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Ilıca

Ilıca is a long, gently shelving beach where the water stays shallow far out and thermal springs warm patches of the sand. That combination made it the peninsula's original resort strip, and it remains the easiest place to spend a whole day with children. The waterfront is a mix of hotels, beach clubs and casual restaurants; behind it the town is practical rather than pretty, with bakeries, markets and pharmacies within walking distance. Thermal spas are part of the local fabric here in a way they are not elsewhere on the peninsula. It suits families, longer stays and anyone who wants to walk to the sea rather than drive to it. It is also a sensible base in shoulder season, when the water is warmer here than in the open coves.