Marmaris / Turkey

The thirty-thousand-strong Marmaris located in the southwest of Turkey on the coast of the Aegean Sea is among the popular resorts and destinations for cruises in the Mediterranean Sea. The harbor in a picturesque bay with the Taurus Mountains in the background is an ideal place for spending a summer vacation and a good starting point for exploring the western part of the Turkish Riviera. In Marmaris, besides monuments, you can also find a pleasant beach, a nice promenade with a number of shops and restaurants, and several water parks.

What to taste in Marmaris?

Gastronomy in Marmaris offers a wide range of flavors, from fresh seafood to traditional Turkish dishes, such as:

• Kebap – roasted meat in pita bread with vegetables,
• Lahmacum – Turkish elongated pizza with minced meat,
• Karniyarik – pieces of meat fried with eggplant, garlic, tomatoes, and parsley,
• Yaprak Sarma – vine leaves stuffed with rice, vegetables, and spices,
• Baklava – layered pastry with nuts and honey,
• Airan – salty yogurt drink,
• Raki – strong aniseed spirit.

Why will you love Marmaris?

Practical tips:

• Official language: Turkish, but in tourist areas like this, you can also communicate in English and German.
• Currency: Turkish Lira (TRY)
• Opening hours: Generally, shops are open from around 9:00 to 19:00, with an hour break, especially from Monday to Friday. Weekends are more individual. Many shops and restaurants in tourist areas may be open until 23:00. 
• Public transport: Primarily provided by Dolmuş, which are minibuses running on specific routes where the driver stops on request. You can also use buses or taxi services. The walk from the harbor to the city takes about 15 minutes, but cruise ships often provide shuttle services.
• Weather: The climate in Marmaris is Mediterranean, characterized by long, hot summers with minimal rainfall (26 – 28 °C), while winters are mild (around 20 °C). The tourist season is from May to October.

The most interesting from the history of Marmaris:

Historical excavations have shown that the area was inhabited more than 5000 years ago. Marmaris is thus among the oldest settlements on the Turkish coast. In the 6th century BC, the city was known as Physkos and belonged to the ancient land of Caria. The ruins of the acropolis are still visible on the hill north of the current harbor. In the 4th century BC, the city was conquered during the campaigns of Alexander the Great, who established a permanent military garrison in the local fortress. With the arrival of the Turks, Physkos was renamed Marmaris – after the word "mermer", meaning marble. There were marble deposits in the area, and the harbor played a prominent role in the trade of this precious material. Marmaris gained significant importance in the 16th century when it became the main stronghold for the fleet of the powerful Sultan Suleiman I, who sought to oust the Knights of St. John from the nearby island of Rhodes. In 1798, Admiral Nelson anchored here with his fleet on the way to Egypt, where they were preparing to confront Napoleon's army. A major blow to the area was the earthquake in 1958, which almost leveled the city. Fortunately, the historic core, including the castle, remained almost undamaged. During the reconstruction in 1979, the castle was transformed into a museum with exhibition halls, a bazaar, and an Ottoman caravanserai, becoming one of the main attractions of the city.

Useful information

• How to choose the right cruise?
• How to choose a cruise company?