Planning a Trip

Getting There

By Plane -- Turkish Airlines serves Dalaman Airport year-round. Their offices in Marmaris are at Atatürk Cad. 26B (tel. 0252/412-3751 or 252/412-3752). The number at the airport is tel. 0252/792-5395.

Havas (tel. 444-0487) shuttle buses will be waiting for you at the Dalaman airport to whisk you away to either Marmaris or Fethiye (separate buses for opposite directions). The bus into Marmaris (to the otogar, to be exact) takes 90 minutes (85km/53 miles) and costs 21YTL ($16). There are also car-rental counters on-site, sensible if you've arrived here exclusively for a land tour. From the otogar, it's a 5-minute and 1.25YTL (95¢) dolmus ride to the marina; taxis will also be waiting at the otogar..

By Bus -- The otogar (station) (tel. 0252/412-3037) is located close to the junction for the main highway, about 1.6km (1 mile) outside of the town center. If you're coming from Istanbul (14 hr.) or Ankara (10 hr.), buses depart once a day around 11pm or midnight and arrive the next day for about 45YTL ($33). Service from Izmir (4 1/4 hr.) is more frequent, with fares as low as 14YTL ($10) with Kamil Koç. From some towns like Selçuk or Kusadasi, you may be forced to change buses in Aydin, about halfway to Marmaris. Marmaris Koop bus lines (tel. 0252/413-5543) runs direct, air-conditioned service to/from Bodrum (3 hr.; 9.50YTL/$7), Ortaca/Dalyan (1 1/2 hr.; 5.40YTL/$4), Fethiye (3 hr.; 4.50YTL/$3.30), Göcek (2 1/2 hr.; 8YTL/$6), and Antalya (7 hr.; 20YTL/$15). Pamukkale bus company (tel. 0252/412-5586) runs year-round direct daily service to Pamukkale (4 hr.; 11YTL/$8), in addition to Izmir, Bodrum, Fethiye, Antalya, and Kas (summers only).

Dolmuses (minivan-type public transportation) provide regular shuttle service from the otogar into town. This is a good option if the bus company you arrived on doesn't provide a free minibus transfer into town. Take a taxi if you're headed to the marina and instruct your driver to take you through the gates and as close as possible to your boat, otherwise, the size of the marina may force you to walk quite a distance from the gates to the mooring.

By Ferry -- Ferries from Bodrum leave twice daily (9am and 5pm) for the 2-hour crossing to Korman, a lonesome port on the northwestern reaches of the Datça Peninsula. A one-way ticket costs 15YTL ($11) and can be purchased either at the offices of Bodrum Ferryboat Association (tel. 0252/316-0882) just east of the castle or through any travel agent. From Korman, a shuttle bus will take you to the town of Datça, about 6.5km (4 miles) away. From there (assuming Datça is not your final destination), you can hop on a dolmus for the long and alternately mountain and coastal drive into Marmaris (6.75YTL/$5; 1 hr. 15 minutes).

Bodrum Express Lines (tel. 0252/316-1087) also runs hydrofoils between Bodrum and Marmaris departing on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. Hydrofoils arrive in the charming town of Gelibolu (where they will complete the journey for you with a bus to Marmaris). Total travel time is 1 hour 50 minutes (the last 20 min. are on the bus); the trip costs 26YTL ($19).

Visitor Information

The Tourist Information office (tel. 0252/412-1035; fax 0252/412-7277) is at Iskele Meydani 2, across from the Atatürk statue.

Orientation

As a chief point of departure for the Blue Voyage, the Marmaris seafront is where all of the action takes place. Ulusal Egemenlik Caddesi meets the Bay of Marmaris head-on at the main square proudly displaying the statue of Atatürk. To the east along the shore is Atatürk Caddesi, which forks off and changes names several times before it exits Marmaris proper and turns into a hilly country road leading into Içmeler, which is dotted with four- and five-star resorts, each with its own little cove. But before you arrive at this pine-clad paradise, you must pass through a fringe section of two-star hotels, buildings badly in need of paint jobs, and odd minor bazaars selling plastic toys.

The area east of Ulusal Egemenlik Caddesi is the older part of town, a cluster of old waterfront houses crowned by the castle. Kordon Caddesi is the pedestrian continuation of Atatürk Caddesi to the east of Iskele Meydani, and where the gulets (wooden boats) line the wharf each Saturday night prior to their morning departure. The wharf walk makes a semicircular loop around the base of the castle, arriving at several footbridges leading to the entrance of the marina. Within the gates of Netsel Marina are a few pubs and restaurants with terraces overlooking the harbor, along with an upscale outdoor shopping mall.

Most of your travel-related business can be done either on Kordon Caddesi for boat-related activities, or on Ulusal Egemenlik Caddesi for general travel agencies or bus offices. Not far from Iskele Meydani on Ulusal Egemenlik Caddesi (on the left) is the grocery store Targas, indispensable for last-minute provisions like water and wine, which are generally not included in the Blue Voyage package.

Nighttime activities are concentrated around the harbor, with restaurants lining the wharf from Iskele Meydani all the way into Netsel Marina. Chaos reigns on Haci Mustafa Sokagi, also known as Barlar Sokagi, from Iskele Meydani to the footbridge leading to the marina, just 1 block back and parallel to the wharf. There is a covered bazaar at the foot of the castle opposite the statue of Atatürk.

Getting Around

There is one main road running the length of Datça Peninsula from Marmaris to Datça town. Dolmuses run frequently from the otogar along Marmaris's multinamed main road via the statue of Atatürk to points west. Check the destination on the windshield if you're headed out of town; service runs as far as Datça. Consider renting a car for forays into the surrounding villages and coves, or get a scooter for ease of transportation in and around the immediate reach of Marmaris town. Ask your hotel concierge if they can help you with a rental, or even ask a bellhop, who will most certainly have a friend in the vehicle-rental business. Cars or scooters rent for as little as 33YTL ($25) day, slightly less if you plan on keeping it for only a couple of hours. Agree on a model and price by phone, and a representative will deliver the vehicle to you at no extra charge.

Several taxi boats provide service between the holiday resorts of Içmeler and downtown Marmaris. Service is more frequent when demand is up, so check with your hotel to see how often they are running, if at all, and the time of day they start/finish. The ride costs 4YTL ($3) each way.

A regular taxi from Içmeler to Marmaris costs around 8YTL ($6).