Turunç Bay, Marmaris

Things to do in Turunç

• Swim in the bay and look back at the mountains from the water — that’s the whole point of coming.
• Walk the seafront from the jetty to the far end of the village — about half an hour at an easy pace.
• Hike up to ancient Amos on the headland to the south: a theatre, city walls with towers and rock-cut tombs. The best view of the bay is from up there.
• Have grilled fish at a waterfront taverna — after swimming, it’s the main event.
• Take a boat trip around the gulf: excursion boats from Marmaris usually call at Turunç, and boats from Turunç itself head out to the neighbouring coves.
• Carry on to Kumlubük, the next cove south — wider and quieter than Turunç. The same road leads there, and the dolmuş fare table has a stage to Kumlubük and Amos.

What is Turunç like?

Turunç is a former fishing village that grew into a small resort in its own cove of the Gulf of Marmaris. It stretches about a kilometre along the shore: a narrow seafront of cafés and little shops, the beach and a boat jetty, with steep, pine-covered Taurus slopes rising straight behind the houses. Officially it’s a neighbourhood of Marmaris district rather than a town of its own.

People come for what Marmaris itself lacks — quiet, clear green water and mountains dropping almost straight into the sea. There are no giant hotels or clubs, and the village goes to bed early. The name means “bitter orange” in Turkish.

There’s no bus station of its own: the dolmuş from Marmaris pulls up at the Turunç Merkez stop in the village centre, and plenty of visitors arrive by boat from the harbour instead. Beyond the village the road only carries on to the next cove, Kumlubük, and to Amos, so nobody passes through Turunç on the way somewhere else.

Turunç beach: sand, sunbeds and swimming

The village beach runs the length of the seafront; whether you get sand or shingle depends on the stretch, so see on the day if water shoes would help. It shelves gently, and because the bay is sheltered by mountains the water is usually calmer than on the open Marmaris shore. The beach is public — Turkish law keeps the shoreline open to all — so you can lay a towel down for free and pay only for a lounger.

Sunbeds and umbrellas sit in front of the seafront cafés and restaurants. Most charge for them or let you use one if you order lunch or drinks. Terms vary from café to café, so ask before you sit down.

The beach has been awarded a Blue Flag, the international award for clean water and shoreline. It is awarded afresh each year, so look at the flagpole on the beach rather than at old photos.

Is the hike to Amos worth it?

Yes, if you like ancient sites and don’t mind a hot climb. Amos is a small ancient Carian town on Asarcık hill at the Hisarburnu headland, 3–4 km from the centre of Turunç.

The highlight is the theatre. Around it are city walls and towers and a necropolis of rock-cut tombs. The ruins themselves take about half an hour to walk round, and the path carries on to the tip of the headland.

The path climbs with no shade, so go early or late in the day, carry water and wear proper shoes. There are no railings along the cliff edges, so keep children close. There’s no museum or visitor centre — just ruins among the pines and rocks, worth it for the view and the silence.

Is Turunç worth visiting?

Yes, if you’re staying in Marmaris or İçmeler and want one quiet day by the sea away from the town bustle. Turunç suits couples, families with small children who need a gentle shelving beach, and walkers who fancy the climb to the ruins.

Skip it if you want nightlife, a long empty beach or big shopping streets — Marmaris has all that. Winter is no time to come either: the cafés are shut, the boats don’t run and all that’s left is the view.

Turunç vs İçmeler vs the Marmaris seafront

With only a couple of hours, İçmeler will do. Turunç deserves half a day — for the mountain road and a bay you can’t see from the Marmaris seafront.

Marmaris by the sea compared

Coves, beaches and islands around Marmaris, rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

How to do it right

• Leave in the morning — by midday the dolmuş through İçmeler is packed and the front-row sunbeds are taken.
• Ask about sunbed terms before you sit: some cafés charge, others just want an order.
• Don’t start up to Amos at noon — the path is fully exposed to the sun.
• Pay for the dolmuş by bank card and keep small lira notes for the little shops.
• The last dolmuş out of Turunç leaves earlier than the last one from Marmaris — about 18:00 on the timetable as of 30.10.2026.
• For a sunset dinner, head back to the Marmaris promenade — Turunç is very quiet after dark.

Questions