Marmaris splits the Mediterranean Sea and the Aegean Sea with a long and narrow peninsula. The Marmaris Peninsula has always been an important part of the history of the Mediterranean Civilization with its strategic geographic position and its natural beauty and rich past.

The Aegean played an important role in the development of the waterline civilization between the Mediterranean Islands and the shores of European Continent and East Mediterranean.

Trade ships had to cross the Aegean Sea in order to go to west or to east. The safest way to do this was either to reach the east shores of Anatolia or to weigh anchor and move away from that shore. Aegean shores were full of countless indentation s, in other words natural ports. A safe haven against winds and storms.

The Mediterranean Sea was not as rich in fish life as the Black sea. The Mediterranean people used to live on what they harvested from the sea and the land. It has been like this throughout known history. It is same today as well. The relatively poor fish stocks of the Mediterranean Sea forced people living there to rely on trading. The first steps in sea trading in the world developed in the Mediterranean, as did the skills of seamanship.

The Mediterranean not being generous as a food source was however very convenient as a transportation medium. The geographic structure of the coasts facilitated the work of the trading ships. At first, the ports and then the cities around the ports were established and they developed quickly. The building blocks of today’s civilization started to be put one on the top of the other in this region. The Aegean / Mediterranean Civilization was born.

Marmaris is a large tourism resort with a selection of accommodation starting from small, quaint pensions to big holiday villages and 5 star hotels. Restaurants offer all kinds of cuisine from Chinese, French, Hindu and Italian to traditional Turkish cuisine; with many using the blended delicacy of natural herbs grown in the fast changing climate from the Mediterranean shores to the mountains. It is a resort where swimming is possible in the secluded bays as well as in front of the hotels in the city centre owing to the waste treatment systems and environmental controls . The sea is clear even in front of your door. The city has long beaches with fine sand, small bays, small islands, and strange looking rocks shaped by the sea and wind. 300 days of the year, the sun shines and the sea is a clear blue.

The most important building in the centre is the castle. The castle was first constructed by Ionians. The preserved form today was built by Ottomans in 1522. During the First World War, it was damaged by cannonball fire opened from a French war ship. A museum in the Castle was restored between 1980-1990. The entrance of the castle opens directly to the garden. From both sides of the courtyard, stairs climb up the walls. It is worth the climb to see the view from the castle. Two of the covered places are arranged as archeological museum s. Amphorae, baked clay, glass art of work, coins and various ornaments found as a result of excavation work done in Knidos, Burgaz, Hisarönü are displayed in those two salons and in the garden. One of the galleries is an ethnographical salon arranged as a Turkish House, and the other one is the room of the commander of the castle.

Another Ottoman building in the city is Hafza Sultan Caravanserai built in 1545. Seven small rooms and one big room of the Caravanserai are allocated to gift shops. The historical shops in the market place which used to sell second hand goods are still in the shopping centre of the city.

Marmaris regained a new park. This is an archeological park. 8,342 m 2 area known as the İyilik Kayalıkları (Rocks of Goodness) and the 2,100 m 2 area on the slope of the hill in the town centre has been declared as protected area and opened for visitors under the name İyilik Kayalıkları Archeological Park. Some remains from 4th century BC are being exhibited in the park.