Marmaris is as classy as the southern coastal towns get. This is where Those of us with 40m floating sports cars like to keep them in the winter and the amount of money that comes into this town in the season has enabled it to develop with a degree of restraint and taste that has made it the envy of the wannabee marina towns from Izmir to Antalya. It can be a real eye opener to wander around the 'big' marina of an evening, lubricated with a couple of beers, and watch the other half at play.
For most of us though, Marmaris supplies some great restaurants, good shopping, a variety of nightlife and proximity to some good beaches. It's also a favourite departure point for Mavi Yol (the blue road) cruises of the undeniably gorgeous Aegean and Mediterranean coasts.
Marmaris is also somewhere you have to go through to get to Datca, ah, Datca. You'll have to hurry to see it before it disappears but more on that below.
If you're already in Turkey Marmaris is well served by the ever dependable inter city bus network and can also be reached by the little coast buses that will bring you in. There are some spectacular views from the roads in this part of Turkey and it's probably worth taking a car for the day and spinning up and down for a while, something with no roof is more fun, if slightly expensive, and you can always pretend that you live here.
Accommodation here is slightly pricey but, depending on how choosy you're feeling you'll probably find something. As always, when you're looking for somewhere to stay you'll be glad if you travelled light. The Interyouth Hostel, now located in the bazaar itself, provides reasonable value and is a good source of information for diving and other tours.
There are plenty of opportunities to dive in Marmaris, as there are in Fethiye and Bodrum. One of the more professional operations seems to be the European Diving Centre who I think you can contact via email. They do have a web site somewhere and we'll track it down and supply a link shortly. There are also any number of smaller setups who will take you out for the day and make your ears hurt. Remember that diving is potentially dangerous, especially the underwater bits, and exercise a little caution in your choice of boat.
The local honey is justifiably famous and if you hunt around the bazaar you'll find a great little honey shop, you can also buy from roadside honey sellers and make your choice from pine or flower honeys. You'll also find a wide range of suede and leather goods, carpets, copper and brass but you'll probably pay a premium to cover the fact that you're shopping in Marmaris.
Boat cruises can be for a day or a fortnight, you'll get the best deal in a group of 6 - 10 as most of the good boats are equipped with 6 double cabins and it's the boat itself you pay for rather than the berth. The majority of captains speak a couple of languages and asking around is probably the best way to find a deal, whatever, good boats aren't cheap to charter and the captains have probably agreed on a minimum between themselves. For a bit of snorkeling and tanning then a day boat is fine and you'll get a taste of the experience that might tempt you to return.
The surrounding area has some nice beaches, more and more of which are getting blue-flags every year, and again, asking is probably the best way to find out.
A year ago, Datca was the perfect getaway, it has been amongst Turks for a generation. This spring though will probably see the completion of the new road south along the peninsula from Marmaris and this will undoubtedly open up the remote and peaceful little town to more and more development. This summer could be you're last chance to experience the delights of Datca and it's peninsula, just getting there (formerly a 2 hour journey) takes you through some of the most spectacular scenery in this part of the world. There are beaches and bays accessible from the road and not all of them have been turned into holiday villages yet, Datca itself is still a small town with a little accommodation and a few good fish restaurants. It's also a good place from which to take the ferry to Bodrum, that makes a great start to the day (ferry tickets can be purchased in Datca and there's an 8:30am ish bus to the ferry which gets you into Bodrum about 11:00am).
If you make it to Datca then there's the final challenge of getting to Knidos, a splendidly isolated ruined city possessing a twin beach where you can swim in the Aegean and then walk 20 metres and swim in the Mediterranean. Knidos can really only be reached by boat from Datca or Marmaris, or by hiring a taxi from Datca for the day. Both ways work just fine.
| History of Marmaris | |
It is not known when Marmaris was founded, but Physkos as Marmaris was previously known, was part of the Carian Empire in the 6th century B.C. when overrun by the Lydians. Another invasion by the Lydians in 334 B.C. led to the partition of the Roman Empire of Alexander the Great. |  |
According to the historian Herodotus, the Carians settled in what is now the province of Mugla after coming from Crete. They also took over the town of Physkos with its large natural harbour, and used it as a military base for their campaigns against the Phoenicians in Rhodes and other Aegean islands. The Carian civilization entered a dark period after 300 B.C., coming under the rule of the Egyptians, Asstrians, Ionians and Dorians successively. The Dorians turned the Carian province into 9 colony cities, also including Halicarnassos and Knidos, which became an active trading centre for Anatolia and led to an increase in handicrafts and maritime trade. In 138 B.C. Attalos the 3rd, King of Bergama, whose predecessors had ruled Caria for 90 years, ceded Physkos to Rome and the city was ruled from Rhodes by Roman generals. The city became part of the Ottoman Empire in 1425, and the castle was built in 1521 AD for use in a planned assault on Rhodes. The Ottoman Sultan at the time, Kanuni Sultan Suleyman, changed the name of the town to Mimaras, which then became Marmaris according to the historian Evlija Celebi. A local rumour has it that the reason for the change of name Mimaras was that Suleyman, on returning from his expedition to Rhodes, disliked the castle and exclaimed "mimar as!", which means "hang the architect!" Unfortunately there is no evidence to support this amusing story. | |
The Caria Region and Era Through the Ages It is possible to state that the Cria region once encompassed lands that today make up the province Muğla; However, the communities that lived here before the Carian era have yet to be ascertained.According to some historians the Luwians who lived around 2000 BC, and perhaps even earlier, constituted the local people. The Carians and the Lelegians were both considered the same. After the Carians became stronger and self-confident, through grueling warfare they conguered the island Rhodes, which had been under Phoenician rule.They later attaccked and took control of all Aegean Islands Delos (3000 BC), and soon after dominated over Crete and Minoa. The Carian’s reign continued until the time of Minoan king Menes ; through long struggles Menes succeeded in throwing the Carians off Cretan lands. It took a whıle fort he mainland; they were attacked by nearby states and entered their rule.Nevertheless, they were generally able to hold onto Marmaris. First Arrivals in the Caria Region According to some sources, a number of nomadic tribes had arrived on Aegean shores called Phoenicia prior to becoming known as Caria. The region was then called Carisa, after Sesif’s grandchild Carisa Avr, who had arrived with the Lelegians and reigned over the area up to Ephesus. It is also reported that a more superior tribe ruled over this region, which wore crested helmets and bore two-handledshields.This tribe had come and settled in teh region under the leadership of Car, Grandchild of Inacuos who had long-ruled over ‘Argos’. It is after Car that the region became known as Caria, in about 3400 BC. However, Carians did not accept views that considered them indigenous to Crete, And stated that always lived in Caria, the mainland, and were always known as Carians.Renowned historians Herodotus and Homer concur that the Carians were placed around and settled in Miletus and Mount Mycale. During the time of Herodotus and Homer, these Carian cities had been a member of the lonian league and thus, Grek cities. The Egyptian and Scythian Periods The Egyptians reigned over Caria for a short while, followed by the rule of the Scyths. During the time the Scyths rules the land they set up nine cities in the region and expanded their borders from the Aegean Sea, to the Assyrian frontier. Another source reports that the Assyrians took control of this region after the Scyths. Carians During the Trojan Wars Liberating themselves from Assyrian reign, the Carians participated in the Trojan Wars, famous for its wooden horse as explained in detail by Homer, by sending mercenaries, as did some Asian tribes (1280 BC). According to another narrative, because the Trojans lost the war in 1209 BC. Carians were among the defeated as well. As a result of the internal upheavals and battles that appeared in Greece following the Trojan Wars, a number of new invaders began to arrive at and colonize the Aegean islands and shores. New Colonies: The Eolians, Ionians, and Dorians Eolians This invasion advance (Project) was conceived and initiated by Orest of Eolia, and resulted in their obtaining a part of Myus and Caria (1124 BC). Ionians The Ionians undertook the second advance against the Carians in two wings, around 1044 BC. The first wing charged toward the Ephesus region under the lead of the king’s son Andruclos, and the second attacked the Miletus area; the region fell to Ionian reign. Dorians The Dorians advanced stealthily; over time they charged the Peloponnesian area, and otherislands of İstanköy and shores. By about 1000 BC they had control over Caria’s southern parts, and the islands of İstanköy and Rhodes. They established seven cities in the region, the most important two being Knidos and Halicarnassus. Caria – Lydia Relations The Carians enjoyed a close relationship with the Lydians that went back quite a long ways; Carian administrators managed Lydia. The most warring soldiers of Asia Minor, the Carians were also part of the mounted army during the most magnificent era of the Lydians, the Heraclid era. There are various narratives on how the Lydian Kingdom passed into Carian hands.In one such account, it is said that Queen Nisa also participated in a rebellion movement organized by the Carian soldiers in Lydia. Carian Kigi, son of Daskyl became the new king as a result of this revolt, after which he United with the Carians and expelled the Ionians on Lydian lands.During the time of the last Lydian king Croesus, born to a Carian mother, Caria and Anotolia entered Lydian rule, with the excaption of Lycia and Cilicia (560 BC). Persian Reign Over Lydia and Caria In 546 BC Lydian King Croesus found it unable to stand against the Med King Kyros, and after a 14-day siege of the city Sardis, surrendered to the Persians.Naturally, together wıth Lydia, Caria also fell to the Persians (546 BC) The Satrapy Period in Caria The Persians ruled the lands they conquered via satraps they assigned. These satraps paid taxes to Persia, and ruled the land according to their wishes. There were still a few cities in Caria and the surrounding area that had not yet surrendered.The Persian king ordered the Caria satrap Harpagus to attack these cities. One of these cities was Caunos. Although the Caunosians prepared for war and exhibited strong resistance, they were still unable to prevent invasion. And despite the fact that the Carians were pretty strong at the time, apart from a few small battles, they unexpectedly surrendered. | |
Night | ||
Turkish Night is brought to let you experience Turkish culture and traditions. The program begins with live Turkish music, followed by a little flavour of the Ottoman Emperor beautiful Turkish Belly dancer. The highlight of the evening is Folklore Group who will dance a typical Turkish Village wedding, surely a much shorter version as the celebration would normally last several days. Time between 20.00-24.00 |  | |
Most of the hotels in Marmaris have their own Turkish Nights and ther are almost same, including free local drinks, traditional food, belly dancers, folklore dancers, compatitions and more. There special places which they do Turkish Nights apart from the hotels. They do more or less same things but more organised and more professionally. | ||
| Kervansaray is one of them. To enjoy the Turkish Night in Kervansaray, You have to book in advence with your Tour Operator Representative. After that, when the day comes, they pick you up from your hotel to Kervansaraywhere is in Armutalan, Local drinks and soft drinks are free all night so you start having your drinks as your meals are being prepared. Then then night starts with traditional folklore dancing, belly dancing fire show, meanwhile the meal and the deserts are ready to eat. End of the night you will be taken to your hotel for a good night sleep. |  | |
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