Marmaris

Marmaris is a district of Muğla province, and its harbor town sits on a bay ringed by pine-covered hills. Above the harbor, the castle that Süleyman the Magnificent rebuilt now holds an archaeology museum. Because the district reaches far down the Bozburun Peninsula, we plan Marmaris as a base for bays, Carian ruins and boat days. When the ferries run, the Greek island of Rhodes lies within reach as well. From Fethiye, our Fethiye to Marmaris blue cruise arrives here by sea in 4 days.

Marmaris at a Glance

In antiquity, the castle hill was part of Physkos, an important harbor city of Caria. Today, Marmaris is a charter port for trips along the Turquoise Coast. It is also one of the stops on the Blue Voyage routes. Around the town, the pine forests give the local honey. Choosing one? Read Marmaris or Fethiye.

Quick facts

• Good for: a castle museum above the harbor, Carian ruins, Sedir Island, pine honey, the Blue Voyage
• Best combined with: Datça, Akyaka, Dalyan, Fethiye

Marmaris Town

The castle, the port and the marina all sit in the town center.

Marmaris Castle and its museum

Marmaris Castle stands on a small peninsula above the harbor, and it is a registered first-degree monument. Since May 18, 1991, the castle has housed an archaeology museum. Its four display halls show finds from the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods, while the courtyard serves as an open-air gallery. The museum opens every day, with longer hours from May to mid-October, and we arrange your entry. We time your visit to the castle museum to its seasonal hours.

The Hafsa Sultan Caravanserai

At the castle entrance stands the Hafsa Sultan Caravanserai. The inscription over its gate dates it to 1545. Süleyman built it for his mother, Hafsa Sultan, to serve trade and travelers. It has two stories, seven small rooms, one large room and a bath. Shops filled the lower floor, while lodgings took the upper one.

The harbor, bazaar and marinas

In the center you find the Kapalı Çarşı, the covered bazaar of Marmaris, and two marinas, Netsel Marina and Marmaris Yacht Marina. Ferries to Rhodes leave from Marmaris Yolcu Limanı, the passenger port of the town.

Bays and Villages Around Marmaris

Outside the town, the district runs south down the Bozburun Peninsula, with beaches, coves and the sites of small ancient cities.

İçmeler, Turunç and Amos

İçmeler and Turunç both have beaches. Near Turunç, the ancient city of Amos lies northwest of Kumlubük Bay. Finds from Amos are on show in the castle museum in town.

Sedir Island and Cleopatra Beach

In the eastern Gulf of Gökova, Sedir Island holds the ruins of ancient Kedrai. The island falls within Ula district. Still, the nearest village is Çamlı in Marmaris, and the fastest boats leave from its harbor. Day boats sail from Akyaka too. Because its sand formed in an unusual way, Cleopatra Beach is under protection. By boat, join our Sedir Island boat tour. Our island page covers the ruins, the legend and the visit.

The Bozburun Peninsula

Stops on the peninsula include Hisarönü, the Kız Kumu at Orhaniye, Selimiye and Bozburun itself. Further south lie the villages of Söğüt and Taşlıca. Both villages look over Söğüt bay. Then, at the far south, ancient Loryma stands on Bozukkale Bay.

Ancient cities of the Marmaris district

Around Marmaris lie 17 ancient sites that are not set up for visitors. Physkos lies above Asartepe in the town, while Kastabos stands at Hisarönü. Down the peninsula, Syrna sits near Bayır Bay and Tymnos northwest of Söğüt Bay. Phoenix stands on Hisartepe at Taşlıca. Two of them, Burgaz and the Apollo sanctuary at Emecik, lie in Datça district.

History of Marmaris

Physkos, a harbor of Caria

Physkos was an important harbor city of Caria, and the castle hill belonged to it. Its ruins lie at Asartepe, on the slopes above the Beldibi quarter.

Süleyman's Rhodes campaign

In 1522, before Süleyman the Magnificent's campaign against Rhodes, the Ottomans rebuilt Marmaris Castle. After that, it served as a military base. The 17th-century traveler Evliya Çelebi is the only written source on its construction.

The castle in 1913 and 1914

In 1913, a German ship fleeing French cruisers took refuge in the harbor. When the Turkish garrison refused to hand it over, French ships mined the harbor. Later, in July and August 1914, French ships shelled the castle and caused heavy damage. Until the Republican period, people still lived inside its walls.

Marmaris Pine Honey

How the honey is made

Marmaris pine honey is a honeydew honey. A small insect, Marchalina hellenica, leaves a sugary secretion on red pine and Scots pine. Bees then collect it from the trees and turn it into honey. From mid-July the bees work the pines, and good seasons allow up to three harvests by the end of October. Compared with flower honey, it is darker and less sweet, with a taste of resin and pine.

A registered name

Marmaris Çam Balı became a registered appellation of origin (menşe adı), number 469, on November 6, 2019. Before that, the Marmaris Chamber of Commerce had applied for it in January 2017. The first written record of honey in Marmaris dates from 1840. Ottoman income registers from 1840 to 1845 show that beekeeping was widespread then.

Planning Your Days in Marmaris

Our suggestion for three days

Our suggestion: spend the first day in town at the castle museum and the caravanserai, then walk through the covered bazaar to the marinas. On the second day, drive to Çamlı and take a boat to Sedir Island. For the third day, follow the Bozburun Peninsula south through Orhaniye and Selimiye to Bozburun.

Our suggestion for a longer stay

Add a day on the road to Datça and Knidos, or cross to Rhodes while the ferries run. After that, continue east to Dalyan and Fethiye on your way back to Dalaman.

Our notes for Marmaris

• Pine honey labelGenuine Marmaris Çam Balı carries its registered logo on the jar or its packaging.
• Cleopatra BeachThe beach is protected because of the way its sand formed.
• ÇamlıThe fastest boats to Sedir Island leave from Çamlı harbor.
• Rhodes pierBoats to Rhodes leave from Marmaris Yolcu Limanı, the passenger port.

Our suggestion Start at the castle museum, walk through the covered bazaar, then give a whole day to Sedir Island by boat from Çamlı.

Getting to Marmaris

From Dalaman Airport

Marmaris is served by Dalaman Airport. HAVAŞ and MUTTAŞ run shuttle buses between the airport and central Marmaris. The HAVAŞ line runs from Marmaris Bus Terminal through Gökova, Köyceğiz, Ortaca and Dalaman to the airport. For timetables and fares, the Dalaman Airport transport page links to both bus companies. At the terminal, you find taxis and rental cars on the arrivals level.

Ferries from Marmaris to Rhodes

Rhodes is a Greek island and the capital of the Dodecanese. Yeşil Marmaris Lines runs a route between Marmaris and Rhodes from Marmaris Yolcu Limanı, the passenger port. Marmaris is one of Turkey's permanent sea border gates. Ferries to Rhodes cross an international border, so bring your passport and check Greece's entry requirements before you go. We check the current timetable with the operator.

Datça, Dalyan and Fethiye by road

From Marmaris, one road leads to Datça and another toward Fethiye. In Datça district lies ancient Knidos. In the other direction, the airport bus passes Köyceğiz and Ortaca. From Dalyan town in Ortaca, you reach the rock tombs of Kaunos by road or by boat. Our Dalyan and Fethiye pages cover that stretch of coast.

Updated: October 26, 2026.

Seeing Marmaris with Us

We plan Marmaris as a base for the castle, the Bozburun Peninsula and boat days on the Gulf of Gökova. For tables in town, see the best restaurants in Marmaris. Our driver service covers the airport road and the peninsula, while our yacht service and Blue Voyage cruises cover the sea. Before you sail, read Sailing in Turkey: The Best Cruising Grounds, the Summer Wind and How to Charter, and for the wider coast see our Turquoise Coast page.