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THE BODRUM PENINSULA Bodrum Peninsula is situated on the southwest coast of Turkey, in the eastern Aegean cost. The Peninsula extends 42 km in the E-W direction & 6km - 23.8 km in the N-S direction between the bays of Gülluk and Gökova. Covering an area of 649 km2 its highest elevation is measured as 690 m. The Bodrum Peninsula is surrounded by 32 islands and islets and forms a 174 km long coastline. Villages on the north coast were more successful with fishing. The beautiful Bodrum Peninsula suits holidaymakers interested in a subdued and relaxing atmosphere. Enchanting villages, with guest-houses and small hotels on quiet bays of the peninsula. To the south, tangerine orchards and olive groves are now giving way to popular tourist developments. Every settlement had its own boatyard, reminiscent of the days when people built their own vessels in their orchards. |
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On the southern coast, Bardakçi, Gümbet, Içmeler, Bitez, Aktur, Ortakent Yalisi, Karaincir, Aspat, Bagla and
Akyarlar have fine, sandy beaches Campers and windsurfers enjoy Gümbet, and at Bitez colourful sailboards weave
skilfully among the masts of yachts in the bay. On shore, you can enjoy quiet walks through the orange and
tangerine groves bordering the beach. Turgutreis, Gümüslük and Yalikavak, all with excellent beaches, lie on the western side of the peninsula and are ideal for swimming, sunbathing and water sports. See the north coast of the peninsula - Torba, Türkbükü, Göltürkbükü and Gündogan - by road or, even better, hire a boat and crew to explore the quiet coves, citrus groves and wooded islands. Little windmills which still provide the energy to grind grain, crown hills covered with olive trees. Plenty of old Turkish houses with carved timbers and latticed windows provide examples of the vernacular architectural style. |
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Twenty years ago, Gümbet was the closest beach to Bodrum and just a large campsite. It is now a resort in its own
right with banks, hotels, and clubs all providing everything a tourist desires. Some of the most popular hotels in the region are to be found in and around Gümbet Bay. Cafes and bars are proliferate along the beach, and there are plenty of fun watersports for the young and the young at heart. On one of the hills near Gümbet, there is grave of famous Turkish author Cevat Sakir Kabaagaçli, known as the Fisherman of Halicarnasus. Bitez once boasted the best quality mandarins of the area and still retains a large portion of the orchards, but it's now better known for its clean seawater and beach as well as the colourful windsurfing sails which flit across the water utilizing the afternoon breeze. |
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Ortakent (literally meaning middle town) has one of the longest stretches of sandy beach in the area and offers an
ideal place for relaxing in solitude. Also known as Muskebi, it has a long stretch of sandy beach, which slowly
descends into deeper water. Octopus are sometimes seen basking in the shallows, but do not be alarmed as they will
quickly swim away. Continuing west you'll find the entrancing bay of Kargi, more commonly known now as Camel Beach, the best beach of the peninsula with a tropical shimmer of white sand and palm trees complete with a camel train. A dolmuş from Bodrum takes about 40 minutes; boat trips from Bodrum and Akyarlar frequently moor on the jetty. One of the most beautiful beaches on the Bodrum peninsula, Karaincir, is ideal for lively active days by the sea and relaxed, leisurely evenings with local villagers. Finally, Akyarlar enjoys a well-deserved reputation for the fine, powdery sand of its beach. Kadikalesi offers another beach with a breeze. There was once a Hellenistic castle here, but it is hard to find its remains amidst the new tourist construction. In Turgutreis, the birthplace of a great Turkish admiral of the same name, you will find a monument honouring him. Turgutreis comes truly alive with tourists, its amenities are improving all the time and a new marina is now ready for business. |
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The local Saturday market is always busy and attracts many peninsula inhabitants.
If you want to stretch your legs, walk from Turgutreis to Gumuslük— which will take about 2 hours on a road transformed from a rural track to a modern highway. In the winter it is often blocked with trucks harvesting the mandarins for delivery to Istanbul and other cities. |
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Aspat Mountain is the next highlight on the road south, en route along the coast to Karaincir, Akyarlar and,
ultimately, Turgutreis. There is an aromatic herb garden long abandoned within the ruined walls of Cifit Castle at the top of this hill. It is thought that Mausolos may have used the keep as his jail. Climb up there to enjoy the 360-degree view. A journey by road from Bodrum to Gümuslük will take about 30 minutes passing through the typical village of Derekoy past derelict windmills, which once used wind power to grind corn. In the ancient port of Myndos (Gümüslük) you can easily make many friends with the hospitable and outgoing local population. Gümüskesen, a monumental tomb, thought to be a small copy of the famous Halicarnassus Mausoleum, stands in the west of the city. In Yalikavak, white-washed houses with cascading bougainvillaea line narrow streets. Small cafes and the occasional windmill create a picturesque setting. Just 18 km from Bodrum, Gündogan is one of the least known holiday resorts on the peninsula. The village itself is small and calm with clean and enjoyable beaches. The cafes and tiny restaurants providing local food offer an authentic ambiance. Gölköy and Türkbükü are small and simple fishing villages with a handful of taverns overlooking a lovely bay. These two fishing villages are mention in one name, because they are so close to each other. It is located on the peninsula map east of Yalikavak. These delightful spots are the favorite retreats of many well-known Turkish artists, actors and entertainers who appear at many small bars and restaurants at night. Several of the more popular restaurants are run by Istanbul couples who have fled the big city. |
| Torba, a modern village with holiday villas and a nice marina is located 8 km north of Bodrum, Torba is only active during the summer months, but due to the high quality of the summer homes is a pleasant place to visit. Ferries to Didim (ancient Didyma) leave from Torba harbor across the Gulf of Güllük. |
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