Carian Coast
Bodrum to Marmaris
The carians, like the Lycians and Lydians, are considered indigenous peoples of Anatolia. The Carian script has not yet been deciphered, and it has not been possible to determine to which group of languages it belongs. They were neighbors of the Lydians and are also thought to have been seafaring people. The Greeks captured the Carian cities of Halicarnassus, Cnidus, and Barygylia. Halicarnassus, today's Bodrum located on a peninsula jutting into the Aegean on the southwestern coast of Anatolia, was the principle center of Caria.
East Lycian Coast
Marmaris to Antalya
The history of Lycia is a story of fierce struggles against those who sought to invade and dominate it, as it was a very desirable region. It appears that Greek efforts to colonize Lycia during the first millennium B.C. were largely unsuccessful even though there were several Athenian expeditions.The first recorded instance of Lycian resistance fighting occurred around 540 BC when the Persians under the commander Harpagos overran all Asia Minor during the rule of Cyrus II (The Great). The Persians attacked the Lycian capital city of Xanthos and the Xanthosians put up a heroic fight. In the end however, they chose mass suicide over surrender. The men of Xanthos gathered their wives, children and possessions in the acropolis and set fire to all before rushing out fighting to die to the last man.
West Lycian Coast
Datca to Marmaris
Herod held that the Lycians came from Crete, yet archaeological finds and other historical show no records of any cultural or political relationship between the two areas.
In fact, Egyptian sources (~1300 BCE) mention a people called Lukka along these coasts as enemies of the Pharaoh, which corroborates the theory that the Lycians where endemic to Asia Minor.
In the Lycian society, women were held in high respect. Herod even tells that - when asked to which family he belongs - a Lycian would state the lineage of his mother. Moreover, children of a female civilian where free even if their father was a slave!
Dodecanese Islands
Rhodes - Symi - Cos - Tilos - Nissiros
The Dodecanese islands are located in the southeast part of the Aegean Sea and consist of twelve major islands and a number of smaller islands: Astypalea, Leros, Lipsi, Nisyros, Kalymnos, Karpathos, Kastellorizo, Kos, Patmos, Rhodes, Tilos … Some of those Greek Islands are located at the border to Turkey. They have everything to offer to the visitors: whitewashed houses, beautiful beaches with crystal waters, charming villages, exciting nightlife and more…This site about the Dodecanese and its islands provides info about the different islands: history, churches, architecture, beaches, pictures and much more such as a large choice of hotels and other accommodation.
- Turkish Coast
- Carian
- East Lycian
- West Lycian
- Dodecanese
Hot Spots :
- Restaurants in Marmaris -
There are hundreds of restaurants in Marmaris, ranging from fine dining to the local traditional lokantas (turkish for restaurant). Netsel Shopping Mall has some very romantic restaurants with beautiful views.
There are many foreign places to eat, Chinese, Indian, German, English etc. Every taste and budget is catered for.
Some suggested restaurants in Marmaris - Shopping in Marmaris -
Marmaris is a shopper's paradise and it is very cheap! As cheap as it seems you can bargain and get about 30% off the prices asked, except in larger stores. Shopping here is a lot of fun, haggling and bargaining, it's great to feel you have made a super purchase.
Shop for leather, ceramics, jewellery and carpets. You can purchase designer clothes much, much cheaply here, however, if you want originals, shop in the better stores. Netsel Marina has some great boutiques for these items. In the bazaar and markets fakes are the norm but the quality is very good all the same. The Friday market is cheaper still. 
When you visit the bazaar in particular, you will get some hassle from the vendors. After a while it becomes a little annoying, just shake your head and say no thanks. Hassling visitors is illegal here, but it happens just the same. The Turkish name for money is para. If you are bargaining for goods, the expressions 'chock para' means 'too much money', 'chock pahala' means 'too expensive' and 'para yok' means 'I have no money' useful if you are being hassled.
When making purchases keep all receipts. Although the vast majority of places are honest, if you believe you have been overcharged or have problems either in terms of items bought or services rendered please contact us and we can assist you with any just claims.
You can still get duty free goods here, so its a good place to stock up.
If you want to see what's in the shops, click to go to our business/shops pages
The Turkish culture in one of bargaining and for most this is a lot of fun, however, many visitors to Marmaris who are not comfortable with bargaining, then shopping can become an ordeal and it is very easy to end up paying over the odds. However, for those who prefer to be more certain of the value they receive we can provide you with your own 'Personal Shopper'. Your Personal Shopper will guide you to tried and tested shops and outlets that have provided excellent value time and time again for About Marmaris clients. The best news for you though, is that in the great tradition of About Marmaris, this service is completely free as the cost of you Personal Shopper is met by the shops and outlets. For major items it is well worth your while to use our service. See our Personal Shopper page - Yachting in Marmaris -
A natural harbour, Marmaris Bay has three marinas with 1100 capacity, and nine yacht yards with 1200 capacity. Various festivals are organised in order to develop yacht tourism in the region, and the town is the focal point of Blue Voyages. The main activities are the International Yacht Festival during the second week of May, and the week-long International Marmaris Yacht Races at the end of October.
Fethiye
Fethiye is a traditional market town set around a beautiful natural harbour. It is a large centre for scuba diving. Boats depart from here for day trips around the stunning coastline. The most popular boat trip is the twelve islands boat trip, which is an extremely relaxing way to spend the day, touring the beautiful coves and islands of the Gulf of Fethiye, with breaks for lunch and swimming. Life here continues all year around, and recently, many British nationals have chosen to make this relaxed area their home.
About Kos Island
Lovely beaches, pretty villages, interesting sights and a GREAT nightlife. This is considered one of the hottest party islands, but it has much, much more to offer than that.A green, lush island, Kos is an island of many choices where you either can spend your whole holiday on a quiet beach in a laid-back village or party all night in the many bars and clubs.There is so much to see that a week or two just won't do, and that's one of the reasons people keep coming back to the island of Hippocrates.
Mykonos Island
This is the Ibiza of Greece. A beautiful island in the Cyclades, which looks just like the postcards: white little houses with flowers and blue windows and doors, hand painted streets, windmills, pigeon keepers, chimneys, lots of little churches and wonderful restaurants and cafes.
Many of the Greek "jetsetters" either have a house here or visit every summer, and the nightlife is very developed. You will see a lot of eccentrics especially at night time.
Dodecanese Islands
The Dodecanese is complex of over 163 islands and islets, of which only 26 are inhabited, situated at the most eastern part of Greece, at the borders of Europe. You will find here a wonderful blend of architectural styles of eastern and western cultures. Almost every island has its Classical remains, its Crusaders’ Castle, and its traditional villages. The most important are:Rhodes,Kos, Kalimnos, Halki, Kassos, Kastelorizo, Leros, Nissiros, Patmos, Simi and Tilos.
Yachting in Marmaris
A natural harbour, Marmaris Bay has three marinas with 1100 capacity, and nine yacht yards with 1200 capacity. Various festivals are organised in order to develop yacht tourism in the region, and the town is the focal point of Blue Voyages. The main activities are the International Yacht Festival during the second week of May, and the week-long International Marmaris Yacht Races at the end of October.
About Datca
The Carians settled in south western part of Anatolia, between the Menderes River and Koycegiz Lake and named this area as Caria. The Datca Peninsula was also located within these borders, and today it's in the Aegean region of Turkey. Around 1000 BC Dorians invaded the southern part of Caria and established the Dorian Hexapolis with the cities Cnidus (Datca), Halicarnassos (Bodrum), Cos, Kamiros, Lindos and Ialissos (the last three were in Rhodes)
Kalkan
A small peaceful Mediterranean resort and fishing town on the beautiful Turquoise Coast of Turkey, Kalkan has not been touched by mass tourism. More sophisticated than the usual resort town, Kalkan appeals to travelers looking for more than a "sun and sea" holiday. According to the Sunday Times, Kalkan attracts the kind of visitor who would also enjoy Tuscany or the Dordogne. The Guardian likens the town to "the Italian Riviera minus the poseurs."
Blue Voyage in Bodrum
Stretching from Bodrum to the south-east, Gokova Bay has been named after Halikarnas Balikcisi and Azra Erhat as 'the Blue Voyage' when they first discovered it. Boats which pull up anchor in Bodrum and head for Gokova will soon discover the ultimate harmony of green and blue and the beauties which lie under the crystal clear waters.
A center for manufacturing boats for centuries, the demand of seafaring visitors has made yacht tourism one of the principal sources of income in Bodrum.