Weather lowdown
August is the height of the summer season in Marmaris and, after an already hot July, it remains scorching hot. You can expect soaring temperatures and bustling crowds. 49% of the days in August are categorised as warm and 36% as hot. This makes August the second-hottest month of the year. Daytime temperatures can reach a sweltering high of 34°C, only to cool down to around 20°C in the evenings. The average daily temperature in August is 27°C, barely one degree less than the previous month. And just like in July, the temperatures in August are essentially constant. There is practically no difference in high temperatures between the first days of the month and the last, yet there is always a chance of high peaks up to 37°C. The low temperatures are basically constant as well throughout the month, with maybe a tiny, barely noticeable, decrease towards the end of the month. Temperaturewise August is an extremely stable and warm month.
With a water temperature of 26°C, the sea is at its warmest in August, so you will always have the chance to cool off with a refreshing dip in the Mediterranean or Aegean Sea.
In the course of August the length of the days decreases gradually. While August 1 has 14.00 hours of daylight, August 31 has 12.59 hours of daylight. This monthly decrease of 1.01 hours means that every August day is 2 minutes shorter than the previous one. However, it's not necessary to be upset about this slight shortening of the days, as nearly all daylight hours are hours of joyous sunshine.
With an average of 13 hours of sunshine every day, you will definitely be spending a lot of time at the beach! In comparison, July has one hour of sunshine more and June has the same amount. The winter months of December, January and February, on the other hand, have only 7 hours of sunshine. June, July and August are definitely the best months to visit Marmaris if you are looking to spend some time on the beach and in the water.
Knowing that the days are between 13 and 14 hours long and have an average of 13 hours of sunshine makes it easy to conclude that cloud cover is virtually non-existent in August. The August skies are in fact mostly cloud-free throughout the entire month. However, cloud cover increases slightly in the course of the month, from 12% on August 1 to 17% on August 31.
Very few clouds also mean very little precipitation. August is the driest month of the year, with a total amount of rainfall of merely 8mm. The total number of days of precipitation is 6. The most common types of precipitation are thunderstorms (68%) and light rain (24%). With a chance of only 2%, precipitation is least likely to happen on August 1. August 31 has the highest chance of precipitation, 6%, which by all accounts is still extremely low.
Where to stay
The Sun Maris Bellamare Beach Hotel lies close to the Mediterranean Sea shore and has a sauna, Turkish bath, outdoor swimming pool and fitness centre.
Those with young children should seek accommodation away from the center of Marmaris as it will be very busy and noisy around this time of year. Nearby Armutalan is much quieter and has accommodation ranging from the apartments of Club Aladdin to the resort of Mustis Royal Plaza. The latter has a restaurant, (pool) bar, pool, games room, Turkish bath, playground and barbecue facilities. In the evenings they organise Turkish nights, featuring traditional food and belly dancers.
Another great suggestion for families is the Blue Palace Hotel & Family Rooms. This family-friendly hotel lies in one of the resort's quiet residential neighborhoods. The complex has both hotel rooms and apartments. The lack of bars and restaurants in the hotel's vicinity make it an ideal and quiet place to stay.
Hit the beach
The resort has two beaches: Folk Beach and Long Beach, which are interconnected. Folk Beach is a small urban sand beach, located in the heart of the resort, while Long Beach is ten kilometres long and stretches all the way to Icmeler.
Icmeler is where the best beaches in the area are located. Situated eight kilometers from the resort, the beach has beautiful soft yellow sand and the waters are azure blue. A backdrop of mountains fulfills a picture-perfect setting. Icmeler Beach is six kilometres long and this is the place to do some water sports, such as jet skiing, parasailing and sea cycling. You can walk from Marmaris to Icmeler along Long Beach on a gorgeous pedestrian promenade.
Turunc, located about 21 kilometres from the resort, has a spectacular beach as well. This one is squeezed between tree-covered mountains and a crystal-clear and calm sea. Sedir Island, as mentioned before, is home to a superb beach. Further afield you can find great beaches in Kumbuluk and Orhaniye. Another fantastic place to soak up some sun is Cennet Island, also known as Paradise Island. Although it is called an island, it's actually a peninsula, located just across the bay. There are even more options: Gunnucek, Ciftik and Boncuk Cove all have wonderful beaches as well.
Where to eat and drink
The Marina, beachfront area and Bar Street are all home to several bars, pubs and nightclubs, as well as nice restaurants and cafés. The resort's popularity as a holiday destination is shown in the huge amount of entertainment and food on offer. Because August is in the middle of the high season, you most likely have to make a reservation before going to a restaurant. The pizzerias, fast food joints and other similar eateries are probably quite busy, but don't require reservations.
If you decide to visit Sedir Island, you should definitely go for a bite to eat at Cinar Restaurant in Camli Village. Their breakfasts in a natural setting next to a wonderful promenade are renowned in the area.
For traditional Turkish food you should go to Alin's Café and Restaurant. They open early in the morning and have an extensive menu. It's an inexpensive restaurant and they have excellent healthy grills, hamburgers and filled baked potatoes. It's strongly recommended to try one of their famous and delicious pastries as well.
The only authentic Indian restaurants in the area are the Taj Mahal Restaurants, located in both Marmaris and Icmeler. They have an extensive menu and the most popular dishes are the Chef's Special and the Mixed Tandoori Grill.
For great desserts and coffee you should definitely pay a visit to So Sweet. Situated at the harbour, this is a hip place to go to after dinner or before going out to Bar Street. They also sell alcoholic beverages, sandwiches and have several large TVs.
Marmaris is a hugely popular summer destination among young people and there is a huge number of pubs, bar and nightclubs. Most of them are located in the vicinity of Bar Street and along Long Beach. Good nightclub options are Ad Astra Bar, Green House, Crazy Daisy, B52 and Back Street.
Things to do
A popular day trip from Marmaris is Sedir Island, also known as Cleopatra Island. The island lies about eighteen kilometres north of the resort and is famous for the golden sands of Cleopatra Beach and the ancient city of Cedrae. There's a small beach on the island where Cleopatra has supposedly swam. Legend has it that Cleopatra and Marcus Antonius used to swim there and that the golden sands were brought over from Egypt in boats. Besides spectacular beaches, there are also amphitheatre ruins, Boncuk Cove and the village of Camli, located on the way to the island.
Boat tours leave the harbour in Marmaris every morning. The trip to the island takes about two hours, including swim stops in Gokova Bay, which is also a great place for kitesurfing and kiteboarding. You have three hours to spend on Cleopatra Beach and/or exploring the ruins and ancient fortifications. The price includes hotel pick-up and drop-off, lunch, transportation, site fees and insurance. Make sure to bring a swimsuit, towels, sun cream and a camera.
Other highlights on boat tours are Aquarium Bay, Phosphorus Cave, Turunc Beach and Paradise Island.
In addition to beaches and boat tours, the resort is also home to two major waterparks. The Aqua Dream Waterpark is the largest one. Located near the hills, this waterpark features attractions and rides for both adults and children. These include the Rafting Slide, Kamikaze Slide, Freefall, Black Hole and Multi Slide. There is also a cafeteria, restaurant and bar. Children can play on the Pirate's Ship, Octopus and Mushroom, while adults can enjoy the wave pool. The park is open every day from May until October, from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm. Tickets cost £14 for adults and £7 for children between eight and twelve years old.
