Istanbul residents looking to beat the summer heat are flocking to the city’s waterfront, yet the low quality of many of the pay-per-use beaches has led many to seek free alternatives elsewhere, often with dangerous consequences.

Touted as one of the cleanest spots by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, the 300-meter-long GüneÅŸ beach in Istanbul’s Florya neighborhood floods with visitors from throughout Istanbul every weekend.

Many, however, are unhappy with the lack of umbrellas and sunbeds for everyone wishing to use the beach.

“Am I going to pay 15 Turkish Liras and not make use of any services? You’ve got to be joking!” said a visitor returning home Sunday.

Others desperate to hit the water agreed to use a mat, paying the entrance fee, which is 15 liras for adults and 10 liras for students.

The GüneÅŸ beach, closed for many years due to high pollution, opened for public service after the municipality cleaned the shore this year.

“Unfortunately, for 15 or 20 years this beach could not function for public use since there was too much pollution. Especially, this year the quality of the beach is fine and people can swim here comfortably,” said Istanbul Mayor Kadir TopbaÅŸ.

Lale Aslan, from the district of ÅžiÅŸli, said her expectations turned upside down when her son’s foot was injured by a tin can floating in the sea.

“The sea cannot be claimed as clean. Not only was my son’s foot cut, but I also came across a sock floating in the water,” said Aslan. “We’re not given permission to use the lockers in the changing rooms. I want to put my stuff in there, but the keys are not given to the visitors because thefts could occur. Did they install those lockers for the purpose of decoration?” said Aslan.

Another visitor, Nevra Acıgöz of Florya, said the sand contained various elements, such as prickly weeds that hurt the feet.

“I have trouble walking on the sand barefoot due to these small prickly weeds. I believe it is not very hard for the municipality to bring two trucks of sand here,” she said.

The hygiene levels of the toilets and changing rooms were heavily criticized by the visitors, who said not enough attention had been paid to health conditions.

“The grounds are filthy and the changing rooms stink. They should utilize air-fresheners and put out toilet paper for the toilets,” said Acıgöz, adding that garbage containers should also be put on the beach.

While the cost of the food was acceptable, the lack of credit card facilities was aggravating, Acıgöz said.

Building sandcastles with her children, Zeynep Benek said the sea was safe for her children to swim in because it was surrounded by pontoons. “The sea is shallow enough for them to swim, so I feel comfortable and let them swim on their own,” said Benek, adding that she was not disturbed by the high number of males on the beach.

Unregulated beaches pose danger

Although those choosing a free beach do not have to pay GüneÅŸ’s 15 liras, conditions along non-regulated shores are often perilous for experienced and inexperienced swimmers alike.

“No safety measures are taken here. Yesterday, a man drowned when the current dragged him away,” said Cabbar Ünlü sunbathing on the rocks of the Seraglio Point, beneath Fatih’s Topkapı Palace.

Also swimming in the area, Özcan Kadircan said the municipality should install stairs facilitating people’s access to the sea. “While entering the sea, the rocks hurt our feet.”

Jan Katja, a tourist from Germany, said he was not bothered by the crowd of people swimming and sunbathing. “It’s free and people enjoy it. They are responsible for themselves, it’s hard to bring a prohibition.”

Many vendors, however, said sales were not very good in the free areas. “I cannot sell 10 shorts a day. These are poor people swimming. Why would they be swimming here in such filthy conditions otherwise?” he said, pointing to the bread and packaging floating on the sea.

Meanwhile, a neighborhood headman in the northern district of Sarıyer, Ali Haydar Arslan, said he had received complaints from residents regarding people swimming in undesignated areas.

Arslan also said he had not seen any safety measures along the shore in Emirgan. “Banisters should be put to protect children from falling into the sea.”

A member of the Lovers of Emirgan Association, Kaan Ara, said the Bosphorus belongs to everybody.

“But if somebody next to you gets into the sea with their underwear, and if this creates a disturbing scene, you naturally abstain from going into the sea and even passing near those people,” said Ara, adding that his association was also nostalgic for the days when residents could easily swim next to their houses on the Bosphorus.