Located on Turkey’s southeast coast at the point the Aegean Sea meets the Mediterranean, the beach resort of Icmeler has a noticeably European atmosphere, with the bay littered with luxury yachts and exclusive, cosmopolitan crowds filling its beachfront bars. The visiting masses, however, do nothing to detract from the resort’s scenic setting, with steep hills plunging into the turquoise sea waters.
The nearest international airport to Icmeler is Dalaman Airport, which is around 110km away, and connects to many cities across Europe.
There are no buses between the airport and Dalaman town centre town centre or Dalaman bus station, which is located some distance north of town, and so it is necessary to take a taxi. Intercity bus services depart from the bus centre to resorts across Turkey including Icmeler.
Icmeler enjoys a typically hot Mediterranean climate. The resort receives around 320 days of constant sunshine per year, with temperatures reaching 35C during the peak summer months. Gratefully,a cooling breeze drifts in from the sea and takes the edge off the heat.
From November to February, the weather remains warm at around 15C, with around five hours of sunshine per day. This is interrupted by the occasional rainy day but showers are infrequent and short-lived. Once April comes around, temperatures once again hit the 20C mark, making Icmeler an ideal choice for an Easter break.
Icmeler’s magnificent beach is the focal point of the resort, offering a wide variety of watersports. Those who require more from their holiday than laying in the sun have a range of excursions to choose from, including boat trips to 'Cleopatra's Isle' – so-called because, according to legend, it became a meeting place for the famous queen and her lover Mark Anthony – the waterfalls of Pamukkale, and the archaeological site of Ephesus.
There is a shopping mall in the centre of the resort, where visitors can buy essentials as well as browse for souvenirs. There is also a local market on Wednesdays, but for serious shoppers, it is best to take a bus to nearby Marmaris which has far greater variety, including a fascinating bazaar in the old town.
For eating out, Icmeler has a good selection of restaurants to choose from. One of the best for traditional Turkish cuisine is the Turkish House in Turunc Road where the food is served up to a backdrop of local music. Another well-regarded eaterie is the Majestic Restaurant, which serves up a mix of Chinese, Indian and Italian food.
The nightlife in Icmeler is fairly low key, though there are plenty of pubs which stay busy until the early hours.Those who want something more frenetic can jump in a dolmus taxi and travel the short distance to Marmaris, which offers a large choice of nightspots with a more raucous crowd guaranteed.