Yes, Bodrum is undoubtedly the king no matter you love or hate it. Personally I disliked Bodrum for many years because I knew little except central Bodrum. Once my friends who live full/part time there showed me around, things changed. Now Bodrum is among my favorite places and we keep our boat there all year around.
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| View of Bodrum |
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Consider Bodrum like the USA, there are so many different things for all kinds of people. It all depends on who you are and what your tastes and expectations are. Bodrum area means Bodrum the town plus nearby towns so do not get confused when I say “I love Bodrum area, but not Bodrum.” Beginning with Bodrum, the central town there are others such as Torba, Göltürkbükü (which was Gölköy and Türkbükü), Gündoğan, Yalıkavak, Gümüşlük, Turgutreis, Ortakent, Yahşi, Aktur, Bitez, Gümbet, Yalıçiftlik and Mazı. These towns offer all kinds of excitement. Many tourists visit Halikarnas, a popular but TLC needing disco in central Bodrum which also offers lots of loud music, cheap alcohol and plenty of crowds. There are other clubs such as Hadigari and Yettigari, all time fully crowded Cuba on the main street and a “Barlar Sokağı” a street of bars which offers all kinds of musical tastes, though do not expect anything upscale.
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| View from The Marmara Hotel |
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The nice view above is from the second luxury boutique hotel in Bodrum. They have wonderful views, very nice rooms, bar, an upscale restaurant yet no beach. Definitely recommended for a stay or a dinner or just for drinks.
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| Bardakçı Bay |
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| Windmills above Bodrum |
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Gümbet is famous for its young English patrons having low cost fun. Bitez is mostly residential but has a nice beach with restaurants and so on. Turgutreis offers low cost accommodation. Göltürkbükü, especially Türkbükü is 'the place' for Turkish socialites. Go there to see and to be seen, I am not following the latest advancements in waterproof make-up and jewellery businesses but if they are available you shall see these products in use in Göltürkbükü.
Yalıçiftlik is the only unspoilt area of Bodrum with only local villagers and holiday resorts such as Club Med and Hapimag. The jewel in Yalıçiftlik is Kempinski and deserves a stay though be very careful when dealing with them. They have a room service that told us “We do not have the wine you requested, can we send you something similar” and then send a much more expensive (7 times more) wine.
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| View from Kempinski Hotel |
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| Kempinski is unattractive from the sea |
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There are also small towns such as Torba which has a tiny harbor. The below restaurant is a favorite, local people such as fisherman use it. We literally sit one meter away from the sea and eat basic but very nice food.
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| A local delight, in Torba |
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The long and curvy road departing from Torba junction near Bodrum to Yalıçiftlik goes a long way and is a delight to discover. You will stop by many small villages, welcome spring in February with yellow daisies, milk a cow if you wish and enjoy the sea in Kisebükü. Further ahead, you may go all towards Mazı, a lonely tiny village close to the sea. Nice for a day visit by car or by boat. Mazı shore will be wavy so getting off and on to the tender will not be easy or dry !
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| Approach to Yalıkavak |
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Yalıkavak has some luxury housing, a cute town center and a marina. Be warned that outside the port you may encounter big waves.
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