Ilıca Bay Anchorage Guide

The Anchorage

Clean sand bottom with good holding. Anchor in 5–8m to the east of the main beach in the protected NE quadrant. Large bay with plenty of swinging room. Keep clear of the thermal hotel jetties on the south shore.

Setting Your Anchor

The bottom at Ilıca Bay is primarily sand with reliable holding when properly set. Use the following approach:

1. Approach slowly and check your depth sounder on the way in. At 4–10m, deploy at minimum 7:1 scope (70m chain at 10m depth).
2. Drop into the wind or current and pay out chain steadily as the boat drifts back — do not allow chain to pile on the anchor.
3. Set firmly in reverse. Apply moderate throttle astern for 30–60 seconds. The chain should tighten without the boat moving backwards.
4. Take a GPS bearing. Note your position once set and compare to the scope calculator to confirm you have adequate chain for the depth.

Recommended anchor types for this bottom: Rocna, Delta, Spade. See our guide to anchor types by bottom for detailed comparisons.

Overnight Anchoring & Anchor Alarm

Overnight stays at Ilıca Bay are feasible but require monitoring. The anchorage is exposed to SW and W winds.

Set your GPS anchor alarm to 60m radius before going below for the night.60m in the eastern anchorage area. This is a wide, open bay — plenty of swinging room but SW/W exposure means you should monitor the meltemi direction carefully. If the wind swings to WNW or W, consider relocating to Çeşme or Sifne Koyu for better shelter.

May–October. Pleasant in settled conditions. July–August can see a westerly meltemi push swell into the bay — daytime use is fine but overnight requires weather monitoring. Spring and autumn are ideal.

Navigation Hazards

• Open to SW/W — if meltemi shifts from NW to W, the anchorage becomes exposed; relocate to Çeşme Marina
• Swimming zones buoyed along the beach — no anchoring within 100m
• Hotel jetties on S shore — keep clear; water taxis and hotel launches operate regularly
• Sandbanks form near the beach — use depth sounder when approaching shallow areas

Rules & Regulations

• Permit: Not required
• Anchoring fee: Free
• Restrictions: No anchoring within 100m of the beach swimming zones. Keep clear of hotel jetties on the S shore. Monitor depth sounder — sandbars form near the beach.

For a full overview of Turkish anchoring rules, see our overnight anchoring rules by region guide.

Facilities

• Fresh water: Not available on site
• Fuel: Not available — nearest: İlıca village (0.5nm)
• Restaurant: Beach restaurants and resort hotels along the south shore; full resort facilities available
• Provisions: Available

Skipper's Tips

1. The thermal springs mean the bay water is often 2–3°C warmer than the open Aegean — ideal for late-season swimming
2. Good family anchorage — sandy bottom, calm in E/NE conditions, excellent for children
3. Check the meltemi direction before committing overnight — if it swings to W or WNW, the bay becomes uncomfortable
4. Çeşme town is 4nm back west — use the anchorage as a day stop then move to the marina overnight if needed
5. Provisions available at the resort hotels or a short walk to İlıca village