Icmeler is such a sea. Which sea is washed by Icmeler? Vacation excursions Icmeler
Nowadays, holidays in Icmeler in Turkey are becoming more and more popular every year These days, Icmeler has become a Turkish resort in its own right, although it is located only a 15-minute drive from the larger and well-known resort of Marmaris. Icmeler is located in a picturesque bay, surrounded by majestic mountains, densely overgrown with pine forests. The mountains not only create a special microclimate, but also fill the air with extraordinary freshness. The resort is famous in Turkey not only for its healing air, but also for its mineral waters. Therefore, a holiday at the resort is not only a beach holiday, but also a healing one. Tourists also appreciate the amazing transparency of sea water in the arc-shaped area of the coast, on which sand and pebble beaches are located, most of which are paid. Icmeler is a small, rather laconic resort where married couples love to come on vacation. The hotels in the town are quite spacious and comfortable. The tourist infrastructure of the resort is self-sufficient; there are several markets, shopping centers and restaurants. And lovers of discos and nightclubs usually leave for Marmaris late in the evening. By the way, the proximity to Marmaris makes profitable shopping and exciting excursions along the western coast of Turkey accessible.
Geography and climate of the resort
Icmeler is translated from Turkish as “rich in drinking water.” Many mineral springs gush from the surface of the picturesque mountains surrounding the bay and numerous hotels in the resort town in a semicircle. Holidays in Icmeler are more calm and measured,
than in the very nearby Marmaris. Both resorts are located 97 km from Dalaman International Airport on the Aegean coast of Turkey. Fresh air, warm sea and mineral springs have led to worldwide recognition of the resort for the treatment of many types of diseases. When planning summer vacation tours to Icmeler in Turkey, you need to take into account some climate features. The Aegean Sea is cooler than the Mediterranean. Therefore, the water temperature in the sea area on the resort’s coast rarely exceeds +26C. On the other hand, holidays in Icmeler in Turkey are very popular precisely because of the calm and “transparent” sea. The full summer season opens from mid-June. In August, the heat can be unbearable, and daytime temperatures rise above +40C outside the shade. Holidays during the velvet season last until mid-October and suddenly end with cold thunderstorms.
Holidays in Icmeler hotels
The peculiarities of the geographical location of the resort are such that it is a narrow territory stretched towards the mountains. Therefore, the number of hotels on the first line is minimal, and all other hotels are built in numerous blocks in the valley. This location deprives tourists of the desired sea view from hotel rooms and
necessitates daily walks to the beach, albeit along wonderful streets adjacent to water canals. In addition, most hotels offer breakfast-only meals, as tourists have lunch and dinner in the resort's cozy restaurants and bars, located next to the boardwalk, within walking distance of the beaches. Hotels on the first line with their own beaches are Munamar Hotel 5*, Marti Resort de Luxe 5* and Hotel Aqua 5*. These are ancient buildings built in the 60-80s of the last century. However, renovation measures have completely refreshed the number of rooms, which look quite modern. A holiday in Icmeler in Turkey can be combined with accommodation in affordable hotels. The Verde Hotel 4*, as well as the Golmar Beach Hotel 3*, which was built at the very edge of the sea, are very popular.
Interactive map of hotels in Icmeler
Holidays on the beaches of Icmeler
The beach at Imeler is about two kilometers long. You should not relax on the municipal beach - there are no sun loungers or showers. The rest of the beach is divided between tenants. Since many hotels in the resort do not have
own beach, then you must be prepared to pay every day for a stay by the sea in the amount of 100-140 rubles per day per person. Holidays on paid beaches are comfortable - small pebbles are sifted, and garbage is quite difficult to find. There are comfortable changing cabins, showers and paid toilets (1-2 TL). Entries into the sea are comfortable, but the depth is reached unexpectedly quickly. For children to play, a two-meter edge of sand has been prudently left between the sea and the sun loungers. It should be noted the extraordinary transparency of the water, which is rarely agitated. In addition, the color of the pebbles is quite expected, unlike the black-brown color of the sand in the neighboring resort. There is a promenade next to the beach, on the opposite side of which cozy cafes and markets with beach products open their doors. Holidays on the beaches of the resort are calm and measured.
Shopping on holiday Icmeler
Rest and shopping are inseparable concepts. The resort has a few shops (from 8-00 to 1-00) that offer tourists traditional Turkish goods, ranging from souvenirs to fur products. The market for food, manufactured goods and clothing is popular (every Wednesday, at the intersection of the main street and the road to Turunc). Here you can buy fruits that rarely appear on the tables of hotel restaurants (strawberries, figs), as well as cheap Turkish clothes.
Party life on vacation
Tusovka and Icmeler are incompatible concepts. The quiet resort, as if specially created for a family holiday away from the noisy Marmaris, contains virtually no infrastructure for noisy night entertainment. The few bars in Icmeler stop playing loud music at exactly 11:00 p.m., according to strict Turkish laws.
If for some reason you still manage to stay at the resort hotels for a holiday, you should know that a fifteen-minute ride by dolmus (minibus - taxi) separates you from the nightclubs on the “street of bars” in the center of Marmaris. The most popular clubs for young people are Arena and Pasha - they have the largest dance floors, the best light, the best acoustics and the most current tracks of world DJs. In bars in Marmaris, girls often dance on the bar; transvestite shows or striptease are no exception to the rule. Booze is quite expensive. A glass of beer can cost 5-9 dollars, and a portion of whiskey will cost you 10. On the street of bars you can often find soft drug sellers and prostitutes. Returning for a holiday to Icmeler hotels will be fraught with a small problem, since the dolmus run only until the first hour of the night. Taxi drivers will always come to the rescue.
Vacation excursions Icmeler
While on vacation in Icmeler in Turkey, you can take a variety of exciting excursions. The tour program includes both visits to historical sites and educational programs aimed at getting to know the magnificent nature
this part of Turkey. You can buy vacation tours to Icmeler from the host country’s guides, but many tourists purchase excursion trips from local certified travel agencies or the so-called. "street" agencies". As a rule, when purchasing such a tour you can save up to 20-30% of money. The leader of the excursions is a trip to the historical and natural monuments of Ephesus-Pamukkale. By the way, this popular tour ($90, street bureau) is less tiring if it takes two days. In addition to contemplating the snow-white travertines, you can go on one-day yacht tours to the magnificent beaches of Istuzu - the cleanest beach in Turkey, where you can meet huge turtles, and Cleopatra Beach is famous for its unique structure of sand made of ground shells. Tours from Icmeler are varied.
I have posted a lot of interesting articles about on this site, so today I decided to make the last article in which I collected all the facts and answers to popular questions from tourists. Making a separate article on each issue would be stupid, since the articles would turn out to be very small. Therefore, I decided to make one big article, collect information on all the remaining topics in it and completely close the course of articles about Icmeler.
How is "Icmeler" translated?
The resort of Icmeler takes its name from the local fresh water mineral springs (“Imbek” means “drink” in Turkish), which have been known since ancient times for their medicinal properties, healing the digestive system.
Why Icmeler is called "Venice"
In the city, which divides it into two parts, and, like in Venice, small boats float along the canal. For this reason, local residents also nicknamed Icmeler “Turkish Venice.”
From Icmeler to Turunc
How to get from Icmeler to the neighboring city of Turunc? There are several ways. A taxi ride will cost 7-9 euros during daylight hours. This is the most convenient option. If you want to save money, you can take the dolmus, which runs between Marmaris and Turunc and passes through Icmeler. True, such dolmus go much less frequently than the Icmeler-Marmaris dolmus. But the cost of the trip will be no more than 1 euro per person (like 3 lira, if I’m not mistaken). The third option is to travel by boat. Boats also do not go often, but the schedule can be seen in the harbor. The cost of a one-way trip is 15 liras. More expensive than dolmus, but you can admire the coast from the sea. That is, it will be a kind of cruise.
Dolphinarium in Icmeler
There is a dolphinarium, but not in Icmeler, but in neighboring Marmaris. True, it is located close to Icmeler. This dolphinarium is located in the area of the Club Turban and Yazici Mares hotels. Later I will make a detailed description of this dolphinarium, when I start writing articles about Marmaris.
Is it possible to buy Turkish pastries in Icmeler
Of course, there are several shops in Icmeler that sell Turkish sweets and pastries. In the cafe you can also inexpensively try a variety of Turkish pastries.
Is there Denizbank in Icmeler
As I understand, there is no branch of this bank in Icmeler, but there is an ATM of this bank near the Vela Hotel. Denizbank branches and several ATMs can be found in the city of Marmaris, which is easily accessible by dolmus.
Is there free wifi in Icmeler?
Yes, many hotels have free Wi-Fi, and restaurants and cafes almost always have their own Wi-Fi as well. Hotels often provide a password to access the Internet, while restaurants and cafes usually provide access without a password.
How long does it take to drive from Icmeler to Ephesus?
Quite interesting and educational, but some tourists refuse their desire to go on this excursion due to the fact that the trip to the ancient city takes a lot of time. The distance from Icmeler to Ephesus is about 220 km. In the case of a non-stop trip, the travel time will be 3-4 hours, but in reality it usually turns out to be 4-5 hours.
If you have already traveled the entire Antalya coast and you want to see something new in Turkey, then welcome to the shores of the Aegean Sea.
In this article we will talk about the resort village of Icmeler, which is located 8 km away in a bay at the foot of the mountains on the shores of the Aegean Sea. The name of the village in translation sounds like “Drink water”. It received this name due to the mineral springs located in the village.
Icmeler on the map of Turkey
Icmeler used to be a district of Marmaris, but at the moment it is a separate settlement.
Icmeler is an excellent holiday option for families with children and diving enthusiasts. Diving in Icmeler is one of the best in Turkey.
The village has a shopping center, a market (open on Wednesdays), and many discos and nightclubs. Jewelry lovers can stroll to Kenan Evren Boulevard, where jewelry shops are located.
A wonderful walking area has been built along the beach, along which you can walk to Marmaris. Along the sea line there are hotels, cafes, bars and shops.
Beach and sea
The beaches in Icmeler are mostly sand and pebbles. The water in the sea is clean, much cleaner than in Marmaris. The banks have a gentle slope.
The beaches are mostly private. Umbrellas and sun loungers are available for a fee.
If you want to spend time quietly, then you should visit Denizyaka Beach. The beach is equipped, the sea in this place is calm and there are few people. In a word, there are all the conditions to relax well.
For young people, an excellent option would be to visit Nirvana Beach, where discos and various parties are regularly held.
Those who want to observe nature in its original form can be invited to go to a wild beach, where there is absolutely no infrastructure.
What to see: Sights and entertainment
There are no attractions in the village itself, but in Icmeler you can wander around the surrounding area, or buy excursions to various parts of Turkey. For example, go to Pamukkale, visit the ancient city of Ephesus and much more.
For those who like to climb caves with stalactites and stalagmites, you can visit the neighboring villages of Kumlubuk and Turunchem. Lovers of antiquity will love the ruins of the ancient city of Hidas and the ruins of the city of Lorim with ruined palaces one hundred and twenty meters high, as well as the ancient cities of Tissanos and Larumna.
Fans of active sea recreation are invited to water ski, banana boat and motorcycle.
In addition to water activities, Icmeler is considered one of the best places in Turkey for diving. There are all conditions for exploring the underwater world: the water is clear, visibility is maintained even at a depth of forty meters.
Here you can observe a large number of aquatic inhabitants. You might be lucky and see an octopus, a barracuda, a carriage turtle, or some other interesting sea creature.
There are dive centers in the village where you can get all the necessary equipment for diving. There is a school for beginners.
Most often, divers swim on the nearest islands, where their main place is the beautiful Kadirga underwater mountain consisting of tunnels and caves.
Holidays on a yacht and entertainment for children
Those who like to sail on a yacht can see the town of Orhaniye, with magnificent beaches and beautiful forests. It is also worth visiting the 600-meter long underwater spit of Kizkumu and find out what it is famous for. There you will see an island with the ruins of a monastery and an old castle.
We recommend visiting Bilim Park for families with children. It is located at the entrance to the village. Entrance to the park is free. The park is surrounded by greenery and flowers. Here you can have a great walk or go on a picnic. The park has special recreation areas.
The park looks more like an open-air natural science museum:
- botanical garden;
- exhibits that test your dexterity, logic, strength and intelligence;
- tables for board games.
The park has an indoor part for lovers of scientific experiments.
A vegetable garden has been built for the kids. Flowers and vegetables are planted here. Children themselves fill watering cans with water and water the plants. There are also special boxes with worms and compost around.
Climate. Weather and water temperature
Icmeler is located on the Aegean coast and delights arriving tourists with a subtropical climate.
Air temperature in Icmeler
Weather in winter
In winter it is cool here and it rains often. In spring it becomes much warmer. However, you can relax on the beaches of Icmeler a little later than on the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea. The Aegean Sea heats up more slowly than the Mediterranean, which is why the beach season is still closed in May.
However, vacationers can enjoy the healthy air and sunbathe.
At the end of May, the temperature here reaches almost thirty degrees, while the sea temperature is slightly lower and fluctuates between eighteen and twenty degrees.
The beach season in Icmeler begins in June. This is the most pleasant time to relax, since the majority of tourists are just about to arrive.
Temperatures reach their maximum in July and August. However, unlike the resorts of the Mediterranean Sea, comfortable conditions remain here during the peak season, since the stifling heat bypasses Icmeler.
Weather in Icmeler in autumn from September
September is the period when many tourists go back after enjoying this beautiful place. However, some prefer to only stay in the village at this time, since the velvet season begins in September.
September holidays will be especially favorable for families with children, as well as for older people, since children and the elderly may not tolerate the heat well.
The holiday season is closed in October and November. If you want to come here at this particular time, then there is a good opportunity to walk around the area, admiring the grandeur of the mountains and the beauty of the sea.
How to get to Icmeler
The nearest international airport is located 97 kilometers from Icmeler (1.5 hours drive), in the city of Dalaman. It is not possible to get directly from Dalaman to Icmeler; there is no such option.
From the airport you can get to Marmaris by bus from Havas or Coop’s buses. From Marmaris it is very easy to get to the village. Minibuses run regularly, with the earliest departure time being seven in the morning. The last flight is at two o'clock in the morning. At the same time, minibuses (or dolmus, as the locals call them) of Marmaris can be recognized by their green stripe, and dolmus of Icmeler by their orange stripe. Travel time is approximately fifteen minutes.
For lovers of boat trips, there is a great opportunity to get to the village from Marmaris by sea on a yacht.
You can also take a taxi or order a transfer. This option will allow you to arrive directly to your booked hotel.
If it is not possible to fly to the airport in Dalaman, there are other airports nearby in Bodrum (140 km from the airport to the village) and Antalya (340 km).
Most hotels in Icmeler are located on the first line (mostly across the road). Hotels are of a higher level than in Marmaris. Hotels mainly have large areas, swimming pools, playgrounds and restaurants.
Hotel prices vary depending on the star rating; there are both expensive and budget options. The staff speaks Russian in some places.
Beaches at hotels located on the first line are equipped and closed to outsiders.
Icmeler is a wonderful resort where you can have an unforgettable time and get a lot of positive emotions and impressions.
Have you been to Icmeler? Write your opinion about this place in the comments?
There is still debate about which sea washes it. The fact is that in reality this resort is located in the place where the Aegean Sea meets the Mediterranean, so it is impossible to say for sure which sea is in Icmeler. Many tourists believe that Icmeler is washed by the Aegean Sea, but there are also those who believe that the resort is located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Therefore, the time has come to look into this issue.
What geographers say
When I turned to my geographer friend, he looked at the map and showed me a line that runs from the city of Rhodes to the peninsula west of Marmaris and said that this is the border of the Mediterranean and Aegean seas. Since Icmeler is located east of this border, this means that it is washed by the Mediterranean Sea, and not the Aegean.
But we can also say that Icmeler is washed not by the sea, but by a bay. The fact is that in reality it is located in the Gulf of Marmaris. But when asked about what kind of sea is in Icmeler, it is correct to say that this is a resort on the Mediterranean Sea.
Sea state in Icmeler
Now let's look at the sea conditions in the area of the famous resort in southwestern Turkey. In short, the sea in this area has the following characteristics:
- Very calm water. The location in a bay that is almost completely closed from the sea guarantees that there are never strong waves in Icmeler.
- Nice sandy bottom. The sand at the bottom is not as fine as, for example, in the Caribbean, but still it is not large pebbles, as in Kemer.
- Transparency. The absence of high waves and fine sand has led to the fact that the sea in the Icmeler area is considered one of the clearest in Turkey.
Marmaris is one of the most popular and famous resorts in Turkey. The city beach stretches along the entire bay all the way to Icmeler.
Marmaris is located in a province called Mugla, at the point where two seas - the Mediterranean and the Aegean - merge. This Turkish town is considered a yachting center, the largest natural harbor in the world, and is also famous for its islets and blue lagoons.
On the city beach of Marmaris, tourists can go on catamaran trips, water skiing, and sailing. There are umbrellas and sun loungers on the shore, but all of them are paid if they do not belong to the hotel. The main beach of Marmaris is not considered the cleanest, so all guides advise going to one of the bays located in the surrounding area.
Paradise Island
Paradise Island, also called Genet (Paradise Island), is a peninsula (Nimara) in the south of Marmaris.
The walk around the island starts from the rocky area that connects the island to the mainland - “Yabanci Bogaz”. On the island, in addition to beaches, you can find the ruins of a monastery, caves that have survived to this day, and phosphorus rock, which, thanks to its amazing ability to reflect the depth of the sea, also received another name - Blue Rock.
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Icmeler central square
Icmeler is located 7 km west of Marmaris in a small picturesque bay. Until recently, the resort was considered part of Marmaris, but today it is quickly gaining independence, and there are more and more tourists here every season. The resort has a beautiful beach lined with gardens leading to the hotels.
Icmeler gets its name from the local mineral springs of fresh water (“Icmek” means “drink” in Turkish), known since ancient times for its healing properties, beneficial to the digestive system.
Kayabal Street goes directly to the beach of Icmeler Bay. This is the main street of the resort town, where its main attractions are concentrated.
The length of Kayabal Street is about 4 kilometers. She will lead you to the sea through the gardens and terraces of hotels, open shops where trade is in full swing. In the evening, live music can be heard from the doors of small cafes, inviting numerous tourists to look inside. Icmeler is a typical tourist town; on its streets you won’t see the bright colors of ancient cities or architectural monuments, but small houses and shady boulevards make it possible to stroll in the evening and enjoy the comfort and charm of a small coastal town. Numerous hotel terraces and gardens leading to the beach are the main motif of the landscapes of Cayabal Street.
Icmeler Bay
Icmeler Bay is located on the Datca Peninsula. Hills covered with pine trees, mineral springs flowing directly into the sea, and the ruins of an ancient monastery on an island in the depths of the bay have made this place famous.
The beaches of Icmeler Bay are recognized as the best in the region, and there are numerous clubs and bars. This place is considered a major yachting center. The Kyzkumu sand spit divides the bay into two parts, giving this area a unique flavor. Divers can explore local underwater caves, as well as view the remains of ancient ceramics, which are preserved in abundance at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea.
The beach near the settlement of Turunc received the Blue Flag - an award for the cleanliness of the water and the quality of service to visitors.
In the vicinity of the bay there live people whose trade is connected with the sea - these are fishermen and divers who collect starfish. The sea intricately connects the past and the present in the landscapes of Icmeler Bay.
The most popular attractions in Icmeler with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose the best places to visit famous places in Icmeler on our website.