A. J. Griffiths-Jones

Turkiye has an abundance of wonderful coastal and inland locations for those wishing to explore by car and one of the easiest routes for your first adventure is from Milas to Marmaris.

The roads are flat, smooth and congestion-free for the most part, traversing through scenic mountains and pretty villages, with plenty of stop-off points for taking photos of the surrounding scenery. It’s a fairly straight route that is well sign-posted, but packing a picnic would be a good idea as, apart from petrol stations, there weren’t many food outlets on the drive.

We recently drove from Akbuk to Datca and spent an enjoyable night at the harbour before making our way to Marmaris the following day, a much livelier destination. At this time of year, it was understandable that some of the Datca restaurants were beginning to reduce their menus for the winter season, but this was not the case in Marmaris, where daily flights were still arriving from all over Europe and bars with live music were in full swing.

It was interesting to note how the area caters towards holidaymakers too. For example, local beer was twice the price in the centre of town and on the seafront, compared to that of restaurants around the quieter harbour area.

There is also an abundance of fake goods for sale, such as ‘designer’ handbags, shoes, t-shirts and perfume, with owners expecting shoppers to barter the price. However, there is plenty to do and great eateries off the beaten track.

After a few days of late nights and sweltering days, we drove to Marmaris port, where we left the car for four days and caught the ferry to Rhodes. A stark contrast to the Turkish resort across the strait, Rhodes is historic, traditional and yet still a haven for tourists from all over the world.

It’s a great place for those wanting to shop, with excellent leather goods, natural oils and products, and beautiful clothing. The tavernas in Rhodes Old Town naturally create traditional Greek dishes, with an abundance of seafood on offer and locally made wine. There is also a new town area, with trendy cafes, European clothing stores and good bus links to other towns.

Transportation Map to Rhodes Island. İmage: birhayalinpesinde

So, how easy is it to plan your trip? We used a reputable booking company to search for hotels and found some great deals due to this time of year being slightly off-season. We booked our ferry tickets in advance at the port a day before departure to ensure seats.

You need to arrive at least an hour before to check in and collect boarding cards, and although the queue for passport control does move quickly, do expect to wait a while. Parking was easy, as your registration is noted on arrival, and you pay on departure.

In Rhodes, the boutique hotels are better located and great value for money, although taxis are not able to access some of the Old Town, so do check the location of your accommodation beforehand and be prepared to walk.

Naturally, you will need to carry your passport and check that it is valid for at least six months after your departure date. Residents should carry their kimliks too, not only for the police checks en-route but also for more efficiency in getting through passport control. The usual customs regulations apply to people travelling from Greece to Turkey, so ensure you don’t buy too many bottles of alcohol at the duty-free shop.

For us, this was a great holiday. We got to see more of our newly adopted home country and to also explore more of a Greek island that we had previously only seen during a day trip.

Next time we will probably venture inland, taking in some of the lakes and mountains that make Turkiye such a diverse country.