After two years of a global epidemic that has paralyzed the Turkish tourism world, which is a large part of the country’s income, Turkey is making an effort to bring tourists back to it. Last month, the prestigious presidential yacht race, between the cities of Marmaris and Bodrum, was held off the coast of the Mediterranean, the area also known as the “Turkish Riviera”.
Turkey’s coastal cities do offer a high level of entertainment, at prices much lower than their Israeli counterparts. The warming of relations with Turkey, the recent visit of the Turkish Foreign Minister to Israel and the lowering of the travel warning to Israelis from visiting the country, can certainly indicate that Israelis are on their way back to the shores of Turkey.
Marmaris, which is located on the “Turkish Riviera”, is somewhat reminiscent of Eilat, with its many hotels spread out along the city’s golden coast. Marmaris is a small town inhabited by only 34 thousand people, but every year it is visited by hundreds of thousands of visitors, and trivia lovers will be happy in my opinion because it is a twin city of Ashkelon.
Behind the shoreline is Atatürk Street where you can find a variety of clothing and footwear stores, at high tourist prices than you can find in the rest of the country, and you should not believe the “outlet” signs that decorate them from the outside – real outlet stores are not usually found along the shores of tourist cities. In the market of Marmaris (Grand Bazaar), which is in the northern part of the city, however, you can find products at half and less than the prices in the shops along the coast. Marmaris’ marina is part of the promenade along the coast, in the north of the city, and there are lots of yachts and restaurants.
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Located in the southern part of the city, the Grand Yazici Club Turban Termal is a huge complex of all-inclusive experiences and offers luxurious rooms divided into two parts, a large master suite and a smaller room, for those traveling with a child, three pools, a spa and a dining room with An endless supply of options. Every night, the hotel holds a party or performance for a variety of guests with a band or dancers, while young people, grandmothers and grandchildren dance on the extension, and the bar also serves the holidaymakers in an “all-inclusive” alcohol-rich format.
On the second day of the trip we set out for one of the main attractions of Marmaris – sailing in the Mediterranean waters, as part of which we also watch the launch moment of the presidential yacht race. It seems that in this part of the Mediterranean the water is particularly blue, and along the voyage we anchor two points along the coast, away from the city, at some points which are more stopping ships, allowing us to jump into the cool water to refresh. The race, which is actually a competition of 39 sailing boats, was attended by 280 sailors from eight different countries: Turkey, France, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Ukraine, Italy and Russia.
Presidential Yacht Race in Marmaris (Photo: Summer Berbner)Our third day we begin with a visit to Marmaris Castle, a small historic structure containing songs of urns and vessels and antique ships. The sub-foundations were probably built by the Greeks who ruled the area 3000 years BC, but the castle itself was renovated to its current state by Suleiman I, (or in his European name “the glorious Suleiman”), Sultan of the Ottoman Empire between 1520-1566. The castle brings a historic touch and added value to the “all-inclusive” experience, but it is a relatively small place, with displays of items found in ships that sank to the bottom of the sea, whose visit will probably not be hosted beyond an hour.
Marmaris Castle (Photo: Summer Berbner)The journey to the coastal and larger city of Bodrum – in the next article in the series.
The writer was a guest of the Government Tourism Bureau of Turkey