# Kızkumu Beach (Jesus Beach), Marmaris

> Kızkumu, or Jesus Beach, is a natural sandbar in Orhaniye bay on the Bozburun peninsula, 26–30 km from Marmaris. It runs 550–600 metres out, so you seem to walk on the sea. Entry is free; sunbeds and cafés cost money. There are no set hours, swimming runs from late spring into autumn, and 1.5–2 hours is enough.

Web page: https://yesgo.io/turkey/marmaris/kizkumu

- City: [Marmaris](https://yesgo.io/turkey/marmaris), Turkey
- YesGo score: 28/100 (Yes, if nearby)
- Time on site: 1 h 30 min
- Opening hours: Open beach, no set hours; sunbeds and cafés in the warm season, daytime
- With kids: Fine with kids
- Entry: Free — public shoreline
- Sunbeds and umbrellas: Paid at the beach clubs at the root of the bar
- Sandbar: 550–600 m of shallows (sources differ), about 3 m wide
- From Marmaris: 26–30 km on the Bozburun road (sources differ), 35–45 min by car
- Dolmuş: From Marmaris Otogar towards Selimiye via Orhaniye, ask for Kızkumu
- Season: Tours from April; swimming late spring to autumn
- Where: Orhaniye bay, Marmaris district, Muğla province
- Coordinates: 36.75746, 28.13003
- Facts checked: 30.10.2026

## Key facts

- **550–600 m** — length of the sandbar you can wade along (source: Wikipedia and the Liman Çepte guide — about 600 m; Hürriyet — 550 m)
- **Jesus Beach** — the name used on English-language tours, for the walk-on-water effect (source: marmarisinfo.com; Marmaris tour listings)
- **Natural** — floodwater carries sand and gravel from the eroded rocks around Orhaniye into the bay (source: Turkish Wikipedia)
- **Maiden’s Sand** — what Kızkumu means — after the legend of a girl pouring sand from her skirt (source: English and Turkish Wikipedia)
- **Statue** — of the girl from the legend stands by the bar — people make a wish there (source: English Wikipedia; Wikimedia Commons; Liman Çepte guide)
- **≈ 3 m** — width of the underwater sand path (source: Turkish Wikipedia; Hürriyet)
- **Two legends** — a ruler’s daughter fleeing to her fisherman lover, or escaping after a lost war (source: Turkish Wikipedia; English Wikipedia)
- **Kızkumu Castle** — remains of a fort on an islet in the bay, listed in Turkey’s heritage inventory (source: Wikidata Q131902262; Turkish Wikipedia; Liman Çepte guide)
- **Bybassos** — the ancient Carian town linked with the ruins in the bay and the legend (source: Turkish Wikipedia; English Wikipedia “Bybassus”)
- **Bozburun** — the peninsula south of Marmaris; Orhaniye sits on its northern shore (source: English Wikipedia “Bozburun”; Wikivoyage)

## How to get to Kızkumu Beach from Marmaris

1. Get to the Marmaris bus station (Otogar) — by town dolmuş from the seafront or by taxi.
2. At the Otogar, find the dolmuş for Selimiye, which runs via Orhaniye. Tell the driver “Kızkumu” and you’ll be dropped at the turn for the beach. No timetable is published online, so ask at the Otogar how often they run.
3. From the stop it is a few minutes’ walk down to the water.
4. By car or taxi: 26–30 km on the Bozburun road, 35–45 minutes. The beach clubs have parking, which fills by midday in summer.
5. Coming back, flag down the same dolmuş on the Marmaris side of the road. Ask the driver on the way out when the last one returns.
6. No car? Bozburun peninsula jeep safaris, village tours and boat trips usually stop at Kızkumu. Blue-cruise yachts anchor in the bay and guests come ashore by dinghy or swim.

## Is there an entry fee at Kızkumu?

**No — Kızkumu is free.** The Turkish shoreline is public, and the sandbar is a natural feature with no gate or ticket office. You pay only for what you use: a sunbed, a drink, parking.

Beach clubs and cafés line the start of the bar. Their sunbeds are usually paid or come with a minimum spend; terms change every season, so we don’t quote figures. A towel on an open stretch of shore costs nothing.

The real cost is getting there. The dolmuş is cheap; a taxi from Marmaris is much more. For three or four people a hire car for the day pays off — and lets you add Selimiye and Bozburun village.

Bring Turkish lira in cash: dolmuş drivers take cash only, and small cafés prefer it.

## Jesus Beach tours from Marmaris

Most English-speaking visitors reach Kızkumu on an organised day out rather than by bus. The sandbar is a regular stop on **Bozburun peninsula jeep safaris** and **village tours** — often combined with a waterfall, a village lunch and, on the jeep trips, water fights between the cars.

On a tour you get a fixed slot at the beach, often not long, and the bus or jeep arrives when the bay is busiest. If walking out along the bar is the reason you’re going, a car or the dolmuş lets you come early, before the wind and the tour groups. Pack a change of clothes either way: you will get wet.

## What is Kızkumu, and why “Jesus Beach”?

Kızkumu is a **natural sandbar** in Orhaniye bay. Tour companies call it Jesus Beach, because people wading along it look as if they are walking on water. It runs 550–600 metres out from the shore — sources give both figures — and is only about three metres wide. The water on either side is deeper, so from a distance anyone on it seems to be striding across the sea — that is the whole point of coming.

Nobody built it. The rocks above Orhaniye crack with heat and cold, and floods wash sand and gravel into the bay, where the current lays them in a narrow line. The sand has a reddish tint from the local rock.

The name means “Maiden’s Sand”. One legend says a daughter of the ruler of ancient Bybassos ran into the sea towards her fisherman lover, and every step turned to sand. Another says she fled after a lost war, pouring sand from her skirt to make a path, and drowned when it ran out. Her **statue** stands by the bar, and making a wish there is a local habit.

> **Come before the wind** An afternoon breeze usually picks up in the bay, ruffling the surface and stirring up the sand — the bar is harder to see from above and underfoot. Mornings are best. The shallows have no shade and the water reflects the sun, so you burn faster here than on an ordinary beach.

## Is Kızkumu worth visiting?

**Yes, if you have children or want an unusual photo.** Warm, shallow water far from the shore is rare around Marmaris, where the sea usually gets deep fast. Walking hundreds of metres out into the bay is a genuinely odd and memorable feeling.

**Not on its own if you want a full beach day.** The shore itself is small and most people sit at the cafés at the root of the bar. Make it one stop on a peninsula day — Selimiye, Bozburun, lunch by the water — or pick a beach nearer town such as [Turunç](https://yesgo.io/turkey/marmaris/turunc-bay) or [İçmeler](https://yesgo.io/turkey/marmaris/icmeler) for a lazy day.

## Things to do at Kızkumu

- **Wade to the end of the bar** — slowly, stopping to look around. This is where most of your time goes.
- **Photograph the statue** of the maiden by the bar, with the bay behind.
- **Stay on the bar if you’re not a strong swimmer.** A step or two to the side and the water is several metres deep.
- **See it from above.** From the road over the bay the bar shows as a pale stripe in turquoise water. Pull over only where it’s safe.
- **Spot the islet** with the ruins of Kızkumu Castle from the shore or a boat.
- **Watch the yachts** anchored in sheltered Orhaniye bay — calmest early in the day.
- **Let the kids splash** in knee-deep water well away from the shore.

## What to bring

- [ ] Water shoes for shells and pebbles on the bar
- [ ] Sunscreen and a hat
- [ ] Cash in lira for the dolmuş, sunbed and café
- [ ] Drinking water — there’s no shade out on the bar
- [ ] Waterproof phone pouch
- [ ] A morning start, before the wind

## Kızkumu vs Cleopatra Island (and İztuzu)

|  | Kızkumu | Cleopatra Island | İztuzu |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| What it is | Sandbar out into the sea | Island with a protected beach and ruins | Long turtle beach near Dalyan |
| Entry | Free | Paid | Free |
| From Marmaris | Car or dolmuş, ≈ 45 min | Car + boat, ≈ 1 h | ≈ 1.5 h by car |
| Water | Shallows for hundreds of metres | Swimming inside the buoys | Open sea, waves |
| With kids | Best of the three | Fine, but lots of rules | Fine, with care |
| Time needed | 1.5–2 h | ≈ 3 h | Half a day with Dalyan |

Kızkumu is for kids and the walk-on-water moment. For ancient ruins go to [Cleopatra Island](https://yesgo.io/turkey/marmaris/cleopatra-island); for a big beach and turtles, [İztuzu](https://yesgo.io/turkey/marmaris/iztuzu-beach).

## Marmaris beaches and bays compared

Every waterside place in 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
- [Kızkumu Beach](https://yesgo.io/turkey/marmaris/kizkumu) — YesGo score 28/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free entry, sunbeds paid
- [Turunç Bay](https://yesgo.io/turkey/marmaris/turunc-bay) — YesGo score 28/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Free; café sunbeds extra
- [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

## Kızkumu in the morning, Marmaris at night

The sandbar while the bay is calm, then the seafront and the castle, and Bar Street after dark.

1. [Kızkumu Beach](https://yesgo.io/turkey/marmaris/kizkumu) — YesGo score 28/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free entry, sunbeds paid
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 Castle](https://yesgo.io/turkey/marmaris/marmaris-castle) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · €6 for foreign visitors, under-8s free
4. [Bar Street](https://yesgo.io/turkey/marmaris/marmaris-bar-street) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Street free; some clubs charge entry

## Good to know

Kızkumu has nothing to do with the Maiden’s Tower (Kız Kulesi) in Istanbul — they just share the word kız, “girl”. And the Hisarönü you pass on the way is a Marmaris neighbourhood, not the resort of the same name near Fethiye.

## Tips

- Arrive before noon: flat water, a clear view of the bar and free parking.
- Stop on the road above the bay for the classic shot of the pale stripe in the sea.
- With small children this beats most Marmaris beaches — shallow and warm far from shore.
- Without a car, a Bozburun peninsula tour is easier than the dolmuş — Kızkumu is a standard stop.
- Don’t try to combine it with Cleopatra Island in one go — they lie in opposite directions from Marmaris.
- Back in town, stroll the [Marmaris seafront](https://yesgo.io/turkey/marmaris/marmaris-promenade) and catch sunset by the [castle](https://yesgo.io/turkey/marmaris/marmaris-castle).

## Questions

### How do I get to Kızkumu Beach from Marmaris?

By car it’s 26–30 km on the Bozburun road, 35–45 minutes. Without one, take the Selimiye dolmuş from Marmaris Otogar, which runs via Orhaniye, and ask for Kızkumu — or join a jeep safari, village tour or boat trip around the peninsula.

### Why is Kızkumu called Jesus Beach?

Because wading along the sandbar, with deeper water on both sides, looks from a distance like walking on water. Jesus Beach is the tour-company name; Kızkumu, “Maiden’s Sand”, is the Turkish one and comes from a local legend.

### Is Kızkumu Beach free?

Yes. Entry is free; you pay only for sunbeds and umbrellas at the beach clubs at the start of the bar, food and parking.

### Can you really walk on water at Kızkumu?

Pretty much. A sandbar 550–600 metres long and about three metres wide lies just under the surface, with deeper water either side, so from a distance people look as if they’re walking on the sea.

### Where exactly is Kızkumu?

In Orhaniye bay on the northern shore of the Bozburun peninsula, Marmaris district, Muğla province — roughly halfway between Marmaris and Bozburun village.

### Is Kızkumu good for kids?

It’s one of the best spots around Marmaris for small children: shallow, warm water a long way out. Bring water shoes and sun protection — there’s no shade on the bar.

### What is the legend of Kızkumu?

A daughter of the ruler of ancient Bybassos fled into the sea, and sand formed under her feet — or, in another version, she poured sand from her skirt to make a path and drowned when it ran out. Hence “Maiden’s Sand”.

### When is the best time to visit Kızkumu?

Late spring to autumn for swimming, and in the morning. Tours start running in April, and spring and early summer are less hot. The afternoon wind ruffles the bay and makes the bar harder to see.

### How long should I spend at Kızkumu?

1.5–2 hours on the beach plus about an hour’s round trip by car. By dolmuş, allow half a day.

### Is Kızkumu worth it?

For families and an unusual photo, yes. For a full lazy beach day it’s small — combine it with Selimiye and Bozburun, or choose a beach closer to town.

## How we checked

The natural origin and legends are checked against English and Turkish Wikipedia. Sources disagree on length: Wikipedia and the Liman Çepte guide say about 600 m, Hürriyet says 550 m, so we give both. The width of about three metres is in Turkish Wikipedia and Hürriyet. Wikipedia puts the statue at the start of the shallows and Liman Çepte at the end, so we only say it stands by the bar. The castle on the islet comes from Wikidata, the Turkish heritage inventory and Liman Çepte. There is no official page for the beach: free entry is stated by Liman Çepte and the Wikimedia Commons description, but neither is official, so entry and sunbeds stay “checking” and we give no prices in figures. Distance: 26 km in a guide cited by Turkish Wikipedia, about 30 km in Hürriyet, Liman Çepte and marmarisinfo.com, so we give 26–30 km; driving times are our estimate. Turkey Travel Planner and the marmarisinfo.com fare table describe a minibus from Marmaris Otogar via Orhaniye, but neither they nor the official MUTTAŞ site publish a line number or timetable, so the dolmuş stays “checking” and we give no last-departure time. No swimming season is officially announced; tours starting in April is from Hürriyet. Checked 30.10.2026.

## Sources

- English Wikipedia: “Kızkumu”
- Turkish Wikipedia: “Kızkumu Plajı”
- Hürriyet: “Kızkumu'na turist akını başladı” (1 May 2017)
- Liman Çepte guide: “Kızkumu Beach (Orhaniye)”
- Turkey Travel Planner: “Selimiye” — minibuses from Marmaris Otogar via Orhaniye
- marmarisinfo.com: minibus fares (updated 26.01.2026) and the Jesus Beach article
- Wikidata: Q6454772 (Kızkumu), Q131902262 (Kızkumu Castle, Kültür Envanteri heritage inventory)
- Wikimedia Commons: “Category:Kızkumu” — beach description
- English Wikipedia: “Bozburun”, “Bybassus”
- Wikivoyage: “Marmaris” — transport and Dalaman Airport
- MUTTAŞ, Muğla public transport: line list (no line to Orhaniye)

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