Marmaris, Port town on Turkish Riviera, Turkey
Marmaris is a coastal town in Muğla Province on the Turkish Riviera, spreading along a natural bay. The settlement extends from the harbor promenade into the forested slopes, while sandy beaches and rocky coves shape the shoreline.
The castle was expanded in the 16th century under Sultan Suleiman I to serve as a base for the Ottoman fleet. Over the following centuries, its role shifted between military use and regional administration, before tourism began developing from the 1980s onwards.
The name likely comes from the Greek word for marble, once quarried in the surrounding hills. Turkish families spend summers in the many holiday apartments lining the waterfront, while evenings see the harbor area fill with diners and café visitors.
The promenade is easy to walk and connects the marina district to the old town quarter. Visitors heading to coves outside town can find shared minibuses and water taxis along the coastal road.
Near the marina, a small grove of sweetgum trees releases fragrant resin in autumn. This woodland is one of the last of its kind along the Turkish Aegean coast.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
