# İçmeler, Marmaris > İçmeler is a resort village with a long beach in its own bay, about 8 km south-west of central Marmaris. The beach is free and always open — you only pay for a sunbed and umbrella. The orange-striped dolmuş gets you here from Marmaris in 15–20 minutes; allow 2–3 hours for a swim and a stroll along the seafront. Web page: https://yesgo.io/turkey/marmaris/icmeler - City: [Marmaris](https://yesgo.io/turkey/marmaris), Turkey - YesGo score: 33/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 2 h - Entry: Beach free, sunbeds extra - Opening hours: Beach open 24 hours; sunbeds, cafés and water taxis run in the daytime during the swimming season - With kids: Fine with kids - Beach access: Free — Turkish law keeps the shoreline open to everyone - Sunbed and umbrella: Paid at beach cafés; usually free for guests of beachfront hotels - Dolmuş from Marmaris: Orange stripe, 15–20 min; cash or card — ask the driver - Water taxi: From Marmaris harbour in the swimming season - Walking the seafront: ≈ 8 km around the bay, about 2 hours - Market day: Wednesday, in the village centre - Nearest airport: Dalaman (DLM), ≈ 100 km, about 1.5 hours by road - Address: İçmeler, Marmaris district, Muğla province - Coordinates: 36.80014, 28.22811 - Facts checked: 30.10.2026 ## Key facts - **≈ 8 km** — south-west of central Marmaris, across the same bay (source: English Wikipedia: İçmeler; Wikidata Q371830 coordinates) - **Free** — beach access — the Turkish shoreline is open to the public (source: Turkish Coastal Law No. 3621 (Kıyı Kanunu)) - **Orange stripe** — marks the dolmuş minibuses that run from Marmaris to İçmeler (source: English Wikivoyage: Marmaris; Russian Wikipedia: Marmaris) - **Healing water** — the drinking springs behind the name — içme means drinking water (source: Turkish Wikipedia: İçmeler, Marmaris; MedGulets guide: Icmeler) - **Wednesday market** — once a week in the village centre (source: SmarterTravel: Icmeler Travel Guide; MedGulets guide: Icmeler) - **Pine forest** — surrounds the village on three sides (source: English Wikipedia: İçmeler; MedGulets guide: Icmeler) - **Since 2013** — a neighbourhood (mahalle) of Marmaris after the municipal reform (source: English Wikipedia: İçmeler; Turkish Law No. 6360 on metropolitan municipalities) - **Village before the resort** — of fishermen and sponge divers per Wikipedia, of farmers by the springs per MedGulets (source: English Wikipedia: İçmeler; MedGulets guide: Icmeler) - **Datça Peninsula** — starts here — the road beyond climbs over the hills to Turunç (source: English Wikipedia: İçmeler; English Wikivoyage: 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. > **Bring a towel and the beach costs nothing** Sunbeds on the front row belong to hotels and cafés, but the sand and the sea are public. Lay your towel on a free patch, swim, and spend your lira on lunch instead. Water shoes help where the shingle gets coarser at the water’s edge. ## How to get to İçmeler from Marmaris 1. From [Marmaris Castle](https://yesgo.io/turkey/marmaris/marmaris-castle) and the old town, walk down to the seafront and along to the Atatürk statue square — 5–10 minutes. 2. On the seafront road, flag down a dolmuş (shared minibus) with an orange stripe and an “İçmeler” sign in the windscreen. 3. Pay as you board — it is one flat fare for the whole line. Older guides say cash to the driver; current fare listings mention the Muğla Kart or a contactless bank card, so carry both lira and a card and ask the driver. 4. After 15–20 minutes, get off in central İçmeler by the promenade; the beach is a couple of minutes’ walk. 5. Head back the same way. In season, a water taxi crosses the bay to Marmaris harbour, and on a mild day you can walk the seafront back — about 8 km, roughly 2 hours. 6. Late in the evening the dolmuş runs less often — take a taxi from the rank in the village centre. ## 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 | | İçmeler | Central Marmaris | | --- | --- | --- | | Feel | Resort village, quieter, many families | Busy town with a harbour and old quarter | | Beach | Long sand-and-shingle beach, sheltered bay | Town beach along the promenade | | Evenings | Beach bars, restaurants, a few small clubs | Bar Street and clubs until late | | Sights | The bay, hill trails, Wednesday market | Castle, museum, bazaar | | Getting around | Dolmuş to Marmaris in 15–20 min | Dolmuş lines and tour pick-ups everywhere | 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](https://yesgo.io/turkey/marmaris/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](https://yesgo.io/turkey/marmaris/marmaris-grand-bazaar) has far more choice. ## Day trips: Turunç, Dalyan and the islands The next bay over is [Turunç](https://yesgo.io/turkey/marmaris/turunc-bay), 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](https://yesgo.io/turkey/marmaris/dalyan-kaunos) with the turtle beach at [İztuzu](https://yesgo.io/turkey/marmaris/iztuzu-beach), [Cleopatra Island](https://yesgo.io/turkey/marmaris/cleopatra-island) in the Gulf of Gökova, and [Kızkumu](https://yesgo.io/turkey/marmaris/kizkumu), where a sandbar lets you wade far out into the sea. Most operators collect you from your hotel. ## Before you go: beach checklist - [ ] Turkish lira and a bank card for the dolmuş and a sunbed - [ ] A towel, if you’d rather not pay for a lounger - [ ] Sunscreen and a hat - [ ] Water shoes for the shingle - [ ] The last water taxi time, if you’re going back by boat - [ ] Water, if you’re heading up the hill trails ## Beaches and bays around Marmaris compared Every waterside place around Marmaris rated by YesGo. - [Marmaris seafront promenade](https://yesgo.io/turkey/marmaris/marmaris-promenade) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free, open 24 hours - [İçmeler](https://yesgo.io/turkey/marmaris/icmeler) — YesGo score 33/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Beach free, sunbeds extra - [Turunç Bay](https://yesgo.io/turkey/marmaris/turunc-bay) — YesGo score 28/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Free; café sunbeds extra - [Kızkumu Beach](https://yesgo.io/turkey/marmaris/kizkumu) — YesGo score 28/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free entry, sunbeds paid - [İztuzu Beach](https://yesgo.io/turkey/marmaris/iztuzu-beach) — YesGo score 26/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Free entry, sunbeds extra - [Cleopatra Island](https://yesgo.io/turkey/marmaris/cleopatra-island) — YesGo score 19/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Entrance fee plus boat fare - [Dalyan and the Kaunos rock tombs](https://yesgo.io/turkey/marmaris/dalyan-kaunos) — YesGo score 16/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · Kaunos €3, under 8 free ## Beach morning, Marmaris evening A swim at İçmeler, then along the bay into town: the promenade, the bazaar and the castle at sunset. YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [İçmeler](https://yesgo.io/turkey/marmaris/icmeler) — YesGo score 33/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Beach free, sunbeds extra 2. [Marmaris seafront promenade](https://yesgo.io/turkey/marmaris/marmaris-promenade) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free, open 24 hours 3. [Marmaris Grand Bazaar](https://yesgo.io/turkey/marmaris/marmaris-grand-bazaar) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free entry 4. [Marmaris Castle](https://yesgo.io/turkey/marmaris/marmaris-castle) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · €6 for foreign visitors, under-8s free ## Good to know Say it “eech-meh-ler”. There is another İçmeler near Urla in İzmir province — a different place with no connection to the Marmaris resort. Bus and booking sites sometimes list the resort simply under Marmaris. ## Tips - 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](https://yesgo.io/turkey/marmaris/marmaris-bar-street) in Marmaris at night? Plan on a taxi back — the dolmuş thins out late. ## Questions ### Where is İçmeler? In south-west Turkey, in Muğla province: it is a resort neighbourhood of Marmaris in the next bay, about 8 km south-west of the town centre. ### Is İçmeler part of Marmaris? Yes. Since 2013 it has been a neighbourhood of Marmaris district; before that it was a separate town. The two resorts now almost merge along the bay. ### Is İçmeler beach sandy or pebbly? Both: it is sand mixed with fine shingle, pebblier at the water’s edge, with a gentle slope and shallow water. Access is free; sunbeds and umbrellas belong to hotels and beach cafés. ### How do I get from Marmaris to İçmeler? Take the orange-striped dolmuş from the seafront road — 15–20 minutes; carry lira and a card and ask the driver how to pay. In season a water taxi crosses the bay, or walk the seafront in about 2 hours. ### Can you walk from İçmeler to Marmaris? Yes — the promenade follows the bay for about 8 km. It takes about 2 hours at an easy pace; go early or late in summer to avoid the midday heat. ### Is there a water taxi from İçmeler? In the swimming season boats run across the bay to Marmaris harbour and along the coast to Turunç. Times change through the season, so check at the jetty. ### Is İçmeler better than Marmaris? It is quieter and more family-focused, with a sheltered beach. Marmaris has the old town, the castle and late nightlife. Many people stay in İçmeler and visit Marmaris by dolmuş. ### How far is İçmeler from Dalaman Airport? Roughly 100 km by road. The Havaş shuttle takes about 1.5 hours to Marmaris, then a dolmuş to İçmeler; a private transfer goes straight to your hotel. ### Is İçmeler good for nightlife? It is low-key: beachfront bars, restaurants and a couple of small dance clubs. For a big night out, head to Bar Street in Marmaris. ### What day is the İçmeler market? Wednesday. The weekly market sets up in the village centre with fruit, clothes and souvenirs — a few minutes’ walk from the beach. ## How we checked Location, history and the origin of the name come from English and Turkish Wikipedia, Wikidata and the MedGulets guide. Free beach access follows from Turkey’s Coastal Law. The orange dolmuş stripe matches in Russian Wikipedia, English Wikivoyage and SmarterTravel; the Wednesday market in SmarterTravel and MedGulets. Sources disagree on the distance to Marmaris — from 5 to 11 km; we give ≈ 8 km, as Wikipedia and MedGulets do. They also differ on the village’s past (fishermen and sponge divers, or farmers), so we show both, and on whether the beach is sandy or pebbly. Older guides say pay the dolmuş driver in cash, while a fare listing updated in summer 2026 mentions the Muğla Kart and contactless cards; we found no official MUTTAŞ timetable or fare, so journey times, payment, water taxis and sunbeds are marked “verifying”. We give no prices or sea temperatures — they change. We do not name hotels or bars or summarise reviews. ## Sources - English Wikipedia: İçmeler; Wikidata Q371830 - Turkish Wikipedia: İçmeler, Marmaris — origin of the name and town status - Russian Wikipedia: Marmaris — dolmuş and boats to İçmeler - English Wikivoyage: Marmaris — dolmuş minibuses, the Havaş bus from Dalaman Airport - Turkish Coastal Law No. 3621 (Kıyı Kanunu) — public access to the shore - SmarterTravel: Icmeler Travel Guide and Dolmus mini bus Marmaris; MedGulets guide: Icmeler — beach, market, trails, dolmuş - Turkey Travel Planner: İçmeler; Travel Counsellors: Icmeler, Turkey — water taxi and dolmuş - HemenHesap fare listing: Marmaris taxi fare — the city bus to İçmeler and card payment --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.