Weather lowdown
June becomes extremely warm in Marmaris as the summer season gets into full swing. Daytime temperatures reach to very pleasant highs of 31°C and only fall to around 18°C in the evenings. The afternoons in June are warm, while the evenings are ideal for late night strolls and drinks on an outside terrace. The average daily temperature is a comfortable 25°C, significantly more than the average of 20°C in May. There already is a fairly large increase in temperature compared with the previous month and the temperature keeps on rising throughout June. The daily high temperature on June 1, the coldest day of the month, is 27°C. On June 30, the warmest day of the month, it has increased to 31°C. Daily average lows rise from 16°C in the beginning of the month to 20°C at the end. The temperature of the water in the Mediterranean Sea rises as well, to a nice 23°C.
With a whopping 13 hours of sunshine every day and virtually no chance of rain, you will definitely be spending a lot of time on the beach in June. June only has six days of rainfall, which, of course, also means that there are 24 dry days in the month. Precipitation occurs mostly in the form of thunderstorms. On those six days of rainfall, there is a 73% chance that a thunderstorm occurs. The other possible type of precipitation is light rain. Rainfall is most likely to happen in the beginning of the month, with an average chance of 13% on June 1. By June 30 the chance of rain has dropped to a mere 5% on average. You will not have to worry about snowfall or frost in June.
The length of the days in June is pretty much constant. The shortest day is June 1 with 14.31 hours of daylight. The longest day is June 20, which by the way is the day with the most daylight in the whole year, with 14.40 daylight hours. After the summer solstice the days shorten a little bit again. On June 30 there are 14.37 hours of daylight left.
Cloud cover decreases dramatically throughout June. While on the first day of the month there is a 31% chance of clouds, by the end of the month it has dropped to a 16% chance, a significant decrease of 15%. The skies tend to clear in the course of the month as clouds make way for even more sunshine.
June is when summer really kicks in. With daily land temperatures around 25°C and the water temperature around 23°C, the beaches are now filled with sunbathers. Although this is already a very busy time of year, it still is less crowded than the massively busy months of July and August. If you don't like huge crowds, but want to enjoy some pleasant summery weather, then June (or September) would be the best time to visit.
Where to stay
As it is high season, accommodation prices will be at a premium, but affordable lodging can be found in the form of self-catering apartments such as Marsoleil Apartments and Pandora Apart. You should check out the high-end resorts around the harbour and Netsel Marina if you are looking for more luxurious options.
A great hotel on the outskirts of the resort is the Union Palace Hotel. This four-star hotel is located at convenient distances from the beach and both Marmaris and Icmeler. The restaurants serve à la carte and buffet-style food; there is a fitness centre, a sauna, swimming pool and Turkish bath; and also a 150-people conference room and mini market.
Another four-star accommodation is Nergis Icmeler Resort, located in the centre of Icmeler. This hotel offers its guests excellent Turkish and Mediterranean dishes in its restaurants and refreshing cocktails in its bars. Other amenities are a mini market, outdoor swimming pool, jewellery shop and Turkish bath.
Even fancier is the Grand Pasa Hotel, a luxurious all-inclusive hotel, located near Marmaris Beach. Amenities include 250 rooms, several restaurants and bars, pools, a fitness center, a spa and car rental. It also lies conveniently close to the two major waterparks in the resort, Atlantis Waterpark and AquaDream Waterpark, which is always great if you are traveling with children and/or are a fun-loving adult.
The center of Marmaris tends to be a lot busier and noisier than the suburbs, especially in the high season, For example, the neighboring suburb of Armutalan is much quieter and therefore a recommended area for families and people looking for a quieter holiday.
Hit the beach
Marmaris Folk Beach is located in the centre of the resort. This sandy urban beach is free to visit and has many parasols and beach chairs. The promenade runs right behind the beach and cafés, bars and eateries are only a short walk away.
The neighboring district of Icmeler also has wonderful beaches. Located about eight kilometers from the resort, there you will find soft golden beaches and crystal-clear water set against a backdrop of beautiful mountains. The beach is six kilometres long and is cleaned every single night. Activities in this area include the all-time favourite banana boats, water skiing, jet skiing and boating.
Where to eat and drink
The Pineapple Restaurant, located at the Marina waterfront, has a great reputation and is popular among locals, yacht owners and tourists alike. The restaurant is well-known for its great costumer service. Besides enjoying a great meal, you could also just go for drinks at the bar and enjoy the sea view.
There are several other restaurants at Netsel Marina. Many of them offer fine-dining and are luxurious restaurants set in beautiful scenery, overlooking the harbor. You can find cuisine from all around the world in Marmaris. Besides those restaurants there are also fast food joints, taverns, bistros and pizzerias spread across the resort.
Bar Street is a focal point for nightlife and really honors its name. This street lies behind Marmaris Marina and is (in)famous for the foam parties that take place in its bars and nightclubs. 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 Back Street and Faros Beach Pub in Siteler. This beachfront pub features parties, live music and concept nights.
Other venues offer everything from cozy and traditional Turkish music shows to family entertainment. Marmaris does not only cater to young partying adults; excellent restaurants offer cozy and fun nights out for couples, families and older people. A fantastic example of such an evening is traditional Turkish Night. These evenings include traditional Turkish food, drinks, fire shows and belly dancing.
Things to do
As the premium yachting and boating resort in Turkey, there is an enormous selection of boat tours, Mediterranean and Aegean Sea cruises and excursions. During the day there are cruises to coastal highlights, gorgeous islands and secluded beaches. Boat trips are probably among the most popular things to do in the high season. Nearby boat trip destinations are the Phosphorus Cave, Paradise Island, Turunc Beach, Kumlubuk Beach, Sedir Island (also known as Cleopatra Island) and Aquarium Bay.
You have several options, from the so-called lazy day boat trips to all-inclusive boat trips and the typical Blue Voyages. More information can be obtained at the companies' headquarters or at tourist information centres.
In the evening, moonlight dinner cruises provide great alternative evening entertainment. These boat trips allow you to enjoy a beautiful Mediterranean sunset and a great meal while watching a live music or belly dance performance. Young adults may want to opt for a party cruise, essentially a nighttime trip on a floating nightclub.
Besides cruising the waters of the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas, it is also entirely possible to explore the underwater world. There are more than fifty diving locations in the area. Baca Cave (The Chimney) is the most well-known diving spot in the resort, suitable for both beginners and pros and especially interesting for underwater photographers. Another site offering great diving opportunities for all skills is Sari Mehmet Cape, located between Turunc and Icmeler. The Keci Adasi Lighthouse (Goat Island) is popular among more experienced divers as it is located near open sea and offers the opportunity to spot larger fish. The presence of many amphorae on the bottom of the sea is a highlight. Other great submerged sites that can be explored with flippers and an oxygen tank are Yazih Rock, Adbi Reis Cove, Ince Cape Lighthouse, Kutuk Cape and Hayitli Cape.
Diving tours by certified companies, such as Divers Delight, cater to everyone, from beginners to professionals, and leave from the Marmaris harbour.
