Icmeler Beach
Curving around the mountain-backed bay of Icmeler just west of Marmaris, Icmeler Beach offers some of the best scenery and waters on Turkey’s Turquoise Coast. The dark-sand-and-shingle stretch is lined by Icmeler’s shops, restaurants, and watersports—making it ideal for whiling the day away in the sun.
The Basics
Icmeler Beach is divided into public areas and private sections designated for the residents of various hotels. The public zones offer sunloungers that are free for visitors to use, providing they purchase drinks and snacks from their restaurants that supply them.
While they’re relaxing on the beach, visitors can choose from a wide range of watersports activities: signing up for pedalos, Jet-skis, paragliding, and banana boats from the sands. Other ways to enjoy the beach and the coast include snorkel-and-swim cruises that depart from Icmeler and Marmaris—many include return transfers from Icmeler hotels—to explore the area’s pine-fringed bays and coves. Those wanting to capture the beauty of Icmeler Beach can also consider photoshoot tours—visiting the sands with an experienced photographer to create an album of professional shots as mementoes of your vacation.
Things to Know Before You Go
Complimentary Wi-Fi is usually provided with the public sunloungers on Icmeler Beach.
Rest rooms and showers are available on the promenade, or sometimes offered by the sunlounger providers.
If you want to simply laze on the sands, head for the central part of the beach, which is free from sunloungers.
How to Get There
It’s hard to miss Icmeler Beach: follow any main street in the town center to reach the sands. Local dolmus (public minibuses) also ferry visitors along the beachside road from neighboring Marmaris and Turunc. Alternatively, hop on one of the regular water taxis that run to the beach from Marmaris and Turunc; or walk along the pedestrianized promenade that connects Marmaris and Icmeler.
Trip ideas
When to Get There
The beach is busy from May to October each year: but if you’re happy to pay for restaurant refreshments to use the sunloungers, some are almost always available. The waters are warm and more than comfortable for swimming between May and November. Sunset is a popular time to stroll and enjoy drinks on the beachfront as the sun sinks below the mountains.
Walking the Promenade to Marmaris
If you feel energetic after lying on Icmeler’s sands, make the walk along the promenade that runs all the way to Marmaris. While it’s a 5-mile (8-kilometer) walk—you’ll enjoy gorgeous views and can stop to refuel at numerous sea-facing restaurants and bars along the way.
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