Things to Do in Marmaris: Town Guide and Rhodes Ferry

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Short answer
Things to do
Getting to the ferry port
Getting there
A day before or after the crossing
When to go
FAQ

Marmaris is a busy resort town at the head of a deep, pine-fringed bay in Muğla province, known for its castle, its large marina and its nightlife. The ferry to Rhodes leaves from Marmaris passenger port next to Netsel Marina, and operators list the crossing at about an hour. This guide covers what to see in and around town, how to get to the port and how to spend a day before or after the crossing.

Short answer

Where to stay: The centre, the old quarter below the castle and the marina area are the most practical if you want to walk to the ferry. İçmeler is the quieter beach-resort alternative. See where to stay in Marmaris.
Top three: Marmaris Castle and Museum, the waterfront between the old quarter and Netsel Marina, and a boat trip to Sedir (Cleopatra) Island.
Ferry port: Rhodes ferries leave from Marmaris passenger port, just past the Netsel Marina entrance. A local guide puts it at about a 15-minute walk from the town centre.
How many days: One day for the town and castle, one for İçmeler or Turunç, one for Sedir Island or Datça. Two to three days works well before or after Rhodes.
Best months: A third-party ferry guide gives May to October as high season. Rhodes sailings thin out in winter.
Ferry details: Times, fares and port formalities are in the Marmaris to Rhodes ferry guide.

Marmaris → Rhodes · 50–60 minAll routes →

Things to do

Marmaris Castle and Museum

The castle sits on a natural outcrop of rock directly behind the harbour. Its present form is generally dated to 1522, when Süleyman the Magnificent used it as a base for his Rhodes campaign, and it was badly damaged by French naval bombardment in 1914. After restoration it opened as a museum in 1991. Four halls show marble statues from the Knidos excavations, Archaic figurines from Burgaz and the Apollo sanctuary at Emecik on the Datça peninsula, gold jewellery, coins and glass from Marmaris and nearby ancient sites, and gravestones and reliefs. The ministry’s museum listing gives separate summer and winter opening hours; check muze.gov.tr for current hours and the entry fee before you go.

The old quarter (Kaleiçi)

The old neighbourhood around the castle is the historic core of the town, and the museum’s own address is on Kale Sokak here, so you will walk through its lanes on the way up. Mornings are calmer than the marina side of town, which fills up later in the day.

Netsel Marina and the waterfront

Setur Netsel Marina is the large yacht harbour in the centre of town; one guide describes the area as the heart of Marmaris tourism, with more than 1,000 berths. The passenger port is just beyond the marina entrance, so the marina promenade is also your route to the ferry. It is the main departure point for gulets and day-trip boats.

Bar Street

Bar Street, officially Hacı Mustafa Sokağı, lies in the same area as the marina and runs for about 400 metres of back-to-back bars and clubs. One guide notes venues staying open until around 5am. If you are here for nightlife this is the centre of it; if you want quiet nights, book accommodation well away from this street.

İçmeler

İçmeler is a resort about 8 km from the centre of Marmaris, with a long beach and easy connections. Dolmuş minibuses run from Marmaris, and in season water taxis shuttle between İçmeler and downtown Marmaris, with frequency depending on demand. It is a good base if you want a beach on the doorstep without being far from the ferry port.

Turunç and ancient Amos

Turunç is a bay about 21 km from Marmaris, with a Blue Flag beach and rocky stretches popular with divers. On a hill at Hisarburnu nearby are the remains of ancient Amos, whose walls date to the 4th century BC. Its most notable feature is a theatre that could seat an estimated 1,300 people and still has remains of both its stage building and orchestra. The neighbouring bay of Kumlubük can also be reached by boat from Marmaris.

Sedir Island (Cleopatra Island)

Sedir Island lies in the Gulf of Gökova, off the coast of the Ula district, and has no road access. Boats leave from the jetty at Çamlı, off the Marmaris to Gökova road, and from Akyaka; the trip from Çamlı takes about half an hour. The island holds the ancient city of Kedrai, with walls, a theatre and an Apollo temple, where excavations are ongoing. The famous Cleopatra Beach sand is protected: since 2007 part of the beach has been roped off, security staff watch it, and removing sand is an offence under Turkey’s law on the protection of cultural and natural assets. Reports from different years say visitors may not take towels or footwear onto the beach and that people swim in the bay. One travel source, however, says the sandy shore is completely closed to visitors, so rules appear to change; confirm the current arrangement with your boat operator and on muze.gov.tr. Reports also mention an entrance fee for the island; check the current fee with the official source.

Selimiye and Bozburun

Selimiye, on the Bozburun peninsula, is a quiet fishing village where blue-cruise gulets stop. It stayed relatively unspoilt partly because its access road was unpaved for years, and one source puts it about an hour from Marmaris. There is no sandy beach in the village itself; Sığ Liman (Akkum), about 2 to 2.5 km further on, has one. Bozburun, at the southern tip of the peninsula, is about 45 km from central Marmaris. Turgut Waterfall and the village of Söğüt can be combined with them in a day, though the roads are winding.

Orhaniye and Kızkumu

Orhaniye is a pine-ringed bay known for its very shallow water and Kızkumu beach. Sources point out that the clear, shallow sea is ideal for wading far out from the shore. It makes an easy stop on the way to Selimiye or Bozburun.

Day trip to Datça and Knidos

The Datça peninsula is the classic day trip by car from Marmaris. The main stops are Eski Datça, a village of stone houses and narrow lanes, the harbour town of Datça a few kilometres below it, and the ancient city of Knidos at the tip of the peninsula, with terraced ruins, a theatre and its old harbour. The last roughly 35 km to Knidos are on a narrow, winding road, and the site charges an entrance fee. Stopping at Eski Datça and Datça town only saves close to two hours of driving, according to one travel article. Dolmuş minibuses also run from Marmaris to Datça.

Marmaris National Park and boat trips

The forested hills around town are part of Marmaris National Park, declared in 1996 and covering about 33,350 hectares. Coves around the bay, Nimara Cave and Heaven Island are classic stops on the day-trip boats that leave from the marina. Compare a few operators at the marina before booking.

Getting to the ferry port

Name and location: Yeşil Marmaris Lines names its Rhodes departure point “Marmaris Yolcu Limanı” (Marmaris passenger port) and the arrival point Rhodes Tourist Port. Booking sites often call the same terminal Marmaris Cruise Port. It is on Mustafa Münir Elgin Boulevard, about 100 metres past the Netsel Marina entrance, towards Günnücek.

From the centre:

Option	Details
Walk	About 15 minutes from the town centre, according to a local guide
Dolmuş	Minibuses marked “Yalancı Boğaz” run from the centre past the port
Taxi	There is a taxi rank inside the port
From the bus station	The otogar is about 1.6 km from the centre, with dolmuş and taxis into town

Parking: No verified information could be found on parking near the port or its cost. If you plan to leave a car in Marmaris while you visit Rhodes, ask your ferry operator or hotel. For taking the car across, see taking a car to the Greek islands.

Tickets: Yeşil Marmaris Lines sells tickets on its website and mobile app; its Marmaris office address is Sarıana Mah., Mustafa Münir Elgin Blv. No:40/1. A ferry guide says port ticket desks also sell on the day, but seats are hard to get at the counter in peak season. Ferryhopper lists Sea Dreams on this route, and another guide also lists Tilos Travel (Sea Star).

How early to arrive: The operator’s site does not state a check-in cut-off. Ferryhopper and a local guide recommend arriving at least one hour before departure; another ferry guide says at least 1.5 hours. At the port there is a bag X-ray, a check-in desk where you collect your boarding card, an exit fee and passport control, so allow 1.5 hours in summer. Full details are in the Marmaris to Rhodes ferry guide, and other routes are on the ferry map.

A marina with boats in Marmaris · Photo: Mustafa Ayaz / Unsplash

Getting there

By air: Dalaman is the nearest airport. One source puts it about 90 km from Marmaris, roughly 1.5 to 1.75 hours by car. Havaş runs a shuttle between Dalaman Airport and Marmaris, taking about 90 minutes; services from the airport are timed to domestic arrivals, while departures from Marmaris run to a fixed timetable. Another source says Muttaş also runs buses to Marmaris otogar and warns that international arrivals may wait for the next domestic-timed departure. Milas–Bodrum Airport is about 130 km away, and that source says there is no direct shuttle to Marmaris, so plan on a private transfer, taxi, hire car or two buses.

By bus: Marmaris otogar (bus station) is about 1.6 km outside the centre near the main road junction. Dolmuş minibuses and taxis link it to the centre and the marina. In town, dolmuşes run along the main road from the otogar westwards, with routes to İçmeler and to Datça.

Budget: To estimate ferry, accommodation and daily costs together, use the trip cost page.

From Fethiye: If you are based in Fethiye, Tilos Travel’s Sea Star catamarans also run Fethiye to Rhodes in season, with a crossing of about 90 minutes according to one guide. The Marmaris route is shorter and more frequent.

A day before or after the crossing

Morning: Start at Marmaris Castle and Museum, which is quieter around opening time, then wander down through the lanes of the old quarter.

Afternoon: Take a dolmuş or water taxi to İçmeler for a swim. With a longer afternoon, Turunç and the ruins of Amos are an option, but plan your return around your ferry time.

Evening: Walk the waterfront from the old quarter to Netsel Marina. It doubles as a dry run of your route to the port the next morning. If your ferry is early, save Bar Street for another night and have your ticket and passport ready the evening before.

A cobblestone street lined with stone buildings in Rhodes Old Town · Photo: Ben Morris / Unsplash

When to go

A third-party ferry guide gives May to October as high season on the Marmaris to Rhodes route, with sailings dropping to as few as four days a week in March, April and November. Ferryhopper’s summary, based on last year’s data, shows the route running year-round but falling to one or a few sailings a week in months such as December. Marmaris Museum also runs separate summer and winter hours.

Summer is the obvious choice for beaches and boat trips, and it is when the marina and Bar Street are at their busiest. For a calmer town and easier ferry bookings, consider the start or end of the season. For month-by-month sailings, see the ferry season calendar.

FAQ

Where does the Marmaris to Rhodes ferry leave from?

From Marmaris passenger port, just past the entrance to Netsel Marina. Some booking sites call it Marmaris Cruise Port. In Rhodes, ferries arrive at the tourist port within walking distance of the Old Town.

How long is the ferry from Marmaris to Rhodes?

The Yeşil Marmaris Lines booking page shows sailings of about 60 minutes. Some third-party sources say about 50 minutes; it varies with the vessel and conditions.

Is there parking at Marmaris ferry port?

No verified information on parking near the port or its cost could be found. If you are leaving a car for a few days, ask your ferry operator or your hotel.

Can you swim at Cleopatra Beach on Sedir Island?

Reports say visitors swim in the bay, but the beach sand is protected. Visitors are asked not to take towels or footwear onto the sand, not to remove any sand and not to enter the roped-off area. Sources differ, so check the current rules with your boat operator.

How many days do you need in Marmaris?

One day covers the town, castle and marina. Add a day trip to Sedir Island, Datça or Selimiye and Bozburun, and two to three days before or after Rhodes is comfortable.

How early should I get to the port for the Rhodes ferry?

Sources recommend between one and 1.5 hours. Queues for check-in, the exit fee and passport control can be long in summer, so 1.5 hours is the safer margin.

Opening hours and prices change; check the official source before you go.