Description

Marmaris, which is a rather large Turkish resort, is well known as the “Jewel of the Turkish Riviera” for its amazing natural beauty. The resort is very European in nature and being at the start of the amazing turquoise coast, it forms the perfect base for some fine sailing on the Mediterranean. Situated at the foot of forested mountains and built extensively around a natural bay, the resort offers amazing scenic views with a plethora of accommodation options varying from small guest houses to the lavish star hotels. There is a modern marina too catering to private yachts sets that keep docking at the resort.

Shopping

Shopping can be both a pleasurable and an annoying experience at Marmaris. There are too many touts trying to force their goods and wares on the visitors and there are also a large number of fake designer wares on offer. Tourists have to make sure they handle the touts firmly and politely and be careful when dealing with stores selling branded goods, as most of them can be fake. On the other hand, Marmaris can be a shoppers delight too with the best buys being leather wares, porcelain goods, jewelry and tapestries tops. Great value goods can be purchased at Ottoman Castle. Ottoman Castle consists of more than two hundred shops and a flea market, which are open all through the week. Netsel marina is famous for original designer clothes. Duty free goods are also available in abundance at the resort. There is a Thursday market that sells clothes, fruits and vegetables. Visitors have to bear in mind to haggle about the prices and try knock down the original price by about 30 percent.

Restaurants

Marmaris has over a hundred restaurants and eateries that offer an amazing variety in tastes, cuisines, class and budgets. From great quality Chinese to gratifying German, the ever-present Italian to even lip smacking curries, all are offered in the restaurants at Marmaris. There are a couple of restaurants offering fish and chips too. However it is best advised to taste as much of the local dishes as possible, especially some of the delicious ones like doner kebabs and seafood meze platters. Some of the recommended restaurants are the Sea club in the Nestel Marina (for Italian and Turkish fare), the Antique Café-bar (Mediterranean food), and the Taj Mahal (Indian Cuisine). The splendid dock waterfront also encloses many restaurants and bars where one can relax and take in the brilliant view of the sea.

Night Life

Marmaris provides a wild and crowded nightlife with bars and nightclubs staying open until 4am. There are a few that are open throughout the night enabling early morning party animals to get their share of fun. Some of the suggested nightclubs are Davy Jones' Locker, popular for its reasonably priced cocktails and all-night dancing; Vagabundo, which is a club on the beachfront where staffs dance on the bar counter; and Cheers, which also is on the beachfront and offers a hot drag act. Also preferred is the open air Magic Garden bar and nightclub.

Activities

Holidaymakers are sure to have the time of their life with a wide range of water sports, all provided at very reasonable prices. Marmaris offers everything, from banana boat rides and paragliding to jet skiing and scuba diving. A visit to the local Atlantis water park also is a must for families. On land activities include guided horse safaris through the lush landscape or jeep safaris to visit nearby country villages. Tourists can also opt for visits to the dense and untouched forests, where sparkling waterfalls tempt one and all to have a refreshing dip. The ancient site of Ephesus and the spring waters of Pamukkale are also popular excursion points.

Communications

To call Turkey, the international country dialing code is +90. While calling from Turkey, the outgoing code is 00, followed by the relevant country code. There are internal dialing codes that are in use to call within Turkey; for example to call Istanbul Asya (Asia side) within Turkey is (0)216 and Istanbul Avrupa (Europe side) is (0)212. GSM 900 and 1800 networks cover most of the country. Internet cafes are available in the main towns and resorts.

Contacts

Turkish Tourist Office: +90 (0)212 573 4136 (Istanbul) or www.tourismturkey.org
Turkish Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 612 6700
Turkish Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7393 0066
Turkish Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 789 4044
Turkish Embassy, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6295 0227
Turkish Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 342 6053-7
Turkish Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 668 5240
Turkish Embassy, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 472 1292
United States Consulate General, Istanbul: +90 (0)212 335 9000
British Embassy, Ankara: +90 (0)312 455 3344
Canadian Embassy, Ankara: +90 (0)312 459 9200
Australian Embassy, Ankara: +90 (0)312 459 9500
South African Embassy, Ankara: +90 (0)312 446 4056
Irish Embassy, Ankara: +90 (0)312 446 6172
New Zealand Embassy, Ankara: +90 (0)312 467 9054/6/8
Emergencies: 155 (Police); 112 (Ambulance)

Currency

TRY

Attractions

Marmaris is a very attractive resort and offers some breathtaking scenic views all around. Some of the attractions in the region include the forested hills, where visitors can go hiking and the serene country villages. The ancient site of Ephesus and the spring waters of Pamukkale are also quite nearby and make up for a day’s excursion from the resort. Both the sites with their amazing historical and archeological relevance make the trip well worth the effort.

Language

Turkish

Language Description

The official language of Turkey is Turkish. However in almost all the main tourist areas, English is widely understood.

Tipping

Either a small change or a percentage of the bill is the customary tip given for most services in Turkey. Big hotels and restaurants generally add a service charge to the bill, but whenever that is not the case, 10 and 15% of the bill is expected as tips. While tipping taxi drivers, it is recommended to round up the bill. Attendants at Turkish baths expect 15% of the total bill as tips if the service offered has been good.