Bodrum: the back story

About Bodrum: the back story

By the ULTIMATE Istanbul Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

Bodrum stands on the site of ancient Halicarnassus, birthplace of Herodotus and home of the Mausoleum, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Today the town and its peninsula of bays, from Yalıkavak to Gümüşlük, are Türkiye’s most fashionable summer address.

The town

Whitewashed houses climb from two bays either side of the Castle of St Peter, built by the Knights Hospitaller in the 15th century, partly with stones from the ruined Mausoleum. Inside, the Museum of Underwater Archaeology displays finds from ancient shipwrecks. The harbour front is lively day and night.

The peninsula

Around the peninsula each bay has its own mood. Yalıkavak, with its large marina, is the most polished, with designer shops and restaurants; Türkbükü and Gölköy have long been the summer beach scene; Gümüşlük, beside ancient Myndos, is quieter and bohemian, with fish restaurants at the water’s edge and sunset views.

Each corner of the peninsula has its own character: lively Bodrum town, polished Yalıkavak, bohemian Gümüşlük.

Where to stay

The peninsula has some of Türkiye’s finest resorts: the Mandarin Oriental, with villas and a beach club, Amanruya in the pines above the sea, and The Bodrum EDITION, among others. Book well ahead for July and August.

Our advice: come in June or September, when the sea is warm and the bays are calmer, base yourself in one corner of the peninsula, and watch the sunset from Gümüşlük at least once.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Bodrum: the back story before you go.