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Prime Beach Hotel, Marmaris

Things to do guide

The best things to do in Marmaris

Updated 1 October 2026 · 14 things to do

Pictured: Prime Beach Hotel

Marmaris has two faces, and both are good. By day it's a pine-framed harbour town with an old castle, a covered bazaar, a long promenade and boats leaving for coves along the Gökova and Hisarönü gulfs. By night, Bar Street fills up and stays open late, which is why so many British visitors come back year after year.

Beyond the town, the Datça peninsula runs out between two seas to a ruined Greek city, a quiet river town hides behind reed beds, and an island with a Roman theatre can only be reached by boat. Marmaris is a very easy base for all of it.

Don't miss

  1. 1Marmaris Castle and old town
  2. 2Marmaris Bar Street
  3. 3Cleopatra Island
  4. 4Dalyan and the Kaunos tombs
  5. 5Knidos

In Marmaris

  1. Marmaris Castle and old town

    Landmark

    Marmaris Castle above the harbour
    Photo: George Chernilevsky, CC BY 4.0

    A small hilltop fortress above the harbour, rebuilt in the early sixteenth century and said to have served Suleiman the Magnificent as a base before his campaign to Rhodes. It now houses a modest museum. Around its foot, the old town's whitewashed lanes, bougainvillea and little cafés are the prettiest part of Marmaris.

    Tip: Visit in the morning, then wander down through the old town to the harbour for lunch.

  2. The Marmaris bazaar

    Market

    The covered bazaar in Marmaris
    Photo: Soluvo, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A covered market of leather bags, spices, tea, ceramics, towels and jewellery, with plenty of shopkeepers keen to catch your eye. It's friendly, a bit theatrical and a good place to pick up gifts. Offer a lower price, smile and be ready to walk away.

  3. Marmaris marina

    Neighbourhood

    Yachts in Marmaris marina seen from the harbour
    Photo: George Chernilevsky, Public domain

    One of the biggest yacht harbours in this part of Turkey, with a sheltered bay full of gulets and sailing boats. A waterfront walk past the moored boats, then dinner at a restaurant with a view of the castle, is the classic evening out.

  4. Marmaris Bar Street

    Nightlife

    Bars along Marmaris Bar Street
    Photo: Janlight, CC0

    A narrow lane of bars and clubs near the harbour that doesn't get going until late and doesn't stop until dawn. Expect loud music, foam parties and cocktail deals. If that's not your thing, there's plenty of quieter drinking around the marina, and İçmeler is calmer still.

    Tip: Pick a hotel away from the strip if you want to sleep.

Bays and beaches

  1. Cleopatra Island

    Day trip

    The beach on Cleopatra Island in the Gökova Gulf
    Photo: Semih Ekinci, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Sedir Island lies in the Gökova Gulf, reached only by boat, and is known for its ancient theatre ruins and a beach whose sand legend says Mark Antony shipped from Egypt for Cleopatra. The sand is protected, so don't take any home. Boat trips from Marmaris combine it with other swimming stops.

  2. İçmeler

    Beach

    Just round the bay from Marmaris, İçmeler is a calmer resort with a pine-backed promenade, a long beach and restaurants along the sand. It's where many families base themselves, with water taxis running along the coast.

  3. Turunç

    Beach

    A small, sheltered bay south of İçmeler, with a pebbly beach, a handful of restaurants and a village feel. Take the water taxi from İçmeler for the best way in, and spend a lazy afternoon swimming.

Day trips

  1. Dalyan and the Kaunos tombs

    Day trip

    Rock-cut Lycian tombs at Kaunos above the Dalyan river
    Photo: Rev Stan from London, UK, CC BY 2.0

    A long but rewarding day out, to the riverside town of Dalyan, with its reed beds and Lycian rock tombs carved into the cliffs above the water. Boats take you up to the ruins of ancient Kaunos, past mud baths and on to İztuzu Beach, a nesting site for loggerhead turtles.

    Tip: Keep clear of any marked turtle nesting areas and never touch or feed the turtles.

  2. Datça

    Day trip

    The old stone village of Eski Datça
    Photo: Semih Ekinci, CC BY-SA 3.0

    A long, thin peninsula running west into the sea, with almond groves, pine hills and quiet villages. Old Datça is the highlight, a village of stone houses, bougainvillea and little cafés, far calmer than Marmaris. It's a scenic drive, with views of both the Aegean and the Mediterranean.

  3. Knidos

    Landmark

    The ruins of ancient Knidos at the tip of the Datça peninsula
    Photo: Tevfik Teker, CC BY-SA 4.0

    At the very tip of the Datça peninsula, the ruins of this ancient Greek city spread over a hillside between two harbours. It was once famous for a temple of Aphrodite and a statue by Praxiteles. There's a theatre, a lighthouse and a sense of being at the end of the world.

    Tip: Take water and a hat, as there is little shade among the ruins.

  4. Akyaka and the Azmak river

    Neighbourhood

    The clear Azmak river running through Akyaka
    Photo: Sharon Hahn Darlin, CC BY 2.0

    A small town at the head of the Gökova Gulf, known for its wooden-shuttered houses, kitesurfing and the cold, clear Azmak river that runs through it. Lunch at a riverside restaurant is the thing to do.

Family and food

  1. Water parks

    Water park

    Marmaris and İçmeler have several big water parks with slides, wave pools and lazy rivers, popular with families on hot afternoons. Check which are open for the season you're visiting, and pack sun cream.

  2. Pine honey and Datça almonds

    Food

    The pine forests around Marmaris produce a dark, resinous honey that's a local speciality, and the Datça peninsula is known for its almonds. Pick up a jar and a bag at the market or from a roadside stall, and have them with Turkish yoghurt for breakfast.

  3. Fresh fish and meze

    Food

    Order a table of meze, such as hummus, stuffed vine leaves and grilled aubergine, then choose your fish and have it grilled. The restaurants along the marina and promenade do this well. Ask the price of the fish by weight before you order.

Where to stay in Marmaris

Not sure which area suits you? Read our guide: Where to stay in Marmaris →

Getting around

Marmaris is compact and walkable, and dolmuş minibuses run to İçmeler and other nearby resorts. Water taxis link the bays, and organised trips cover Dalyan, Datça and the boat excursions. A hire car helps for Datça and Akyaka.

When to go

May, June, September and October bring warm sea and comfortable days for sightseeing. July and August are hot and busy, with the liveliest nightlife. The season winds down in the late autumn.

Questions about visiting Marmaris

What is Marmaris best known for?
Its harbour, castle and old town, Bar Street nightlife, boat trips along the coast and the pine-covered hills around the bay.
What is there to do in Marmaris with kids?
Beaches, boat trips with swimming stops, water parks and a visit to the castle, plus the calm, family-friendly resort of İçmeler.
Is Marmaris worth visiting?
Yes, if you want a lively harbour town with good boat trips, easy day excursions and nightlife, with quieter bays like İçmeler and Turunç close by.
What day trips can you do from Marmaris?
Dalyan and the Kaunos tombs, the Datça peninsula and Knidos, Cleopatra Island and Akyaka are the popular ones, by boat or organised tour.

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