Marmaris Holidays

Clear water and sheltered bays make Marmaris a good base for diving. At Kadırga Bay, visitors can explore rocky underwater scenery, amphorae and the remains of a Hellenistic-era wreck, with local dive centres catering to different experience levels.

The Carian Way runs through the Bozburun Peninsula south of Marmaris, passing coastal landscapes, villages and historic sites. Visitors can choose shorter sections rather than tackling the entire long-distance route, making it easy to include a scenic walk during their stay.

A 4x4 safari takes visitors away from the resort and onto forest tracks through the surrounding countryside. Routes commonly combine mountain scenery, small villages, waterfalls and swimming stops, giving visitors a more active way to see another side of Marmaris.

İçmeler is one of the easiest places near Marmaris for visitors to spend an active day on the water. Swimming and water sports take place against a backdrop of forested hills and sheltered coastline, all within easy reach of the main resort.

Kumlubük combines a quieter coastline with hills crossed by walking and trekking trails. Visitors can follow routes through pine-covered scenery, take in coastal views and finish the outing beside the clear water and relatively peaceful beach.

Before modern Marmaris developed, Physkos served as an important Carian port and regional centre. Visitors can find traces of the ancient settlement around Asartepe, north of the present town, offering a glimpse into the area’s history stretching back thousands of years.

Set above Kumlubük Bay near Turunç, Amos preserves sections of ancient walls, a theatre and other archaeological remains. Visitors are also rewarded with wide coastal views, which make the hillside setting as memorable as the ruins themselves.

At Bozukkale on the south-western edge of the Bozburun Peninsula, Loryma is best known for its substantial ancient fortifications. Visitors who make the walk from the harbour can explore the surviving walls while taking in broad views across the surrounding coastline.

Near Hisarönü, ancient Kastabos was home to a sanctuary dedicated to Hemithea, a figure associated with healing in local tradition. Visitors can see the remains of a site thought to date from the fourth century BCE and linked closely with ancient Carian worship.

Outside Taşlıca village, the ruins of Phoenix sit on a hill overlooking the Bozburun Peninsula. Visitors can see remains including a temple and ancient mill, while the remote location gives the site a noticeably quieter atmosphere than Marmaris’s better-known landmarks.

Bozburun has a long tradition of building wooden gulets, with working shipyards and boat workshops still part of everyday life. Visitors can see how the area’s maritime heritage continues through vessels built for sailing along Türkiye’s Aegean and Mediterranean coasts.

The Historical Bazaar remains a lively part of central Marmaris, with small shops selling spices, clothing, souvenirs and locally made handicrafts. Wandering through its covered lanes gives visitors a glimpse of the town’s trading traditions beyond the modern waterfront.

Traditional craftwork remains part of Muğla’s wider cultural identity, particularly weaving and needlework linked with the region’s Yörük heritage. Visitors around Marmaris can find locally made textiles and decorative crafts in markets, villages and smaller independent shops.

Söğüt and Taşlıca offer visitors a quieter look at life on the Bozburun Peninsula. Stone houses, coastal views, small settlements and working landscapes give both villages a distinctly local character, noticeably removed from the busier atmosphere of central Marmaris.

Sailing is woven deeply into Marmaris’s identity. Visitors can experience the Blue Voyage tradition aboard wooden gulets travelling between sheltered bays and small harbours, continuing a style of coastal travel closely associated with Türkiye’s Aegean and Mediterranean shores.

Marmaris International Race Week returns annually in October, bringing sailing crews from Türkiye and overseas to compete across Marmaris Bay. Visitors can watch the yachts from the waterfront while the marina becomes particularly lively around race days and ceremonies. 

Held each spring, the Marmaris International Culture and Art Festival brings concerts, exhibitions, workshops and performances to venues across the town. Visitors can enjoy a varied programme featuring Turkish and international artists, with events changing from year to year.

Taking place around October, the festival screens short films from Türkiye and abroad at venues around Marmaris. Visitors can watch work from emerging filmmakers alongside open-air screenings, adding something different to the resort’s autumn calendar.

The Seafood Festival brings Selimiye, Bozburun, Söğüt and Taşlıca together around the region’s coastal cooking. Visitors can sample seafood dishes, watch chefs at work and enjoy music, workshops and performances across several communities on the Bozburun Peninsula.

Late November and December bring a festive programme to central Marmaris, centred around 19 Mayıs Gençlik Square. Visitors can browse food and gift stalls, watch concerts and dance performances, and enjoy family activities during one of the resort’s quieter seasons.

Summer evenings bring concerts, theatre productions and dance performances to Marmaris Amphitheatre. The open-air setting overlooking the town gives visitors an atmospheric place to enjoy live entertainment, particularly when Marmaris’s cultural programme becomes busier during the warmer months.

After dark, Marmaris’s sailing scene takes on a livelier character with parties aboard yachts, sailing boats and traditional gulets. Visitors can combine music, drinks and time on the water for an evening that feels distinctly different from the resort’s land-based clubs.

Close to the marina, Bar Street is the centre of Marmaris nightlife, packed with clubs and late-night bars. Visitors looking for a livelier evening will find the area busiest well after dinner, particularly during the peak summer months.

Turkish Night programmes combine folk dancing, music and staged performances over dinner. Visitors looking for an alternative to clubs and bars can enjoy an organised evening that commonly includes a set meal, performances and hotel transfers.

Uzunyalı offers visitors a varied evening scene along the seafront, with restaurants, bars and discos stretching towards İçmeler. An evening can start with dinner beside the water before moving on to live music, drinks or dancing later on.