Discover Marmaris by Hire Car
Marmaris is a picturesque coastal town with a population of 31,000 in an area of 866 square kilometres in the southwest of Turkey’s Aegean Sea.
The origin of the town’s name is somewhat sinister, as a sultan, who had commissioned four builders to erect a castle over the town that could be seen as far as neighbouring Rhodes, had them summarily executed when it seemed too small.
Marmaris means four architects hanged. Today, Marmaris is a fully developed resort and one of Turkey’s tourist hotspots.
The eleven-kilometre-long beach promenade alone, with its numerous shops, bars and restaurants, is an inviting place for an extensive stroll.
Sights in Marmaris
There are umbrellas and sunbeds on the wide pebble beach. However, the port of Marmaris is also more than worth seeing.
In a large, naturally protected bay lies not only the fishing port, but also two smaller marinas, where many skippers from all over the world like to spend the winter.
Large cruise ships, such as the Aida, also dock here.
Free time activities in Marmaris
The beaches around Marmaris have all been awarded the European Union’s blue flag, for consistently good water quality.
With a hire car, quite a few excursion destinations open up in the rugged mountains of the surrounding area or a side trip to the blue lagoon of Ölu Deniz near Fethiye, as well as the neighboring town of Bodrum.
Most of all in the mountains around Marmaris you will find the styrax tree, which is a protected species and gives off its extraordinary fragrant scent, making the region unique. The plant is otherwise only found in Honduras and is dedicated to Hektate, the dark goddess of all witches.
With a hire car, a tour along the gorgeous coastal road to the ancient city of Ephesus near Izmir will also be unforgettable.