalesi fortress, which today has turned into a museum. Built in the middle of the 16th century by order of Suleiman the Magnificent, the building has long served as an important strategic object. Climbing the castle walls, you can contemplate unique views of the city and the bay. Thanks to recent restoration work, the fortress has been preserved in excellent condition. Inside, it houses a museum consisting of seven halls, where ancient artifacts found on the territory of Marmaris are presented. Among them you can find artifacts of the Roman and Byzantine eras.
- The attraction is open daily from 8:30 to 12:00 and from 13:00 to 17:00. Monday is a day off.
- Entrance fee is $ 2.
- Address: Tepe Mah. Kale Ici Marmaris Merkez, Marmaris, Marmaris, Turkey.
This oblong street, calm and quiet during the day, turns into the center of fun in the evenings, where a real holiday reigns. There are many clubs and noisy bars spreading European and Turkish music. Prices in institutions are quite high, but the rest here is at the highest level. Everyone can find a bar for themselves, so if you are wondering where it is better to relax in Marmaris in the evenings, then feel free to go to the bars street.
- Address: Bar Street, Marmaris, Turkey.
A small but quite interesting water park Atlantis is located directly on the promenade in the center of Marmaris. On the territory of the water complex there is everything necessary for relaxation. In the park you will find several water slides, pools, as well as its own beach with sunbeds and a cleared entrance to the sea. Atlantis also has a children’s playground and cafe, which serves snacks and serves Turkish coffee. There is a pool with artificial waves. The staff of the complex is very friendly and tries to entertain tourists. In general, you will need no more than 2-3 hours to visit the water park.
- From March 14 to September 30, the water park is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00. From 13:00 to 13:30 – a break.
- Entrance fee for an adult is $ 9.40, for children from 6 to 12 years old – $ 6.60, for children under 6 years old admission is free. You can buy tickets at these prices only on the official website of the water park. At the box office of the complex, they cost 30% more.
- Address: Siteler Mah. 212 Sok No: 3, Marmaris 48700, Turkey.
Dolphin Park, located about 5 km southwest of the city center, is not an ordinary dolphinarium. They don’t arrange shows with tricks, but offer to get acquainted with animals and swim with them. This dolphin therapy is an alternative to psychotherapy, which a Russian-speaking girl at the box office will tell you in detail about. Despite the high cost of the event, many tourists who visited here recommend trying a therapy that, according to them, brings a lot of unforgettable emotions. If you want to look at the animals, but do not want to swim with them, you can also go inside and watch the session of other visitors.
- The cost of dolphin therapy is $ 100.
- A photographer works at the site, taking professional pictures during your communication with dolphins (the cost of a photo shoot is $ 60).
- This attraction is open daily from 9:00 to 17:00.
- Address: Ataturk Cad. No: 64 | Mares Hotel, Icmeler 48700, Turkey.
Grand Bazar in Marmaris in Turkey – a market and a tourist attraction all rolled into one. Here you can find absolutely any goods: spices, souvenirs, home textiles, clothes, shoes, bags, etc. This ancient place immerses you in the atmosphere of oriental flavor and teaches the art of bargaining. And you have to bargain, because the prices in this bazaar are overvalued by 2-3 times. In general, the same goods are sold here as everywhere else in Turkey, but in some shops you can find truly original products.
Address: Tepe, 38. Sok., 48700 Marmaris, Turkey.
Among the sights of Marmaris and its environs, the Datca Peninsula, located 71 km south-west of the resort, is of particular interest. It is a calm and pleasant place with a beautiful long beach surrounded by pristine nature. Many ancient monuments have been preserved here, which you can explore in just one day. Since Datca is located far from Marmaris, it is not very popular among vacationers, but this place is definitely worth a visit, if only for the sake of numerous picturesque bays. There is a museum at the end of the peninsula, there is a lighthouse nearby, which offers a breathtaking panorama of the sea and the Greek islands.
Located 23 km northwest of the resort, the island of Cleopatra is another attraction of Marmaris, which attracts with its unusually beautiful bay with a crystal clear turquoise sea. Legend has it that the island was once gifted to Cleopatra by Mark Anthony, but did not like her because of the rocky terrain. Then the politician, in order to please the queen, ordered to make snow-white sand there. Today, only grains remain on it in a small area, which is fenced and strictly guarded. Going to the island of Cleopatra, get ready for an active holiday and be sure to take a snorkel mask to admire the many marine inhabitants.
- To the pier, from where motor boats to the island follow, are reached by rented transport. A boat ride costs $ 5.
- You can visit the island of Cleopatra as part of a guided tour ($ 40).
Beaches
The beaches of the resort are primarily pleasing with their cleanliness and clear sea water. Many of them received the Blue Flag certificate for a high level of environmental friendliness and safety, therefore, they often come to Marmaris to have a rest with children. Today, the most popular are the central beach of Marmaris, as well as places called Icmeler, Cityler, Turunch and Amos. We devoted a separate article to the description of these beaches, which you can read here .
Hotels and cost of living
It is not for nothing that Marmaris earned the status of one of the most popular resorts on the coast of the Aegean Sea: the city has a highly developed tourist infrastructure and offers a lot of accommodation options. Here you can find both luxury 5 * hotels and more budget 3 * and 4 * hotels.
So, the cost of checking into a double room in a three-star hotel in Marmaris starts from $ 27 per night. In a hotel a star above you can stay for at least $ 31, and on average for $ 50-60 a day for two. Well, if you are looking for a five-star option with an all-inclusive concept, get ready to pay from $ 97 per night in a double room.
In addition, Marmaris has a very rich selection of apart-hotels, the price of accommodation in which in the high season per day starts at $ 17 and on average varies between $ 30. When choosing housing, be sure to pay attention to the location of the object, because some options are far from the coast and the city center.
Cafes, restaurants and bars
Marmaris will delight you with an abundance of food outlets. Here you can find inexpensive eateries and upmarket restaurants. Numerous establishments crammed along the promenade, offering seafood dishes: trout, sea bass, mussels and shrimp. Some restaurants specialize in Turkish cuisine, while others specialize in European cuisine, so every vacationer can find a cafe to taste here. However, it should be borne in mind that in institutions on the waterfront, prices are high. So, a dinner for two with a bottle of Turkish wine will cost you an average of $ 40-45.
But in the alleys located near the embankment, silence and calm reign, and the cost of dishes in the institutions is much lower, although the service is almost no different from more expensive establishments. Especially for our readers, we studied the cafes and restaurants of Marmaris and identified among them the most worthy:
- Karen Brasserie (Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine + seafood)
- Ricky’s Chippy (fast food)
- White Lion (Turkish and European dishes)
- Black Bull Steakhouse (steakhouse)
- Viking Beach (Mediterranean, Turkish and European cuisine)
Weather and climate
Unlike most Mediterranean cities, the current season in Marmaris opens only by June. Although the air in May warms up to 25-26 ° C, at night it is pretty cool (15 ° C), and the water in the sea is still not quite comfortable for swimming (20 ° C). The hottest and sunniest months in the resort are June, July and August. At this time, the thermometer does not drop below 30 ° C and, on average, keeps at around 34 ° C. Water in the sea in June warms up to 24 ° C, and in July and August ranges from 26-27 ° C.
September is the perfect month for families with children in Marmaris in Turkey. At this time, the climate becomes milder: daytime air temperatures reach 29-30 ° C, and the sea still pleases with its warm water at 26 ° C. You can relax here in October, when the average temperature of both air and water is 24 ° C. You can get more detailed information about the weather in Marmaris from the table below.
| Month | Average daily temperature | Average night temperature | Sea water temperature | Number of sunny days | Number of rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 12.6 ° C | 7.4 ° C | 17.8 ° C | sixteen | 8 |
| February | 14.5 ° C | 8.4 ° C | 16.9 ° C | thirteen | 7 |
| March | 16.8 ° C | 9.5 ° C | 16.7 ° C | nineteen | 5 |
| April | 20.9 ° C | 12.4 ° C | 17.8 ° C | 23 | 3 |
| May | 24.9 ° C | 15.6 ° C | 20.3 ° C | 28 | 3 |
| June | 30.4 ° C | 19.7 ° C | 23.3 ° C | thirty | one |
| July | 34.1 ° C | 22.8 ° C | 25.8 ° C | 31 | 0 |
| August | 34.1 ° C | 23.2 ° C | 27.2 ° C | 31 | 0 |
| September | 30.3 ° C | 20.4 ° C | 26.3 ° C | 29th | one |
| October | 24.8 ° C | 16.4 ° C | 23.9 ° C | 27 | 3 |
| November | 19.4 ° C | 12.4 ° C | 21.6 ° C | 21 | 3 |
| December | 14.8 ° C | 8.9 ° C | 19.3 ° C | nineteen | 6 |
How to get there
There is no air harbor in Marmaris itself, and the nearest airport is 95 km southeast in the city of Dalaman. In the summer season, independent tourists fly to Dalaman on a charter flight, and directly from the airport to the resort, they travel by Havaş intercity bus. Travel time takes about one and a half hours, and the ticket cost is $ 6. The bus arrives at the main bus station of Marmaris (Otogar), from where the hotel can be reached by taxi.
In the absence of charter flights to Dalaman, the road to the resort takes longer. So, to get to Marmaris, you first need to fly to Istanbul airport, and then transfer to an internal flight to Dalaman. You can see tickets at Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines.
As a starting point for Marmaris in Turkey, many consider Antalya, from where a bus to the resort town follows daily at 13:00. Travel time takes 4 hours 30 minutes, and the cost of the trip is $ 15. It makes no sense to fly from Antalya to Dalaman, since there are no direct flights, and a transfer is carried out in Istanbul. These are perhaps the most convenient and rational ways to get to Marmaris.
Output
Holidays in Marmaris are very different from holidays in the Mediterranean region, so if you have never visited the west coast of Turkey, then feel free to go to the resort. Crystal clear water, comfortable beaches, an abundance of hotels, cafes and restaurants, a variety of attractions – all this awaits you in the city by the Aegean Sea.
Video review: Kemer or Marmaris? Where to go on vacation?
