A Guide To Marmaris For All The Family

If you’re looking for a getaway that is full of sunshine, sandy beaches and sightseeing, then add Marmaris to your travel bucket list. This popular Turkish seaside town isn’t just for holidaymakers on a lads or girls holiday, oh no, this friendly seaside town has all you need for a family break thanks to its quaint old-town streets, an impressive castle, and countless high energy excursions. In fact, the picturesque coastline, which boasts an outstanding landscape of pine-covered hills, and azure waters, has been attracting holiday makers for years.  The short four-hour flight from London adds to its appeal for Brits looking for a short-haul holiday. Here’s Belle About Town’s essential travel guide for this stunning Turkish town.

Where to shop: If you want to shop until you drop, then head straight to Marmaris Grand Bazaar. Also known as Carsi Market, it is the most popular shopping area in Marmaris that is bustling with traders selling  souvenirs, mosaic lanterns, Turkish clothes, carpets, shoes, bags, jewellery as well as sports clothes and trainers. Foodies will be pleased to know that they can also pick up local jam, honey, baklava  and of course Turkish delight. Bargaining is rife here, so be prepared to haggle. The Bazaar is located close to the harbour and Marmaris castle. Top tip: Shopping hours in Marmaris are from 9am to 10pm, but during the summer season, many shops remain open after 10pm. As shops are open very late, try and go out after 5pm to avoid being fried in the heat.

Excursions: For those seeking a few hours away from their sun lounger, book  a jeep safari to see more  of the countryside, local villages and the picturesque Jesus Beach. Another popular excursion is a boat trip around the beautiful Mediterranean coast. Every so often, the ship’s captain will drop anchor at some of the region’s prettiest spots. Then you can plunge into the azure depths for a quick swim or even grab some snorkelling gear and go off to explore the colourful creatures that keep Mediterranean marine life abuzz. But if you want to relax then book a traditional Turkish Bath experience. The Hammam spa treatment starts with sauna, before leading to a full body wash and massage.  Top tip – Book online before you go to take the stress out of travelling.

Sightseeing: Unlike Istanbul, Marmaris is not teeming with sightseeing sites. However, what it does have is an impressive castle that is jam-packed with history and artefacts. Marmaris Castle is nestled in the old town, on the hills behind the marina.The walk to the castle is just as charming as the main attraction. You will adore walking through  a maze of cobbled streets. Once you arrive at the castle, you will have to pay 8TL to get inside the landmark. As soon as you step foot inside, you will be wowed by its brick walls, and cactus plants. Be sure to climb to the top to see Marmaris’ stunning skyline. As well as its sheer beauty, Marmaris Castle is also full with history. If you want a quick history lesson, then read of the information boards and discover how it was first built by the Ionians  in 1044 BC  but then rebuilt and widened by Suleyman the Magnificent during his campaign for the Greek island of Rhodes in 1522.  In more modern times, the castle was restored during the 1980s before it became a museum in 1991. It now has seven indoor areas; two of them are organized as an archaeology lounge and one of them is an ethnography lounge. The remaining areas are used as art galleries and storage. Top tip  – Plan your visit ahead as Marmaris Museum is open every day except Monday from 8.30am  to 12pm,  then 1pm to 5pm.

How to get around: Marmaris center and old town can easily be explored on foot. But holidaymakers can get around by taxis, taxi boats or vehicle hire. However, a cheap and clean way to get around Marmaris is on a dolmus minibus. Each journey cots 3TL per person, which is less than £1. They depart from the central Marmaris, mostly in front of the Tansas Supermarket and they stop wherever you want to. There are several dolmus lines, and many stop outside popular resorts.  Whilst there are set stops, the drivers will usually stop anywhere to pick up and drop of. All you have to do is to stand by the road and flag them down. Once on board you can either pay immediately or at the end of the journey. When you see your destination approaching just press the red button. Dolmus lines operate till 2am, especially in the high summer season, which makes them a safe and practical option. Top tip – When paying the Dolmus driver, try to give the exact fare if you can and try not to give the driver large notes as he will have limited change.

Where to stay: Marmaris has lots of luxury resorts, boutique  hotels, and apartments along the Aegean coast.  Pick your location wisely, as it will have a huge impact on your stay. Marmaris is not the sort of place where you only go to your hotel to sleep at night. It is a resort style destination, so your accommodation will impact on how you relax and eat. We stayed at Resort D-Grand Azur on an all-inclusive basis. It was a bit pricier than its neighbouring resorts but well worth the investment. The rooms are spacious, modern and boast a balcony. There is even a pull out hanging rail, where we often left our  wet swimwear to dry in the sun.  This was my first time experiencing a  resort style holiday, and I was impressed to learn that all-inclusive, actually means that – all inclusive. Not only did it cover our breakfast, lunch and dinner, but also food and drinks in the minibar, at the hotel’s bar, beach bar and pool bar. The hotel’s location is also beautiful, as it backs onto a tranquil and private beach. Although we did build a few sandcastles on the beach, we actually spend most of our time poolside, which also boasted a shallow kids pool and water slide – perfect for a family.  Top tip – Opt for all-inclusive package. It will only cost a bit more and you will end up saving money in the long run.

Practical information:  Dalaman is the nearest airport to Marmaris, which is about an hour and 15 minutes away. You can fly into Dalaman from London, Manchester and Birmingham airports. It also has regular connections with Istanbul airport. British passport holders will need a visa, which can be purchased at the airport or online. I travelled in April where temperatures soared to 29C, but you can easily check the weather for when you want to travel online.