Article Trip to Marmaris
Fabulous beaches and concrete jungle
Marmaris is destination mostly for tourists preferring all inclusive package tours, but it is possible to undertake here also interesting sightseeing program with swimming in beautiful bays, see ancient monuments or driving across deserted and wild mountains.
Day 1
Tour around the Marmaris town
Already during driving down from the mountains to Marmaris you will be captivated by the amazing bay that around which the town was built. But it is a shame that the beaches in Marmaris are very crowded and it is even quite difficult to get through the incredible number of sun loungers to the sand. But do not worry; just go a little further and you can enjoy a wide range of wonderful beaches. During the first day you can get acquainted with the local long promenade, the old town and a great yacht harbor.
Beach and promenade in Marmaris
The bustling center of the area
Marmaris has basically three centers where is the largest accumulation of tourists – old town with harbor, coastal promenade that separates the beach from hotels and the main shopping street, which is probably the least interesting part. The town itself together with other hotels continue for another around two kilometers further to inland up to mountain massifs that surrounded it on all sides . The beach promenade leads along the whole bay and is in the morning a paradise for sportsmen and for walkers in the evenings. continue reading
Visit of the old part of Marmaris
Most picturesque part of the town
The historic center of Marmaris on the northern end of the Bay of Marmara is washed by the sea from two sides – on one side there is cruise ship harbor and on the other one harbor for yachts. Previously, the town was protected by small castle, which is best visible directly from the sea as it is not standing on the highest point. There are old twisting streets around the castle and nearby is quite big mosque and bazaar. There are also dozens of restaurants all around, especially those specializing in seafood. The best atmosphere is here, of course, in the evening. The old center is accessible from the hotel area along pedestrian promenade or by dolmus running along the parallel main shopping street. continue reading
Walk in the port in Marmaris
The largest yacht marina in Turkey
The port in Marmaris is surrounded on three sides by the old town, so it is ideal to see first the port and then delve the streets in the old part. In the west, so close to the promenade, anchor the cruise ships and it is the most busy here around 10 am and then at 6 pm , when trips start / end. Right next to it there is a huge yacht marina, reputedly the largest in the whole of Turkey. There is also a place where approximately every other day anchor massive cruise ships. continue reading
Day 2
Walk to Icmeler
The next day you can set out to neighboring Icmeler along the coastal promenade. In Icmeler you can have lunch and swim for the remaining part of the day.
Walk Marmaris - Içmeler
Trip along the seafront promenade
The most popular walk around the resort of Marmaris is a short trip along the seafront promenade to the neighboring Icmeler. Length of the walk depends on which side of Marmaris you are staying, but expect around 7 km. It is definitely better to set off in the morning, when it is not so hot. The advantage is that you can have a swim everywhere along the way, or have a snack or drink in some of the nearby restaurants. You can use dolmus on the way back then. continue reading
İçmeler
Little brother of Marmaris
Only seven kilometers away (along the road or the seafront promenade) from Marmaris is located in a nice cove massively growing town of Icmeler. It was earlier an alternative for those who wanted to leave the bustle of Marmaris. But it looks now similarly, however in a slightly smaller scale. So those who want to have peace must continue to Turunc, Kumlubük and further. But even so, there is a better beach than in Marmaris and it is just a few minutes in a dolmus to get here. continue reading
Day 3 to 4
Turunc, Kumlubuk and Bozburun peninsula
Turunc is a small town in a stunning cove. It is possible to get here also by taxi-boat from Marmaris. The next day it is worth to drive along the whole coastal road up to Kumlubuk with lots of beautiful views and beaches. Alternatively, you can continue on into the interior of wild Bozburun peninsula. If you are in time pressure and want to see all this, you can do everything just during one long day.
Swimming in Turunc
Fairytale bay below mountains
Turunc accessible only through a narrow mountain winding road surpassing the pass (400m asl) on the ridge separating it from the busier civilization or by boat is much calmer and more relaxed than the surrounding resorts. From the beaches there are beautiful views of the few hundred meter high mountain, which rise here almost directly from the sea. continue reading
Scenic Road Marmaris - Kumlubük
Road with amazing views
Every lover of beautiful mountain sceneries and also those who like swimming will be pleased by the road connecting Marmaris with Kumlubük. Along the way, it is possible to swim at four different locations. It is surprising that it leads mainly along the coast and it crosses mountain pass at an altitude of 400 meters above sea level. This trip can take two hours or the whole day, depending on your approach. continue reading
Kumlubük
The contrast to Marmaris
Thanks to its relatively secluded location on the southeastern end of the road leading through the Bozburun peninsula is this more than 1.5 km long beach Kumlubük quite deserted and you can swim here without crowds that are in towns further in the north. For this reason stop here for a swim ships (especially on the north end of the beach) visiting local attractions during a several hour lasting popular cruise trip. From Marmaris it is here around 23 km along the outlook road through towns İçmeler and Turunc. continue reading
Drive around Bozburun peninsula
Journey around beautiful outlooks
A day trip in the mountainous peninsula Bozburun will bring you to a completely different world than you experienced in Marmaris, although it is only a few kilometers away. You will find here wild inland with only a few villages where time is still running slow, the outlooks of stunning coves and a few nice almost deserted beaches. continue reading
Day 5
Boat trip
Perhaps the best trip from Marmaris is the boat trip around Bozborun peninsula offering views of local beautiful mountains, bays, beaches and caves. Be sure to choose the long variant with a stop in Pregnant Church bay.
Boat trip from Marmaris I.
Sailing along beautiful bays
The most beautiful trip you can make in Marmaris and its surroundings is a boat trip to nearby and distant bays. Most barkers at the port offer a short trip, which basically stops for swimming in places which can be reached also by car (Turunc, Kumlubük… ), so it is better to choose longer trip where you will get up to the bay Pregnant Church, where it is very hard to get without a boat. This first part deals with the voyage along the bays you can visit also during the short trip. continue reading
Boat trip from Marmaris II.
Cruising along beautiful bays
This photoreport is continuation of beautiful boat trip from the resort of Marmaris. The shorter version of the trip is described in a separate photoreport, so this part is devoted to the northern part, where larger vessels offer a longer trip. Trip offers differ not only in the length, but also in number of stops, stops at particular places (but they are mostly the same), whether lunch and free drinks are included and however also in the price. After leaving the wide bay in Kumlubük boat traffic dramatically drops and the surrounding countryside is already wild without human settlements, however, except for the cove in Çiftlik. You can not only see beautiful bays, but you can also swim in a cave or enjoy the surrounding few-hundred high mountains. Boats usually arrive back to Marmaris at about 18 hours, i.e. the whole trip takes about 8 hours. continue reading
Çiftlik
Picturesque bay
You can get to nice half-moon cove Çiftlik most easily during a boat trip from Marmaris. If you want to stay here longer, so you have no other choice than to drive here through the mountains of Bozburun Peninsula. The only flaw in here is a large building of dilapidated hotel. continue reading
Day 6
Long trip to Datça peninsula
Limestone mountains, pine forests, views from the road passes beautiful beaches and ruins of ancient Knidos – all this you can see in interesting Datça peninsula.
Trip to Datça peninsula
Long noodle in southwest
Datça peninsula contrasts with bustling Marmaris. On local calm beaches spend holidays mainly local Turkish families. Peninsula is definitely worth a longer visit, but even during a day trip you can visit here most of the attractions. The trip is a nice combination of driving along a road full of nice views surrounded by limestone mountains and pine forests, swimming in nice beaches and a possible visit to the ancient ruins of Knidos. continue reading
7 and more days
There is a wide range of possible closer and more distant trips:
- Trip to Cleopatra island (Sedir Adasi) is popular. There is not only a nice beach, but also the remains of ancient monuments. If you want to get here independently, you have to go by car to the small port of Camlı (5 km off the main road Marmaris-Mugla and in total 18 kilometers from Marmaris) and from here by boat /return ticket costs 15TL, entrance to the island 10TL).
- A popular boat trip from Marmaris is a cruise to Dalyan. The program includes a visit to beach with turtles, mud baths and view of famous tombs at the town.
- A trip to Bodrum (170 km one way).
- From Marmaris you can also go to Pamukkale, but be aware of the long journey (215 km one way).
