The history of Marmaris is very similar to that of more famous resorts on the French Riviera: a small and sleepy fishing village that overnight came to the attention of wealthy tourists that gradually turned it into a blossoming city perfect for spending a few days on the Mediterranean coast, getting in that famous Turkish sun.
Just about the only difference between the famous French resorts and Marmaris, away from the geographical position, is the fact that whereas the French resorts took decades to develop, Marmaris managed the same feat in but a couple of years. It all started in the 80s with the touristic boom and ever since Marmaris has never looked back, as today it's full of swanky hotels, villas and fancy marinas.
Marmaris is located in the southwestern part of Turkey, in a stretch of the coast that has many small peninsulas and islands, which give it a great sailing potential. In order to get here, you'll need to connect with the closest airport which is Dalaman International, 100km due east. The method of transfer is left up to you, but the easiest and cheapest transfer method is to take the bus which makes trips of about 1 hour and a half and has tickets that can be booked beforehand online.
By car, the only road leading in to town and in the peninsula for that matter is the D400 so you can not miss it or get lost in case you favor driving here on your own. It's the same road that the air transfer bus takes, in case you rented a car from the Dalaman airport.
The beauty of the Marmaris resort lays not only in its natural beauty and its privileged location, but also in the long history of the settlement, since this goes back to the 6th century BC. Although most of the former monuments did not survive to this day, there are still some sights worth checking out. The most important of these is the castle, a reason of pride for all the locals, which has recently undergone extensive renovation and has been turned into a museum.
Another bonus for the sailing holiday buffs that arrive here is that Marmaris will offer you a very unique shopping experience to this part of the world. Haggling is the word while shopping locally, and it's a good way of getting good deal on items such as clothing, jewelry and leather good, but you should be aware that most name brand clothes here are knock-offs. The main shopping place is the bazaar, and not just for visitors but for locals alike.
When it comes to dining out in Marmaris, the offer becomes different depending on your budget, time and willingness to experiment. The most affordable way of getting a bite is trying the food stalls in the street, while at the opposite poll are the fancy restaurants in the big hotels. Here you can enjoy the delights of Eastern cuisine, but also you may find venues that serve Western and international menus, mainly inalls and food courts.
After you dine, you might want to linger out for a while, not head straight back home, as the real fun in Marmaris starts after dark. You can start off the night with a drink at any of the many bars out on the waterfront as you watch the sun setting in the sea. After that, you can take some members of your yacht charter crew and head out to Bar Street in the old town, which is not only full of bars, but also clubs, some of which are among the largest outdoor venues in the country, hosting huge parties every weekend.
Source by Felix Wolf
