Long ago, Marmaris used to be the Carian port of Physkos. Some ancient remains of the city's past life still remain, scattered around Asartepe Hill at the northern end of the city. Of more interest to non-historians is the Castle Marmaris, built by Suleyman the Magnificent. The castle was the site where the sultan prepared more than 200,000 soldiers to take Rhodes in one of the most extensive battles ever fought in the Ottoman Empire. Now, the small castle houses the archaeological exhibits of the Marmaris Museum. The castle's flower-draped garden looks out over the marina and the sea.
The town's central bazaar has been in operation since Grecian times. In modern times, the market is overwhelmingly tourist-centric, selling a deluge of export T-shirts and plastic souvenirs. For an experience that better matches your mental picture -- glass jars of Marmaris pine honey, hand-woven rugs and carpets, fragrant spices, and local herbs -- ask your concierge for walking directions to the village bazaar that's held every Friday at the old bus station building.
Marmaris includes multiple water parks within its city limits. One of these, Aqua Dream, includes loads of colorful water slides -- including a rafting slide and several spiraling versions -- that suit everyone from small children to adrenaline-frenzied summer university escapees. The park also features several pools, hundreds of sun loungers, a very idiosyncratically Vegas-style "show palace," a restaurant and a bar. The latter hosts regular foam parties in the summertime. Atlantis Water Park, snuggled right up against the water with its own private beach, offers multiple slides, a kiddie pool, a wave pool, miniature golf and a bowling alley as well as on-site snack bars and restaurants.
If the beaches of Marmaris itself are too crowded for your taste, you'll find slightly quieter options just outside town. The crystal-clear water at Icmeler Beach and Turunc invite swimming, and both feature ready access to loungers, pillows, food and drink. The latter beach holds the prestigious "blue flag" qualification for its high quality. You'll also find a nice beach at Gunlucek Park, a forest park reserve about 2 miles southeast of town. All of these are reachable by regularly scheduled city buses and water taxis from central Marmaris.
If you rent a car, you'll be able to explore the extensive variety of Ottoman and Carian ruins scattered around the Marmaris region: the Ibrahim Aga Mosque, built in 1789, the ancient stone bridges of Tashan and Kemerli Kopru, and the tomb of prophet Sariana are the major destinations. Beyond those, history buffs can visit the crumbling Carian and Lycian ruins at Amos, Byabassos, Syma, Larymna, Thyssanos, Phoinix, Loryma, Kasara, Kedria Island, Euthena and Amnistos. All of these are within a three-hour drive of the town center.
