Marmaris is one of the most effective tourist machines in Turkey. Few places have a larger part of its services devoted to relaxation and fun. It is a hate or love place, but its old reputation of being badly organized and uncharming is not really true anymore. Marmaris has both a very charming little old town, a harbout full of beautiful sailing boats, excellent nightlife and more hotels than it is practical to list in this guide. There are mainly two bad points: Poor shopping and a disappoitingly short stretch of beach. Shopping is not bad from lack of selection or stressed salesmen, as a matter of fact it is a delight walking the shopping areas, all in all being very relaxed. But prices are high, tourists in Marmaris seem to be less capable of bargaining than at other destinations. The beach is virtually limited to a thin line beginning right next to town centre, and ending where the first big hotel complexes begin. Marmaris has Turkey's largest marina, located to the east of town centre. It is an excellent place to go watching very expensive yatchts and local gülets.
