Marmaris walking tour & city guide

The old town and castle

On a small headland above the marina, Marmaris Castle dates from the Ottoman era of Süleyman the Magnificent and now holds a modest museum, with views across the bay from its walls. Around it, the old town is a tangle of steep, whitewashed lanes with blue doors, potted plants and cats dozing on the steps.

Below the castle, the covered bazaar and the streets behind the harbor are packed with shops selling spices, textiles, leather and souvenirs, and the old caravanserai near the bazaar entrance is a reminder of the town's trading past.

Seafront, marina and İçmeler

A wide palm-lined promenade runs for several kilometers along the beach, popular for walking and cycling at any time of day. To the east of the castle, Netsel Marina is filled with yachts and gulets, and the harbor front comes alive in the evening with restaurants and bars.

The promenade continues around the bay to İçmeler, a quieter resort with a long beach and a canal lined with flowers, and further south lies the village of Turunç. Boat trips from the harbor visit coves, islands and the phosphorescent cave along the coast.

A classic walk: marina to İçmeler

Begin at Netsel Marina and climb through the old town lanes to the castle, then descend past the bazaar to the Atatürk statue on the seafront. From there, follow the beach promenade west, past the long sandy strip and the hotels, all the way to İçmeler. The walk is about eight kilometers, flat and shaded by palms in parts, and you can return by water taxi or dolmuş.