Once a sleepy fishing village, Marmaris has ballooned into one of the largest resorts on the Aegean coast, if not Turkey.
Little of its history remains, as the town is now a modern development with tourism at its heart and soul.
The population swells to a massive 200,000 in the summer, with most hotels, restaurants, nightclubs and shops catering to low- cost package holidays, although there are facilities for all budgets.

Despite the development which reaches around 10km along the west of the bay, Marmaris is also well-known for its expanse of green, present the whole year round thanks to the pine-covered hills which surround the town.
There are many beaches around the bay, and there are ancient cities and seaside villages close by for day trips.
The yacht harbor is the biggest and newest in Turkey, and therefore the busiest charter port especially for trips along the Turquoise Coast.

In addition to the climate, beaches and facilities of the town, the transportation infrastructure is a definite plus for attracting visitors.
It has easy connections to the nearby airport Dalaman, ferries to Rhodes, and on the road to Datca and Fethiye. The harbor has attracted private boats from around the world, with yacht maintenance and production in the workshops on the Yalanci Strait. With the climate being comfortable even in winter, and the nearby impressive mountains and pine forests, Marmaris is likely to remain a popular and practical holiday spot for a long time.

History

It is thought that the first settlement in Marmaris, whose history dates back to 3400 BC, began with the arrival of a tribe to the region, whose leader was called Kar. The area was then called Karla after him, and its location around the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas always made it an appealing region.

Suleyman the Magnificent assembled a force of 200,000 in 1522, whilst launching the siege of the Knights of St John's base in Rhodes (Rodos). Soon afterwards, he made the city more powerful with the rebuilding of the tiny castle overlooking the town. Lord  Nelson and his entire fleet sheltered in the harbor in 1798, en route to Egypt to defeat Napoleon's armada at the Battle of Aboukir.

Marmaris therefore became a place where different civilizations reigned over time, and there is architectural and historical evidence of Egyptian, Asdur, Ion, Dor, Persian, Macedonian, Syrian, Roman, Byzantium, Seljuk and Ottoman presence.  

Climate

Summers are extremely hot and dry, with daytime temperatures reaching up to 35 degrees, and winters are warm and wet, plunging to 5 degrees at night. The area is quite typical of a Mediterranean climate.  

Marmaris Castle

Thought to have been constructed by the Ionians, this small castle on the hill was repaired during the time of Alexander the Great. It was widened and repaired again by Suleyman the Magnificent 1522, during which time his 200,000 troops attacked and seized the island of Rhodes.
The castle opened as a museum in 1991, after restorations that took ten years. It has seven galleries, and has a collection of archaeological, historical, ethnographic and nautical exhibits. The views of the city are wonderful, with a wonderful panorama day and night.

Marmaris Museum

Marmaris Castle is nationalized on 1979, and restored between 1980 and 1990. Marmaris Museum, is facilitated within Marmaris Castle, and opened for visitors officially on 18th May, 1991. There are seven galleries within castle, two of these are used as warehouses. One gallery is Archeological pieces of arts hall.
Third gallery, which is ethnographic hall is organized as Turk house. Fourth gallery is organized as the room of Castle Commander.
There is also an exhibition hall within the museum.

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