Compare Marmaris Holidays

Overview

One of the larger vacation resorts, Marmaris is probably themost European of the Turkish resort towns on the Mediterraneancoast, and a bustling cosmopolitan tourist centre in the summermonths. Marmaris also marks the start of the Turquoise Coast alongthe Mediterranean Sea. Built around an extensive natural bay at thefoot of forested mountain slopes, the town is the best base forsome of the finest sailing on the Mediterranean, with a modernmarina catering for private yachts and the Blue Voyage cruisebusiness. According to legend the town got its name when, notfinding the castle he had commissioned on the hill to his liking,Süleyman the Magnificent muttered 'Mimari as' ('Hang thearchitect!').

Money

The official currency is the New Turkish Lira (TRY), which wasintroduced on 1 January 2005, whereby six zeros were dropped fromthe TL and the sub-unit New Kurush was created. Currency can beexchanged at banks, exchange booths, post offices, airports andferry ports; banks have the worst rates and highest commissions,but will exchange lesser known foreign currencies. Banks openmainly Monday to Friday, but some are open daily in tourist areas.ATMs are widely available in major cities and tourist areas, butTurkish ATM keypads usually do not have letters of the alphabet ontheir keys. Most bank branches have ATMs which accept Cirrus andPlus. Major credit cards are widely accepted; the most popular areVisa or MasterCard, but American Express is accepted in many of themore expensive places. Travellers cheques can be exchanged at somebanks and currency exchange offices, but are not as welcome as cashor credit cards. US dollars or Euros are preferred. Some pensionsand hotels in the most popular destinations accept US dollars aspayment.

Time

Local time is GMT +2 (GMT +3 from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October).

Language

Turkish is the official language, but English is widely understood in the main tourist areas.

Climate

Both the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts have a typicalMediterranean climate with mild winters and hot summers, withtemperature often rising above 30ºC (86ºF) in July andAugust. Showers are unlikely in the summer months, but the rainfallis quite high in winter.

Shopping

To enjoy shopping in Marmaris visitors need to be clued up andprepared. Vendors, particularly in the bazaars, can be annoyingwith their touting (although this is illegal), and there are alarge number of fake designer goods on sale. If you fancy abargain-priced Rolex watch, be prepared for it to be fake, althoughthis does not mean it is not worth buying because in Turkey fakesare good quality! Prices are very cheap, and everywhere, except inthe larger stores, haggling is expected and it is possible to knockabout 30 percent off the asking price. Bearing all this in mindMarmaris can be a shopper's delight, particularly for items likeleather, ceramics, jewellery and carpets. Best value goods are tobe found in the Carsi Market in the Ottoman Castle, where 200-oddshops and a flea market are open seven days a week. The Thursdaymarket is a colourful experience where locals sell fruit,vegetables, fabric and clothing. Netsel Marina is a good place tofind original designer clothing. Duty free goods are also onoffer.

Nightlife

Marmaris' wild nights are centred on Bar Street around thewaterfront, packed with nightclubs and bars that rock until about4am. Many restaurants stay open all night to cater for earlymorning revellers. Recommendations are Davy Jones' Locker, renownedfor its inexpensive cocktails and all-night dancing; Vagabundo, aclub on the beachfront where staff dance on the bar counter; andCheers, also on the beachfront, with a hot drag act and outdoorseating. Another favourite is the open air Magic Garden bar/nightclub.

Activities

Holidaymakers who prefer to spend their beach time being activewill be spoilt for choice at Marmaris where dozens of watersportsoperators service the sea front, offering everything from bananaboat rides and paragliding to jet-skiing and scuba diving, all atvery reasonable prices (which can usually be bargained down evenmore). The local Atlantis waterpark is a must for families. Thosewho want to sightsee or explore can choose from a variety ofexcursions, including guided horse safaris through the countrysideor jeep safaris to visit nearby country villages, with visits toverdant untouched forests where crystal waterfalls beckon one tohave a dip. The ancient site of Ephesus and the spring waters ofPamukkale are also popular outings, as are a variety of boattrips.

Restaurants

Whether you want to go international, or try local fare at a'lokanta' (Turkish restaurant), Marmaris' hundreds of diningestablishments will have something to suit any appetite and anypocket. You'll find fish 'n chips if that's your bag, good Chinese,satisfying German or the ubiquitous Italian. Visitors should notbalk at sampling Turkish delights, however, particularly populardoner kebabs and seafood meze platters.

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