Pirlanta Beach, Cesme
The verdict
- Best for: Kitesurfers, windsurfers and travellers who want space, fine sand and a quieter beach, and who do not mind a steady wind in exchange for fewer crowds and lower cost.
- Best spot: The open free sand for a cheap windy day, the dedicated kitesurfing stretch if you ride, and a calmer morning if you want the clear shallow water before the wind builds.
- Know this: Pirlanta is windy on most days, which is the whole point for surfers and a drawback if you want a still sunbathing beach. Facilities are limited, so come prepared.
Published 31 March 2026. Last reviewed 22 April 2026
Pirlanta is the wind beach of Cesme, a long stretch of fine pale sand a short way west of town where the breeze blows on almost every day of the year. For kitesurfers and windsurfers that is the headline, a dependable wind over clear shallow water with schools on hand to teach or hire gear. For everyone else it is a quieter, cheaper and far less built up beach than the town strands, with space to spread out.
The value here is real if you understand the trade. Because facilities are limited and much of the sand is open and free, a day at Pirlanta can cost almost nothing, especially if you bring your own water, shade and lunch. You will not find the cafes, loungers and full service of Altinkum or Ilica, but you also will not pay for them, and the beach itself is genuinely lovely and far less crowded for it.
The honest drawback is the wind. What makes Pirlanta a surfers paradise makes it a poor choice for a still day of sunbathing or a calm family swim, because the surface is choppy through much of the afternoon and the sand can blow. If you want flat warm water, this is the wrong beach and Ilica is the right one. If you want space, sand and either a ride or a quiet windswept walk, Pirlanta is one of the best value beaches on the peninsula.
Clubs on this beach
Pirlanta is mostly open free sand with a few cafes, beach setups and surf schools rather than full beach clubs. We describe the options honestly and route enquiries through our directory, never inventing fees or amenities.
Pirlanta beach setups and surf schools
Along the Pirlanta sand, a handful of cafes and beach setups hire loungers and kitesurf and windsurf schools rent gear and space, a light touch compared with the town beach clubs. Verdict: come for the wind, the space and the low cost, hire a lounger or a board if you want one, with any charges and lesson prices to be confirmed.
Pirlanta is a short drive west of Cesme town, around ten minutes by car or taxi, and the dolmus minibus runs there in summer, which keeps the journey cheap. There is parking near the sand, though it is informal and busier on windy weekends when the surf crowd arrives. It is roughly an hour and a quarter from Izmir Adnan Menderes airport by the fast road.
Because facilities are limited, the smart move is to bring water, shade, lunch and any beach kit you want, since the cafes are few and the open sand has little cover. Mornings are usually calmer if you want a swim before the wind builds, the afternoon belongs to the kitesurfers and windsurfers, and a hat and water matter in the strong sun and breeze.
Reserve a day at Pirlanta Beach
Tell us your date and party and we will point you to the right beach and club options across Cesme, whether you want the wind and space of Pirlanta or a calmer serviced day elsewhere. No charge to enquire.
Common questions
Is Pirlanta beach good for windsurfing and kitesurfing?
Yes, it is one of the best near Cesme. The wind blows on most days of the year over clear shallow water, and there are kitesurf and windsurf schools on the sand that hire gear and teach beginners. A long stretch is given over to kitesurfing, so riders have plenty of space.
Is Pirlanta beach free?
Mostly. Much of Pirlanta is open free sand, with only a few cafes and beach setups charging for loungers and surf schools hiring gear and space. So a day here can cost very little if you bring your own supplies, with any club or lesson charges to be confirmed.
Is Pirlanta beach good for families?
It can be, with care. The sand is soft and the water is shallow close to shore, but the wind that defines the beach keeps the surface choppy and there are watercraft offshore. Lifeguard cover is seasonal and not guaranteed, so for a calm family swim Ilica or Boyalik are gentler choices.
Why is Pirlanta beach so windy?
Pirlanta faces the open sea on the exposed western side of the peninsula, which funnels a steady reliable wind across the bay on most days of the year. That wind is exactly why surfers come, and exactly why it is not the beach for a still day of sunbathing.
How do you get to Pirlanta beach in Cesme?
Pirlanta is about ten minutes west of Cesme town by car or taxi, with the summer dolmus minibus as a cheap option and informal parking near the sand. It is roughly an hour and a quarter from Izmir airport by the fast road.
