Marmaris or İçmeler or Turunç: Which Should You Choose?

The three places sit around the same deep bay on the Aegean–Mediterranean coast of Muğla, but they feel very different once you are there.

• Marmaris town: the busiest choice, with the marina, the castle and old town, a long promenade and the well-known bar street. Best if you want restaurants, shopping and evenings out within walking distance.
• İçmeler: a resort bay south-west of Marmaris with a calmer, more family-oriented feel. The seafront promenade links it to Marmaris, so the town is still close when you want it.
• Turunç: a small bay beyond İçmeler, reached by a winding hill road. Quiet evenings, a compact beach front and a slower pace.
• Selimiye and the Bozburun peninsula: small villages much further out. Beautiful and peaceful, but a long drive from any airport.

If you are still undecided, ask yourself one question: do you want to walk to nightlife, or do you want to get away from it? The answer usually points to Marmaris on one side and Turunç or Selimiye on the other, with İçmeler in between.

Marmaris is a real town rather than just a resort. The castle sits above the narrow lanes of the old town, the marina is full of yachts and gulets, and a long promenade runs along the bay past cafés, beach clubs and hotels. In the evening the bar street is the loudest part of the whole area.

This makes Marmaris a good base for:

• groups of friends who want nightlife and do not mind noise;
• travellers who like a town atmosphere, shops and plenty of restaurants;
• people who plan boat trips from the marina.

The trade-off is that the central beach strip is busy in summer, and hotels close to the bar street can be noisy late at night. If you want both town life and decent sleep, look at hotels along the promenade a little away from the centre.

İçmeler lies in its own bay south-west of Marmaris, with hills behind it and a beach front lined with hotels. It is clearly a resort, but quieter and more relaxed than the town centre. The seafront promenade continues from Marmaris to İçmeler, so you can walk or cycle along the water between the two.

İçmeler suits:

• families with children who want a beach holiday without the bar street next door;
• couples who like a calm evening but still want the option of a night in Marmaris;
• repeat visitors who know the area and want a simpler base.

From Dalaman Airport İçmeler is only about ten minutes further than Marmaris town, so the extra transfer time is small.

Turunç is a small bay beyond İçmeler. The road climbs over the hills and winds down to the village, which gives Turunç a separate, tucked-away feel. Evenings are quiet, the beach front is compact and the pace is slow.

Turunç suits couples, readers and anyone who wants a peaceful week by the sea. It is less convenient if you want to go out in Marmaris every night, because every trip into town means the hill road again. Families with children who get car-sick should know that the last part of the drive is curvy; a short break or a seat near the front helps.

From Dalaman Airport allow ≈ 125 minutes to Turunç, about half an hour more than to Marmaris.

Further south-west, the Bozburun peninsula has small fishing and sailing villages such as Selimiye and Bozburun. These places are for travellers who want calm bays, small guesthouses and long dinners by the water rather than a resort.

The catch is distance: from Dalaman Airport Selimiye is ≈ 139 km and ≈ 133 minutes, and the peninsula roads are narrow and winding. Plan your flight times so that you do not arrive in the middle of the night after a long day, and book the return transfer at the same time so the departure day is settled.

Datça is on a different peninsula, ≈ 166 km and ≈ 160 minutes from Dalaman Airport, and is another quiet option.

• Nightlife and groups of friends: Marmaris town, close to the bar street and the marina.
• Families with young children: İçmeler first, or a quieter part of the Marmaris promenade.
• Couples and honeymooners: İçmeler if you want restaurants nearby, Turunç or Selimiye if you want real quiet.
• Boat trips and sailing: Marmaris for the marina, Selimiye and Bozburun for small harbours.
• Short stays: Marmaris or İçmeler, to keep the transfer short and avoid winding roads.

Comparing coastal regions further east as well? Our guide to where to stay around Fethiye covers Çalış, Ölüdeniz and Hisarönü, which are also reached from Dalaman Airport.

Dalaman Airport (DLM) is the closest airport for all of these places. Typical drive times:

• Dalaman Airport to Marmaris: ≈ 96 km, ≈ 95 min
• Dalaman Airport to İçmeler: ≈ 103 km, ≈ 105 min
• Dalaman Airport to Turunç: ≈ 115 km, ≈ 125 min
• Selimiye: ≈ 139 km, ≈ 133 min

Milas-Bodrum Airport (BJV) also works for Marmaris, but the drive is longer, so choose it only if your flights fit much better.

With a private transfer the driver meets you in arrivals with a name sign, tracks your flight and waits for free if it is delayed. The price is fixed per vehicle, not per person, and does not change for traffic, night arrival or luggage. Choose a Minivan (1–6), a VIP Mercedes-Benz Vito (1–7) or a Mercedes Sprinter (8–16); child seats are free on request. You pay in the vehicle, with no prepayment. See live prices on each route page, and read our Dalaman Airport arrival guide before you land.