What to do in Marmaris: 19 essentials

Updated: 2 October, 2024

I tell you about the best things to do in Marmaris and its surroundings, how to get there, get around and a lot of tips.

The small town of Marmaris is one of the most popular on the Turkish coast, became famous in the 90s as a beach and boat trip destination in its bay.

Nowadays, it attracts many tourists with its beautiful beaches, paradisiacal uninhabited islands, lively nightlife and an infinite number of activities to do.

Marmaris is a city that is quite surprising and at times you will forget that you are in Turkey, it is very clean and modern, to the point that the taxis and minibuses in the city are almost all electric.

And if you travel alone like me, it is a very safe city.

In this article I tell you everything to do in Marmaris and nearby so that you can enjoy each of its corners in this area of the Turkish Riviera.

As always, at the end of the article, I leave you a map with each of the places I mention.

What to do in Marmaris?

1. Old Town

The old town of Marmaris is small and very charming, with cobbled streets, squares and traditional bars where you can have a delicious Turkish tea.

The city of Marmaris was almost completely rebuilt after the two earthquakes of 1957 left it in ruins, so the rest of the city is more modern.

2. Marmaris Bazaar

The Marmaris bazaar is the main commercial area of the city for local people and tourists, with shops selling cheap clothes, leather goods, Turkish delicacies and souvenirs.

If you want to take back some souvenirs (or gifts) from your trip to Marmaris, this is a good place to buy them.

Furthermore, during summer days it is a good place to walk because it is an area that stays cooler, thanks to the fact that the streets are covered.

3. Shopping in Marmaris

Marmaris is famous for its wide range of clothing and accessories stores for all budgets, which you will find on its main street.

You will also find very good jewelry stores where gold and gem pieces stand out.

💅 Attention girls: If you travel with your partner and he doesn't like shopping, in Marmaris they have centers for his care. Look at the photo below, it's the sign on a bar on the seafront. I thought it was so funny! 😂

4. Marmaris Castle

Marmaris Castle is located in the heart of the old town and is where the Marmaris Archaeological Museum.

The walled building is a Ottoman construction of the 16th century which was rebuilt several times, including by Suleiman the Magnificent at the time he had conquered the island of Rhodes.

In fact, Marmaris, which at that time was not yet called that, belonged to Rhodes.

In the museum there are archaeological pieces from the area, such as statuettes and ceramics, most of which belong to three distinct periods: Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine. This is a must see in Marmaris.

• Entry Fee:: 100 lire
• Opening Hours: 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. (ticket sales end half an hour earlier)

👍 Fun fact: Marmaris means "place of marble" because in ancient times the nearby areas were quarries where this precious material was extracted.

5. Statue of Ataturk

Next to the old town and by the sea is the emblematic statue of Ataturk, one of the most photographed places in the city.

Ataturk, whose real name was Mustafa Kemal Pasha, was the first president of the Turkish republic, who managed to modernize and westernize the country.

The changes affected all aspects of Turkey, such as politics, education, economy, even clothing.

Hence, it was so popular and loved among the Turks. If you travel to Türkiye you will find statues of him or streets named after him in many places.

6. Dancing Fountain

The dancing fountain is a beautiful one-hour show during summer nights, of water, light and music.

If you are going to visit this immense fountain next to the clock tower, it is best to do so when night falls, which is when it looks its most beautiful.

In the same square you will also see the beautiful sculpture of a mermaid, it is in the small waterfall near the fountain.

7. Beaches of Marmaris (green on the map)

One of the best things to do in Marmaris is undoubtedly visiting its beaches, both in the city and in the district.

The Marmaris city has a single beach (1) of almost 4 km long with golden sand and crystal clear waters.

Its coastal promenade is beautiful to stroll and even take a bike ride. There you will find a wide variety of restaurants, bars, cafes and nightlife.

On the beach itself, the bars have their sun loungers with umbrellas that they offer for free, with access to the sink and Wi-Fi, you just have to consume something.

Although in general it is very clean, in the middle of the summer season with so many people it can be a little dirty.

Therefore, Marmaris beach is not a blue flag beach.

The blue flag is used in Türkiye to indicate beaches with clean, safe water and a well-preserved marine environment.

Beaches in Marmaris district

Likewise, I recommend you visit other nearby beaches, some belong to the same district of Marmaris and are blue flag beaches, such as Icmeler (2).

This beach is only 8 km from Marmaris, it is very beautiful with its fine sand, turquoise waters and it is calmer.

There you will find a wide range of water activities.

Then, my favorite beach is Turunç (3), which is the next little town and is 20 km from Marmaris.

It's a very picturesque town, with a relaxed atmosphere and a beautiful beach where you can spend the day. In the town you will also find a good range of restaurants and bars.

The advantage of these beaches is that since they belong to the same district, you can easily get there by public transport with minibuses, known as dolmus in Turkey.

More beaches

If you continue along the coastline you will come across a couple more beaches, which are even quieter, but there you will need to drive or take a taxi and they are Kumlubuk (4) and Ciftlik (5).

Then, on the other side, where the Gokova Gulf is, there are also beautiful beaches where to relax, one of the ones I liked the most was Cin Buku (6), mainly because of the tranquility.

8. Boat ride

On your trip to Marmaris, one of the things you can't miss doing is a boat ride through Marmaris Bay to visit beautiful beaches and caves that you wouldn't be able to reach otherwise, such as the Phosphorus Cave.

The offer of boat trips in the area is quite varied.

From Pirates ships, where everything is themed with a pirate theme, including the staff's clothing, lunch and a fun foam party.

Then there is also glass bottom boats to see the seabed.

I made a ride on a boat They take you to the most beautiful beaches and caves in the area, I had lunch and drinks included for which I paid less than 20 euros.

Lunch was quite basic although plentiful, but for that price you can't ask for more and so you don't have to worry about anything. Also, the ride was very good.

9. Sedir Island or Cleopatra Island

In the Gulf of Gökova there is a small island called Sedir which is known as Cleopatra Island and is a true gem.

The island has the most beautiful beach in all of Türkiye, an almost secret paradise and is protected.

In addition, it has a very particular type of sand, with a soft touch and pure white because it is made from naturally ground seashells, but it is not a typical Turkish sand.

According to what they say, it was Mark Antony who ordered the sand to be brought from Egypt, a sand that can only be found in the Red Sea. He made it especially for his beloved Cleopatra, which is why the beach is known as cleopatra beach.

The island has a unique natural beauty in a quiet environment with pine forests.

In ancient times, there was a settlement on the island and several buildings are preserved, the most notable one that is in fairly good condition is the 5th century BC theater

To visit Sedir island The most practical thing is with a day trip to visit the island and the gulf, with a barbecue for lunch and it is very cheap.

I recommend that you book in advance, because as it is so popular, places sell out, below you can see availability and book.

10. Hiking in Marmaris

Marmaris is built in a valley surrounded by mountains that extend across the area with beautiful pine forests.

If you want to go hiking you will find many routes for all levels, here are a couple that you can also do together:

1. Marmaris to Icmeler

This is one of the most hiking routes most popular because it's easy.

This hike is along the coast and is completely flat.

If you leave from the end of the Marmaris coast, the tour of Round trip passing through the town of Icmeler is about 9 km.

2. Icmeler to Turunç

This is one very picturesque Marmaris hiking trail, with unbeatable panoramic views, which goes through the forest.

The hiking route from Icmeler to Turunc is a section of the 850 km of the Camino Cario.

If when you arrive in Turunc you are left wanting more, you can continue to Kumlubuk and so on. It was not my case, just arriving in Turunç was enough. 😅

The route through the mountain is a bit less than 6 km, with a gradient of 400 m, medium-high level due to the steep slope in a few km.

On the map at the end of the article, I mark the departure point from Icmeler. If not here you can go down the route which includes a little more tour of both towns and is the other way around, that is, starting in Turunç.

The road is Easy to follow, but if you go off the trail it can get complicated, because there are areas of dense vegetation. And if you do the route in summer take a lot of water.

11. Jeep or Quad Adventure Safari

Another alternative to explore the mountains of Marmaris, discover its forests and waterfalls, is with this Marmaris jeep tour, which take you to the most beautiful places and includes lunch.

There are also other tours, like this one in quad bike around Marmaris, which although it is with a guide, you take the quad and the experience is super fun.

Best of all, these types of tours are very cheap in Turkey, either one costs less than 20 euros.

12. Nimara Cave

The fabulous Nimara cave has a size of 3.5 m wide by 5 m long and was used as a place of worship.

The ceremonies that took place there were in honor of the goddess Leto, mother of Apollo, the god of music, and Artemis, goddess of the hunt.

According to archaeological excavations in the cave, remains of human presence dating back to 12,000 BC were found.

To get there you can drive, take a taxi, dolmus or walk because it is only 8 km to get there.

13. Marmaris Water Park

If you are traveling as a family or want to have a fun day of splashing around, the Marmaris water park is Ideal for kids and adults.

The park has various types of slides, rafting, tube, wave pool and a Kamikaze slide.

The rest area is very good, with sun loungers with umbrellas, bars and restaurants.

In this link you can get the Marmaris water park ticket.

14. Haman

A good experience that you cannot miss trying is a Turkish bath or Haman in Marmaris.

The normal treatment in a haman is first the part of the wet room and then an exfoliating massage What a masseuse does to you.

The exfoliation is usually intense and somewhat strange when it is the first time, but the result is a soft skin and a very relaxing experience.

In Marmaris, there are spas at a very good price, I recommend you this turkish bath which is very complete, includes the foam massage, the scrub and the oil massage to pamper yourself to the fullest. 🥰

👍 Friend's tip: he exfoliating massage is done with some clothes, don't forget to bring a spare swimsuit or underwear. 😉

15. Nightlife

On the promenade there is an area known as Bar Street, that is, the street of bars that begin to come alive with various music from 11 p.m. onwards.

They are a great place to have a few drinks and dance a little.

What to see near Marmaris?

16. Pamukkale and Hierapolis

Pamukkale is one of the most unique places in Türkiye for its Cotton Castle with natural pools and you can visit it from Marmaris easily by car, bus or go with a day trip.

In the same area where the beautiful Algodón Castle is located, there is Hierapolis, the ruins of the ancient city with buildings from different periods: Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine.

The most notable are: the Roman theatre which is kept very well preserved, the ancient pools of Cleopatra with hot springs and a huge necropolis.

To make the 1-day visit, the most practical thing is to do it with an excursion to Pamukkale, If you go on your own you might want to stay the night.

⭐ In this article you can more about What to see in Pamukkale with all detailed transportation alternatives, where to eat and lots of advice.

17. Fethiye and its blue lagoon

Fethiye is a popular coastal city known for its history with its ancient Lycian tombs, beautiful natural landscapes and lively nightlife.

One of the most fascinating places in the area is the blue lagoon, or Oludeniz lagoon with calm, crystal-clear deep blue waters, a true coastal paradise.

To visit Fethiye you can drive, go by bus or with a full day excursion, which includes stops at the Oludeniz viewpoint to see the lagoon from above, the fascinating Saklikent canyon, and lunch.

You can check the availability and book here below:

18. Dalian

Another of the most fascinating places you can visit from Marmaris is the Dalyan area.

Like other places in Turkey you have many options to get there, whether by car, bus or with a Dalyan excursion to see the most beautiful places, which are three:

• Caunus: an ancient city from the 10th century BC where you can still see several ancient buildings, very close by are the impressive tombs of king Caunus excavated in the stone.
• mud baths: These baths are famous for their therapeutic properties for rheumatism problems, low back pain and other conditions. Plus, it's a good place to relax for a while.
• Iztuzu Beach: is a very famous beach in Türkiye with a spit of white sand 4.5 km. The place is a sanctuary for marine life and the main nesting place for the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta species).

If you are interested in seeing the turtles, keep in mind that the season of hatching of turtle eggs in Iztuzu is in summer, between the months of June to August, although it may vary a little from one year to the next.

19. Rhodes

Marmaris is located a very short distance from the Greek island of Rhodes, the boat takes an hour and a little.

If you want to take advantage of combining Türkiye and Greece on your vacation, this visit is ideal.

Rhodes is a wonderful island with many things to see, beautiful beaches and great history, where pirates, Knights Templar, Ottomans and Nazis passed through.

To visit Rhodes there are some ferries that offer the round trip boat package, so you have the whole day to visit the island.

From my point of view, one day to visit Rhodes is very little, but it is enough for you to see the most emblematic places on the island.

If you have more time, the ideal is to stay at least a couple of nights in Rhodes, in this guide you can read about What to see in Rhodes: 27 essentials, where to eat, how to get around and more.

In this link see the schedules, prices and book the ferry to Rhodes If you are staying overnight, this website is for all ferries between the Greek islands and with Turkey.

Video of Marmaris and surroundings

In this video you can see the Marmaris castle, the magic fountain and some beaches, filmed with a drone.

If you continue watching the other videos in the playlist you can see the Oludeniz lagoon, the tombs of Cauno and Pamukkale.

👍 If you want to buy a drone to film your vacation, I recommend this one, which is light, has excellent image quality and is well priced, for some reason, is the most popular at the moment.

Marmaris map

* To check the legend for each place, click the button in the top left corner of the map. To view this map on your phone or computer, tap the star on the right side of the title. Then go to Google Maps, select "Your Places" and "Maps" from the menu.

When to go to Marmaris?

The best time to visit Marmaris and the Turkish coast is late spring and early fall, when the weather is good for going to the beach and you can enjoy other activities without the oppressive heat.

Also the prices of the accommodations are cheaper and there are fewer people than during the summer.

Summer is not the best time to visit Marmaris, but it is still very good.

Also, if you are going to go on vacation to Turkey in summer, because that is when you have your vacation, in some places like Istanbul or Cappadocia it will be very hot.

Therefore, it is a good idea to combine your trip with coastal places like Marmaris where you can cool off on its shores.

During winter, Marmaris is not as cold as in the north or in the Turkish mountains, but minimum temperatures can drop quite a bit and It's cold to swim on the beach.

Below you can see the average maximum and minimum temperatures of Marmaris to give you an idea.

How to get to Marmaris?

By Plane

Marmaris does not have its own airport, the closest is Dalaman Airport (DLM) 90 km away, with domestic and international flights from Europe. However, Dalaman does not have direct flights from Spain.

Then, to get from Istanbul to Marmaris a flight is the best option, as well as from other Turkish cities.

In Türkiye, for book flights, I recommend this website that shows you the schedules, prices and also other transportation alternatives so you can compare.

By Bus

One of the best means of transportation in Turkey are buses, because they are modern, comfortable and very cheap.

From Istanbul by bus to Marmaris is a very long trip (10 hours) but you can go from other nearby places such as from Izmir.

I recomend you this search engine, which shows you the price, schedule of all transportation and you can book right there.

Car

Another alternative to get to Marmaris is to drive, so you can visit all the nearby areas on your own.

To rent a car in Türkiye I recommend this search engine that works with serious companies and has the cheapest prices.

⭐ You may also be interested in this article about 20 Tips for traveling to Türkiye where I talk about driving in Türkiye, driving license and other topics such as visas and security.

How to get around Marmaris?

To get around Marmaris you have many options:

• Car: It is the most practical way to move freely around Marmaris.
• Taxi: I recommend you avoid them, they may try to overcharge you, although it is not as exaggerated as in Istanbul.
• Electric bicycle and scooter: You will find city bikes and scooters from various companies to rent. They are an excellent way to get around the city, and there are plenty of bike lanes to get around safely.
• Dolmus (minibus) - It is a great way to get around, even if you want to go to the nearby beaches of İçmeler and Turunç and they are cheap.
• taxi boat: They work the same as if it were a minibus with fixed schedules and their most popular routes are to İçmeler and Turunç. The route is beautiful, although in summer they tend to go overboard with the prices.
• Rent a boat: An excellent way to get around the beaches and the bay is by renting a boat. In Marmaris there are 2 marinas, plus other small ones nearby. I recommend this search engine to rent a boat in Marmaris that are in good condition and there are boats at a very good price, I have managed to get one for less than 300 euros a day, distributed among several people, is very worthwhile.

Where to stay in Marmaris?

In Marmaris there are accommodations for all budgets and tastes.

In summer, especially in July and August, prices tend to skyrocket quite a bit, but if you look early you will find good prices.

Below I leave you a list with the best hotels in Marmaris:

• Cheap: Antik Apart They are apartments with all the comforts, with a swimming pool and not far from the beach.
• Half: Zehra Suites It is a very modern accommodation, with a private kitchen and an excellent location.
• Luxury: Motto Premium It is just 50 m from the beach, with 3 swimming pools, a spa, a good breakfast and the best value for money that you can get for less than 130 euros depending on the season.

Final Thoughts

These are the best things to do in marmaris, a beautiful city with many activities to do and to spend a wonderful vacation.

As if that were not enough, it is a Good place to base yourself and visit other nearby areas.

If you have any questions, leave me a comment below and I'll help you as much as I can. If you found the article useful, share it with other travelers. Have a good trip! 😘

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