[5] Also known as Dragut, Turgut Reis was famous for his expeditions on the coasts of Spain, France, Italy, and North Africa, and for his participation in the Ottoman siege of Malta, in which he was killed.

There is a memorial to Turgut Reis a few kilometres from the town centre located in Sabanci Park.

[citation needed] The town was formerly named Karatoprak before being renamed in Turgut Reis's honour in 1972.

There are 14 Turkish islets around Turgutreis including Küçük Kiremit, Büyük, Fener, Çatal, Yassı, Tüllüce, Kargı, Köçek, Kadıkalesi, and Sarıat, as well as the bigger Greek islands of Kos and Kalimnos.

The town has a marina which provides access to the nearby Greek island of Kos via ferry.