İçmeler is a quiet and peaceful town located 8 km away from the center of Marmaris. If you turn right from the Statue of Atatürk on the coast and drive through the coastal road, you can reach Icmeler within 15 minutes. If you’re not driving, you can take the orange coloured dolmushes or municipal midi-buses as well. They shuttle between the two towns very frequently. In the center of Marmaris, the coastal road is covered with paved stones. On your way to İçmeler; when the road turns to asphalt, it means you have entered İçmeler borders, and when the road turns into pave stone again, this time it means you have reached to the centre of İçmeler. On the asphalt section of the road, after passing by the 5-star hotels, you can take a break at old Seyir Cafe's terrace and shoot photographs of İçmeler Beaches. (We say ‘old’, because the famous Seyir Cafe does not exist any more, it was destroyed on March 2017) The view will be like the photograph above. Another alternative for transportation is the taxi boats that depart from the park near the Statue of Atatürk in Marmaris, the price is 15 ₺ per person (as of 2017). 

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Beaches of İçmeler

The biggest hotels in Marmaris are located in İçmeler, and these hotels are built side by side along the coast. The clients of these hotels do not go out much, because they can find almost everything they need in their hotels. So, even though there are so many tourists in İçmeler, you do not come across with as many people in the streets, bars or restaurants. But, the situation changes when it comes to the beaches. Sandy ground, calm sea and the beautiful view of Marmaris Bay attracts many people to İçmeler Beaches. Sometimes the beaches become so crowded that, you may not be able to find a single sun lounger to lie on. Nearly half of the beaches are in control of the hotels, but there are also free public beaches as well. Some of the hotels accept outsiders to use their sun loungers, shower etc. for charge.

 

Since Marmaris Bay is surrounded by mountains and the sea is calm inside, it is a great occasion for watersports. Naturally, there are many options of watersports such as, jet-ski, parasailing, water-ski, wake board, speed boat, parasailing, banana, flyfish, ringo, phantom, pedal boat and canoes. Additionally, there’s a dolphin park in the sea.

 

Although İçmeler is a small town, you can find anything necessary there. There are bars, restaurants, cholthing shops, supermarkets, leather shops, jewellery stores, banks and even tatoo shops.

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In sum; İçmeler is the right choice for ones who want to have a vacation in serenity, also it is the right choice for people who are interested in swimming and watersports as well.

 

Bonus-1: The parts of the Marmaris coastal walkway with the most beautiful sight, are in İçmeler. Especially, the Lovers’ Hill which is about 2 km away from İçmeler Harbour, has an enchanting view of Keçi (Goat) and Güvercin (Piegon) Islands and the Bay of Marmaris. On the hill, people have written love words on the rocks with colourful inks and in many different languages. And finally a warning: between the rocks on the hill, there are broken pieces of glass on the ground, specifically beer bottles. So it’s better to wear shoes rather than slippers.

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Bonus-2: On the way to İçmeler there is a theme park for children, namely ‘Atatürk Bilim ve Teknoloji Parkı’ (Atatürk Science and Technology Park). There are numerous enjoyable and educative items for children both indoors and outdoors.