Markets in Marmaris: Must Visit For Turkish Souvenirs
For those that love shopping, the markets in Marmaris beach in Turkey are very popular due to the wide assortment of products available.
If you are looking for fake branded clothes, perfume, Turkish carpets, handmade traditional items, there are a number of markets to suit your needs. On the other hand, if you are like us and love to try local food products, the more local, traditional type of street market is what you are seeking.
We suggest getting the best of both world and planning a day-trip to the nearby town of Mugla to visit their local market. Whichever you choose, make sure you have your camera on hand to capture the colours and sights of a true Turkish experience.
Planning Your Trip? Use Our Favourite Resources Below!
Accommodation – We recommend Booking.com
Flights – We recommend Skyscanner
Tours / Experiences – We recommend Viator
Car Rental – We recommend DiscoverCars
Travel Insurance – We recommend SafetyWing
Introduction to Marmaris Beach, Turkey
Marmaris is a Mediterranean resort town along the Turkish Riviera (also known as the Turquoise Coast) with a long seafront promenade. It’s known for its lively nightlife on Bar Street, and it is a popular sailing and diving destination. It has two large and several smaller marinas, and it is a popular wintering location for cruising boats. Marmaris sits in a valley between two intersecting sets of pine-forested mountains and clear waters.
Map of Marmaris Beach
How to Get to Marmaris Beach
The closest international airport to Marmaris is Dalaman International Airport, roughly 100 kilometres to Marmaris city centre. From the airport, you have a number of transport options to get you to Marmaris Beach area, however, the easiest is via an airport coach,
A coach transfer can be easily arranged on-line with frequent bus connections corresponding to the arrival and departure of scheduled flights. Havas airport bus transfer times are detailed outside the airport terminal building, and will cost 15 TL for a single ticket, and will take approximately 90 minutes.
How to Get Around Marmaris Beach
The cheapest way of getting around Marmaris Beach area is using the dolmus minibuses. These are 11 seaters which travel the main road in Marmaris and Icmeler, the neighbouring beach resort town. The fee is 1.50 TL anywhere in Marmaris and 2.50 TL between Icmeler and Marmaris. The dolmus minibuses have a green band across them and orange for Icmeler. You can pick them up from the side of the road by hailing for them and they will stop wherever you want on the route.
Metered taxis are also available or you can negotiate a price up front but they are very expensive.
Best Time to Visit Marmaris
Marmaris weather is influenced by its location on the southwest coast of Turkey. The peak tourist season in Marmaris is between the months of June and October when the average summer temperature ranges from 24°C to 28°C. July, however, can get extremely hot and unpleasant.
The months from mid-May to the end of June, and from early September to mid-October are ideal.
Most of the rain in Marmaris falls from November to January and temperatures are quite cold in winter, dropping to 10°C in January with evening lows of 5°C.
What Does the Marmaris Beach Area Have to Offer?
The options are plentiful for things to do in Marmaris. Beautiful beaches, lots of bars and restaurants, and fantastic shopping with wonderful bargains to be found. Bar Street is opposite the busy bazaar and will satisfy the most discerning clubbers with its huge outdoor dance venues and all of the latest tunes.
Marmaris has lots for families too. Great inexpensive boat excursions can take you out and to neighbouring towns like Icmeler and Turunc. The town also has two water parks and local travel agents offer a range of trips to Dalyan, Fethiye, Pamukkale and Ephesus.
If you are interested in reading more about things to do in Marmaris Beach, click on the following link:
TRAVEL GUIDE TO MARMARIS BEACH IN TURKEY
Marmaris Shopping
Marmaris offers a wide variety of products for sale for tourists. The most popular shopping area for tourists is the Grand Bazaar selling the usual tourist fodder, as well as local specialities such as Turkish Delight, Turkish carpets, etc.
There are also street markets in both the Armutalan area of Marmaris on a Thursday and the Icmeler street market is every Wednesday. These local markets sell a range of products including, fruit, vegetables, cheese, olives, textiles, clothing, shoes, hand made goods, souvenirs etc.
What to Buy in Marmaris?
There are many things to buy in Marmaris but the most popular items are as follows:
- Jewellery
- Leather
- Carpets
- Embroidery
- Traditional Handicrafts
- Decorative Copper and Wooden Art Products
- Clothing
- Local Food i.e. Honey and Jam
- Fishing Equipment
- Souvenirs
Markets in Marmaris
Marmaris Grand Bazaar
For most, the Marmaris Grand Bazaar, also known as Carsi Market, is the most popular shopping area in Marmaris. Located in central Marmaris in the shadow of the Ottoman Castle, the bazaar attracts thousands of visitors every day. The bazaar covers a large area and the shops are all undercover along the many streets.
The Marmaris Grand Bazaar is the place to look for something original, of good quality and value for money. Here you can find every type of product you can imagine.
Some of the more popular items are ceramics, jewellery, Turkish tea, Turkish lamps, kilim rugs, Turkish food shops featuring their famed Turkish Delight and spices, scents, etc. There are also many ‘designer label’ fashion clothes and items for sale.
Sundays are busiest, with over 200 shops operating. On weekdays between 11:00am and 4:00pm the shops are quieter, except at lunchtime, when the choice of eating places attracts the young crowd on the waterfront.
The Marmaris Grand Bazaar is also good for sightseeing. You can walk up to the Marmaris Castle built during the Ottoman Empire to see a small museum and enjoy the view of Marmaris harbour. You might also like to visit the old mosque in the centre of the Grand Bazaar and people watch around the drinking fountain located in front of the mosque.
- Recommended Duration: 1 – 2 hours
- Where: Tepe, 38. Sk., Marmaris
- When: 8:00am to 1:00am; Everyday
Thursday Markets in Mamaris
The Marmaris Thursday Market is a very popular and busy traditional local market. Once catering heavily to tourists, today the market only features products sold by local farmers and fishermen.
Immerse yourself in colours and tastes as you join the locals in picking out the best fresh and cheap fruits and vegetables supplied by neighbouring towns and villages. We sampled our way around the market tasting homemade cheese, olives, nuts, and local sweets and honey. The variety of flatbreads was amazing as were the stalls displaying the latest catch of fish and seashells (seafood stalls are open daily).
The majority of the crowds in this market are locals which is a good sign the produce is good quality. We found the prices to be very reasonable, and in general, were cheaper than the supermarkets. It is best to visit either early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
Top Tip: This is a local market so be prepared for little to no English being spoken or understood.
- Recommended Duration: 1 hour
- Where: G. Mustafa Muglali Caddesi – about 200-300 meters from central Marmaris
- When: 8:00am to 8:00pm; Thursday and Sunday
Icmeler Markets
Set by the road to Turunc just before you begin climbing up the mountains, this market is a small local Turkish style traditional street market. You will find the same itinerant stall holders as you do at the Thursday Marmaris markets.
This market sells fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh bread, honey and spices. There are also all kinds of textile products, fake brand fashion goods, clothing and shoes. This little market is an excellent place to shop for souvenirs such as home textiles and hand made goods.
The sellers expect you to haggle with them, so never pay the first price you are quoted as you can expect to buy goods at a third off what they first quote you. Expect the prices to be cheaper than the regular shops as it is a local market.
- Recommended Duration: 1 hour
- Where: Goleyne Mh., Icmeler (about 8 km from Marmaris)
- When: 8:00am to 8:00pm; Wednesday
Mugla Market
Mugla market, known locally as Datça Pazarı Market, is the biggest open-air market near Marmaris. Set in one of the oldest cities in Turkey, Mugla is a great destination for a day trip from Marmaris. Enjoy the town’s amazing Greek and Turkish architecture while satisfying your thirst for shopping.
At this market you will find many types of organic products including vegetables and fruit. Garden plants, which come directly from the fields to the market within hours, are in abundance. Most tourists love buying some of the famous Turkish foods such as cinnamon bread, white almonds, mountain honey and Turkish herbs, and because you cannot find them anywhere else, they make wonderful gifts from Mugla.
Mugla street market is the kind of place where you can find anything your heart desires. From clothes to jewellery to perfumes, you can find something to suit all types of travellers. If you are a handicraft lover then you are never going to find a place offering better handicraft items than this market. The market also sells beautiful antiques that will never find anywhere else. Once again, bargaining is expected so enjoy the banter whilst getting a bargain!
This local market also offers you a wonderful selection of food and drinks options. The restaurants lining the market and those in the town are known for their authentic Turkish dishes. The local tea and coffee shops are an added attraction.
We really enjoyed this market as it didn’t feel as touristy as the markets in Marmaris.
- Recommended Duration: 2 hours
- Where: Datca Pazarı, Iskele Mahallesi, Vatan Caddesi, Datca, Muğla (about 40 km from Marmaris)
- When: 8:00am to 5:00pm; Thursday
Turunç Market
If you are considering doing one of the many boat trips on offer from Marmaris, Turunc is one of the port stops so consider coinciding your trip with a Monday Turunc market day.
There are a good variety of stalls offering fresh fruit and vegetables, cheese, dried fruit and nuts, honey and other local produce. For those looking for holiday gifts and souvenirs, there is a wide choice of clothes, leather goods, Turkish towels, table and cushion covers and other ornaments. When shopping gets too much, enjoy a refreshing drink in the market cafe.
- Recommended Duration: 1 hour
- Where: 1 minute walk from the harbour (about 20 km from Marmaris)
- When: 8:00am to 4:00pm; Monday
Eating in Marmaris
Restaurants are in abundance everywhere in Marmaris. There are many places on the beachfront main road, and in the side streets just off it serving Turkish, English, Dutch and other cuisines. We found the restaurants away from the harbour and marina were much cheaper for the same quality food, if not better.
If you are staying somewhere you can self-cater, visit the many supermarkets located in Marmaris such as Tansas, Migros, and Tesco Kipa. These are some of the larger supermarkets and sell a very good range of foods and other items, including international brands. Shopping in the local supermarkets are a great way to say money on simple items like bottles of water i.e. 3 TL for an 8 litre bottle.
Accommodation Options in Marmaris
There are multiple accommodation options in Marmaris catering for tourists ranging from all-inclusive to self-catering apartments. Lively hotels can generally be found in the Marmaris City Centre.
More laid back and family friendly hotels can be found in the Armutalan area at the back of Marmaris. The local council in this area has banned the playing of music after Midnight and has also banned live entertainment from bars, limiting it to hotels.
Prior to booking any accommodation, we recommend checking websites such as booking.com for reviews of your hotel. All-inclusive deals are good value but beware of bed and breakfast and half board, as hotels may restrict you bringing food or drinks into their premises making you dependent on their offerings which will be much more expensive than buying from a supermarket.
In Summary: Markets in Marmaris Turkey
One of the best ways to see the real Turkey is by going to a local market. Marmaris have a number of markets worth visiting depending on what you are shopping for. Personally, we just love the local street-style traditional markets and the interactions with the locals.
Do you enjoy visiting markets when you are on holidays? Have you been to any of the markets we have mentioned above in Marmaris? Please leva a comment below.
If you are interested in reading more about things to do in Marmaris Beach, click on the following link:
TRAVEL GUIDE TO MARMARIS BEACH IN TURKEY
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. This means that if you click on our affiliates / advertisers links and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but at no extra cost to you. AND, many times, you will receive an offer. Win/win! The products and services we write about and mention are the ones we love. We only recommend items that we feel are of good quality and would be helpful to our readers. While we pay for our travels out of our own pockets, these small commissions do assist in keeping us on the road. Thank you!
