Historical City Centre

The most important building in the centre is the castle. The castle was first constructed by Ionians. The preserved form today was built by Ottomans in 1522. During the First World War, it was damaged by cannonball fire opened from a French war ship. A museum in the Castle was restored between 1980-1990. The entrance of the castle opens directly to the garden. From both sides of the courtyard, stairs climb up the walls. It is worth the climb to see the view from the castle. Two of the covered places are arranged as archeological museum s. Amphorae, baked clay, glass art of work, coins and various ornaments found as a result of excavation work done in Knidos, Burgaz, Hisarönü are displayed in those two salons and in the garden. One of the galleries is an ethnographical salon arranged as a Turkish House, and the other one is the room of the commander of the castle.

Another Ottoman building in the city is Hafza Sultan Caravanserai built in 1545. Seven small rooms and one big room of the Caravanserai are allocated to gift shops. The historical shops in the market place which used to sell second hand goods are still in the shopping centre of the city.

Marmaris regained a new park. This is an archeological park. 8,342 m 2 area known as the İyilik Kayalıkları (Rocks of Goodness) and the 2,100 m 2 area on the slope of the hill in the town centre has been declared as protected area and opened for visitors under the name İyilik Kayalıkları Archeological Park. Some remains from 4th century BC are being exhibited in the park.

There are other Works determined to belong to the Ottoman period in the close d environment of Marmaris. The İbrahim Ağa Mosque in the Kemeraltı district was built in 1789 and the Taşhan (stone inn) and Kemerli Bridge on the 10th km of the Muğla road were built in 1552.

Marmaris is a large tourism resort with a selection of accommodation starting from small, quaint pensions to big holiday villages and 5 star hotels. Restaurants offer all kinds of cuisine from Chinese, French, Hindu and Italian to traditional Turkish cuisine; with many using the blended delicacy of natural herbs grown in the fast changing climate from the Mediterranean shores to the mountains. It is a resort where swimming is possible in the secluded bays as well as in front of the hotels in the city centre owing to the waste treatment systems and environmental controls . The sea is clear even in front of your door. The city has long beaches with fine sand, small bays, small islands, and strange looking rocks shaped by the sea and wind. 300 days of the year, the sun shines and the sea is a clear blue.

Beaches and bays with blue flags

Marmaris (Poseidon Hotel Beach), Marmaris (Hotel Grand Azur Beach), Marmaris (Lidia Hotel Beach), Marmaris (Hotel Grand Yazıcı Beach), İçmeler Pamucak Public Beach, İçmeler (Green Platan Hotel Beach), İçmeler (Munamar Hotel Beach), Turunç Public Beach, Turunç Hotel Beach, Hisarönü Martı Marina Beach.

There are many spots between Marmaris and İçmeler where water sport facilities are available. Activities from sea bicycling to canoeing, windsurfing to water skiing. Everything from banana rides to parasailing and water parks are available.

Water sports facilities are available at beaches outside the town of Marmaris like Turunç, Kumlubük, Çiftlik, Bozburun, Orhaniye, Hisarönü and Selimiye. Marmaris is very suitable for every kind of sporting activity and organization especially outside the summer season. The semi-Olympic swimming pool operated by the municipality also has facilities for competitions. Recently Marmaris began hosting volleyball, basketball, triathlons, tennis and wrestling activities. The yacht competitions, which are organized annually in November is another highlight which adds colour to the life in Marmaris.

There are traditional bazaars in Marmaris where the producers sell directly to the public. The biggest bazaar of the region is set in the municipality bazaar area and held every Thursday. There are also open-air bazaars open in İçmeler on Wednesdays, Armutalan on Thursdays, and Beldibi on Sundays.

In the bazaars, the famous pine honey, local hand-made carpets, all kind of herbs, gifts, natural vegetables (without hormones) and fruits are on sale.

For those who look for international goods, there are stylish shops and shopping centers in the city centre and Netsel Marina.

There is carpet production and sales spots on the Marmaris-Muğla road and Turgut village where various kinds of carpets are available. Travel agencies stop at these sales spots during the daily tours.

Fauna and Flora treasure in the Marmaris National Park and Special Protected Areas.

Marmaris is one of the richest regions of Turkey from the point of plant cover. Including the town centre and the National Park, the whole region of Marmaris is protected. The protected area covers Marmaris National Park, the city centre, İçmeler, Armutalan, Nimara Peninsula, Turunç, Kumlubük, the Fake Strait, Günnücek and Aksaz (up to Köyceğiz-Ekincik boundary). There are also two specially protected areas. These are:

• Gökova
• Datça-Bozburun

Marmaris National Park : The National Park is mainly comprised of red pine (pinus brutia). The sweetgum trees being an endemic type are gathered in certain regions of the area. Red pine, oak, plane tree, cypresses form a beautiful landscape together in the valley. There are also, tree formed plants like wild olive, arbutus, sumac, locust, oleander and laurel spread over a wide area in the National Park.

The wild life is quite rich. Besides the wild goats which live especially between Marmaris-Köyceğiz, there are also mammals like bears, foxes, pigs, red squirrels, weasels, hedgehogs, lynx, martens, jackals etc. The variety of birds living in the region attracts your attention. Besides the eagle and falcon, wide areas also host immigrant birds increasing the variety.

Gökova environmental special protection region: This region plays an important role in yacht tourism with its indented coast. Red pine and sweetgum (liquidambar orientalis) forests hold good value in the region, where it is possible to see all the Mediterranean plants together.

High quality forests concentrate in the Kıran M ountain slopes on the north coast of the Gökova Inlet. Gökova and surrounding mountains accommodate rich flora.

This region is rich also from the point of animals. There are many wild animals living there especially in the southern part of the bay.

The natural plant cover is formed by Mediterranean plant types like olive, red pine, sandalwood and almond. Besides thyme, garden sage, laurel leaves, bambus bees which help in pollination of plants in hothouses and wild goat (capra aegagrus) accumulate in the biological richness of the region.

Bozburun Peninsula environmental special protection region: The region remained untouched due to difficulties in transportation. Regions outside the settlements are defined as cultural and natural protected areas. Datça and Bozburun settlements have been developed as large settlement centers. Datça and surrounding urban protected areas are planned to comply with the architectural styles in the region.

Monumental trees

Registered monumental trees in the region are as follows: Plane and cypress trees in Bayır, plane tree in Söğüt, plane tree in Hisarönü.

Wetlands

All waters, marshes, reed beds no deeper than 6m are defined as wetlands according to the International Ramsar Contract. Wetlands in the region are: The Gökova region coast and stream systems in Akyaka district, Akçapınar and Gökçe Villages, Akbük stream systems in Akbük Bay and Hisarönü stream systems in Hisarönü Bay.

Endemic plants in Marmaris

The list of plant species in a region is called Flora. If the variation of the plants is very special and limited to only one area, such plants are called endemic. The National Park in Marmaris and Gökova, Datça-Bozburun Environmental Special Protected areas all have endemic richness.

Some of the plant species are as follows:

Onopordum caricum: A type of thorn named after the old name of the region.

Globularia dumulosa, cyclamen trochopteranthum, campanula fruticulosa, liquidambar orientalis. Also, garden sage, thorny daisy, cow tail and a type of date (phoenix theoqhrasti) which was supposed to be present only in Crete can also be listed as endemic.

Forest camps

Pamucak forest camp: Pamucak forest camp is located on the Marmaris-İçmeler coast line, 8kms from the city centre covering an area of 42,059 m 2 an area of red pine trees.

Çubucak forest camp: It is on the 22 nd km of the Marmaris-Datça road, Hisarönü Gulf coast, covered with red pine, myrtle, laurel and sweetgum trees. The camp is spread along a 1800m coast line with a capacity to hold of 400 tents, 35 caravans and 1000 visitors per day.

İnbükü forest camp: This camp is situated on the Hisarönü Gulf coast at a distance of 16km from Çubucak. It covers three bays: İnbükü, Çökertme and Cave Bays, accommodating 150 tents and 20 caravans. The forest is consists of sweetgum, laurel, myrtle and red pine trees.

Günnücek forest camp: It is on the way to Fake Strait, 1km away from Marmaris, covering an area of 26 hectares which allows 300 visitors per day. The forest contains sweetgum and laurel trees. Because sweetgum is called “günnük” among the locals, the bay is named Günnücek after the günnük (sweetgum) tree.

Bucak forest camp: This camp is located 5km from the Çamlık Village junction on the 15thkm of the Marmaris-Muğla road in Gökova Gulf.

A kiosk, WC, phone, water and power services are available at the camp site which covers an area of 5 hectares. Boats going to Sedir Island depart from this camp.

Çetibeli forest area: It is located on the 20 th km of the Marmaris-Muğla road. A 5 hectare area is covered in red pine, sweetgum and plane trees. There is an open air cafe in the Muğla architecture and a fountain with fresh drinking water.

The natural richness in Marmaris and its surrounds puts the region one step ahead in outdoor sports. Besides water and land sports and nature walks in particular, Marmaris offers a rich selection in sports and tourist activities like trekking, canyon climbing, mountain biking, mountain and rock climbing, bird watching, hunting, etc. Marmaris travel agencies organize special interest tours for all the activities above. Main walking tracks can be defined as follows:

Söğüt, Taşlıca, Kırkkuyular, Serçe Village for trekking and historical tours; Marmaris İçmeler for canyon tours; Turgut Castle (Bybassos) for historical tours; Marmaris, Yerkesik, Sarnıç Village for canyon tours; Marmaris Karacasöğüt for cave tours.

Marmaris-Fürth Friendship Walking Road : This is a 22km walking path covering Marmaris, İçmeler and Armutalan. This path is named after Fürth in Germany which was declared as its sister city. There are resting facilities and information boards about the plants and animals found in that area

Areas for rock climbing: Armutalan, Beldibi and Çiftlik ridge, İçmeler canyon.

Joining the jeep safari tours, passing over water streams, climbing over hills, entering dusty and stony roads, a different Marmaris can be discovered. Jeep Safari tours start early in the morning forming a convoy. The tours usually end in secluded bays driving through forests, villages and streams. After swimming, eating fish, gözleme (thin börek) enjoying cold yogurt drinks and cooling off in the cold spring waters, the tour returns in the evening. The tour between Orhaniye-Kızkumu, Hisarönü, Bozburun, Çiftlik,Turunç, Karacasöğüt-Bördübet on the Bozburun Peninsula and Gökova coast allows participants to live the thrill and excitement of a jeep safari.

Jeep safari participants have the opportunity to observe villages still behind the technological era. However the old roads, the magnificent bays, including those that can only be reached by sea, remind us of the importance of nature and what it provides us, with the living spirit of a safari.

Bicycles or motorcycles are another option for these tours. Bike rental offices in Marmaris centre rent bikes daily. Guides are available for inquiries about organized tours.

Hisarönü Horse and Horse Riding Club can be contacted for details on horse riding.

The dishes are rich and healthy. The fish, calamari and shrimps are fresh daily. Tomatoes, lettuce and parsley freshly picked.

Turkish cuisine is very rich. It is a must to have Turkish coffee after sea food, meat dishes and deserts. The famous honey of Marmaris can be tasted and purchased.

Far Eastern, Italian and French cuisine is also offered as well as Turkish. Most restaurants offer a variety of cuisines.

Fish is served in the restaurants around the wharf and the marina, on the Marmaris-İçmeler coast line, as well as in Çiftlik, Orhaniye, Selimiye, Bozburun and the Söğüt Saranda district.

Turkish cuisine can be found around the town while international cuisines and fast foods are located in the city centre and in Armutalan and İçmeler. Village dishes, gözleme , mantı (Turkish ravioli) can found in and around restaurants in Bayır, Çiftlik, Turgut, Orhaniye and Çamlık. Open buffet in the hotels are also rich with local delicacies.

There are bars and night clubs to appeal to all tastes located in the city center, around the quay (which is located between the marina and the old town square), in the old shopping area and in the ‘bar street’ area. Heading towards the Bar Street, the lively party atmosphere will make you lose track of time and take you into the early hours of the morning.

The longest street in Marmaris, Güzelyalı Street, is quite busy and an entertaining place for summer night walks. Restaurants, little stands on which handicrafts are displayed, discos and bars all along the street will attract your attention. The path alongside the coast between the city center and İçmeler is abundant with restaurants, discos and bars which come to life early in the evenings. Wooden piers stretching into the sea serve as a sundeck by day and turn into food and entertainment areas by night. These are referred to as “beach bars

You can be entertained to your heart’s content in İçmeler surrounded by a lively atmosphere.

Marmaris is becoming well known as a center for culture and arts, hosting festivals, public celebrations and sports activities in certain periods of the year.

The Marmaris Sea Festival is held in late April or early May every 3 years. The Marmaris dock, streets and the marina turn into a celebration place for 5 days with yacht and swimming competitions, concerts and exhibitions throughout the festival. Marmaris Ballet Days are organized in mid June every year, continuing for 3 days, the festival is attended by the State Opera and Ballet artists and held in the Amphitheatre.

For more information:

www.marmarisdenizcilikfestivali.com
www.marmaris.bel.tr for the Sea Festival,
www.marmaris.bel.tr for the Ballet Days.

Yacht festivals

The International Yacht Festival is held in the Municipality Marina in early November every year.

The International Marmaris Yacht Competitions Week is held in The Marmaris Yacht Harbor in early November every year.

to secluded bays can be considered as a part of the available sea activities.

The traditional ‘Blue Journey’ was first realized as a culture trip on the sea by a group of intellectuals in the 1960’s. They named it “Blue Journey”. During those trips, stopping at small bays on the Aegean and the Mediterranean coasts, they used to do all the work on the boat themselves, such as cooking, cleaning in turn and naming this cooperation “imece” traditionally. They disembarked often in order to see the ancient ruins and remains. They had long talks and discussions on history, mythology, poetry, painting etc.

With the development of tourism in the region, the blue journey of the intellectuals became popular. They started to organize one-day, seven day or longer trips.

Overnight blue tours

Overnight trips are usually made with the cabin rental system called “Yacht Charter” or by forming a group and hiring the whole boat. There are boats starting from 7-8 berths up to ten cabins. Those who cannot participate in the overnight tours should consider daily tours. However, be warned that spending a day on the blue waters will lead to a desire for a longer journey.

The most popular blue journey tours from Marmaris are as follows:

Marmaris-Bodrum-Marmaris (8 or 14 days)
Marmaris-Bodrum (8 days)
Marmaris-Knidos-Marmaris (8 days)
Marmaris-Fethiye-Marmaris (8 days)

Big or small, hundreds of boats depart from the main dock in the shopping area and at different points in Marmaris. They organize daily tours to the islands and bays nearby. The Paradise Island (Nimara) opposite to Marmaris, Turunç, Kumlubük, Çiftlik, and Phosphorus Cave are the most popular destinations for daily tours. There are also moonlight tours which are conducted at night. While some boats dock at stops with restaurants, some serve meals on the boat. Some of the tours go over to Dalyan İztuzu shore. These tours offer entertainment, drinks and the pleasure of swimming at night.

All visitors passing through on these daily tours are embraced by the locals. You have the choice between central places where the sea, sand and the sun are complemented with nightly entertainment continuing until morning, or silent bays on a small boat swimming silently under moon light. What ever your heart desires.

Many tribes throughout history have each left traces of their civilization. The region has witnessed many wars and times of peace. They lived in prosperity in these seaport cities. Prosperity attracted the attentions of invaders and pirates. Armies came by sea and land. Now planes arrive full of people. They come once then twice for vacation. Later on for settling. Now there are new Marmarisans from many nations. English Marmarisan, Italian Marmarisan and others…

There are also those coming for a vacation and falling in love. Those who fall in love in Marmaris and become a Marmarisan after getting married.

The bed capacity in Marmaris is over 100,000. Hotels and holiday villages with large capacities have been opened in recent years. These big hotels and holiday villages are open throughout summer and winter and have excellent congress, meeting hall and conference facilities.

The hotels with meeting halls holding a capacity of 300 or more are as follows:

Grand Yazıcı (250)
Martı (297)
Iberostar Grand Azur (350)
Club Armar (300)
Elegance Hotel Intl. (450)
Pineta Delux

For detailed information about the hotels:

www.hotelguide.com.tr , www.meetingincentiveturkey.com

Some of these hotels have also started to invest in wellness tourism which has become very popular lately

Daily and overnight tours departing from Marmaris

At the center of the Karia Civilization: Karia, Rhodes, Ion, Likia.

Most important centers of Lidia: Knidos (Datça), Ephesus (Selçuk), Miletos, Didyma (Didim), Heraklia (Bafa Lake), Halikarnasos (Bodrum), Pamukkale-Hierapolis (Denizli), Aphrodisias, Dalyan-Kaunos, Demre-Myra (At a distance of a few hours.) Arrival in a few hours by daily or overnight tours. Going on a trip to see the civilizations stemming back from a two to three thousand year history and returning back to Marmaris all in the same day.

Choice of overnight tours for those who want to see more than one destination. After breakfast in Marmaris, having lunch on Rhodes Island and returning back to Marmaris that night. Seeing two countries in one day you might be surprised that there are many things in common including the names of meals.

City tour

• The Marmaris Castle
• Museum in the castle
• The Iyilik Kayası Archeology Park
• Marmaris market place
• Bedesten (where second hand goods are on sale)
• Bar Street
• Marina

Daily or overnight tours

The Bodrum Tour: There are tours from Çamlı Wharf to Bodrum by hydrofoil boats departing in the morning and coming back in the evening. Visitors can be collected from the hotels in Marmaris, Armutalan and İçmeler and are taken to Çamlı Wharf. Hydrofoil boats departing at 09:30 in the morning arrive in Bodrum at 10:40. After the in-city tour and a free time break in Bodrum, the boats depart at 16:30 and arrive back in Marmaris at 18:00 in the evening.

Ephesus and Pamukkale tours: Ephesus and Pamukkale Tours organized by the travel agencies are usually daily tours. Some tours comprise both Ephesus and Pamukkale spending the night in a hotel. The stopping points of the tours are: Ephesus ancient city, Holy Mary Church, Ephesus Museum, Pamukkale and Hierapolis. There are also other shopping points and breaks on the way.

Rhodes Island Tour: Breakfast is in Marmaris, lunch in the Greek Rhodes Island and dinner is again in Marmaris. In the high season, there are regular boat trips between Marmaris and Rhodes Island everyday. The trip takes 50 minutes.

Köyceğiz-Dalyan Tour: Travel agencies organize daily tours to Dalyan. These tours are made by buses or minibuses. It takes 1.5 hours to arrive in Dalyan. Departing by boats from Dalyan, mud bathing, Kaunos Ancient City tour, lunch break at the restaurants alongside the riverbanks and a swimming break in İztuzu Beach ( Turtle Beach) are made. In the evening the tour returns back to Marmaris.

Other Tours: Other tours organized by the travel agencies are as follows:

Datça-Knidos Tour: Knidos is the most important settlement in the region. It is a one-day tour including lunch. In the summer time a swimming break is taken in the silent bays.

Gökova Gulf-Sedir Island Tour: Sedir Island is known as Cleopatra Island as well. A swimming break is given at the golden colored Cleopatra Beach after seeing the remains of ancient city Kedrai. Also swimming and lunch breaks are given at the nearby islands and bays.

Boat trip in the Gökova Gulf: Visitors are taken to Çamlı Wharf. Then the villages and islands in the gulf are visited by boat.

Village tours: Seeing the life in villages such as Turgut, Bayır, Şelale and Orhaniye which are still very similar to the original early settlements is particularly interesting for visitors.

Environment tours (for those who want to organize their own tour)

Daily or over-night tours departing from Marmaris may be arranged.

• Köyceğiz, Ekincik, Dalyan: One complete day tour, may be done every season.

Köyceğiz town tour, Sultaniye thermal springs and Ekincik Bay.

Boat trip departing from Dalyan or Köyceğiz, sailing through the channels, Kaunos ancient city and Iztuzu shore. Beaches during summer time. Enjoyable swimming in the sea then rinsing off in the lake. Lunch in one of the restaurants on the bank of the river in

Dalyan, or anywhere you wish.

• Dalaman, Sarıgerme, Göcek, Fethiye, Ölüdeniz: There are Ortaca on the Marmaris-Fethiye road and Sarıgerme shore, 15km further. There are remains of Psilis an ancient city on the shore. Dalaman: ( Sarsıla Bay, Tersakan stream, sulfurous lake). Göcek: (the most popular place of the blue journey boats. There are three marinas and daily boat trips to bays and islands in the inlet). Fethiye: (First a town tour and then Telmessos ancient theatre at the upper part of the marina, Ölüdeniz and Kayaköy). Tlos Ancient City-Saklıkent Canyon, Kelebekler (Butterflies) Valley.
• Milas-Bafa Lake, Herakleia, Didyma, Priene, Miletos, Kuşadası, Ephesus: Milas through Muğla-Yatağan. Stratonikeia and Lagina Ancient Cities at the exit of Yatağan. Museums and monuments in Milas. Beçin Castle is close by. Bafa Lake Road. The ruins of Iassos (Kıyıkışlacık) on the coast of Güllük inlet. Euromos ruins are close to the Milas-Bafa road. Herakleia ruins on the coast of Bafa Lake, inside of the road. Breakfast or lunch on the bank of the lake. Didymaion Temple after visiting Didim-Altınkum. Kuşadası through Söke. Gözelçamlı National Park around Davutlar for those who can spare the time.

Those who want to learn diving can apply to the diving training boats at the pier. Diving lessons are given by licensed divers on these tours. There are 52 diving points around Marmaris which is one of the important regions of Turkey from the point of diving tourism.

Some diving points worth seeing around Marmaris are as follows:

Sarı Mehmet Promontory: The promontory and its bay which is between Turunç and İçmeler, is a beautiful diving point for diving lessons and experienced divers. It has a rocky structure of 5 to 21 m in depth.

Goat Island Lighthouse: It is the promontory where the lighthouse is located when sailing out to the open sea from Marmaris. The diving point starts from 8-10m, descending to 38m, pleasurable to the experienced diver.

Ince Burun Lighthouse is located at side of the Yıldız Island facing Marmaris Bay. Underwater sight is poor compared to open sea diving points. Ranging between 3m to 38m, this place has a real tropical sea view.

Hayıtlı Burun: Located opposite to the Goat Island Lighthouse at the exit of Marmaris. Named as a Reef by the divers, it is an easy point for boats to drop anchor.

Abdi Reis Bay: Located at the open sea side of Yıldız Island. It is a beautiful diving point named Aquarium by the divers due to the clearness of the water.

Yazih Kaya: A diving point of 3m to 30-32m in depth on the open sea side of Yıldız Island.

Baca Cave : Most famous cave in Marmaris, definitely attracting the attention of underwater photographers.

Aksu Bay: On the open sea side of Yıldız Island, the color changes to dark blue when diving deeper which excites divers. This diving point is good for training dives, experienced divers and for those who stay on the boat and don’t wish to dive but simply enjoy the magnificent scenery and relax.

Kütük Burnu: 0 to 52 m in depth, is very convenient for wall diving. A fascinating bottom may tempt divers to go beyond limits. Divers should be careful at this point.

Kadırga Bay : Located at the furthest point to Marmaris, at the rocks opposite Kadırga Lighthouse. It has a beautiful Reef 0 to 38-40m in depth.