Marmaris is situated on a marvelous natural harbor where Lord Nelson organized his fleet for the attack on the French at Abukir in 1789. The once sleepy fishing village has 10,000 permanent residents but its numbers swell in the summer months when Turkey's rich and famous come for holidays. Tucked into the recesses of the bay, surrounded by pine-clad mountains, Marmaris has become Turkey's largest and most modern yacht harbor. The town is a convenient starting place to visit the ancient Carian city of Kaunos, to venture to the beaches for a lazy day in the sun and sparkling waters nearby, or to enjoy waterfront cafes and the local ambience.