Marmaris is a gorgeous town that’s filled with great things to do. As a firm believer in good family fun, I can guarantee there’s no shortage of places to go to keep everyone entertained. In fact, if you’re only popping over here for a short holiday in Turkey, chances are you won’t have time to fit it all in!

Now obviously there are all the usual places that you’re going to want to visit – people don’t tend to come to Turkey without a plan to spend at least some time soaking up the sun on one of the gorgeous beaches. In Marmaris, you’re going to be spoilt for choice when deciding where to pitch your sunbed. The Folk Beach is a lovely spot and it’s free of charge – great if you’re trying to keep costs down. It’s also just a stone’s throw away from Long Beach. Here you’ll find a selection of cafés and restaurants where you can indulge in some delicious local fare at the end of the day – Stella Café & Restaurant is a top choice as the food is healthy and not too pricey, with very generous portions.

While the beaches of Marmaris are covered with greyish, volcanic sands that may not be to every holidaymaker’s taste, the Icmeler region is around 8km away and boasts some of Turkey’s best beaches, covered with gorgeous golden sands running into crystal clear waters.

If you’ve started planning your trip here, you’ve no doubt already looked into the Atlantis Marmaris Waterpark, which is there to provide hours and hours of thrills and spills for everybody. With nine incredible water slides, mini golf and bowling and the only wave pool in Marmaris, this is a must see for any family that loves a water-based adventure. Any time we’ve been, we always feel it’s really worth the entry fee as there’s so much variety.

For something a little bit different, I definitely recommend Marmaris Castle. Built in around 1044 BC, this is a top spot to head for if you’re interested in the culture of the town. You can also take in some fantastic panoramic views of Marmaris. While you’re there you can take in the history of the area at the museum, which is built into the castle. There are exhibitions of artefacts from several different eras including Roman and Hellenistic. It’s open every day except Monday, from 08:30–12:00, then 13:00–17:00.

In terms of places to eat in Marmaris, my wife and I enjoy going to Kervan Ocakbasi, where you can get some of the best cheese and egg pide I’ve ever tried. For somewhere a bit smaller, Sail Marmaris boasts a really lovely atmosphere to sit and enjoy a good meal for a decent price. It’s not top of the list when it comes to great views, but the staff are very friendly and it’s just a short walk from the beach. It’s very family-orientated and children are always made to feel very welcome.

Coming up in May there will be the International Spring and Maritime Festival, which is a really fantastic event for locals and tourists alike. It’s always an exciting, vibrant time. There are tons of competitions going on throughout the festival, including sand sculptures and fishing, as well as tug of wars, music acts and art exhibits. It’s a wonderful event to go to and I’d definitely recommend shuffling your dates to include it, if you’re planning your trip around then as it really captures the spirit of this gorgeous coastal town.

Image by Eladesor used under Creative Commons licence

© 2013 – 2015, Kerry Arslan. All rights reserved.