İçmeler, Marmaris

İçmeler beach: sand, sunbeds and swimming

The beach runs almost the full width of the village, from one wooded headland to the other. It is sand mixed with fine shingle — some guides call it sandy, others pebbly, and the stones are thicker at the water’s edge — with a gentle slope and shallow water well out from shore, which is why families like it. A pedestrian promenade lined with cafés follows the shore, with the first row of hotels behind it.

Access is free. Under Turkey’s Coastal Law the shoreline belongs to the public, so no hotel can stop you swimming in front of it. What you pay for is the sunbed and umbrella: hotels keep them for guests, beach cafés rent them out or let you use one if you order food. There are patches of open sand without loungers too — walk the promenade and pick a free one.

The bay is sheltered by mountains, so big waves are rare. In season it is busy with boats, catamarans and water-skiers, so swim inside the buoyed area. Dive centres, windsurfing and water-skiing operators work straight off the beach.

Is İçmeler worth it?

Yes, if you want a calmer beach day than central Marmaris. The water is sheltered, the pine-covered hills come right down to the bay, and the walk back along the shore is one of the nicest easy strolls in the area. Families and couples tend to prefer it as a base for exactly that reason.

It is not a sightseeing destination. There are no monuments to tick off, nightlife is smaller — beachfront bars, restaurants and a couple of dance clubs — and if you are already staying by the beach in Marmaris, you will not find a dramatically different sea here. Come for the swim, the promenade and the quieter feel.

İçmeler vs Marmaris: where to base yourself

Base in İçmeler for beach days and calm nights; in Marmaris if you want the old town and nightlife on your doorstep. The dolmuş makes either easy to combine.

Things to do in İçmeler

• Swim in the bay — the reason to come, with views of the two wooded headlands from the water.
• Walk the seafront — the promenade runs the length of the beach and carries on around the bay to the Marmaris promenade.
• Hike the pine hills — trails above the village give wide views of the bay; go early, before the heat, and carry water.
• Water sports — scuba diving, windsurfing and water-skiing from operators on the beach.
• Boat trips and day tours — most tours from Marmaris pick up at İçmeler hotels.
• Wednesday market — the weekly market in the village centre sells fruit, clothes and souvenirs; haggling is expected.
• Shop for basics — supermarkets and pharmacies in the village; for souvenirs, the Marmaris Grand Bazaar has far more choice.

Day trips: Turunç, Dalyan and the islands

The next bay over is Turunç, behind the mountain. You can drive or take a taxi over the winding hill road, or — in season — hop on the water taxi between the two villages, which doubles as a short cruise along the rocky coast. Boat times change month to month, so check at the jetty the day before.

Longer trips leave from İçmeler too: Dalyan and the Kaunos rock tombs with the turtle beach at İztuzu, Cleopatra Island in the Gulf of Gökova, and Kızkumu, where a sandbar lets you wade far out into the sea. Most operators collect you from your hotel.

Beaches and bays around Marmaris compared

Every waterside place around Marmaris rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

How to do it right

• Take the dolmuş out and walk the seafront back to Marmaris — the bay is in front of you all the way.
• Mornings are best: calmer water, more free sand and fewer boats.
• A towel instead of a sunbed is a perfectly normal — and free — way to spend a day here.
• Want the local market? Make Wednesday your beach day — the stalls are in the village centre, a few minutes from the sand.
• Book day tours with an İçmeler pick-up — nearly every operator collects from the village hotels.
• Heading to Bar Street in Marmaris at night? Plan on a taxi back — the dolmuş thins out late.

Questions