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How to Plan Your Trip to Bodrum, Turkey — Aegean Sea Views, Luxury Hotels, and Incredible Restaurants Included

Come for the sparkling western Aegean coast, stay for the shopping, art scene, and fine dining.

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Situated on Turkey’s western Aegean coast, Bodrum, a city of about 200,000, is known for its small and fragrant mandarins and for its summer scene. On the glittering coastline in the warmer months, some of the largest boats in the world come flocking to the Turkish marinas. Bodrum’s reputation has been cemented, for some, as a sun-soaked luxury escape within Europe. 

Top 5 Can’t Miss

• The exceptional luxury resorts along the water, including LXR's Susona Bodrum, in the Torba neighborhood, or the Mandarin Oriental overlooking Paradise Bay.
• Wine tasting at Karnas Vineyard, a family-owned winery producing Turkey's first zinfandel.
• Shopping the night bazaars for what one of our experts calls "a taste of the old Bodrum."
• Fine dining at ambitious restaurants like Orfoz, next to the Zeki Müren Arts Museum.
• The local arts scene; visit Zai Yaşam, an arts center, or the well-known art gallery Pilevneli.

But Bodrum is more than just glitz and glamour. Tucked away within this city are culinary delights, thought-provoking artists, and bazaars worth traveling for. Bodrum is a city that caters to the well-heeled, yes, but it is also a city of beaches and night markets, of boutique hotels and bespoke wineries. 

For a guide to planning your trip to Bodrum – including when to go, where to stay, and what to do – read on. 

Best Hotels & Resorts

Susona bodrum, lxr hotels & resorts.

Courtesy of Susona Bodrum, LXR Hotels & Resorts

At the 70-key Susona Bodrum, LXR Hotels & Resorts , which opened in Bodrum’s Torba neighborhood in 2020, bougainvillea and other native plantings line pathways and buildings. Guests staying at this hotel can enjoy an expansive view of the Aegean, multiple pools, a small beach, a spa with a hammam, and numerous casual and upscale dining venues.

The Bodrum Edition

The tony Yalikavak Marina is home to several shiny international hotel brands. “If you want the nightlife and craziness, you can have it — but if you want calm, you can have that, too,” Mina Dilber, founder of the lifestyle brand Anim Living , told T+L contributor Richard Godwin. At the 108-room Bodrum Edition , open since 2018, travelers will find a series of dining destinations, including the culinary hotspot Brava, a restaurant helmed by Peruvian chef Diego Muñoz. 

Courtesy of The Bodrum EDITION

Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum

Yalikavak’s Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum , a 2014 addition to the area, offers 130 guest rooms and overlooks Paradise Bay. Eleven dining and drinking concepts, a spa, a kids club, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and even luxury helicopter tours round out this bespoke hotel. 

Courtesy of Aman Resorts

Part of the Aman brand, Amanruya is a 36-room hotel in the Göltürkbükü neighborhood that opened in 2018. Pavilions are fashioned from stone and open into individual gardens with private swimming pools. The resort also offers a category of pool suite accommodation, also with a private pool. A comprehensive list of activities includes fishing, sailing, and cruising on a traditional Turkish gulet — a wooden masted vessel.

In the Göltürkbükü neighborhood, not far from Yalikavak, art galleries, jewelry makers, and clothing stores are interspersed between boutique hotels. More Turkish in scope than international, travelers can find the beating heart of Bodrum’s art scene, particularly at the 74-room Maçakizi , a boutique hotel that originally opened in the 1970s and that was refreshed in 2000. It often hosts pop-up exhibitions from artisan retailer ’74Escape .

Best Things to Do 

Karnas vineyards.

Visit the 165-hectare Karnas Vineyards , which is planted to both grapes and olive trees. Visitors can sit down, dine, and taste wine overlooking the fields. As Feride Yalav-Heckeroth reported in the September 2023 issue of Travel + Leisure , the vineyard was founded by the İşmen family in 2005 “to produce Turkey’s first zinfandel — a grape they fell in love with during a trip to California’s Napa Valley.” The winery’s low-intervention and sustainable wines are available alongside their formidable multicourse tasting menu each night, for around $100.

Foodrum Culinary Park

Head over to Pelin Dumanli’s Foodrum Culinary Park , in the residential Bitez neighborhood. Dumanli, a formally trained chef, offers culinary classes and bazaar tours for small groups in her fully outfitted space. 

While you’re in the neighborhood, put local arts on your radar. “Zai Yaşam is a great arts center housed in five buildings,” said Ceylin Türkkan Bilge, creative director of the fashion label Siedrés , in the September 2023 issue of T+L. “There’s a gallery, a library, and a lovely garden where they have jazz concerts in the evenings.” By car, the two spaces are only five minutes apart. 

In Yalikavak, said Mina Dilber, an outpost of one of Istanbul’s most prominent art galleries, Pilevneli , has opened up shop in Bodrum. “There’s such a buzz about this place — one of its super-exciting recent exhibitions included work by the cutting-edge digital artist Refik Anadol,” she said. “There’s a great gift shop, too. It’s a must-must-visit!”

Best Shopping 

Ceylin Türkkan Bilge recommends the night bazaars “for a taste of the old Bodrum.” “There are two main markets, one around Bodrum Castle and one along the Türkbükü promenade, by the sea in Göltürkbükü,” Bilge says. “You’ll find plenty of bag shops, but also stalls selling ankle bracelets, beaded jewelry, clothing, and handmade leather sandals. A stall called Ipekçe Türkbükü is my favorite for cotton dresses.”

Despite the profusion of luxury brands in the Yalikavak Marina, Dilber favors shops like Misela , which offer a less western fashion perspective. Misela, she says, is “one of Turkey’s leading bag and accessories brands.” 

Leleg Living , Yalav-Heckeroth writes, a boutique that is adjacent to the restaurant Leleg, diners can purchase “wares used in the restaurant, as well as wooden furniture, all made by local craftspeople using natural materials.” 

On Tuesdays and Fridays, it’s well worth a visit to the Yalikavak Bazaar, one of Bodrum’s many outdoor markets. This traditional bazaar sells an array of fresh spices, olives, cheeses, fruits, and vegetables from local vendors.

Best Restaurants

Brothers Cağrı and Cağlar Bozçağa have established an ambitious destination restaurant in Bodrum at Orfoz , next to the Zeki Müren Arts Museum. The seafood-centric tasting menu features locally caught fish in numerous incarnations and ends each might with a plate of seasonal fruit. 

Courtesy of Orfoz Restaurant

Bodrum Müdavim

In Bodrum’s City Center, Bodrum Müdavim offers both a view of the 1400-era Bodrum Castle and a compelling menu dedicated to fresh seafood. But some come just for the Raki; the restaurant boasts one of the city’s best selections of this national drink of Turkey. 

The 72-seat Malva , a destination restaurant within Susona Bodrum, leans into micro-local and seasonal cuisine under the skillful knife of head chef Necmi Agac. Biweekly trips to the Yalikavak Bazaar inform the restaurant’s menu, as does the small rooftop garden that grows just steps away from the restaurant’s kitchen. 

Limon Gümüşlük

Bilge recommends Limon Gümüşlük , calling it a “particularly stylish and secluded restaurant that serves Turkish meze in a dreamy garden full of vintage furniture.” It’s in Gümüşlük, an area of Bodrum known for its fragrant mandarin groves. Arrive early and grab a table in time for sunset. 

Best Time to Visit 

Freeartist/Getty Images

Bodrum’s high season is summer, and the majority of the hotels are open from late May though the end of October. The season is busiest in the months of July and August, but the weather stays warm well into early fall–up into the 80s and 90s, in fact. Crowds can be more manageable and prices can be more affordable in the shoulder season, which is worth considering if you’re able to travel outside of the summer months. 

How to Get There

Bodrum can be reached by bus, plane, car, and by ferry. From Istanbul, the flight to Bodrum’s Milas–Bodrum Airport takes about one hour. Turkish Airlines and Pegasus provide between five and six daily nonstop flights between the two cities. 

There are buses available from Istanbul to Bodrum, but the system is not easy for non-natives to navigate. The ride is also long; it can take close to 10 hours. Hiring a private car is another option, but it is expensive. Flying is a more cost-effective alternative. 

Travelers can also reach Bodrum via a ferry from Kos, Greece. The ferry ride takes approximately 30 minutes. Ferries run regularly during the warmer months and cost under $30 each way. 

Neighborhoods to Visit 

Bodrum’s active City Center is where most tourists will find themselves. Bodrum Castle is here, as are plenty of souvenir shops, cafés, small restaurants, and surprisingly beautiful views of the water. A walk through the narrow streets offers a true feel of this historic city. 

nejdetduzen/Getty Images

The Yalikavak Marina offers a slightly more luxurious look at life in Bodrum. Here, you’ll find upscale shopping, destination restaurants, and beach clubs; it’s a look at the good life, yachts and all. But it wouldn’t be Bodrum without a trip to this neighborhood, in all its maximalist glory. 

The laid-back fishing enclave of Gümüşlük, also part of Bodrum, has private beaches, waterfront restaurants, and a relaxing vibe that you may not find in some of the busier areas of the city. It’s worth visiting this local-centric area for a sense of how life on the Aegean is lived. 

How to Get Around

Bodrum is extremely spread-out, and hiring a taxi to get from one area to the next is necessary. Some areas of Bodrum (like the Marina and the City Center) have taxi stands available, but you may want to consider setting up a hired car in advance with your hotel’s concierge if you plan to go far afield. Taxi drivers typically require cash payment, so come prepared with Turkish lira. 

Immerse Yourself in Beauty on a Six-Day Itinerary in Bodrum, Türkiye

Bask in a luxurious turkaegean retreat on the sun-soaked turquoise coast.

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TÜRKIYE’S CAPTIVATING TURQUOISE COAST

COURTESY OF GO TÜRKIYE

Bodrum , synonymous with opulence, tranquility, and an oasis of calm, beckons seekers of luxury and wellness. Its sun-drenched beaches, hidden coves, and verdant scenery, paired with upscale resorts and top-notch shopping, have consistently captivated visitors. This idyllic peninsula has been Türkiye’s cherished haven for over half a century, offering a slice of heaven on earth.

The destination ensures a heartfelt welcome to every visitor, going the extra mile to accommodate those who yearn to revel in its scenic beauty and the charm of the Turquoise Coast. Prominent landmarks in the area include the renowned Bodrum Castle, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, and a stunning 4th-century theater that sets the stage for musical and dance performances during the summer. The pathways and trails connecting these sites are adorned with quintessential Aegean features, including white-painted houses, tangerine trees, and bougainvillea, all under sunny skies.

On this six-day itinerary through the enchanting Bodrum Peninsula and its neighboring gems, you’ll be enthralled by a blend of rich history, maritime allure, and the soothing embrace of wellness. This curated journey promises an unforgettable experience, inviting you to explore Bodrum and beyond, with each day unfolding new wonders. Your week-long adventure begins now, embracing the allure of the Aegean coast in all its splendor.

Trip Highlight

Bodrum cuisine.

Trip Designer

BODRUM CASTLE AND HARBOR

Day 1: Explore Bodrum’s Rich History and Maritime Beauty

DINE IN THE OPEN AIR AT BODRUM’S RENOWNED SEAFOOD RESTAURANTS

Day 2: Shop and Eat in Bodrum's Enchanting Towns

STAND-UP PADDLE BOARDING ON THE TURQUOISE COAST

Day 3: Water Activities and Supreme Relaxation on the Bodrum Peninsula

TAKE A STROLL AROUND DATÇA.

Days 4–5: Set Sail to Datça and Marmaris

ENJOY A PICNIC LUNCH ON THE WATER.

Day 6: Enjoy a Dalyan River Delta Excursion

• Destinations

Bodrum Luxury Hotels & Resorts

Amanruya - Bodrum, Turkey - Exclusive 5 Star Luxury Resort

• Rooms & Suites: 36
• Setting: Beach
• Trip Type: Culture, Romantic Getaway, Spa & Wellness

There are few places in the world which offer classical history and natural beauty in equal measure.

Ada Hotel - Bodrum, Turkey - Romantic Boutique Resort

• Rooms & Suites: 14
• Setting: Coastal

Located in a historical village on the Bodrum peninsula, the Ada Hotel offers refined comfort in the unique setting of an Ottoman palace.

Casa dell'Arte - Bodrum, Turkey - Boutique Resort

• Rooms & Suites: 12
• Trip Type: Romantic Getaway

Casa Dell'Arte offers modern luxury in the dramatic coastal resort town of Bodrum.

Kempinski Hotel Barbaros Bay - Bodrum, Turkey - 5 Star Luxury Resort

• Rooms & Suites: 173
• Trip Type: Family Vacation, Romantic Getaway, Spa & Wellness, Wedding

Located on the Barbaros Bay cliff, the Kempinski Hotel Barbaros Bay and Six Senses Spa offers a relaxing respite from the pressures and pace of travel, business and city life.

The Marmara Bodrum - Turkey Luxury Boutique Hotel

A boutique world created to charm you along with the mesmerizing views of Bodrum.

Mandarin Oriental Bodrum, Turkey 5 Star Luxury Resort

• Rooms & Suites: 109

As one of the top luxury Bodrum hotels on the beach, Mandarin Oriental offers guests access to two private beaches.

Macakizi - Bodrum, Turkey - Boutique Hotel

• Rooms & Suites: 74
• Trip Type: Culture, Romantic Getaway

Overlooking the turquoise waters of the Aegean, backed up by hills, Macakizi is situated on the north side of the Bodrum peninsula in a lovely village called Turkbuku.

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Best Luxury Hotels In Bodrum

The Turkish Riviera, also known as the Turquoise Coast, is home to Bodrum, one of the prettiest and most popular towns on the Aegean coast. With its landmark castle dating back to the 14th century, bougainvillea lined narrow cobbled streets and vibrant markets there is a historic charm that offers wide appeal. In contrast Milta Bodrum Marina and the waterfront attracts a sophisticated crowd, with superyachts, upmarket boutiques, stylish bars, cafes and restaurants aplenty. Often referred to as a ‘Billionaire’s Playground’ Bodrum’s selection of five-star hotels and lavish villas live up to the demands of the discerning travellers who chose to spend their holidays here. Read on to discover some of our favourite luxury hotels in Bodrum.

Voyage Torba

This beautiful beachfront resort is located in the picturesque village of Torba, with views across the sparkling Aegean Sea and a mountainous backdrop it’s difficult to believe that bustling Bodrum is just 6km away. The hotel boasts superb facilities for family fun including designated kids’ pools, sports activities and evening entertainment, however the sophisticated adult only areas offer a quieter pace for those preferring a more mature holiday. Experienced and talented Chef’s create culinary delights at the eight al carte restaurants, whilst the open buffet is rich and plentiful in its offering. The resort is home to twelve concept bars for innovative drinks and musical entertainment. The 495-room resort offers a range of room options; from standard garden and sea view through to executive and private deluxe lagoon. For those wishing to enjoy a VIP experience the Voyage Assistant is on hand to arrange the finest of details to make your holiday simply perfect.

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Casa dell’Arte Bodrum

The magical fishing village of Torba is home to the stunning and super stylish Casa dell’Arte. Specialist art collections adorn the walls at this boutique hotel that comprises of just twelve rooms and suites, each named after a sign of the zodiac. Choose from panoramic sea-view suites to duplex or dome suites – all of which are elegantly appointed with a contemporary design. Guests can make use of the private pool and private jetty for a refreshing dip or indulge in some pampering with massage and spa facilities. Yoga and tennis can also be arranged whilst for seafaring types, there is a private yacht for hire complete with expert crew and again decorated with a private and impressive art collection.

Dining here is an exquisite experience as head Chef at the hotels’ renowned restaurant creates beautifully presented dishes and mouth-watering flavours all inspired by the unique geography of Bodrum. Buffet breakfast presents fresh and local ingredients that can be enjoyed in the well-manicured gardens or in the beautifully appointed and intimate dining room and drinks and snacks are served throughout the day and can be enjoyed at any of the hotel’s private and luxurious spaces. This is a place that will make you feel very special.

Amanruya Torba

Tucked away in an ancient pine forest and just a few minute’s walk from the Aegean Sea sits the Amanruya hotel. Inspired by traditional Turkish architecture and design the resort is understated but hugely handsome and offers guests an abundance of space and privacy. The hotel comprises of X rooms which take the form of refined bungalows all of which offer stunning sea views and have their own private pool. Guests can enjoy the use of a first-class spa, infinity pool and a private beach. For those seeking a more active experience there is a gym, yoga studios, a tennis court and the private jetty is the perfect place to launch a paddleboard or other water-sports activities.

With an array of dining options and menus created from fresh, local and seasonal produce there is something to suite every appetite and occasion. From relaxed and causal snacks served poolside, beach club or on the terrace to the exquisite cuisine served high on the hillside at the Anatolian Dining Pavilion. Private dining options can also be arranged at many of the beautiful locations throughout the hotel. The privacy and secluded spots around this hotel make it the perfect getaway for a romantic retreat or ideal for those who desire some real down-time.

Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum

Set in a stunning location overlooking the emerald blue Aegean Sea, the Mandarin Oriental offers extreme comfort and class over 59 guest rooms, 29 suites and 36 apartments, each designed with an impeccable eye for contemporary Turkish and Oriental fusion styled furnishings. With 2 private beaches, a sumptuous spa and a wide-ranging variety of cuisines to choose from, you’re guaranteed to feel relaxed and inspired in this opulent beachfront resort. The Mandarin Oriental lives up to its name in this palatial five-star resort, where guests can indulge in lavish services and facilities which include everything from yoga to designer shopping.

The Bodrum EDITION

Perched on a hill just 3km from the gorgeous Yalikavak Marina, The Bodrum EDITION offers enthralling coastal views of the turquoise coast with its terraces, promenades and seaside pools and spa. Sleek, sharp and stylish, this hotel offers luxuriant food, both casual and refined, as well as two sensational bars for a romantic Mediterranean inspired evening. With spacious rooms, suites and bungalows on offer, you can expect polished stone floors, marble baths and bright, light decor for ultimate relaxation. The service is kingly at this majestic five-star resort.

Caresse Bodrum

This luxury resort is set on a spectacular section of Bodrum’s coastline, with stunning beaches, seaside pools and terraces. Its 75 airy rooms and 9 suites are decorated with modern furnishings complimented by a Turkish twist, enticing such esteemed visitors as the Saudi royal family. Its 4 restaurants feature everything from both contemporary and traditional Aegean cuisine to sushi, making best use of locally caught fish and rarer global options. The hotel’s own boats are available to hire for coastal excursions, including a luxury yacht features in James Bond’s Casino Royale. Take advantage of the dazzling and well-stocked seafront bar on the evening, watching the lights bounce off the sea water.

LUX* Bodrum Resort & Residences

LUX Resort’s Bodrum location is a refined coastal retreat, remotely set on a peaceful peninsula with panoramic views across the Aegean Sea. This contemporary steel and glass built hotel — decorated with modern and chic furnishings — staggers over a hillside setting of palatial palm trees and olive gardens, leaving guests with breathtaking seafront vistas over sandy beaches amid an intimate environment. Complete with impeccable services and facilities, the 91 rooms each feature a sea view with contemporary amenities. The hotel’s 3 restaurants offer a fine variety of international cuisines, and the bars are ideally placed with access to the sea for romantic coastal drinks. This is an outstanding resort for those seeking a fine mixture or relaxation and splendour.

Kempinski Hotel Barbaros Bay Bodrum

Hidden upon a cliff-top which overlooks the spectacular Barbaros Bay and its unspoilt landscape, this Kempinski owned resort is ideal for those looking for seafront style and natural grandeur. Classically decorated with high ceilings, traditional Turkish architecture, drapes and opulent furnishings, guests have access to private beaches lusciously kitted out with wicker beds and shielded, green vegetation. The service is friendly and the facilities top notch, with a choice of 3 restaurants on-site: Italian, Aegean and Vietnamese. A Turkish themed beach bar offers poolside lunches and evening drinks on a spectacular seafront patio.

Divan Bodrum

A boutiquey hotel within a secluded and serene setting, the Divan Bodrum offers exquisite access to the Aegean Sea with its sandy beaches and seaborne excursions. Described as one of the most excellent choices on the Mediterranean by the famed publisher Condé Nast, guests can expect both luxury and relaxation in this traditional stone-built resort. The hotel features 60 rooms from standard guest rooms to deluxe suites, with a simple, traditional style consisting of colourful furnishings, large windows and airy, spacious rooms. Its restaurant specialises in local Aegean and Mediterranean cuisine, with stunning seafood, meats and vegetable which draw on the region’s multicultural culinary landscape. We recommend sipping on an inspired cocktail in the waterfront bar, relaxing in one of the hammocks as the sun sets over the Aegean Sea.

Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Bodrum

Styled as a fashionable lifestyle hotel, this coastal gem exudes natural pomp with its sheltered beach setting and rugged rock terrain. Consisting of 76 rooms kitted out with timbered balconies, stone patios and private terraces, each unit blends seamlessly with the natural surroundings, producing a truly intimate guest experience. With a restaurant, café and lounge each brushing next to the glorious coastal waters, the focus is on healthy, free-range cuisine and freshly caught seafood, be it through sumptuous sushi or inspired Aegean tradition. Services and facilities include live music and evening entertainment, yoga parties and relaxing spa treatments, and a multitude of seaborne activities including water sports and fishing.

Macakizi Bodrum

Maçakizi hotel is named after the Queen of Spades, known for her intelligence and beauty and the hotel certainly lives up to its namesake. Stylish and sophisticated with a cool laid-back vibe it’s easy to see why this is a popular choice for the cool crowd in Bodrum, with celebrities such as Mick Jagger named on the guest book. The hotel is conveniently located and comprises of 74 rooms including 21 suites – for the utmost in privacy choose the Upper Deck suite which is hidden away on the hillside. Guests can take a quick dip in the small hotel pool or head to the seafront deck for the full Aegean aquatic experience. For those wanting something less strenuous guests can indulge in a treatment in the open-plan Nuxe spa treatment rooms. Dinner here is a glamorous affair in terms of ambience and cuisine with a wonderful menu ranging from fresh Mediterranean dishes to traditional Turkish cuisine. Each dish is a work of art and dining here truly is gastronomic experience. The Maçakizi family is expanding with the recent additions to its portfolio including Villa Maçakizi for the ultimate in a private getaway and the Maçakizi Halas 71 the sophisticated yacht which is available for charter and features the unique and high class dining experience the hotel name has become famous for.

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The Most Exclusive 5-Star Luxury Beach Hotels in Bodrum, Turkey

The best stays in bodrum.

There’s something for everyone in this picturesque peninsula stretching from Turkey’s southwest shores to the Aegean — but therein lies the problem. Amid the abundance of hotels in Bodrum, which ones are truly worth your attention? We can help.

Once a humble fishing village, the city began flourishing in the 1960s when it became a hub for Istanbul’s literary and artistic elite. And over the last decades, Bodrum has transformed into a vacation spot for the rich and famous. Nowadays, it’s known as “little Istanbul ” due to the abundance of city dwellers with second homes in this charming locale.

But if you are looking for true glamour, you have to venture out to the hidden corners of the peninsula, with secluded cove beaches, designer bars, detox retreats—and the best luxury resorts. See our selection of these, below, listed in no particular order. We come back to this list regularly to keep the entries up-to-date as new hotels launch and old ones get refreshed. Bookmark it!

*This post contains affiliate links and we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

“It is not difficult to fall in love with the Aman Resorts, as evidenced in how the returning customers like to call themselves: the ‘Aman Junkies.’ It’s a testament to the genuine following the brand inspires.” — from our review of Amanruya

Amanruya is one of the most exclusive hotels in Bodrum and its vicinity. It features only 36 eminently spacious villas, each with a private garden and swimming pool. Amanruya faces a peaceful bay and is flanked by pine forests. It’s impossibly peaceful and private, secluded and relaxed — in short, it offers all the Aman aficionados are looking for from the Aman experience. The small number of guests at any given time makes you feel like you have the resort to yourself (we saw other guests only at breakfast time or at the Beach Club). The hotel amenities include a fitness center, tennis court, private beach, and spa. The resort’s two restaurants serve mouth-watering Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine.

Read the review from our stay: Amanruya .

Alternatively, book Amanruya via Tablet Hotels | Mr & Mrs Smith or see what others think on TripAdvisor .

Website: Amanruya, Bodrum, Turkey . Photos © Aman Resorts

2 Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum

The majestic Mandarin Oriental is nestled on the shimmering coastline of the serene Paradise Bay. As a veritable oasis of refined luxury, the resort boasts an impressive staff-to-guest ratio of almost 1:1, ensuring every need is met with attention and care. The Mandarin Oriental is spread across 150 acres on a verdant wooded hillside, descending gracefully to meet not one but two private beaches. The stylish rooms, suites, and villas exude a sense of effortless sophistication with their sleek teak and marble interiors.

Alternatively, book Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum via Tablet Hotels | Expedia or see what others think on TripAdvisor .

Website: Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum, Bodrum, Turkey . Photos (including the leading shot at the top of the article) © Mandarin Oriental

3 The Bodrum EDITION

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Bodrum EDITION nestles on a steep hillside that descends to a private beach filled with sand made out of pulverized marble. Peppered by olive trees and lawns, the property grounds center around an infinity pool and a sea jetty with private cabanas. The hotel has 108 guest rooms, suites, and villas; depending on the category they can have private pools, balconies, and gardens. The spacious interiors are designed to balance comfort and style, using polished stone floors, marble baths, and light decor. The wellness facilities include a serene spa with Hammam and a fitness center; the hotel’s two sensational bars and restaurants serve Mediterranean-inspired cuisine.

Alternatively, book The Bodrum EDITION via Expedia | Marriott Bonvoy or see what others think on TripAdvisor .

Website: The Bodrum EDITION, Bodrum, Turkey .   Photos © EDITION Hotels

4 Six Senses Kaplankaya

The opening of the Six Senses Kaplankaya brought the brand’s unique blend of luxury and design to the Mediterranean. The resort occupies a secluded spot on a picturesque peninsula and is surrounded by hills covered by wild cypress trees and olive tree groves. The Kaplankaya features 141 guestrooms and suites, including 66 Ridge Villas and 154 adjacent private residences; all are designed with the signature Six Senses effortless elegance inspired by the resort’s location. The resort offers a full spectrum of luxurious facilities, including multiple swimming pools, a private beach, several on-site dining options, and a wellness center, with the heavenly Six Senses Spa at its core.

Alternatively, book Six Senses Kaplankaya via Expedia | Agoda | Mr & Mrs Smith or see what others think on TripAdvisor .

Website: Six Senses Kaplankaya, Bodrum, Turkey .   Photos © Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas

5 METT Hotel & Beach Resort Bodrum

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From Ottoman grand dames to uber-chic luxe newcomers

The owners of this swanky resort are experts in the beach club scene, having launched other waterfront properties in Marbella, Beirut, and Dubai. The METT is focused on fun and sociability. It’s a chic beach getaway destination tucked away in a cove with views of Bodrum’s old town. The multi-room villas are perfect for groups of friends; especially the lavish 240 square-meter Villa Ak Ana (featuring four bedrooms, an infinity pool, a terrace, and a winter garden). Outdoor sports are available; guests can rent paddleboards, jet skis, and wakeboards or take a water taxi to town. For simple relaxation in privacy, rent one of the private beach cabins with a pool, sunbeds, and sound system. The open-air deck at Folie Beach restaurant is a popular spot for soaking up the sun, too, and the over-water hammocks add an extra touch of luxury.

Alternatively, book METT Hotel & Beach Resort Bodrum via Expedia | Mr & Mrs Smith or see what others think on TripAdvisor .

Website: METT Hotel & Beach Resort Bodrum, Bodrum, Turkey .   Photos © METT Hotels & Resorts

“Maçakizi is the hotel that helped make this town a destination for the global glitterati.” – Ayla Emiroğlu, founder

Maçakizi epitomizes an elegant and stylish blend of a beach club and a hotel, where bohemian chic has a touch of bling. The hotel lies nestled in one of the most under-the-radar spots of the Bodrum peninsula, set among gardens scattered with terraced suites, with wooden decks on the shoreline featuring canopied lounge areas. It’s a favorite spot for celebrities; Mick Jagger and Kate Moss are rumored to have vacationed here. No wonder — if you are seeking solace and privacy in the charming collection of villas dotted along the secluded hillside, Maçakizi has you covered. The allure of this Mediterranean jewel is not solely restricted to its location and seclusion: the restaurant boasts a menu with delectable dishes enticing any taste bud.

Alternatively, book Maçakizi via Mr & Mrs Smith or see what others think on TripAdvisor .

Website: Maçakizi, Bodrum, Turkey .   Photos © Maçakizi

7 Bodrum Loft

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Bodrum Loft offers a modern take on the traditional Aegean village. The property comprises a collection of flat-roofed dwellings and meandering alleyways, set on a hillside peppered with ancient olive trees and overlooking a dazzlingly blue bay. Guests have 36 detached villas, ranging from one to four bedrooms, and a one-bedroom superior room option. Among the facilities is a modern library with books about Turkey’s rich cultural heritage and a wellness center with a spa, a sauna, and a generously sized outdoor pool. On the seafront, decks jutting out into the Aegean Sea, providing guests with the perfect daytime retreat. The hotel interiors are simple yet elegant. An all-white color scheme accentuates recessed shelves, natural wood doors, and polished concrete-pebble floors. Carefully selected artwork, elegant furniture, and colossal mirrors elevate the minimalist aesthetic.

Alternatively, book Bodrum Loft via Mr & Mrs Smith or see what others think on TripAdvisor .

Website: Bodrum Loft, Bodrum, Turkey . Photos © Bodrum Loft

8 Caresse, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Bodrum

The hotel’s fleet of boats is at your disposal for exploring the stunning coastline, including the very same luxury yacht featured in the iconic James Bond film, Casino Royale.

Since opening its doors in 2015, Caresse has become a b-word for sophisticated luxury. This luxurious resort on Bodrum’s stunning coastline boasts elegant rooms and suites with modern Turkish-inspired furnishings. There are 67 rooms, 9 opulent suites, and the regal Caresse King Villa. Each room offers modern amenities, state-of-the-art technology, signature Luxury Collection beds, and a private balcony or terrace that provides captivating views of the Aegean Sea. The hotel’s glistening seaside pools and elegant terraces are a true feast for the senses; gastronomic delights await at Caresse’s 4 exceptional restaurants, featuring an eclectic mix of contemporary and traditional Aegean cuisine, sushi, and local seafood. The superb spa, a sanctuary of tranquillity nestled within the resort, is a must-visit.

Alternatively, book Caresse, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Bodrum via Marriott Bonvoy , or see what others think on TripAdvisor .

Website: Caresse, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Bodrum.   Photos © Marriott International

// More Best Luxury Hotels in Bodrum

Ibiza's Finest: Best Hotels of 2024 for Your Perfect Getaway

A bohemian escape

The below shortlist makes a worthy companion to the main list.

• Kempinski Hotel Barbaros Bay Bodrum , Turkey (image below, left). Book via Booking.com | Expedia
• The Marmara Bodrum , Turkey. Book via  Booking.com | Expedia
• Birdcage 33 Boutique Hotel & Restaurant , Bodrum, Turkey. Book via Booking.com | Mr & Mrs Smith  
• Susona Bodrum, LXR Hotels & Resorts , Bodrum, Turkey  (image below, right). Book via Booking.com  
• Allium Bodrum Resort & SPA , Bodrum, Turkey. Book via Booking.com | Tablet Hotels
• Lujo Bodrum , Bodrum, Turkey. Book via Booking.com | Tablet Hotels
• Le Méridien Bodrum Beach Resort , Bodrum, Turkey (image below, middle) . Book via Booking.com | Marriott Bonvoy

Getting there: The flight-comparison sites such as  Skyscanner  ( www.skyscanner.com ) or  Kayak  ( www.kayak.com ) will help you find the best flights and deals.

Disclosure: We may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

We will never spam you. We will never share your details with 3rd parties.

Author: Travel+Style. Last updated: 15/01/2024

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Search luxury hotels in Bodrum

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Bodrum City

31 luxury hotels

Yalıkavak

7 luxury hotels

3 luxury hotels, 4 luxury hotels, 1 luxury hotels in bodrum, check out our selection of great luxury hotels in bodrum, review score.

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Dolce Vita Luxury Bungalows

Situated in Bodrum City, Dolce Vita Luxury Bungalows has a garden, restaurant, bar, and free WiFi throughout the property. Boasting a private beach area, the hotel is close to several noted attractions, around 1.7 km from Gumbet Beach and around 1.9 km from Bitez Beach. The accommodation features room service, a 24-hour front desk and currency exchange for guests. Location, clean, breakfast, all staff specially zayneb Thanks

Radisson Collection Hotel, Bodrum

Located in Akyarlar, 400 metres from Aspat Beach, Radisson Collection Hotel, Bodrum provides accommodation with a fitness centre, free private parking, a garden and a terrace. Among the facilities of this property are a restaurant, room service and a 24-hour front desk, along with free WiFi throughout the property. The hotel features a sauna and an ATM. The accommodation offers 5-star accommodation with a spa centre. Staff was amazing and helpful

Kaya Palazzo Resort & Residences Le Chic Bodrum

Situated in Bodrum City, 1.1 km from Gumbet Beach, Kaya Palazzo Resort & Residences Le Chic Bodrum features accommodation with a seasonal outdoor swimming pool, free private parking, a fitness centre and a terrace. Featuring a restaurant, the 5-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi, each with a private bathroom. The hotel has a sauna and room service. Everything Things was perfect

The Bodrum EDITION

Elegantly decorated in light colours, rooms and suites come with balcony, flat-screen TV and minibar. Private bathrooms come with bath or shower while suites offer steam room. Some rooms features Turkish hammam. Design, bathroom, location, beach, friendly and polite staff, delicious Aegean restaurant, exceptional breakfast till noontime👍late check out

Allium Bodrum Resort & Spa

Allium Bodrum Resort & Spa has a seasonal outdoor swimming pool, garden, a fitness centre and bar in Yalıkavak. Among the facilities of this property are a restaurant, a 24-hour front desk and room service, along with free WiFi. The accommodation features a concierge service, ticket service . Allium is an amazing boutique class hotel and a perfect place to chill and relax with beautiful sea views and spectacular sunsets. The resort has a really nice spa with superb massage and lovely spa amenities, including salt room which was something new for us to try. We loved it and we really recommend to try their massage. Hotel territory is very beautiful, very green with lots of nice plants, flowers, pomegranate and olive trees, which are all perfectly looked after. Infinity pool is so cool with stunning views over the sea & cliffs, and with a nice bar offering great varieties of drinks and food. We loved that villas, as well as sunbathing areas, are so well spread around that we never really been too close to other guests. The choices to lay down by the pool, by the sea or in cabanas are plenty. It was never felt too busy which was great. The breakfast was fabulous with vast variety of different options, we were able to try something new every day and were never getting bored of the options during our week stay. Very friendly and attentive staff, sometimes couldn’t understand few things in English, but they did their best in every way. We stayed in infinity sea view room and we liked it very much as it had a separate bedroom and a leaving room with cozy homely decor and two balconies. Absolutely gorgeous sunsets from the room which we enjoyed every evening. Oh, and the location is great, it is so close to Yalikavak Marina with lots of restaurants and shops. Kudos to the hotel staff as they all were so helpful and friendly, and made us feel very welcome. We would absolutely come back there again as we loved everything about this place! P.S. special thanks to Bukre from reservation department as she helped us with our other reservation which we had some issues but she resolved it very quickly for us! Thank you again! Best wishes to Allium and we look forward to coming back next year!

Lujo Hotel Bodrum

Guvercinlik

All rooms are luxuriously decorated and provide private balconies or terrace. Nestled within spectacular boulders, villas come with private pools and a garden. Forest rooms offers magnificent sea view and located under the pine trees. Every room at this hotel is air conditioned and comes with a flat-screen TV with satellite channels. Certain units feature walk-in wardrobe and a seating area where you can relax. All rooms have a private bathroom. Some of them comes with double sinks. Extras include bathrobes, slippers and free toiletries. The service was fast, food was very delicious, buggy service was very quick, facilities amazing. And the kids club- nothing like I saw before.

METT Hotel & Beach Resort Bodrum

Featuring free WiFi, a restaurant and a year-round outdoor pool and an indoor pool, METT Hotel & Beach Resort Bodrum offers a spa centre, sauna, hammam and a private beach area. Free private parking is available on site. Everything about this place was amazing it’s like a piece of paradise

Le Méridien Bodrum Beach Resort

Facing the breathtaking view of Aegean Sea, Le Méridien Bodrum Beach Resort offers a private beach and water sports facilities in Bodrum. Vitalica Wellness Centre feature an infrared sauna, gym, hammam and massage rooms. Le Méridien Bodrum Beach Resort features free WiFi throughout the property. Mr Ali, sahin and Mr. Yousuf were very sweet and made our stay lovely

Susona Bodrum, LXR Hotels & Resorts

Located on the seafront, Susona Bodrum, LXR Hotels & Resorts offers luxury accommodation in Bodrum as a collection brand of Hilton. This resort features 2024 Michelin Guide selected signature restaurant Malva as well as a lively beach club, private jetties, family beach, spa & wellness center, indoor and outdoor pool. Guests can enjoy a meal at 3 restaurants or a drink at the bar. Free private parking and free WiFi are available on site. it was a unique experience. it was not like any other vacation. wonderful hotel with lots of facilities. all staff are friendly, helpful, and english-speaking. Susona hotel creates a different world for couple of days of vacation.

Titanic Luxury Collection Bodrum

Situated in Guvercinlik, Titanic Luxury Collection Bodrum boasts a spa centre and a private beach area. The resort has an outdoor pool, and guests can enjoy a meal at the restaurant or a drink at the bar. Free private parking is available on site. everything. we were upgraded to a villa that was nothing short of perfect as we were a group. staff food facilities were all amazing.

Most booked luxury hotels in Bodrum this month

Luxury Hotel in Akyarlar

Popular with guests booking luxury hotels in Bodrum

Samara Hotel Bodrum

Luxury hotel in torba, mett hotel & beach resort bodrum, luxury hotel in bodrum city, duja bodrum, cape bodrum luxury hotel & beach.

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Luxury Hotel in Golturkbuku

FAQs about luxury hotels in Bodrum

Does booking.com offer luxury hotels with free cancellation in bodrum.

Most luxury hotels on Booking.com offer free cancellation.

Which luxury hotels in Bodrum are good for couples?

Couples traveling in Bodrum loved staying at Bodrum Ortakent Luxury Private Villa with Pool , Ultra Luxury Private Villa with Swimming Pool , and Le Méridien Bodrum Beach Resort .

Similarly, these luxury hotels in Bodrum were also highly rated by couples: Allium Bodrum Resort & Spa , The Bodrum EDITION , and Susona Bodrum, LXR Hotels & Resorts .

Which luxury hotels in Bodrum have nice views?

Voyage Torba Hotel , Allium Bodrum Resort & Spa , and Xanadu Island have received great reviews from guests in Bodrum about the views from these luxury hotels

Guests staying in Bodrum also loved the views from these luxury hotels: Le Méridien Bodrum Beach Resort , Kempinski Hotel Barbaros Bay Bodrum , and Celeste Bella Luxury Hotel & Spa .

What are some of the best luxury hotels to stay at in Bodrum?

Allium Bodrum Resort & Spa , The Bodrum EDITION , and Susona Bodrum, LXR Hotels & Resorts are some of the popular luxury hotels in Bodrum.

In addition to these luxury hotels, Kaya Palazzo Resort & Residences Le Chic Bodrum , METT Hotel & Beach Resort Bodrum , and Titanic Luxury Collection Bodrum are also popular in Bodrum.

Why should I book a luxury hotel with Booking.com?

We make it quick and easy to book a luxury hotel in Bodrum. Here’s what we offer:

• Free cancellation on most stays • We Price Match • 24/7 customer support in 40+ languages

How much is a luxury hotel in Bodrum for this weekend?

The average price per night for a luxury hotel in Bodrum for this weekend is $423, based on current Booking.com prices.

How many luxury hotels in Bodrum are listed on Booking.com?

There are 69 luxury hotels in Bodrum you can book on Booking.com.

Which luxury hotels in Bodrum are good for families?

Many families visiting Bodrum loved staying at Voyage Torba Hotel , Susona Bodrum, LXR Hotels & Resorts , and Allium Bodrum Resort & Spa .

Similarly, Bodrum Ortakent Luxury Private Villa with Pool , Titanic Luxury Collection Bodrum , and Celeste Bella Luxury Hotel & Spa are also popular among families.

Luxury Hotels that guests love in Bodrum

Rixos premium bodrum.

8.9 Excellent 342 reviews

Very nice service and place. Super kind staff. Real 5 stars hotel. Best kids club ever

The Poyz Hotel Bodrum

Luxury hotel in gümbet.

9.0 Wonderful 279 reviews

Great place, with so friendly owner und personal. Breakfast was great, really delicious, almost like in 5 stars hotel. The hotel is with nice little pool, beach is only 5 minutes walk away. Was really good experience.

KHAI HOTEL BODRUM

8.7 Excellent 251 reviews

Breakfast experience was outstanding - complete Turkish breakfast overlooking breathtaking water views. Service was superb with great attention to detail.

El Vino Hotel & Suites

9.2 Wonderful 405 reviews

We stayed at the luxury suite, which was very spacious and beautifully decorated. The pool area is just amazing with lots of green surroundings and a relaxing jacuzzi hidden under the trees. Breakfast was very good with a nice selection of hot/cold dishes. Staff is very kind and helpful.

We absolutely loved everything in the hotel, service was exceptional, very wide variety of the most delicious food, great location, beautiful settings, very big beautiful garden, childcare facilities were amazing. This hotel has a little private island. You can get there anything you can dream off. Rixos Premium Bodrum is definitely more than 5 stars hotel!!!

Akkan Hotel

8.4 Very Good 775 reviews

Everything at Akkan Luxury is superb, especially the helpfull and active team of the hotel namely Can and all the others. The location is ultra convenient for tourists adjuscent to the beach, pubs, market, restos, St. PETER Castle, Marina...view from our room to sea and castle is magnificant...

Kempinski Hotel Barbaros Bay Bodrum

Luxury hotel in yaliciftlik.

8.7 Excellent 159 reviews

The staff was really welcoming and helpful throughout the stay. Everything was within the hotels, amazing restaurants, luxury spa , private beach and many more. VIP Turkish Hammam is a must at the Spa.

Casa De Nova Hotel

9.4 Wonderful 165 reviews

The hotel is beautiful. Lots of little details that draw the eye that make the surroundings more luxurious and pleasurable, a lot of thought has been put into the design. The hotel has a unique boutique feel to it. The rooms are stunning, very clean, shower etc. The food was delicious, The staff are very attentive too, s huge thank you to Yelda (the chef) Bugra, Yesim, Emre and Dilan who welcomed us and made our stay exceptional. And of course Fatih the owner too. We had a great time and plan to return.

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The Bodrum EDITION

Rooms & Suites

• Experiences

Welcome to The Bodrum EDITION

Discover bodrum, turkey from our luxury hotel.

Enjoy luxury living at The Bodrum EDITION. Set on the Turkish Riviera, our resort in Bodrum offers an inspiring location to explore Turkey. This beachfront hotel in Bodrum offers easy access to numerous watersports, places to explore such as Yalikavak Marina and Bodrum Amphitheatre, as well as enticing shops and restaurants. The hotel has 108 guest rooms, lofts, suites and villas with custom furnishings, indulgent bedding and signature linens, ergonomic workstations, free Wi-Fi. Spacious bathrooms include oversized tubs, decadent monsoon rain showerheads and Le Labo bath products. Some accommodations boast gardens, terraces and private pools. Indulge in our creative restaurants, including BRAVA by Stefano Ciotti, and socialize at its vibrant bar. Take a dip into our infinity pool, work out in the modern gym, pump your energy with indoor cycling at Discetto or rejuvenate at the state-of- the-art spa. For weddings or meetings in Bodrum choose from 12 light-filled venues, with splendid view of the Aegean Sea.

FEATURED AMENITIES ON-SITE

Hotel information.

Check-in: 3:00 pm

Check-out: 12:00 pm

Minimum Age to Check In: 18

Pets Welcome

Pets allowed in all Food&Beverage venues with outdoor space excluding the beach

Maximum Pet Weight: 6kgs

Maximum Number of Pets in Room: 2

Complimentary On-Site Parking

Complimentary Valet Parking

WHAT TO EXPECT

Plan and Prepare for your Stay

BRAVA - Opening on June 5

Helmed by Michelin-starred chef Stefano Ciotti, BRAVA is the Bodrum EDITION’s signature al fresco restaurant. Stefano Ciotti showcase the flavors of Italian cuisine. The bar at BRAVA opens 6pm-1am and it is the place to be with live Djs performances.

Laidback by day and adventurous by night, Morena at The Bodrum EDITION is a lively beachside restaurant that excites with a diversity of global flavors.

Our locally inspired one Michelin star Kitchen Restaurant explores the flavors of the Turkish coast for a true taste of community. Our renowned chef, Osman Sezener immerses diners in the vibrancy of the contemporary Aegean and Anatolian cuisine.

Beach & Pool

Morena Beach Club is a sophisticated beach club restaurant that pampers the sun-soaked while offering tantalizing casual-cool dining and refreshing libations by the infinity pool, overlooking the golden sand of Yalikavak Beach.

More Ways to Enjoy Your Stay

The Spa at The Bodrum EDITION

Pamper yourself at The Spa at The Bodrum EDITION with an array of healing treatments, including massages and therapy baths. Our resort spa also offers hotel guests a wide range of replenishing beauty treatments. Our resort spa also offers hotel guests a wide range of replenishing beauty treatments.

Our hotel gym offers strength training, weight & cardio equipment, Pilates studio & boxing equipment

Infinity pool

Getting here.

Dirmil Mahallesi, Balyek Caddesi No 5A, Yalikavak Mugla, Bodrum, Türkiye, 48400

On-Property

Private Car Service

Limousine/Van Service

Local Shuttle Complimentary

Bus Station

Property Details

Accepts: Cash, Credit Cards

Concierge desk service

Property has elevators

Vending Machine

Languages spoken by staff: Azerbaijani, German, Russian, American-Language, Sign-Language, Language-Language, Turkish

For more information about the physical features of our accessible rooms, common areas or special services relating to a specific disability please call +90 252-3113131

Service Animals are Welcome

Valet parking for vehicles outfitted for drivers in wheelchairs

Accessible Entrance to On-Site Pool

Entrance to On-Site Fitness Center is Accessible

Entrance to On-Site Spa is Accessible

Meeting Spaces are Accessible

On-Site Restaurants are Accessible

Room and Suites Access through the Interior Corridor

We have 2 entrances. First one is hotels guest entrance,second one is day usage guest entrance.If hotel's main entrance is not accessible, day usage guest entrance is accessible

Alarm Clock Telephone Ringers

Electronic Room Key

Flashing Door Knockers

Guest Room and Suites Doors Self-Closing

Hearing Accessible Rooms and/or Kits

Lever Handles on Guest Room Doors

Lowered Viewports in Guest Room Doors

Mobility accessible rooms

Room Windows Open

Safety Chains and/or Latches on Guest Doors

Secondary Locks on Room Windows

Toilet Seat at Wheelchair Height - Toilet for Disabled

The Green Key Certified

Carbon Footprint: 94.97 kg per room night

Water Footprint: 2263.73 liters per room night

Guest Room Recycling

Frequently Asked Questions

The check-in time at The Bodrum EDITION is 3:00 pm and the check-out time is 12:00 pm.

The pet policy at The Bodrum EDITION is:

The parking options at The Bodrum EDITION are:

The property amenities at The Bodrum EDITION are:

Yes, The Bodrum EDITION has free Wi-Fi available to hotel guests.

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EDITION(SM) THE BODRUM

Dirmil Mahallesi, Balyek Caddesi No 5A, Yalikavak Mugla,

Bodrum, Türkiye, 48400

Fax: +90 252-3113232

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14 of the best hotels in Bodrum

Mingle with the beautiful people in glittering marinas, high-end restaurants, pristine beaches and some of the best hotels you’ll find in turkey.

O ver the years Bodrum on Turkey’s Aegean coast has transformed from a small fishing village to a swanky playground for the rich and famous. The transition began in the 1960s, when it became a hub for Istanbul’s writers and artists, and it’s now known as “little Istanbul ” due to the number of city-dwellers with second homes there.

There’s a broad hotel offering to satisfy the huge number of tourists who visit each year, while plenty of wealth gathers around the yacht harbour. You’ll find the real glamour that Bodrum is renowned for out in the far reaches of the peninsula, where a dramatic coastline hosts hidden cove beaches and secret islets are dotted with detox retreats, designer bars and luxury hotels.

Main photo: Amanruya in Golturkbuku

1. Amanruya, Golturkbuku

Best for a romantic break Each guest house comes with its own private pool at this tiny luxury resort set among olive groves and cypress trees. Built of stone and fitted out with sleek contemporary interiors, including four-poster beds and free-standing baths, you’ll feel as if you’re staying in your own villa on the Aegean. There is also a larger, communal infinity pool and a stretch of private beach. The excellent restaurant, serving Mediterranean cuisine, is also open to the public, or meals can be served to your guesthouse. Private yoga sessions can be arranged.

Spa Y Pool Y Price £££

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2. Marmara Bodrum, Bodrum centre

Best for young couples This adult-only hotel located in Bodrum centre is your gateway for easy access to the town’s bars, clubs and sights. Set up in the hills, it’s a great base for walking or biking around the quaint streets dotted with whitewashed houses — a gorgeously unspoilt area despite being one of the hubs of Turkey’s tourism industry. Back onsite you’ll find a pool, hot tub, spa and fitness centre, along with sculptures and paintings by local artists scattered around the common areas. Rooms are extremely luxurious for the price and there’s a rooftop restaurant with striking views overlooking the sea.

Spa Y Pool Y Price ££

3. Sandora boutique hotel, Yalikavak

Best for desirable location An affordable hotel in one of the most exclusive parts of the Bodrum peninsula, the Sandora has basic but comfortable standard rooms, along with more luxurious options in its suites and “avant garde” accommodation. Its winning feature is the huge outdoor pool, set in gardens where you can enjoy drinks and snacks in the daytime and dinner from the restaurant in the evenings. It’s also only a short walk from the high-end international restaurants on Yalikavak marina — the choice spot for the rich and famous who moor their yachts there.

Spa N Pool Y Price ££

4. Macakizi, Golturkbuku

Best for holidaying like a celebrity The original home of Bodrum’s bohemian cool, Macakizi hosts a smattering of celebrities each season, rumoured to include Mick Jagger and Kate Moss who come to stay in a collection of villas on a secluded hillside, tucked away in one of the least visited parts of the peninsula. Paparazzi tend to hang around the bay when a famous guest arrives, but get past that and this is one of the most relaxing breaks that (a lot) of money can buy. The restaurant is top notch too, so even if you can’t afford the full experience, it’s worth visiting just to dine.

5. Med-Inn, Gulluk

Best for family beach holidays If sun-worshipping is your thing then the Med-Inn will please with its huge private beach and jetty on some of the best and safest waters on the Bodrum peninsula. Accommodation is in suites rather than rooms, all of which come with sea views, making it perfect for families with small children. Its location is a tad isolated for those who want to explore, which happily means that it is not marred by the crowds that pack most of the area in summer.

Spa N Pool Y Price £

6. Caresse, Gumbet

Best for being close to the action This well-designed hotel is perched on the outskirts of the lively resort of Gumbet. Both rooms and suites are available and finishing touches include free-standing baths and fresh flowers, along with a white sand private beach with a huge curved jetty at one end. There is a fitness centre and spa with an extensive treatment list, as well as an indoor pool. You’ll have no trouble scoping our private corners to relax with a cocktail from the hotel’s bar and there are plenty of places to eat and drink nearby too.

7. Selvi Beach Hotel, Golturkbuku

Best for a secluded beach break With a lovely little stretch of private beach, including its own jetty and huge gardens to relax in, you could easily spend a few days at the Selvi without ever feeling the need to leave. It is some distance from the centre of Bodrum and the more lively nightlife neighbourhoods, but it makes up for it with its restaurant, which serves up traditional Aegean cuisine, and its beach bar, open until 2am every day. There are also regular guided meditation classes in the gardens.

8. Sarpedor, Torba

Best for sipping fine wines Huge bed-style sun loungers overlook a crystalline private cove at this boutique hotel in one of the most tranquil parts of the peninsula. Although it is small there are two restaurants and three bars on site, serving a la carte cuisine and fine wine from the cellar. Stay either on a bed and breakfast basis, or go for an all-inclusive package. Pilates and yoga classes are available and a full spa service includes in room massages. Bodrum centre is just a short drive away.

9. Ena Boutique Hotel, Bodrum centre

Best for a bargain city break The huge terrace with its sweeping view across Bodrum bay is the star attraction at this stylish pad just a short walk from the nearest beach. Unusually for a hotel in the city centre, there’s a swimming pool and sun lounging area. There are few extra frills, but there’s a high quality restaurant and rooms at some of the lowest prices you’ll find in Bodrum.

10. El Vino Hotel & Suites, Bodrum centre

Best for a romantic weekend Most stay at this small boutique hotel to soak up the sunset views over Bodrum castle from its rooftop restaurant. When it comes to the rooms, the design is simple and classic, and there’s a lovely terrace with mature gardens around the pool and hot tub. Stay in one of the bigger rooms for a kitchenette that pairs the comfort of a hotel with the convenience of an apartment rental.

11. Hillstone, Bodrum Centre

Best for a resort experience in the city The huge infinity swimming pool on the terrace and hilltop location make this hotel feel like an out-of-town hideaway, despite being in walking distance of Bodrum city centre. Each room is spacious, though suites feel like self-contained apartments and there are numerous facilities on site, including a full spa and fitness centre, with personal trainers available. While away lazy afternoons on a hammock among the palm trees in the garden, or treat yourself to a scrub and massage in the hotel’s traditional hammam.

12. Mucho Village

Best for hiking Set up in the hills above Bodrum with sweeping panoramic views, this collection of stone guesthouses is the perfect base to explore some of the peninsula’s lovely inland nature. Rooms have a relaxing, natural vibe, fitted out with wood furnishings and textiles in calming colours, and the vegetable patches in the garden give the place a back-to-the-earth feel. Breakfast is a la carte and served on the poolside terrace and staff can arrange car rental so you can get to the beach — just a short drive away.

13. Manastir Hotel & Suites, Bodrum centre

Best for relaxation Set on the site of an old monastery and incorporating parts of the old walls into its structure, this stylishly simple hotel has a range of rooms and suites set in lush mature tropical gardens. There are two swimming pools — one of them infinity — and plenty of space to relax on the grounds. The restaurant serves up Turkish and international cuisine and DJs spin deep house tracks every night between 10pm and midnight. For a truly indulgent stay, plump for the Turkish bath suite, which comes with its own private hot tub.

14. Bodrum Masali Camping, Gumusluk

Best for nature lovers Expect basic bungalows and camping pitches at this eco-resort, situated on the outskirts of one of Bodrum’s most popular resort areas. Although far removed from the luxury hotels that Bodrum is best known for, you won’t have to rough it; free wi-fi is available across the whole site, there’s a restaurant and coffee shop and bungalows even have their own fridges. Children will love the communal games areas and despite its gloriously isolated feel the beach is still just a short walk away.

Take me there

Inspired to visit Turkey but yet to book your trip? Here are the best packages from Tui Holidays and BA Holidays . And if you’re still unsure of where you want to go or what type of holiday to book, get in touch here and one of the Designer Travel experts will be in contact to help you arrange your perfect tailor-made break.

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Bodrum: the most glamorous hangout in the Mediterranean

By Laura Fowler

The afternoon sun slants low, hazy as a dream, and paints the water gold. Out in the stillness of the bay a group of girls and boys swim, heads slick as seals, their laughter skipping over the sea like a song. It is known as the Turquoise Coast but here, where the Aegean meets the Mediterranean , the colour of the sea is capricious as the shifting sky.

The sea informs everything in Bodrum . This place only really makes sense from the water. Turkey’s jagged south-west does not lend itself to sweeping corniches, its evergreen peninsulas stretching out into the inky waters towards the Greek islands a couple of miles away. Its seafaring people lived around its edges, in disconnected fishing villages which, even now on Bodrum’s sleepier neighbours of Bozburun and Datça , are only accessible from the sea. Well-groomed Bodrum also keeps secrets: fragments of islands too small to name, hidden coves where you drop anchor to swim in lagoons or come ashore for lunch at beach restaurants.

Bodrum’s stars aligned almost 100 years ago when a writer – an aristocrat from Istanbul called Cevat Sakir Kabaa˘gaçli – was exiled here for three years. In a hut! On a beach! He fell in love, of course, and stayed for three decades. The local sponge divers showed him the underwater treasures. As the Fisherman of Halicarnassus, he wrote about Homer’s land of eternal blue with its submerged cities, its imprints of Greeks and Romans, of saints and apostles, of Antony and Cleopatra. His idea of the Blue Voyage brought all Istanbul society to Bodrum, to spend summers sailing gulets along the fragrant coast.

In the 1970s Bodrum emerged as the most glamorous spot in Turkey. And now, in pale-mineral Göltürkbükü bay, the waterside decks shine with oiled limbs lying cheek by jowl like a backgammon board. Hard to believe that a couple of years ago Europeans and Americans had all but stopped holidaying on the Turkish Riviera. It hasn’t taken long to recover. ‘People have short memories when the offering is this good,’ says Sahir Erozan, the owner of the hotel Maçakizi, surveying all the buzz and beauty with a fiendish grin.

It’s true. Bodrum was back with a bang in 2019, booming like never before, all aflutter with sleek openings which manicured great swathes of the peninsula into next-level hotels. Old favourites have been revived; Nicolas Sarkozy was among those holing up in the sexy and secluded Amanruya. The enlarged Yalikavak Marina is deep and glitzy enough to accommodate superyachts with Monets and Rothkos on board.

Among the newcomers is the Bodrum Edition, importing Ian Schrager’s trademark all-white minimalism and knock-out proportions, along with the star chef Diego Muñoz from Peru, soft sand on the beach where children splash about on paddleboards, and Balearic house music. Its bar, Discetto, has a giant pink disco ball.

Across the water on the mainland, an altogether more grown-up crowd drink cocktails from copper cups at Kaplankaya’s Anhinga beach bar. Rising up from the shore into a scrub of pistachio and olive trees, Kaplankaya is not just a hotel , but an entire new town: a turbo- smart hideout on a wildly ambitious scale, with one modernist Six Senses hotel and destination spa , and three more hotels in the offing (Cheval Blanc is confirmed) plus a marina by Foster & Partners.

Kaplankaya’s creator, Burak Oymen, spent hot, happy summers here as a child in the 1980s, his parents part of that Turkish intelligentsia lured by the Fisherman’s tales. Like Bodrum, Burak grew up and made his fortune; and with it bought a stretch of empty land. ‘I wanted to recreate the Bodrum of my childhood,’ he says. Such is the power of nostalgia. It started simply, he and his girl Tereza living in a beach hut, not in exile but in love. If they wanted civilisation, they took their boat across the bay for lunch at Maçakizi, the trade winds in their sails.

Darcie Imbert

Olivia Morelli

Connor Sturges

Nicky Swallow , CN Traveller

Maçakizi has encapsulated the spirit of Bodrum since it was opened in 1975 by Sahir Erozan’s mother. It is authentically Turkish yet completely international, pretty yet progressive, barefoot and sexy as hell. Whitewashed suites tumble down the hillside among oleander and palms; then deck after deck for eating and drinking and dancing, all the way to the sea. Sahir is invariably found in the thick of things, telling stories. He throws the kind of parties that get out of hand. ‘You know – you tell two girls, they tell 88 people.’ Guests waft around, brown skinned and beautiful with absurdly tiny waists. Kate Moss, so the story goes, checked out of nearby detox retreat LifeCo early and came straight to Maçakizi.

People dance here all hours of the day, ebbing and flowing with the rhythm of the tides. It looks artfully effortless, but don’t be fooled: this is a slick operation. Sahir spends his winters travelling the world for inspiration and rebuilding – last year adding a new beach club and state-of-the-art outdoor kitchen.

‘Good, simple food like my mama used to make,’ insists Sahir, when the dishes arrive. His mother – whose picture is in every room – must be a sensation in the kitchen , because this is no down-home cooking; it is accomplished and worldly wise, joy after jewel-coloured joy. Chargrilled octopus, its fat tentacle curled into a question mark, suckers like trumpet keys, comes with lentil cream and coconut vinaigrette. There’s sunchoke and purslane, roasted aubergine and stuffed vine leaves, and heavenly salads with spice.

Forget your plans. Lunch lasts all afternoon. By the end of it I am three hours late and three too many sheets to the wind to drive wherever it was I was supposed to be going. What fool drives here, anyway? ‘The important thing is never to stop at stop signs,’ says Sahir. ‘Because if you do the person behind will crash into the back of you.’ Luckily, Sahir has a boat. Someone in Bodrum always has a boat.

Like the sponge divers of Bodrum past, restaurant owner Çağlar Bozçağa still swims for his supper. Even this morning, with a broken leg, he slipped off the plaster cast to free-dive 25 metres down and pluck urchins from the sea bed as though it were an underwater larder. Whatever he does not slice open and eat raw for lunch on his boat, he serves in his restaurant, Orfoz. It is found on an unlikely side street of Bodrum City, where bergamot trees planted by the Fisherman of Halicarnassus shade the whitewashed buildings, next to a statue of the cross-dressing singer Zeki Müren. Beneath the bougainvillaea Caglar is clattering around on crutches, balancing plates of meze and pouring homemade wine from bottles scribbled with ‘Chardonnay’ and ‘Shiraz’ in marker pen.

It all looks unassuming, but what he serves is a bold adventure in seafood . Grouper soup is followed by morsels of house-smoked eel; oysters grilled with Parmesan; stone crab and sea snails and huge clams in their shells, sweetness in saltwater. The grand finale is testing: mantis-shrimp ceviche. Caglar is particularly delighted by these semi-opaque götügöz (ghosts), which he gleefully calls ‘eyes on arse’. People who lustily slurp down oysters should try raw mantis-shrimp ceviche. I manage a head or an arse, I can’t tell which; then sink a glass of biodynamic white in a rush. It is made in a tiny local vineyard called Neferiye. The hand-labelled bottles may hint at moonshine, but the wine is good, clean and sweet; as Caglar points out, ‘They’ve been making wine in Bodrum since 2000bc.’

Homegrown and home-cooked is not a trend here, but an eternal way of life. At the peninsula’s quiet tip, Gümüslük’s sheltered shore is lined with rustic restaurant tables set literally in the water (in-the-know Turks head for Mimoza, the best of them), so you can cool your toes while you eat what the fishing boats hauled in that morning. Hidden in the hills above, bohemian Limon is possibly the best sunset spot anywhere, a patched-together outdoor café with bright-painted sculptures among the mismatched vintage furniture, and festoon lighting strung tree to tree, serving seasonal dishes and mama’s legendary mint lemonade. Nearby, grass-rootsy Adali Kafe opened in summer 2018: blue views on a cool hillside, where the family pour local Vin Bodrum and grow their own tomatoes.

Turks, like Italians, can talk about tomatoes for hours. In Bodrum the pink ones are the sweetest; seek them out in the market, where the sellers tease with scoops of stardust, offering them up to my lips to taste and leaving the scent in my hair and on my skin. People still shop like this here. Testing the firmness of fruit and swapping cookery tips. Around the periphery, old men sit in the shade beneath strings of dried chillies ( pictured above ), smoking like mad and drinking sweet black tea, and playing okey (rummikub with Turkish rules), the tiles rattling in their hands like pebbles in a jar.

Old and new swim together in Bodrum. As the muezzin calls at dawn, young things are swaying home, the night finally over. Out to sea, a gulet cuts across the water, its prow thrusting sharp as a sailfish. There’s a softness to the early-morning light that’s something close to nostalgia for this very moment, even as it happens. And it is easy to see how, despite all Bodrum’s newfound glossiness, you can fall in love with the simple life here. Just as long as there is good food to eat and good wine to drink, and someone has a boat.

8 Off-the-radar addresses

1. Havva Ana in the quiet village of Gökçebel is a true farm-to-fork breakfast spot. It pulls in urbanites from Ankara and Istanbul for hot börek (flaky pastry filled with vegetables), sweet cherry jam, fried eggs with peppers, and urns of red-tinted Turkish tea. The sheep, chickens and cow in the neighbouring field support the whole endeavour.

2. Akyarlar Bay’s pale turquoise water makes it one of the loveliest places to go for a morning swim. Its sandy beach is backed by whitewashed houses and a handful of seafood restaurants that line the harbour.

3. For underwater action, take a gulet out to Orak Island, which is great for both shallow and deep-sea divers, with an incredible vertical reef wall that descends nearly 80 metres.

4. Windsurfers make a beeline for Bitez beach; the calm bay keeps beginners busy in the morning and then the breeze picks up later in the day for the pros.

5. Monochrome-modern Vamos in Bitez village gets packed out at lunchtime for its burrata salads and pizzas in the mandarin- and lemon tree-filled garden. There’s a market somewhere on the peninsula every day.

6. The ones in Bodrum and Turgutreis are well known, but savvy shoppers head to Ortakent or Gündo˘gan for amazing cheeses, fresh honey and homemade soaps. The best leather bags and shoes are found at Tuskany in Bodrum town; the owner Shafak will negotiate a decent discount if you ask nicely.

7. Supper at beachside Ayana Mes still feels like a secret. Even in Bodrum’s crazy high summer the tables on the sand are taken up almost entirely by locals feasting on meze, grilled octopus, stuffed pumpkin flowers and a speciality of boiled cockerel.

8. And for a nightcap, Fenix in Yalikavak serves up citrussy cocktails. By Ashley Pearson

Where to stay

MANDARIN ORIENTAL, BODRUM

Glamorous on the outside, with swathes of powdery sand and elegant restaurants, and spacious on the inside, with brave colour accents and giant bedrooms, this is a revved-up, starry beach base. But despite the grown-up good looks, families need not panic: all ages are welcome and children will love the buzzy kids’ club. The spa is also worth the trip – a little bit Japanese, a little bit Balinese – with bonsai trees and mini teapots of fresh ginger infusions, plus a lovely indoor pool and steam rooms. For all its grandeur, the space remains intimate, with staff injecting a lot of heart into everything they do. A winner for those seeking bold design along with detail-obsessed service.

Address: Mandarin Oriental, Göltürkbükü Mahallesi 314. Sok. No: 12, D:1, 48400 Bodrum/Muğla, Turkey Telephone: +90 252 311 18 88 Book your stay

MAXX ROYAL KEMER, ANTALYA

Combining the giddy otherworldliness of a smart members’ club – marble architecture, cathedral-high lobby – with a distinct feeling of seclusion, this hotel faces out to the coastline but backs onto Beydağlari Coastal National Park’s craggy mountains and ruins including Termessos, pictured. Highlights range from the whimsical – a chocolatier station, a campervan bar – to the wonderfully over-the-top, with three beaches and bathrooms stocked with Bottega Veneta products. There’s a chilled-but-sceney vibe as well as an unmistakable sense of place, from the black tea with baklava and the disarmingly good rustic lahmacun flatbread to the sound of cicadas and scent of pine.

Address: Maxx Royal Kemer, Kiriş Mh., Kiriş Cad. No:88, 07980 Kemer/Antalya, Turkey Telephone: +90 242 813 60 60 Book your stay

One of the Mediterranean’s most blissful little seaside hotels. There are 74 fairly simple rooms (though you wouldn’t know it) among the tropical and Mediterranean greenery, bowers of bougainvillaea framing sea views from every spot. It has a small but marvellous spa, a beach-rocking bar and the best restaurant in all Bodrum. In the pipeline for 2020: summer hotel residences, Maçakizi Lofts.

Address: Maçakızı, Göltürkbükü Mahallesi, Narçiçeği Sokak, 48400 Göltürkbükü, Bodrum Turkey Telephone: +90 252 311 24 00 Book your stay

SIX SENSES KAPLANKAYA

Barcelona architects OAB originally created Kaplankaya’s centrepiece, which was launched as a Six Senses hotel with an epic spa last year. Low-slung and low-impact, it branches along the sweep of the landscape and, inside, opens up into a cathedral-like space. Sleek, warm wood suites and pool villas are arranged like a neighbourhood. On one of Kaplankaya’s seven beaches, Anhinga bar was designed by K-Studio, who did Scorpios in Mykonos ; the sea bream is fat and delicious and the drinks are stuffed with herbs from the garden.

Address: Six Senses Kaplankaya, Bozbük Mahallesi, Merkez Sokak No:198, 48200 Muğla, Turkey Telephone: +90 252 511 00 51 Book your stay

THE BODRUM EDITION

The hot new arrival on the peninsula, the latest collaboration between Ian Schrager and Marriott has public spaces of awesome proportions – best of all is the main terrace, with lots of white and triple-height gauziness. Rooms of creamy stone are uncluttered and calm. At Brava restaurant Diego Muñoz adds Mediterranean and Asian twists to his excellent Latin American food.

Address: The Bodrum Edition, Dirmil Mahallesi, Balyek Caddesi, 48400 Yalikavak Bodrum, Turkey Telephone: +90 252 311 3131 Book your stay

The locals' guide to the Turkish Riviera

This story includes images of Bodrum and along the length of the Turkish coastline from Turquoise Coast , a travel book published by Assouline. Co-producers Irem Kinay and Nevbahar Koç let us in on their Turkish Riviera secrets...

Where is home?

Irem Kinay: I live in Rumelihisari, very close to Istanbul’s Bebek neighbourhood on the Bosphorus. For me being at home means having an escape in a city populated by 17 million people. I love being close to the water yet nestled among the trees. Bebek is also where I opened the first Assouline store.

Nevbahar Koç: My hometown is Istanbul, but we spend the summer on a boat, sailing along the south coast of Turkey.

What would your ideal day involve?

IK: Wake up early to the sounds of the birds around my home, then go for a walk along the Bosphorus. After a quick breakfast in a local café in Bebek, I’d take a boat to the old city and take in Istanbul with all its contrasts. I love getting lost in the bazaar, listening to the shopkeepers who always have the most interesting stories from all around the world. I would finish the day in Pera, on the terrace of Mikla restaurant, sipping a locally inspired cocktail overlooking the Golden Horn and the Topkapi Palace for a true synthesis of East and West.

NK: My ideal day would be to wake up in one of the beautiful green bays of Göcek and enjoy the sun and sea with my family and friends. I like cruising around the coast and getting to experience all it has to offer. Whether it’s visiting a magical cave where you can enter with a dinghy or waterskiing in the late afternoon when the water is calm, there’s always something to keep you occupied. At night I like going to one of the local restaurants for fish and mezze.

What is the most unusual experience you’ve had?

IK: When you are anchored in a bay in Göcek – isolated in peace and quiet in pure wilderness – you can hail the pancake boat in the morning for fresh pancakes filled with cheese and herbs. Similarly, you can jump on the massage boat in the afternoon for a spa treatment just when you thought you were far away from any form of civilisation.

Are there any secret spots you like to go to?

IK: Orfoz restaurant is a great secret spot in Bodrum, behind the castle. It’s really the most extraordinary restaurant on the coast for fresh shellfish, all prepared by brothers Cağri and Cağlar and paired with a perfect local wine list. The original Orfoz was run by their parents in Bozburun, and I used to crave the food during the winter, but their sons’ restaurant in Bodrum is also a treasure.

NK: Bozburun Cave is still not known to many. It’s amazing.

Where do you go for the best view?

IK: There’s a small island in the Gulf of Hisaronu, across from the D Maris Bay hotel, which is a great spot to anchor and watch the sun go down. I have seen the most epic, magical sunsets here.

**NK:**The sunset over the ‘Seven Islands’, or Yediadalar, is like walking into another dimension.

Which are the most impressive historical monuments in the area?

NK: The carved rock tombs in Kekova. To swim around them is an incredible experience.

Where do you go to soak up the atmosphere of the coast?

IK: For me, Bodrum is the Maçakizi hotel in Türkbükü. The sea, the food, the music and the crowd all come together to create a unique atmosphere.

Your top places to eat?

NK: The Bozburun Yacht Club for its delicious fresh food – it’s like eating at home. Sit down at a table right by the sea and order the just-caught turbot.

Is there one place where you always order the same thing?

At Orfoz in Bodrum I get the fish soup to start, then pink tomato salad, oysters with Parmesan and oven-baked aubergine.

What is your favourite local dish?

NK: You can only get the famous blue crab in Dalyan, nowhere else.

IK: Gözleme (local pancakes) with herbs in Göcek.

Where are the best shopping areas?

IK: Bodrum bazaar on Tuesdays for textiles, herbs, wooden spoons, fresh fruit and local teas. And Yalikavak Marina for local designers.

NK: I love the shopping in Kaş – there’s a street with small artisan shops and antiques. The best items to buy are the authentic thin Turkish towels and robes. I’d recommend anyone to get a couple of them in different colours.

Do you have a favourite shop?

IK: Atelier by Sumru Sekeroğlu in Kaş.

Do you go to any food markets?

NK: If you catch the weekly local bazaar, you can buy directly from the villagers. If not, they come to your boat to sell food and crafts. In downtown Bodrum there’s an open bazaar where locals sell everything from herbs to fish and fabrics to wooden spoons and sponges…

Which local artisans have you discovered?

NK: There’s a lovely atelier in Kaş producing authentic clothing. Other artisans make natural soaps with herbal ingredients, or craft objects in wood and mother of pearl.

Do you dress differently when you’re on the coast?

NK: Light, soft fabrics and Riviera-chic designs are my favourite for sailing.

Turkish Coast is published in summer 2019 (£65; assouline.com)

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No, it isn’t in Greece—it’s actually in Asia.

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If you’re suffering from insatiable wanderlust, but don’t want to travel to the Amalfi Coast or Santorini like everyone else on Instagram, you’ve reached the right corner of the internet. Though there’s certainly nothing wrong with these classic vacation spots, sometimes you want to explore somewhere different with a totally unique culture. It can be tricky to find an amazing city that’s not swarming with other American tourists, but I think I’ve officially discovered the best under-the-radar destination for 2023: Bodrum, Turkey.

What to Do in Bodrum, Turkey

Book one of the suites or villas at Susona Bodrum, LXR Hotels & Resorts for the perfect mix of five-star amenities, unparalleled hospitality, and convenience to Bodrum city center. The luxury property is tucked behind canopied allées and opens up to panoramic views of the sparkling Aegean sea. Here, there’s no shortage of natural beauty; hot pink bougainvillea vines trail up white villa walls while wild olive, fig, and pomegranate trees grow without restraint around the property. You’ll also see superyachts and sailboats dotting the turquoise waters of Torba Bay, which stretches around most of the hotel.

Once you arrive, unwind after a long day of travel at the hotel’s Spa Soul . Make an appointment for a traditional hammam (also known as a Turkish bath). During this ancient Ottoman body ritual, you’ll lay in the center of the room on a large marble slab while you’re scrubbed with a specific glove called a “kassa.” This exfoliating treatment removes dead cells to reveal baby-soft skin (read: You’ll feel like a snake shedding). Next, you’ll be gently rinsed with warm water, massaged all over with a floral incense-scented foam, and then rinsed again. The hammam goes beyond any spa treatment I’ve ever experienced—at the risk of sounding a bit sacrilegious, it feels almost baptismal. You’ll walk away feeling renewed and relaxed, so much so that you may want to head back to your villa for a cat nap or soak up the sun in one of the luxe cabanas at the hotel’s Frankie Beach Club .

If you feel like staying close by for dinner, try Malva , the hotel’s high-end restaurant named after the perennial purple mallow flower that grows around the property. Sit in the outdoor dining area where you’ll enjoy beautiful panoramic views of Torba Bay and a gentle breeze off the water that sways the rattan lanterns overhead. Enjoy the incredible and hyperlocal menu (here, this isn’t just a restaurant buzzword; most of the vegetables, tomatoes, and herbs are actually grown right on property), and allow the sommelier to expertly guide you to your next glass of wine. He provided some delicious local picks that complemented everything from the fish and tomato salad to the rice pudding with coffee ice cream (a dessert I still regularly dream about). For a night cap, make your way over to Malva’s cocktail bar—they have all the classic fixings, but the mixologists there also know how to whip up a creative and delicious drink if you’re feeling adventurous.

The next day, fuel up for a day of exploring with a traditional Turkish breakfast and coffee at Ezi . Hop in the car and head to Etrim for a guided tour of the village and Etrim Hali Carpets (you can arrange transportation and this tour with the concierge team at LXR Hotels & Resorts ahead of time; they pride themselves on connecting guests with the local community through culturally immersive experiences). Though it’s just a 15-mile drive from Bodrum, Etrim is a nomadic mountain village and feels like you’re stepping into a totally different world. You’ll see old dwellings filled with stone hearths, clay pots, metal farming tools and copper kettles, while cows, roosters, and dogs wander through the streets and find shade under kilim-draped trees and wild cacti.

Etrim is rural and mostly untouched by modern society, but the village is known all around the country for its incredible handicraft. It actually made me a little emotional to watch the artisans seamlessly double-knotting and weaving hand-spun yarn into kilims and carpets with their capable, nimble fingers. These women and those before them have woven rugs using this method for hundreds of years. They still incorporate the same time-tested techniques like dyeing yarn with natural elements such as peach leaves, walnuts, herbs, and onion skins to get their signature vibrant colors. You'll also witness them spinning long strands of silk from the worms' cocoons harvested from the village’s mulberry trees.

Each rug also features different symbols that could be unique to a family or a specific village, so when you buy these beautiful rugs, you’re also buying a piece of that weaver’s story and local culture. Some of these rugs can take months or even years to make by hand, so when you see the piles of carpets and kilims stacked to the ceiling in the showroom, you can’t help but think of all the time, effort, and love that went into making each of them.

After your tour of the village and Etrim Hali, you’d be hard pressed to leave without a rug (I actually bought the vibrant blue and turquoise carpet made from wool and angora pictured on the floor below), but I promise it’s one travel souvenir you’ll cherish for years to come.

After your adventures in Etrim, make your way over to Karnas Vineyards for a wine pairing dinner. Though the family-owned boutique winery is known for their sustainable wines and masses of olive groves, the main building also boasts beautiful architecture modeled after ancient Roman cellars. Take in the spectacular views while you have dinner on the patio—the usually verdant land appears almost gilded at sunset. Don’t forget to buy a few bottles to take back with you; I thought the rosé was especially juicy and crushable for warm-weather months.

The rest of your time in Bodrum is truly dealer’s choice—if you’re into yachting, fishing, or sailing, Torba Bay is a beautiful place to spend a day on the water. There are also plenty of nearby islands and coves to explore, and the cool and tranquil turquoise water is ideal for taking a dip when you need a break from the Aegean sun. If you want a faster pace, you could head to Bodrum’s city center for local cuisine, bumping nightclubs, and great shopping. I recommend skipping the touristy stores and going straight to Yavuz Sandalet for a pair of handmade leather sandals and popping into Zeynep Doğal Ürünler for fragrant soaps and funky local art.

If it’s a market day (usually on Tuesdays), make a special trip to the city center to people-watch and stock up on souvenirs. Be warned: You have to wade past some fake Chanel bags and knock-off Polo shirts to get to the authentic stuff, but with a little patience you’ll find things like kassa mits, hammam soap, Turkish delight candy, loose leaf tea, culinary spices, evil eye jewelry, handmade linens, Turkish towels, and more. Your new favorite word on market day will be “pazarlık” (pronounced like pazzar-lick ), which means “lower the price” or “bargain with me.” Most vendors will work with you, especially if you attempt to speak a few words in Turkish.

I felt extremely safe walking alone in downtown Bodrum, and local folks were very hospitable when I needed directions or help finding the best spot to eat a doner kebab. I also think it’s worth wandering down some back alleys to see a more authentic side of the city. Just a block or two off the main road, you’ll find cobblestone streets with cafes and markets selling seasonal produce, freshly caught fish, local cheeses, olives, and wine. I recommend making a to-go picnic or eating a little at each stop along the way before visiting Bodrum Castle and the Museum of Underwater Archeology . Take in the sights and history before heading back to the hotel for some well-deserved R&R (or another hammam treatment if you really want to treat yourself).

There’s something about Bodrum's energy that feels enchanting, like it’s on the cusp of becoming the next big thing. I hesitate to even write about this unspoiled destination because not very many American tourists know about it yet, and I don’t want to ruin its incredible magic. Perhaps it’s the combination of ancient history and rich culture or the modern amenities and luxury hospitality, but when you’re there, you truly feel like royalty. I had a hard time leaving, but it eventually came time for me (and my very overweight suitcase stuffed with a Turkish carpet, wine, sandals, and hammam supplies) to head home. If you ever get the chance to go to Bodrum, hop on the next plane—and, please, bring me with you.

Jaime Milan (she/her) is the deputy digital editor for VERANDA, where she writes about design, architecture, gardens, jewelry, fashion, travel, wine, news and trends. In her spare time, she can be found shopping at the antique store, cooking, gardening, or teaching her mini Australian Shepherd, Gumbo, new tricks. Follow her on Instagram at @jaimemmilan. 

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Property types, distance from, traveler rating, hotel class.

• Best Value Properties ranked using exclusive Tripadvisor data, including traveler ratings, confirmed availability from our partners, prices, booking popularity and location, as well as personal user preferences and recently viewed hotels.
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1. Titanic Luxury Collection Bodrum

2. Rixos Premium Bodrum

3. Lujo Hotel Bodrum

4. Voyage Torba

5. Be Premium Bodrum

6. Mandarin Oriental Bodrum

7. Vogue Hotel Supreme

8. Caresse, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Bodrum

9. Xanadu Island

10. Doria Hotel Bodrum

11. mivara luxury resort & spa bodrum, 12. cape bodrum luxury hotel & beach, 13. voyage torba private, 14. divan bodrum, 15. casa dell'arte hotel of arts & leisure, 16. palmalife bodrum resort & spa, popular destinations for luxury family resorts.

Popular Bodrum District Categories

Astir Odysseus Kos Resort & Spa

Neptune luxury resort, grecotel luxme kos imperial, michelangelo resort & spa, kuum hotel & spa, robinson daidalos, mett hotel beach resort bodrum, the bodrum edition, sirene luxury hotel bodrum, luna begonvil tas evler, golden key bordubet, d maris bay, allium bodrum resort & spa, 7 art feslegen hotel by egeos, luxury family resorts information.

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EUROPE , TURKEY · August 2, 2023 Last Updated on March 21, 2024

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BODRUM, TURKEY

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The Bodrum Peninsula sits on Turkey’s southwest coast on the Aegean Sea. It is easily accessible from Istanbul and has long been a summer destination for wealthy Turkish travelers.

In recent years, Bodrum has become an international hot spot for celebrities and the jet-setting elite who flock here in the summer months to vacation on the beautiful Turkish Riviera.

Bodrum offers an array of luxury resorts, world-class dining, fun beach clubs, and excellent shopping, all set around the crystal blue Aegean Sea.

In July, I spent seven days in Bodrum celebrating my birthday with a group of friends. We lived like kings and queens for the week: We stayed at the best hotels, dined at the best restaurants, and partied at the best beach clubs.

Based on my experience, I put together this ultimate guide to Bodrum to help you make the most of your visit to this little slice of paradise. 

10 Things To Do In Bodrum

The Bodrum peninsula is about 250 square miles. While many people visit to relax and party here in the summer there is a lot to do and see. Here are 10 of the best things to do in Bodrum .

1) Explore Bodrum By Yacht 

There’s no better way to explore the coastline of Bodrum than by yacht. There are dozens of islands and over 100 inlets around the Bodrum Peninsula providing an array of beautiful spots to explore by boat. 

During my birthday week, we rented a gorgeous 115ft yacht for the day from Gulet Bookers . We had 15 people in our group but the yacht could accommodate up to 60 people and had plenty of room for lounging, beautiful estate rooms, and all the water toys you could want on board. 

The crew was excellent. They kept our drinks filled and served us a wonderful sunset dinner. We swam in private bays, danced, and did an excursion to a seaside bar at an amazing new hotel, Bodrum Loft , which has killer views and delicious handcrafted cocktails that would rival any of the top bars in the world. 

This was by far my favorite day in Bodrum and I would highly recommend booking a boat through Gulet Bookers . They offer luxury charters at reasonable prices in Turkey, Greece, and Croatia.

2) Stay At Macakizi Hotel

Macakizi Hotel made Condé Nast Traveler’s Gold List in 2021 and after spending a blissful week here in July, it’s easy to see why. It’s hard to explain how much I love Macakizi Hotel – it exudes a hip, old-world, unpretentious charm.

Built into a hillside, Macakizi is situated on the north side of the Bodrum peninsula, at the very end of a beautiful bay in the charming fishing village of Türkbükü, just a 50-minute drive (or 2o minute water taxi ride) from Bodrum Airport and a 40-minute drive from downtown Bodrum.

The property opened in the late 1970s and is richly landscaped with walking paths that meander through trees, vines, bushes, and vibrant flowers. The basic rooms are small, and very expensive in the summer months (expect to pay over 1,000 euros a night), but you don’t stay at Macakizi for the rooms. You stay here for the gorgeous property and all its luxury amenities including seaside lounge chairs that are reserved daily for guests, and the excellent concierge service.

The focal point of the hotel is a vibrant beach club with a lively beach bar, and an over-water deck jetting out from the rocks into the Aegean Sea. Two of my favorite days during our trip were spent lounging here, taking in gorgeous views of Türkbükü Bay, listening to music, drinking rosé wine, reading a book, swimming in the sea, and chatting with other hotel patrons.

Macakizi Hotel has an excellent restaurant and the breakfast, which is included in your stay, is the best breakfast I’ve had at any hotel. Fresh local tomatoes, cucumber, olives, fresh fruit, freshly baked bread, an array of fresh local cheeses, locally made yogurt, and made-to-order egg dishes accompanied with fresh vegetable juices and coffee. Did I mention everything is fresh?

3) Türkbükü Boardwalk 

The little fishing village of Türkbükü embodies the overall boho-chic spirit of Bodrum and is definitely worth visiting. Türkbükü has excellent hotels so it’s also a great area to stay. 

Macakizi Hotel and No:81 Hotel (where our friends stayed) are both located on Türkbükü Bay. Macakizi is at the end of the bay where the boardwalk ends and No:81 Hotel is right next door so during our stay we were able to walk from our hotels to the boardwalk to dine and shop.

The boardwalk wraps around Türkbükü Bay, a beautiful little bay that is dotted with yachts and sailboats. Along the boardwalk, there are an array of great restaurants, beach bars, and boutiques selling clothing, jewelry, home goods, and souvenirs. It’s a charming place to spend a few hours shopping, exploring, and taking photos. 

4) Beach Clubs

Bodrum is home to an array of luxury beach clubs, where you can dine, lounge, drink, and dance while listening to some of Turkey’s most popular DJs. Here are a few of the best beach clubs that I personally experienced during our Bodrum trip and loved. 

These beach clubs are lively and have great DJs that draw a fun crowd. In Bodrum, beach club patrons tend to arrive around 2pm and have lunch, and then by 4pm everyone is up drinking and dancing.

• Momo Bodrum – Beautiful spot to hang for the day, about two miles from Yalikavak Marina, in the same bay as The Bodrum EDITION . DJ has everyone up dancing by 4pm. Best day to book this beach club is Sunday.
• Lucca Beach – Mandarin Oriental’s beach club, chic upscale spot for lunch, lounging and swimming, you can take a water taxi from Türkbükü directly to Mandarin Oriental – they have their own private dock. Everyone will be up dancing by late afternoon when the DJ comes on. Best day to book this beach club is Saturday.
• Macakizi Beach Club – The beach club at Macakizi hotel goes off every day with great DJ music and a lively beach bar scene from 4pm-8pm, dies down for dinner from 8pm-11pm, then picks back up again until 2am. Macakizi has its own private dock so you can take a water taxi here if you aren’t staying in Türkbükü. 
• Before Sunset – If you like to dance, check out Before Sunset. They serve great cocktails in a beautiful seaside setting and a big party crowd with notable DJs, light shows and a massive dance area.  

Bodrum has excellent shopping that is very affordable. Most of the beach clubs have pop-up shops and most of the hotels also have little boutiques on property where you can buy chic swimsuits, beach cover-ups, jewelry, and shoes as well as dresses and clothes for going out at night. 

If you want to shop for more affordable, locally-made clothing and souvenirs head to the Türkbükü  Boardwalk, as I mentioned above. No:81 Hotel also has a cute clothing boutique. There is also good shopping in Bodrum Old Town.

If you’re looking for designer bags, shoes, clothing, and jewelry head to Yalıkavak Marina . 

One thing to note about shopping in Turkey: It’s part of the Turkish culture to haggle and negotiate when buying. Be sure to shop around and find the best prices and then come back and negotiate on everything you want to buy.

6) Yalıkavak Marina

The Bodrum Peninsula is home to Yalıkavak Marina , one of Europe’s most renowned luxury marinas. Yalıkavak Marina is able to accommodate the biggest yachts in the world and is lined with designer shopping boutiques, and upscale restaurants and bars.

Yalikivak Marina is extravagant and beautiful and the perfect place to spend the afternoon window shopping and taking in your ultra-luxurious surroundings. It’s also a great place to have drinks and dinner.

We had my birthday dinner here at Sakhalin Bodrum. Sakhalin was named for the largest and most beautiful island in Russia. Founded by Russian restaurateur Boris Zarkov and brand chef Vladimir Mukhin, Sakhalin boasts an incredible seafood menu and quite possibly an even better ambiance. 

7-8) Bodrum City & Bodrum Castle

Bodrum City is a beautiful port city on southwest side of the Bodrum peninsula, featuring twin bays with views of Bodrum Castle (also known as Castle of St. Peter), a medieval fortress built partly with stones from the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World that was completed in the 4th century B.C.

In 2016 Bodrum Castle was added to the tentative list of Unesco world heritage historical sites in Turkey. You can book this 5-hour Private Bodrum City Tour where you’ll explore the ancient city of Bodrum Castle, the Underwater Museum of Archeology (home to the world’s oldest known shipwrecks), and the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus.

Book This Tour: Private Bodrum City Tour

9) Day Tour: Ephesus & House of Virgin Mary 

While in Bodrum you can also take a guided day trip from Bodrum to enter the ancient city of Ephesus, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This ancient city is regarded as one of the best-preserved sites in the Mediterranean.

During this tour, you’ll visit magnificent ruins, including the Library of Celsus, and the house of the Virgin Mary. This tour includes pick-up in Bodrum, transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle, and lunch at a local restaurant. 

Book This Tour: Ephesus & House of Virgin Mary Tour

10) Day Trip To Kos

The Greek island of Kos is just a short 20-minute boat ride away. If you want to check two countries off your backlist in one day you can book this day trip to visit Kos . You will get picked up in the morning, from your hotel in Bodrum and get to spend all day on Kos.

Book This Tour: Day Trip To Kos

The Best Areas & Hotels On The Bodrum Peninsula

There are an array of luxury, mid-range, and budget hotels across the Bodrum Peninsula. Here are the best areas to stay in, and the best hotels in those areas in each price range.

1) Türkbükü 

While Yalıkavak is booshie and ultra-luxurious, Türkbükü is unpretentious, easy-going, and fun while still being upscale. As I mentioned above, the little fishing village of Türkbükü embodies a boho-chic spirit and is home to the Türkbükü Boardwalk, a fun stretch of restaurants bars, and shops along Türkbükü Bay.

It also has some of the best hotels in Bodrum. I loved staying in Türkbükü and would highly recommend booking a hotel in this area. Here are 7 of the best hotels in Türkbükü .

• Macakizi Hotel – There are an array of luxury hotel chains taking over Bodrum, so it’s important to support locally-owned boutique hotels in the area like Macakizi, plus as I explained, this place is amazing and easily the best hotel in Türkbükü. Pricey but worth it .
• No:81 Hotel – Ideally situated on the boardwalk next to Macakizi, No:81 Hotel is a 5-star boutique hotel. Our friends stayed here so I checked out their room and we spent one afternoon at the beach club. The rooms were modern, clean, and nicely appointed and the beach club was excellent. I highly recommend this hotel as a more affordable option in lieu of staying at Macakizi.
• Mandarin Oriental Bodrum – Largest Mandarin Oriental property in the world, over 150 acres set on a gorgeous bay with a world-class beach club and top-notch restaurants such as Hakkasan. Mandarin Oriental has its own dock and is just a short water taxi ride away from Türkbükü Bay.
• Galen Hotel & Beach – Budget-friendly, beach hotel with free breakfast and 24/7 front desk .
• Divan Hotel Bodrum – Beachfront hotel, budget-friendly , spa services, private beach.
• Mavi Suite Türkbükü – Budget-friendly , 4-star boutique hotel on the boardwalk in Türkbükü.
• Flamm – Beachfront boutique hotel, clean, modern, sophisticated, affordable.
• Bodrum Loft – Not in Türkbükü, but a short water taxi ride away, gorgeous property on a beautiful, peaceful bay.

2) Yalikavak

As I mentioned about, the draw of Yalikavak is its new ultra-luxurious marina with an array of upscale restaurants, bars, and boutiques. Yalikavak Marina is a bit over the top for my personal taste but I can see the appeal.

For those who are traveling in super yachts, Yalikavak Marina can accommodate their large ships making it an ideal location. Here are 7 of the best hotels in and around Yalikavak . 

• The Bodrum EDITION – 108 guest rooms, suites, and villas, most with views of the Aegean Sea — some with private pools, balconies, and gardens. Just two miles from Yalikavak Marina, one of the top-rated new hotels in Bodrum .
• Yalikavak Marina Hotel – Situated at the heart of Yalikavak Marina with direct access to all the shops and restaurants there plus an array of amenities and gorgeous views. 
• Allium Bodrum Resort & Spa – Chic boutique hotel with a private beach and full-service spa with a Turkish bath , walking distance to Yalikavak Marina. 
• G Beyond Residences & Villas – Stylish, Mediterranean hotel with full-service spa and free breakfast, excellent option for travelers seeking a lovely, central location with great views.
• MGallery The Bodrum Hotel – Private beach, beautiful views, full-service spa, mid-range priced option in Yalikavak.
• Arts Hotel Yalikavak Bodrum – Mid-range priced hotel option in Yalikavak, private beach, modern, wood-paneled rooms. 
• 4Reasons Hotel & Bistro – Budget-friendly with a pool and outdoor restaurant, 4 minute drive to Yalikavak Marina. 

3) Bodrum City

The beautiful port city of Bodrum is where you’ll find many of the top tourist attractions, tours, and landmarks on the peninsula such as Bodrum Farmers’ Market, Oasis Mall, Bodrum Castle, and Mausoleum at Halicarnassus (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World).

Bodrum City sits at the entrance to the Gulf of Gökova so it acts as a gateway for nearby beach towns and resorts. Since it’s the oldest town in Bodrum, it offers an array of budget-friendly restaurants and hotels. Here are 6 of the best hotels in Bodrum City .

• Caresse, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa – 5-Star, luxury hotel , beautiful build out on the sea with a private beach.
• Doria Hotel Bodrum – 5-Star Hotel with mid-range pricing , near the beach in Bodrum.
• Kaya Palazzo Resort & Residences Le Chic Bodrum – Mid-range pricing , located on the beach in Bodrum City center.
• Su Hotel – Budget-friendly , Mediterranean hotel in Bodrum City Center, near Bodrum Ferry Terminal.
• El Vino Hotel Suites – Budget hotel set in a garden with views of the sea and city.
• Costa Viva Bodrum – Clean budget hotel, located near the beach, in Bodrum City Center.

The Best Restaurants In Bodrum

Bodrum has incredible food; it is fresh, flavorful, and delicious. The produce we enjoyed in Bodrum is some of the best I’ve had anywhere in the world. Many of the restaurants here serve up Meditarian-inspired cuisine.

While in Bodrum you’ll enjoy fresh seafood, fresh vegetables, freshly baked bread, and delicious homemade sauces that will have your mouth watering long after you leave Turkey.

While this is certainly not an extensive list, based on my experience spending seven days eating my way through Bodrum, here are 10 of the best restaurants in Bodrum .

• Macakizi Hotel – Excellent spot for dinner or lunch seaside at the water’s edge. Visit the Macakizi website to make lunch or dinner reservations. 
• Lucca Beach Club – Lucca Beach at Mandarin Oriental Bodrum is a great spot for a beach club lunch experience. You can book a water taxi directly to their private dock. The beach club party gets going around 4pm.
• Momo Bodrum – Momo is a fun spot for lunch and drinks in a beautiful setting. The food is exceptional and the beach club party gets going around 4pm.
• Sakhalin – Located in Yalikavak Marina,  Sakhalin Bodrum is a lovely dinner spot that has an incredible seafood menu and a beautiful, upscale ambiance. 
• MIAMI – Located on the Türkbükü boardwalk, MIAM is a fun dinner spot that serves Mediterranean cuisine in a beautiful setting (request a seaside table), plus they have a lively after-dinner party scene with a DJ.
• Hakkasan – Also located at the Mandarin Oriental, Hakkasan is a beautiful spot for an upscale dinner. Food is pricey but excellent and their build out over the water is stunning.
• Naru Bodrum  – Naru serves up fresh Mediterranean and Turkish cuisine in a gorgeous setting in the Pine Trees, about 25 minutes drive from Türkbükü. Great for lunch or dinner.
• Atilay – Great dinner spot located on the Türkbükü boardwalk. Atilay has been a local favorite since 1988, offering a seasonal selection of mezze, salads, and fish in a lovely setting (request a seaside table).
• FENIX – Located in Yalikavak Marina, FENIX offers a unique atmosphere embodying Istanbul’s spirit, serving up international and South American cuisine in an upscale Aegean atmosphere. Great for dinner and drinks.
• Brava Restaurant – Located inside The Bodrum EDITION, Brava serves up Latin-Aegean-inspired dishes. Their elevated menu celebrates the biodiversity of Bodrum, using only the freshest local produce.

Getting To Bodrum

Bodrum is easily accessible. Turkish Airways offers multiple flights daily from Istanbul to Bodrum and the new Istanbul International Airport (IST) is impressive and not a bad place to spend a few hours on a layover. There are tons of designer shops, restaurants, bars, and boutiques in the airport. 

From Istanbul Airport it’s a quick 1hr 15 minute flight to Bodrum. You fly into Milas-Bodrum International Airport (BJV). From the airport, it’s an easy 50 minute cab ride or 20 minute water taxi ride to Türkbükü. 

If you want to take a water taxi from the airport to your hotel make sure to set this up in advance. You should also set up your pick-up in advance as there are no Ubers in Bodrum and taxis can be hard to find.

Best Time To Visit Bodrum

If you want to experience everything Bodrum has to offer including a lively beach club scene then summer is the best time to visit. June, July, and August are considered high season in Bodrum. This is when all the hotels, beach clubs, restaurants, and shops are open and in full swing. 

But while summer is an ideal time to visit it can be pricey, hard to get reservations, and very hot, especially in July when average temperatures peak at 94°F and sea temperatures around Bodrum average 76°F.

If you want to avoid the crowds and score better prices on hotels I suggest visiting during shoulder season. May and September are both great months to visit Bodrum. Flights to Bodrum and hotel prices are much cheaper during these months, most places are open, and the weather is great.

September, in particular, is an ideal month to visit. In May, the sea around Bodrum can be a bit chilly averaging around 64°F in the spring, but in September the sea is still warm with an average temperature of 73°F in the fall.

Other Things To Know About Bodrum

Here are a few other useful Bodrum tips to help you make the most of your stay!

How To Dress In Bodrum

Turkey is a predominately Muslim country with over 99% of the population being registered as Muslim. The Muslim dress code for women is very conservative (don’t show your shoulders or wear shorts or skirts above the knee), so I wasn’t sure what to expect as far as the dress code in Bodrum.

When we arrived I was pleasantly surprised to see that across Bodrum, the dress code is beach chic casual meaning you can basically wear whatever you want. In fact, many women dressed sexy beach chic casual – so basically the same attire you’d wear in St. Barts or St. Tropez. During the day for lunches at beach clubs, you can wear a bathing suit with a cover-up and sandals.

At night you’ll see most women in dresses, and flat sandals. If you’re eating dinner in Yalikavak Marina you can dress up a bit more and wear a fancier dress and high heels, but this is the only place I would recommend heals. For the rest of Bodrum flat sandals are ideal.

For men, during the day, t-shirts, shorts, and sandals are fine. For going out to dinner at any of the upscale spots in Bodrum, men should wear collared short (or long) sleeve shirts paired with nice shorts or slacks and loafers. 

If you want to pay in cash in Turkey you need to get Turkish Lira. Most places do not accept US dollars. All the small local shops and a lot of the taxi cabs require you to pay in cash in Turkish Lira. However, most of the high-end restaurants, bars, and boutiques take credit cards. 

Reservations

If you’re visiting Bodrum in the busy summer months of June, July, and August it’s crucial that you make dinner and beach club reservations in advance: All the best places get booked up quickly in the summer. 

Unless you have clout, the best beach club tables and cabanas seem to be given out on a first come first serve basis so while you’ll need a reservation, you’ll also need to arrive early (before 2pm) if you want to snag a good table or cabana, especially if you have a large group.

If you’re staying at a luxury hotel let your concierge make all your bookings because they will be able to get much better reservations than you will get on your own. Our concierge at Macakizi Hotel worked with us for weeks leading up to my birthday week to ensure we had all the best places booked for our large party.

Getting Around Bodrum

Getting around Bodrum can be tough. Plan ahead and leave extra time for logistics. Taxis are hard to find and the roads are small and full of potholes leading to extended driving times around the peninsula. 

When possible, I highly suggest taking a water taxi. If you’re staying at a luxury hotel with its own dock they can call a water taxi to pick you up at your hotel and take you to any of the nearby beach clubs, restaurants, or hotels on the water that have their own docks.

Bodrum Ultimate Guide Wrap Up

Bodrum, in my opinion, is similar to St. Barts or St. Tropez but much more affordable and without the snobbery. Food, drinks, beach clubs, and shopping are still pricey at the luxury hotels in Bodrum but it’s still cheaper than many luxury destinations, and if you wander off the beaten path and go to local spots it’s very affordable.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from Bodrum. I knew it would be nice but it was more upscale, fun, and more relaxed than I imagined it would be. It has everything St Barts and St Tropez have but without the pretentiousness, which I found very appealing.

If you’re looking for a new luxury seaside destination to try, I definitely recommend booking a trip to Bodrum.

We hope that this Bodrum guide has inspired you to visit the Turkish Riviera. If you have questions or advice please share with our readers in the comments below.

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Read More About Turkey 

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November 10, 2023 at 1:03 pm

As someone who has been to Turkey twice (I’m obsessed with it, my parents ended up going after). I feel like I need to go back a 3rd time just to go to Bodrum! Great post, thanks for all the tips and pics.

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Bodrum Luxury Gulet Cruise

7 nights / 8 days.

Our luxury cabin charters offer:

- All meals on board, soft drinks and wine during dinner service (other alcoholic beverages can be purchased from the onboard bar) - Sailing weather permitting (at captain’s discretion) - Adjustable A/C throughout (limited use) - Spacious cabins - High quality food - TV and DVD players - Wi-fi - Great range of water sports and water toys

Route: Bodrum – Gulf of Gokova

Day 2: Cati Depart from Bodrum for the Gulf of Gokova, a stretch of the Aegean where the sea displays the most remarkable hues of blue. The rugged coastline with its myriad small bays and harbours gives way to a stunning backdrop of pine-clad hills and mountains. Continue your gulet charter and cruise onto Cati Bay where we will spend the rest of the day, relaxing. Cati is a beautiful natural harbour surrounded by pine trees, fantastic for swimming and walks through the scented pine forests.

Day 4: Cleopatra Island – Akyaka – Akbuk After breakfast continue on your gulet cruise to Cleopatra Island, site of the reputed love-nest created by Mark Anthony for the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra. Here you can find extensive archaeological remains scattered along one of Turkey’s most breathtaking golden beaches. Onto Akyaka’ with its Ottoman style buildings and narrow cobbled walled roads. Akbuk is a natural bay of tranquil warm waters.

Day 6: Bay of Molla Ibrahim – Kisebuku Cruise on your gulet holiday, to the Bay of Molla Ibrahim, nestling in the foothills of the Kiran Mountains. The ancient city of Anatasiopolos was located in the phe pine clad bay of Kisebuku.

Take the oppurtunity to visit the historical side of this resort,The 15th century Crusader castle, containing the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archeology, exhibits ancient shipwrecks raised off the coast of Turkey, and a preserved Carian princess’ tomb dating to the time of Alexander the Great. The remains of the Mausoleum of Halicarnassos, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World is located nearby

Day 8: Bodrum Your gulet cruise comes to an end with precious memories. Disembarkation by 09:30 after breakfast.

Accommodation

Luxury service.

We work with a range of luxury gulets that meet the highest standards. The size of the gulet may vary, but the quality is always the same. Comfortable cabins, spacious deck areas, great facilities, delicious food and excellent service.

Food & Drink

If you think Turkish food is all about doner kebabs, you’re in for a pleasant surprise. There’s lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, olive oil dishes, grilled fish and meat and wonderful mezes. The luxury gulet cruise offers the best in Turkish cuisine cooked by our on-board chef. Included in the cruise price is three daily meals, afternoon snacks, soft drinks and wines during dinner service only.

Gulet Facilities

TV and DVD players Wi-fi Snorkelling equipment Sea kayak Fishing equipment Backgammon, chess and playing cards

Dates and Prices

•Prices above are per person per week sharing a double or master cabin •Single Supplement is 75% •Children under the age of 8 aren’t allowed

INCLUDED IN THE PRICE • All meals on board, soft drinks and wine during dinner service (other alcoholic beverages can be purchased from the onboard bar) • All charter & berth taxes, harbour & port procedures • Transit log & related formalities for the shipping agents • Mooring expenses • Crew service • Clean bed linen and bath towels on arrival • Use of equipment on board (Flippers, snorkel and fishing tackle etc.) • Yacht insurance (We advise you to take out individual travel insurance) • Turkish V.A.T.

NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE • Flights (Can be arranged on request) • Transfers (Can be arranged on request) • Optional land tours and entrance fees to historical sites and museums

Extend Your Holiday

Why not add a few days before or after your cruise and explore Turkey on land as well as sea. We can organise tours to places such as Istanbul, Cappadocia or Ephesus. Alternatively, we can arrange a villa or a hotel for you at a location of your choice. See our Gulet Cruise & Stay page.

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This seaside town on the Aegean coast has been greeting well-heeled visitors for decades, yet it’s lost none of its Turkish charm. Endlessly elegant and dripping with history, Bodrum luxury holidays are something special.

Luxury Bodrum holidays ooze old century cultures and displays of architectural buildings that only add beauty to the character and the location in which this city rests.

With the Aegean Sea touching the golden sand shores and a climate that is warm even in the winter months, this destination is a popular choice for holidaymakers who are looking for an unforgettable experience and lively atmosphere.

Gaining a reputation as being a playground for the rich and famous, due to the fantastic new harbour bringing in the most extravagant sailing vessels, there is no surprise that sophisticated restaurants and captivating nightlife can be found across the city.

If you are looking for a holiday filled with active sports and leisurely day trips then Bodrum is certainly the place to be. From river-rafting to jeep safaris, there is plenty to of water and land sports to do with plenty of stunning scenery to absorb along the way.

Travel Specialist

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Turkey’s Newest Luxury Resort Is Nestled Right Into a Lush Hillside

The 11.4-hectare resort by mahmut anlar will have the country's first outpost of the famed scorpios beach club., demetrius simms, demetrius simms's most recent stories.

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Don’t look too quickly, or you may actually miss this latest luxe resort in Turkey .

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Opening its doors this spring, the hillside Maxx Royal Bodrum features minimalistic exteriors that feel almost brutalist with a touch of warmth, pairing wood paneling with smooth gray walls. Its extensive landscaping brings the tiered facades to life, factoring in indigenous plants and trees from all over Turkey and other vegetation, such as mushroom oaks, ironwood, stone pines, and Chinese wisteria. 

Interior designers at Geo_ID took inspiration from Bodrum’s vibrant identity to create eye-catching yet serene environments. A natural color palette plays a key role in the appeal of the spaces, ranging from plush olive-green seating to ocean-blue curtains in places such as the Royal Suite Sea. Elsewhere, burnt -orange coaches and moody gray walls crafted from wood are featured in the site’s Duplex Suite Sea and its Suite Land rooms, as well as three additional suite styles under that umbrella.

Meanwhile, Maxx Royal Bodrum’s swim-up accommodations, in what it calls the Laguna series, span studio to three-bedroom offerings with equally stylish digs. But for the most lavish experience, look no further than the Hill Villas. Ranging from two bedrooms to an about 11,440-square-foot Presidential Hill Villa, each offers unfettered views of the Aegean, plus heated seawater pools, separate bedrooms, and exclusive privileges. That expansive Presidential Hill Villa, for example, can hold 10 people in five bedrooms and lets you enjoy unique services such as room fragrance and pillow menus, a yacht tour, and VIP transfers by land and helicopter. 

As for entertainment, that’s when Scorpios enters the scene. Launched in Mykonos in 2014, the beach club has partnered with the resort to bring music and art into the fold. Its Bodrum edition will become the brand’s first 24-hour offering, with exclusive accommodations for more fun in the sun. Other amenities available to you include the nearly 5,000-square-foot Maxx WellBeing Spa, home to 20 treatment rooms for holistic and science-based treatments—including an infrared sauna, a hammam, and balneotherapy (aka bathing in thermal and/or mineral waters), to name a few.

For those searching for more physical activity, a state-of-the-art fitness studio offering aerial yoga, Pilates, and an Olympic-sized indoor swimming pool should do the trick. The space will also help you work up an appetite for a trip to the Maxx Wellbeing restaurant, where healthy dishes designed to give your immunity a boost are served. 

Your little ones will have plenty of space to hang out, too. The Maxxi Land children’s club has dedicated, age-appropriate areas for kids, from 1-year-olds to teenagers. And for off-site exploring, the resort offers a number of experiences that shine light on Turkey’s heritage, including visits to Ephesus Ancient City (a UNESCO World Heritage site), Pamukkale Travertines, and Hierapolis Ancient City. 

Maxx Royal Bodrum will be the brand’s third outpost, alongside the Max Royal Belek Golf Resort and Maxx Royal Kemer Resort in Antalya. The company also has plans to launch the Maxx Royal Maldives in 2025. We bet that property will have a nature-centric design, too.

Click here for more images of Maxx Royal Bodrum .

Demetrius Simms is a digital staff writer at Robb Report. After starting their career in PR, they transitioned to freelance writing in 2020. Their work has now appeared in lifestyle and culture…

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Guide to Four Days in Bodrum, Turkey

Turkey had been a bucket list destination for me for the last few years, and this May I finally made the trip over to the glittering Aegean Sea town of Bodrum, located on the Turkish Riviera. Funnily enough, not many people know about this hidden gem destination as my Instagram was filled with messages from family and friends in awe of the beauty we were experiencing. Everything from the food, the hospitality, the ambience and of course the seaside relaxation element was absolutely spectacular.

I know this entire post going to sound like a very big rave for the town, but truly, I have never been so impressed by a resort town destination! It was very much love at first sight for us, the second we hopped on the highway and started to make our way down to the Yalikavak region where we were booked to stay for the next six days. Here is a detailed guide to Bodrum with where we stayed, everything we did and learned on the trip!

Where to Stay in Bodrum

There are two main areas where the best resorts are located in Bodrum. One option is to stay on the Yalikavak Marina side where you have access to the marina which is perfect for shopping, clubbing and dining experiences that are more on the luxury side.

The second option is to stay closer to the other side of town near the Bodrum Old Town which has more accessibility to beaches, the old town (ofc) and is much busier and more commercial. Here you can have more of a ‘town’ than a quiet resort experience which absolutely has it’s own charm depending on the type of holiday you are after.

We chose to stay at Allium Bodrum Resort and Spa , which was right next to the Yalikavak Marina. One of the main reasons we chose to stay here is for the sunsets. And true to my research, they were absolutely phenomenal and totally give popular destinations such a Santorini a run for their money.

The resort itself was absolutely phenomenal with a stunning infinity pool, calming energy, amazing food and perfect hospitality. We opted for the sea view room and were greeted with the most beautiful water views every morning whilst getting ready. The hotel was more of a boutique energy with a calming vibe, which was exactly what we were after, especially since we are not into loud music or partying. There were several outdoor lounge areas on multiple levels of the resort and even a sea swimming pier with it’s own bar and restaurant section that feels like you’re floating on the water. We also opted getting massages every day to kick off each morning. From Thai to the Hot Stone to Deep Tissue Massages, they were all super relaxing. An absolutely 10/10 experience for those looking to disconnect and have a truly relaxing holiday.

For those looking to be in a much busier area, another option we had short listed based on excellent reviews was Caresse Luxury Resort and Spa. This is on the other side of town, with more access to the old town.

How to Get Around Town

The distance between the two parts is about 30 minutes so renting a car is actually going to be key if you want to fully explore everything in the area. Taxis are not easy to find and car hires are super inexpensive (we paid about $150 USD for 6 days). It makes it much easier to go out and about to different parts of town, beach days and even dinners out on the marina.

Where to Eat in Bodrum

The beauty of Bodrum is that there is something to do and eat for absolutely everyone! If you’re into fine dining then the Yalikavak Marina has all the options from Zuma , Novikov , Nusr-et and more! Be sure to ask your hotel to make the reservations for any restaurant you want to dine at as early as possible as they do tend to get booked up at peak times. We also opted for some street food experiences on the old town area of Bodrum City, which has all the local Turkish cuisine like doners and kebabs which are packed with spice and flavor (a must experience)! Overall, getting all types of dining experiences in Bodrum is the perfect way to experience the resort town.

Things to Do in Bodrum

Since Bodrum is primarily a resort town, primarily the main things to do is exploring the beaches and old town. Here were some of the most popular experiences and things to do to cap off this guide to Bodrum:

• Dining in the seaside town of Gümüşlük (the best food and vibes especially for lunch
• Fine Dining and Shopping on the Yalikavak Marina (upscale vibe, grab a drink, gelato or have dinner)
• Private Breakfast or Lunch Boat trip in the Bays (to be booked in advance)
• Exploring Bodrum Castle in the Old Town (tickets can be bought on the spot)
• Shopping for Turkish Jewelry in Old Town (beware of counterfeit goods/shady salesmen)
• Buddha Bar Beach Club
• Chanel Store at the Mandarin Oriental for Summer Pieces

@thehautefinish loving life here 🤍🇹🇷 #bodrum #traveltok #travelbucketlist #turkeytravel #vacationmode #vacationswitch #summermood #summer #hiddengems #bucketlisttravel ♬ Radio – Lana Del Rey

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11 Best Travel Destinations for 2024

Posted: April 24, 2024 | Last updated: April 24, 2024

As the world of travel continues to evolve, 2024 promises to be the best year yet for explorers and adventure-seekers around the globe. With travel restrictions a thing of the past and a renewed enthusiasm for international experiences, travelers are eagerly searching for the next great destination to add to their itineraries. The tourism industry is responding with innovative approaches to meet the demand for immersive, authentic, and sustainable adventures, making this an opportune time to discover the best places to visit.

Emerging Trends in Global Travel

The travel landscape for 2024 is defined by enhanced sustainability, cultural intimacy, innovative accommodations, and a richer approach to local cuisines. As travelers seek new experiences, technology, and services, the emergence of diverse travel niches, from art-focused journeys to wilderness adventures, indicates a dynamic shift in global travel trends.

Sustainable and Eco-Tourism

Sustainable travel is increasingly important for travelers who wish to minimize their environmental impact. Destinations such as France are leading the way with eco-friendly practices and accommodations. Eco-tourism is not just a trend; it’s a responsible approach to exploring the world while preserving it for future generations.

The Rise of Indigenous Tourism

Indigenous tourism offers authentic cultural experiences and is gaining popularity among travelers who seek to understand and respect the cultural heritage of the places they visit. Notably, this form of tourism supports indigenous communities economically and socially.

Canada is one of the leaders in Indigenous Tourism an d British Columbia has some great tourism ideas.

Culinary Explorations and Experiences

The culinary scene has become inseparable from travel. Gastronomic experiences, from street food in Lima to Michelin star dining in Rome, are vital in many people selecting destinations. These edible explorations serve as cultural gateways for travelers.

Foodie Cities:

• Rome: Renowned for its Michelin-star offerings
• Lima: Celebrated for innovative culinary delights

Adventure and Wellness Travel

Travelers are increasingly drawn to combining adventure travel with wellness experiences. Journeys geared towards the body and spirit are gaining traction, with an emphasis on UNESCO World Heritage sites, and opportunities like yoga in pristine national parks.

• Rainforests and national parks : Preferred destinations for dual adventure and wellness experiences

Art and Culture Travel

Cultural travelers are drawn to cities buzzing with artistic movements. Whether it’s the Art Nouveau allure of European cities or the UNESCO-designated sites around the world, art and culture enthusiasts are finding more ways to engage with history and creativity.

• Art Nouveau landmarks and UNESCO World Heritage sites : Attracting art and culture aficionados

Wildlife and Natural Landscapes

For those captivated by nature, 2024 offers an abundance of wildlife encounters and sprawling natural landscapes. Eco-conscious travelers relish experiences like observing wildlife in their natural habitats or exploring the biodiversity of rainforests.

• National parks and rainforests : Key locations for wildlife enthusiasts

Urban Escapes and City Breaks

The allure of cities never fades, with metropolises like New York offering an ever-evolving landscape for travelers. The fast-paced lifestyle and dense cultural tapestry of urban environments provide an enduring appeal for short yet enriching breaks.

• New York : A perennial favorite for dynamic city experiences
• Boutique hotels and cultural landmarks: Enhancing urban travel experiences

Top Destinations for 2024

The upcoming year offers an array of destinations for every type of traveler, focusing on uncharted European locales, bustling Asian metropolises, North America’s varied terrain, South American culture, Africa’s natural wonders, Australia’s distinct offerings, India’s immersive experiences, and Scandinavia’s pristine beauty.

Europe’s Hidden Gems

While Paris and Rome remain timeless, 2024 is the year to explore Bodrum , Turkey. Once a quiet fishing village, Bodrum has transformed into a luxurious escape, boasting high-end resorts such as the Hilton Bodrum Turkbuku Resort & Spa . In Eastern Europe, the serene landscapes and rich history of cities like Istanbul captivate visitors looking for both modernity and tradition.

Asia’s Must-Visit Cities

Asia’s megacities continue to thrive, with travelers drawn to the high-speed energy of places like Tokyo . For a change of pace, the Eastern & Oriental Express offers a luxurious rail journey connecting the wonders of Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. Hong Kong and Seoul also top the list, offering cutting-edge urban experiences alongside rich cultural heritage.

North America’s Diverse Landscapes

North America’s diversity shines in destinations like New York , where cityscapes and culture converge. Santa Fe , New Mexico, is celebrated for its Pueblo-style architecture and vibrant art scene. In Canada, the rugged beauty of places like Banff National Park provides an unrivaled wilderness experience.

Exploring South America’s Richness

Brazil’s vibrant cities and lush rainforests beckon adventurers and beach-goers alike. Over in Ecuador , Quito stands out as a city teeming with colonial history, nestled among volcanic peaks. The region promises a blend of natural splendor and enriching cultural encounters.

The Best of Africa

Madagascar offers a unique travel experience with its endemic wildlife and breathtaking landscapes, including the Avenue of the Baobabs.

Unique Experiences in Australia and Oceania

Australia presents a tapestry of experiences, from the Great Barrier Reef to the cultural hubs of Sydney and Melbourne. Journey to French Polynesia to discover idyllic islands like Bora Bora, combining luxury and seclusion with their overwater bungalows and pristine lagoons.

Discovering the Culture and Nature of India

India is a land of contrasts, with Agra ‘s Mughal grandeur at one end and the tranquil backwaters of Kerala at the other. Travelers can immerse themselves in the vibrant colors, profound spirituality, and diverse cultures that thrive within the subcontinent’s borders.

Unforgettable Journeys in Scandinavia and the Nordics

Traveling through Scandinavia, one cannot miss the fjords of Norway or the otherworldly landscapes of Iceland . These regions offer some of the world’s most magnificent natural displays, including the Northern Lights and the Midnight Sun, contrasting with the cutting-edge Nordic cities known for design and sustainability.

Seasonal Travel Guide for 2024

Selecting the right destination based on the season can greatly enhance a traveler’s experience. This guide highlights optimal destinations and activities for each season in 2024, considering factors like weather, seasonal experiences, and the best times to visit.

Winter Wonders: December to February

[Iceland – December]: One can witness Iceland’s enchanting winter landscapes and have a chance to observe the Northern Lights. Despite the cold, travelers are rewarded with fewer crowds and the potential for a magical New Year celebration under the aurora borealis.

[Mediterranean – January]: While typically less crowded during winter, some Mediterranean destinations offer mild climates ideal for exploring historic sites without the heat of summer. However, beach activities may be limited during this time.

[Paris – February]: Paris in February can be cold, but it’s an excellent time to visit indoor attractions like museums and galleries. The after-holiday lull results in shorter lines and the romance of the city is amplified around Valentine’s Day.

Spring Escapes: March to May

[Cherry Blossoms – March/April]: Japan’s cherry blossom season is a splendid time to stroll through blooming gardens and partake in hanami, the traditional viewing picnics. These months offer a mesmerizing experience as the pink and white colors adorn cities.

[Paris – May]: Paris in spring blossoms with not just flowers in Luxembourg Gardens but also with visitors. The moderate climate and blooming gardens make it the best time to visit before the peak tourist season begins.

Summer Getaways: June to August

[Beaches – June to August]: Summer is ideal for beach vacations, and the Mediterranean shines with hotspots like the A malfi Coast. Travelers can enjoy the sun-soaked shores, azure waters, and lively coastal towns during these peak months.

[Europe – August]: Europe in August thrives with tourists. Destinations like Greece, Spain, and Italy embrace the warm weather with open-air festivals, markets, and abundant outdoor dining options.

Autumn Adventures: September to November

[Foliage – September/October]: As autumn unfurls, regions like New England in the United States and the Alps in Europe display spectacular foliage. The crisp weather is perfect for hiking and enjoying the kaleidoscope of fall colors.

[Autumn Festivals – October/November]: Europe continues to dazzle with autumn festivals celebrating the harvest. From wine festivities in France to Germany’s Oktoberfest , the cooler temperatures and dimming crowds can make for a festive and comfortable holiday.

I hope this gets you excited for travel this year and if you can find something I should have on my radar, let me know.

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