For people who stay in the city during summer, IMM beaches fill an important gap. They offer a way to cool off without committing to long drives, beach clubs, or weekend traffic. You decide in the morning. You swim the same day. That simplicity is the appeal.
The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality operates several beaches on both sides of the city. On the European side, Bakırköy Florya Güneş and Küçükçekmece Menekşe stand out.
On the Asian side, Caddebostan 1, 2, and 3 cover different preferences, from full-service to lighter setups. For an island option, BELTUR Büyükada Public Beach adds a slower, greener alternative in the Princes’ Islands.
These beaches are designed for everyday use rather than spectacle. You come to swim, rinse off, sit in the shade, and leave without friction. Prices stay predictable. Services are consistent. That reliability is why locals return all summer.
Useful details to plan your visit
IMM beaches mostly open for the summer season on June 15. Daily operating hours generally run between 08:00 and 19:00, with swimming monitored during set lifeguard hours.
Certain groups enter free of charge. This includes people with disabilities and their companions, visitors over 65, families of martyrs, veterans and their families, and duty-disabled individuals and their families. These policies make municipal beaches accessible in a very literal sense.
Facilities are practical rather than decorative. Changing cabins, shower areas, umbrellas, and sunbeds are available across most locations. Food and drinks are handled by cafés run by BELTUR, which keeps pricing and quality consistent from beach to beach.
Safety stays front and center. Throughout the summer season, lifeguards operate daily between 09:30 and 19:00 across 51 beaches under IMM responsibility. Clear signage marks swimming zones, and equipment is in place for quick response.
Istanbeautiful Team note:
“Municipality beaches aren’t about luxury. They’re about knowing exactly what you’re getting. On a hot day in Istanbul, that certainty matters.”
If you want a swim without planning a vacation, IMM beaches do exactly what they promise.
Popular Istanbul Municipality Beaches
Municipality beaches work when you want simplicity. Clear rules. Predictable prices. No guessing about showers or lockers. These are beaches you can decide on in the morning and reach without overplanning.
Kadikoy Caddebostan 1 Beach
No Regrets Booking Advice
Caddebostan 1 sits right behind the Büyük Kulüp and feels like the most “complete” public beach on the Asian side. It’s close to the city, easy to reach, and run on a full-service setup by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.
Entry is controlled through turnstiles. Inside, you’ll find proper restrooms, showers, changing cabins, cafés, and shaded seating. Sunbeds and umbrellas are handled by BELTUR, so you don’t need to bring much with you. There are also sports areas, which keep the beach lively without tipping into chaos.
Kadikoy Caddebostan 2 Beach
Caddebostan 2 is for people who want space. It’s quieter than its neighbor and runs on a partial-service model. Showers and restrooms are paid and managed by Boğaziçi Yönetim A.Ş.. Sunbeds and umbrellas are again provided by BELTUR.
The beach itself is wide, sandy, and calmer. Families tend to prefer it. Cafés nearby fill the gaps without crowding the shoreline.
Kadikoy Caddebostan 3 Beach
Caddebostan 3 attracts a younger crowd. Students, groups of friends, people who come early and stay light. Like Caddebostan 2, it operates on a partial-service model with paid showers and restrooms, plus BELTUR sunbed and umbrella rentals.
It feels relaxed rather than polished. Clean sand, steady sea conditions, and cafés close enough for cold drinks and quick snacks.
Caddebostan Beaches Location Map
Bakirkoy Florya Gunes Beach
On the European side, Florya Güneş Beach is one of the most accessible municipal beaches. It runs on a full-service model, again under IMM management. Turnstile entry, showers, changing cabins, cafés, and shaded seating are all part of the setup.
The beach is wide and sandy, well suited for hot summer days. BELTUR provides sunbeds and umbrellas, and there are sports areas for those who want to stay active.
Florya Gunes Beach Location Map
Küçükçekmece Menekşe Beach
Menekşe Beach keeps things calm. It’s a partial-service beach with paid showers and restrooms managed by Boğaziçi Yönetim A.Ş., and sunbed rentals via BELTUR.
People come here to relax rather than socialize loudly. The sea stays relatively clean, the sand is wide, and nearby cafés make it easy to spend a full afternoon.
Menekşe Beach Location Map
BELTUR Büyükada Public Beach
On Büyükada, BELTUR’s public beach offers a more curated island experience. Sunbeds, umbrellas, showers, and restrooms are included, along with food and drinks through BELTUR’s facilities. There’s also a larger restaurant and café inside the island’s nature park.
The sea is clean, the atmosphere slower, and the setting greener than mainland beaches. Opening hours run from 09:00 to 19:00.
Getting there:
Direct boats run from Bostancı with reservations via the BELTUR mobile app. Travel times are about 40 minutes from Bostancı, 20 minutes from Maltepe, and around 1 hour 10 minutes from Kadıköy via regular island ferries. Ferries from Kabataş, Beşiktaş, and Eminönü take roughly 1 hour 40 minutes.
BELTUR Büyükada Public Beach Location Map
Other IMM Beaches
IMM also operates beaches in Çatalca Yalıköy 1–2, Arnavutköy Yeniköy, Sarıyer Kısırkaya, Silivri Semizkum, Kumluk, Selimpaşa, Büyükçekmece Albatros, and Avcılar Denizköşkler. These follow a basic-service model. Showers, restrooms, and changing cabins are available for a symbolic 2 TL, handled by Boğaziçi Yönetim A.Ş.
Beach safety and lifeguard services
Safety is one area where municipal beaches stand out. Throughout summer, IMM provides lifeguard coverage between 09:30 and 19:00 across 51 beaches in the city. A total of 662 lifeguards operate with jet skis, rescue boats, drones, ATVs, and observation towers.
Swimming zones are clearly marked, safety barriers are in place, and warning signs explain local conditions. It’s not flashy, but it’s reassuring. For many visitors, that reliability is the real luxury.