BODRUM 

In the words of Herodotus, 5th Century BC “I have travelled the whole world but found nothing in heaven or earth as beautiful as the Aegean”

BodrumTown

Bodrum is one of Turkey’s best locations, rich in historical artefacts. Bodrum’s coastline has superb natural beauty and 5 thousand years of history. Bodrum has something to offer everyone irrespective of age or nationality, be it eating, shopping, drinking, dancing, sunbathing, sailing or sightseeing. Bodrum never stands still. It is popular for its international flavour abounding with restaurants, tavernas, party town atmosphere and lifestyle.

Dominated by the medieval castle of St John which now hosts the Museum of Marine Antiquities and is a centre for the arts in the summer, the town is built on twin bays with beautiful white houses in the characteristic style of Bodrum, surrounded by hills and mountains.

Modern Bodrum has a population of 35,000 with a unique blend of artists, intellectuals, craftsmen, fishermen and a growing number of Europeans, north Americans and Australians, 5,000 of whom now own property in Bodrum. 

To the west of the harbour is the more exclusive part of Bodrum, home to millionaire yachts which moor in the Marina and excellent restaurants and nightclubs. The bazaar to the east is made up of narrow streets winding around the bay with shops, restaurants and one of the biggest nightclubs in Europe. There are lively little bars and cafes dotted along the bay where one can sit and while away the evening looking over to the beautiful yachts and gullet’s moored in the bay. Have a beer in one of the beachside bars and cafes and watch the world go by or watch the moonshine over the bay.

Bodrum is also a yachter’s paradise with a modern marina dotted with beautiful Turkish gulet’s available for hire for daily tours or private hire.

Daily ferries to Kos in the summer

Weekly hydrofoil to Rhodes between May and September

20 minutes drive from Bodrum airport

BODRUM PENINSULA

Beyond the town of Bodrum spreading out into the peninsular are numerous seaside resorts surrounded by spectacular scenery.

With its peninsulas, coves and golden beaches stretching the length of these beautiful shores, this region, where the countless events of mythology took place, at almost every turn, you will encounter the theatres and temples of ancient cities. With more known Greek ruins than Greece and more Roman ruins than Italy, it’s unsurprising that Turkey’s Aegean coast is a dream come true. 

Bitez:

Bitez is located 7 kms from Bodrum. Set in a lovely bay, it is a small village renowned for its water sports. The village of Bitez is a 15 minute walk inland from Bitez and it remains completely unspoiled. Down the coast you will find award winning beaches and the winds are favourable for a number of watersports. Several hire companies have responded by setting up shop here. Due to demand, properties in the Bitez area are highly sought after. 

Gumusluk:

Gümüslük is 23 kms from the city of Bodrum, set amidst tangerine groves. The Blue Flag beach shoreline is decked with seafood restaurants. Gumusluk is a beautiful fishing village on the site of the ancient city of Myndos. Much of Gumusluk has been designated an official site of archaeological interest which means building is very limited in this area. Cars are even banned from the centre of the village. Unfortunately, most of the impressive ruins were destroyed to make way for new buildings, but the remains are enough to give Gumusluk a wonderful historical ambience.

The village still has a fishing industry. It has some wonder restaurants, and an array of sunken walls and ruins make it a wonderful area for diving. 

Rabbit Island separates Gumusluk’s two sheltered bays. When the sea is shallow, you can literally walk to this island via the small causeway of stones that was built in Hellenistic times. While making your little 'walk' to this island, make sure to check out the remains of ruins underneath the water. The stones are still here, but the rabbits that gave their name to the island, alas, have all but vanished.

Gümüslük has also been the scene of some momentous events in history. When Anthony and Cleopatra set sail for Rome-they made a stop here. Myndos, as it was known then, is where Brutus and his fellow conspirators hatched their plan to murder Julius Caesar and is also the site Brutus fled to and hid for a time after the assassination. Today, this 5,000 -year-old site is an important part of Turkish tourism. It is totally cosmopolitan and very popular, particularly with British tourists.

Beaches nearby include Turgetries and Yalikavak, both excellent with extremely attractive bars and restaurants. Visit the 6th century Byzantine church and admire its wall paintings.

All these areas can be reached by Dolmus from the local bus garage in Bodrum.

Gundogan: 

A hidden treasure of the Peninsula, this is a sleepy village to the north of Bodrum. Although close to the hustle and bustle of the larger town, Gundogan has retained its traditional charm and authenticity.

Sailing and windsurfing are popular pastimes and the warm balmy evenings can be spent in one of the many restaurants or bars overlooking the sandy beaches. From the marina take a short boat ride across the Apostol island to explore the ruins of a ByzantineChurch or just relax and enjoy the spectacular surroundings.

Yalikavak: 

To the north-west of the Bodrum peninsula, Yalikavak is a thriving fishing centre – one of the most productive on Turkey’s Aegean coast – which is becoming increasingly popular as a tourist destination. Yalikavak’s picturesque harbour is a vibrant spot where fishing boats moor alongside yachts and where locals and visitors mingle amid the heady aroma of fine food and flowers. 

The town is unspoilt, offering good potential for growth without compromising Yalikavak’s aesthetic qualities. The town centre with its ever increasing array of shops and bars is car-free, reflecting Yalikavak’s laidback lifestyle approach. Whilst Yalikavak is not as blessed with beaches as are some of the peninsula’s other resort towns, restaurants line the seafront offering great fresh seafood and an assortment of other Turkish titbits. 

Yalikavak’s aesthetic appeal is incalculable, the road from Bodrum to Yalikavak offers some of the peninsula’s most spectacular views from the top of the mountains overlooking the town and have to be seen to be believed, with both north and south coasts visible from this one spot. 

Yalikavak is one of the best areas to invest in at the moment. It has always had its appeal to young middle class Turkish families wanting to get away from the hussle and bustle of the larger cities. Now with foreign investment the demand is growing faster than supply and investment in Yalikavak is on the up. The prices in Yalilkavak can now reflect those in some parts of Spain. We would highly recommend investing in this particular area to anyone who wants to see their investment shoot ahead.