Marmaris or İçmeler: Where Should You Stay?
A lively harbour town and a calmer bay resort, side by side on the same coast
In short: choose Marmaris town if you want a real town with a marina, an old quarter, a big bazaar and lively evenings. Choose İçmeler if you want a calmer, greener bay with a gently shelving beach, closer to the mountains. They are only about 8 km apart, joined by a long seafront promenade, so you can easily enjoy both.
Last checked: 9 November 2026
Marmaris and İçmeler at a glance
| Marmaris town | İçmeler | |
|---|---|---|
| Feel | A busy harbour town, open all year | A quieter resort in its own bay, ringed by pine-covered hills |
| Beach | Long town beach along the promenade, busy in summer | A mix of coarse sand and pebbles (some visitors find it stony, so water shoes help); the water shelves gently, which families with young children like |
| Famous for | Netsel Marina, the castle and old town, the Grand Bazaar and Bar Street | A calm bay, the seafront walk and easy boat trips along the coast |
| Evenings | Lively: restaurants, the marina and, for a night out, Bar Street | Relaxed: seafront restaurants and bars, with the town a short ride away |
| Out of season | A working town, so many shops and restaurants stay open | Much quieter in winter, when many hotels close |
| Best for | Couples and friends who want town life, shopping and nightlife; visitors without a car | Families with young children, couples who want a calmer base, walkers |
Which is better for families?
Many families choose İçmeler because the beach shelves gently and the bay is calmer than the town front. Hotels a few streets back from the beach are usually quieter at night. Marmaris town suits families with older children who want more to do in the evenings, such as the marina and the bazaar. As anywhere, keep an eye on little ones in the water.
Is one quieter than the other?
İçmeler is generally the calmer of the two, especially away from the main road. In July and August both are busy. For a quieter holiday, come in spring or autumn. If you stay in Marmaris town and want a good night’s sleep, choose a hotel away from Bar Street.
Getting between Marmaris and İçmeler
- On foot or by bike: a long seafront promenade runs around the bay from İçmeler to Marmaris. Walking the whole way takes a couple of hours, and you can stop for a swim or a drink on the way.
- By dolmuş: shared minibuses run often along the coast road between İçmeler and Marmaris, from morning until late in summer. The ride takes around 20 minutes.
- By water taxi: in season, small boats cross the bay between İçmeler and Marmaris, a pleasant way to arrive in town.
From Dalaman Airport, both are reached by road; see our Dalaman airport transfer guide.
Good to know about costs
Prices on the seafront and in the busiest tourist streets are usually higher than a few streets back. Simple local restaurants and the weekly markets are better value. We don’t list prices because they change often, so check the menu or ask before you order.
What real travellers say
We read what holidaymakers write on travel forums when they ask “Marmaris or İçmeler?”. Opinions are split, but the same points come up again and again:
- İçmeler is easy to walk around. Many say it is smaller and almost flat, with plenty of bars and restaurants, and that they were bothered less by shop and restaurant touts than in Marmaris.
- Marmaris has more buzz. Fans of the town love its atmosphere: the long promenade lined with restaurants, the shops and the big covered bazaar behind the marina. Some of them find İçmeler too quiet.
- The beaches are not the main reason to come. Several visitors say neither beach is the best on this coast and that İçmeler’s is quite stony. For finer beaches, many take a boat trip or go to Turunç or Kızkumu for a day.
- Many do both. A popular choice is to stay in calm İçmeler and go into Marmaris for a day or a night out, by dolmuş, by water taxi or on foot along the seafront path.
Summarised from many holidaymaker posts on public travel forums, in our own words. Bars and shops change from year to year, so check recent reviews too.
Marmaris or İçmeler: questions
How far is İçmeler from Marmaris?
About 8 km around the bay: around 20 minutes by dolmuş, or a couple of hours on foot along the promenade.
Is İçmeler good for families?
Yes. The beach shelves gently and the bay is calmer than the town front, so it is popular with families with young children.
Is Marmaris open in winter?
Marmaris town is a working town, so much of it stays open all year. İçmeler is much quieter in winter, when many hotels close.
Read more: Marmaris guide · İçmeler · Turunç Bay · Marmaris boat tours
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Header photo: İçmeler bay. Photo: Aw58, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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