Weather lowdown
January falls within the winter season in Marmaris, Turkey. Although it is one of the coldest months of the year, temperatures are still relatively high compared to other, more northerly, places in Europe. January is fairly cool and you are very likely to experience rain showers during your stay.
The daytime temperature only reaches up to around 15°C and can fall as low as 5°C in the evenings. The average daily temperature for January is 10°C. These temperatures are exactly the same as they are in February. The average daily temperatures in January are pretty constant and there are no differences between the beginning and the end of the month. Throughout January the amount of daylight increases slightly and the amount of cloud cover and precipitation decreases a little bit. As a result it can be said that the weather in January improves only slightly throughout the month. There are, however, no significant differences between individual days in January to speak of.
While these temperatures may seem cool, it is important to remember that this is as cold as it ever gets in the resort. The coldest day of the year is January 17; the hottest day of the year is July 15.
January has about 7 hours of sunshine per day, still allowing for plenty of outdoor activities. The temperature of the sea water ranges around 17°C, which, in January, is warmer than the air. Incidentally, the water temperature almost never drops below 16°C. This is thanks to Marmaris' location between mountain ranges that tend to trap the heat and warm up the sea water.
Despite having mild temperatures and allowing for light clothing even in mid-winter, it is strongly recommended to bring rainproof gear as well. On average, you can expect rainfall on 14 days of the month, the highest number of days of rainfall in the year. However, this also means that it doesn't rain on 17 days in January. January sees 231mm of rainfall; it is the second wettest month of the year, after December. Precipitation is generally concentrated in scattered showers. These rain showers can be heavy and occasional winter storms can occur as well. These heavy showers and storms can cause flash flooding in low-lying areas. So, if you happen to be staying in one of those areas, it is advised to keep an eye on the weather forecast. Snow and frost are extremely rare, not to say non-existent. January mornings tend to be misty, but usually clear up quite quickly.
If you enjoy sun-soaked beach holidays, then this may not be the ideal time of year to visit the resort however, there is still plenty to see and do when visiting off season. This is the low season and you won't run into many tourists around this time of year. This can be a blessing, as the summer crowds are huge. Winter also has extremely low accommodation rates. Marmaris is an ideal winter break if you're looking for a quiet place that still has relatively high temperatures, taking into account the occasional rain shower or storm.
Where to stay
Accommodation tends to be cheaper and more plentiful at this time of year. During the high season the city centre can be very busy and noisy, but at this time of year it is relatively quiet. This is an especially good time of year to visit for families, who can have the pick of any hotels situated there. Visiting in January can be a real money-saver, as it is the extreme low season and accommodation is incredibly cheap. You may be able to find all-inclusive accommodation for as low as $50 per night!
If you are looking for luxury, your best bet is the area around Netsel Marina and the harbor, where many of the high-end hotels are located. These include the five-star Elegance Hotel, with its five bars, five restaurants and even a private beach! Another suggested hotel is the Anemon Hotel.
The Grand Pasa Hotel is a luxurious all-inclusive hotel, situated a few hundred meters from Marmaris Beach. This large hotel has more than 250 rooms and has several restaurants and bars. Additionally, there are pools, a fitness centre and a relaxing spa. The possibility to rent a car makes it an ideal place to stay for families and couples keen to see more of the area.
The excellent Casa de Maris Spa and Resort Hotel is located just a few steps from the beach. This five-star hotel is easily recognizable by its ultramodern look and white and light blue façade. It has 190 rooms on five floors and amenities such as a spa, restaurant, patisserie, bar, outdoor pool. You can also play a game of table tennis, beach volleyball, billiards or darts on the premises.
Budget accommodation is available too, with plenty of self-catering apartments to choose from. Consider Marsoleil Apartments and Pandora Apart, plus Green Park Apartments offers short- and long-term stays in self-catering accommodations. Amenities include a pool, games room, Turkish baths and Wi-Fi.
Where to eat and drink
Being a popular holiday destination, the resort is jam-packed with great restaurants and eateries. And, of course, the nightlife isn't half-bad either. Many of the best restaurants are situated along the beachfront and around Marmaris Castle.
If you are looking for a fine seafood dinner, El Divino Restaurant is a good bet. This restaurant specialises in Mediterranean and Turkish cuisine, as well as in seafood. It is located at Netsel Marina and offers a wonderful sea view. In the evening El Divino also has live music and DJs.
A similar restaurant also located at Netsel Marina is La Fortune Restaurant. It also boasts great romantic views of the Mediterranean Sea and serves international and Turkish dishes, and seafood. It lies about 500 meters from the Marmaris city centre.
There are several restaurants at Netsel Marina. Many of them are fine-dining and luxurious restaurants set in beautiful scenery and overlooking the harbor. You can find foods from all around the world. After dinner, you can continue the evening with live music and partying. Numerous bars can be found at the beachfront and in the city centre.
There even is a street named Bar Street. That street is lined with restaurants, shops, fast food joints and bars. At the beachfront you will find discos, cocktail bars and nightclubs. Many clubs and bars stay open until 4am. A couple of good options are Green House and Back Street.
It wouldn't be the cruise capital of Turkey without dinner and night cruises. These fantastic cruises allow you to have dinner and dance the night away on a boat on the Mediterranean or Aegean Sea.
Things to do
At this time of year hiking and cycling are popular activities in nearby Marmaris National Park. This beauty of a national park lies only six kilometres from Marmaris and can reached via the highways 400 and 550. While the scorching hot temperatures in summer don't really allow anything else than sunbathing and swimming, the mild January temperatures are ideal for outdoor activities, such as camping, hiking, picnicking and cycling. Marmaris National Park's landscapes consist of red rocks, mountain ranges, sand and forests. Many of the forests' tree species are typically Mediterranean. Examples are sumacs, oleanders and wild olives. At the edges of the national park you can find quiet pristine beaches. The protected areas in the surrounding mountains are home to squirrels, foxes, lynx, jackals, wild goats, wild pigs and bears. Bird life is abundant as well. You may be able to spot an eagle or a falcon. Especially the Kiran Mountains and the Bozburun Peninsula are covered with untouched forests. Not all is rock and tree in the park though; there are marshes and wetlands as well.
A highlight of the park is Cennet Island with its caves, beautiful nature, cafés and restaurants. The beautiful indented coastline of the park plays a particularly significant role in the yachting and boating industry in the resort.
Marmaris National Park also contains the ruins of Physkos and Amos, two ancient cities of the former Caria Region. These places are remains of the Rhodes colony and you can see an ancient temple, city walls, sculptures and a theatre.
Be sure to visit the Sultan Hamam Turkish Bath in the resort. There you can enjoy saunas, hot showers, body scrubs, olive oil massages and the like. The complex is made up of three bathing rooms, known as the cold, warm and hot rooms. Your Turkish bath experience starts in the cold room where you change clothes and get ready. The warm room is meant to help your body adapt to the temperature change between the cold and hot rooms. Hot steam will help open your pores and you will most likely start sweating. You can stay in the warm room as long as you want and enjoy some typical Turkish beverages. The actual Turkish bath takes place in the hot room, where you can lie down and get massages and body scrubs. A team of professional therapists and masseurs will help you make the best of your bathing experience. There are saunas and cold showers as well.
