Long a destination for Istanbul’s elites, Bodrum is continuing to have its moment in the international sun. The coastal Turkish city has gorgeous Mediterranean coastline, rocky beaches, glamorous marinas filled with mega yachts, pumping nightclubs, and unassuming trattorias draped with bougainvillea. While the center of the city has been somewhat massified, it’s surrounded by picturesque bays and genuine villages.
Home to a well-preserved medieval castle built partly with stones from the 4th-century BC Mausoleum at Halicamassus (and one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World), Bodrum’s name extends beyond just the city and refers to the entire peninsula, in which southwestern Turkey juts out into the Aegean Sea. It’s an anchor of the Turkish Riviera, which stretches up to Antalya and is also called the Turquoise Coast. That nickname is an accurate one, as the region is full of vivid blue coves and bays, some home to traditional farmer’s markets, others to impressive archaeological sites, and others still to some of the most opulent resorts in the region.
WHY GO NOW
Maçakizi — the pioneering Bodrum resort that arguably started it all — has been called the “best hedonistic hotspot,” but the title could equally apply to the destination as a whole. The peninsula continues to see glamorous hotel openings, including the recent Maxx Royal, which has imported its own outpost of Mykonos’s beloved beach club Scorpios, and the upcoming Bulgari Bodrum, which is slated for 2026.
All along the coast, the beach club scene is as vibrant as ever, and the Yalikavak Marina continues to attract the super wealthy. Also cementing Bodrum as a stop on the international circuit is the MedBodrum, an international festival dedicated to gastronomy, art, and music; its inaugural edition in May attracted the likes of Kate Moss and Bob Marley’s son, Skip. Also on the culinary front: Bodrum’s addition to the Michelin guide for Turkey last year, a recognition of the high level of cooking happening in some of its top kitchens.
WHERE TO STAY
Even though there are now bigger and bling-ier resorts in Bodrum, the old-school Maçakizi remains one of the best places to stay. The rooms may be small by 2024 standards, but don’t worry about that: You want to be outside, whether on a sunbed on the platform “beach,” at a table in one of the restaurants, or poolside in a shaded garden. In the 25 years since it opened, the vegetation has grown in and the hospitality has grown up, but it still attracts a low-key glam mix of Turks, Europeans, and other international guests. The main restaurant was awarded a Michelin star last year, and longtime chef Aret Sahakyan recently opened a new showplace, a six-table fine-dining restaurant called Ayla, an homage to the mother of resort owner Sahir Erozan, who helped put Bodrum on the glitterati map.
Meanwhile, the Mandarin Oriental Bodrum is celebrating its tenth anniversary on Paraside Bay. The resort has all the brand hallmarks including flawless service, generously sized rooms, an enormous spa, and an array of dining options including outposts of fashionable brands like the steakhouse Atelier di Carne (a spinoff from Celebrity restaurant in Istanbul), the Chinese-by-way-of-London Hakkasan, and the Turkish haute couture patisserie Vakko. Although the anniversary party — complete with a performance by Kylie Minogue — has already passed, the celebratory spirit will be in force throughout the season.
WHERE TO EAT
While the hotels, resorts, and marinas boast a slew of celebrity restaurants and high-concept eateries, Bodrum is also home to an array of excellent restaurants specializing in southern and coastal Turkish cuisine. A standout is Otantik Ocakbasi, a grill restaurant with a wood-burning oven and open fire. There, the chefs cook kebabs, dry-aged steaks, lamb chops, kofte, and lahmacun pide, a sort of flatbread Turkish pizza with ground beef. Its winning simplicity has kept it popular with locals while gaining attention from Michelin (it has a Bib Gourmand).
Another unfussy place that emphasizes quality ingredients is Orfoz, a traditional blue-chaired tavern overlooking the bay. Its fish and seafood are the stars of the ever-changing tasting menu, from tuna sashimi and shell-baked oysters served with Parmesan foam to simply grilled octopus and squid and sea snails in a wine sauce. And Iki Sandal is a celebration of another side of Bodrum dining — the traditional taverns called meyhane. The menu of hot and cold mezze draws on classic recipes that can be 100 years old and labor intensive, such as the sea bass that’s steeped for ten days in herbs in an earthenware pot.
WHAT TO DO
There’s nothing wrong with going to Bodrum to lounge in the sun, dance under the stars, or eat to your heart’s content, of course. But if you’re feeling the need for a cultural undertaking, the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology is worth a visit. Its 14 departments encompass 3,500 years of Ottoman, Roman, and maritime history; the shipwreck-related collection is especially impressive. Plus, it’s within Bodrum Castle, which is worth a visit on its own.
Alternatively get out of the city and onto the sea. Touring on a gulet (Turkey’s traditional two- or three-masted wooden sailboats) is a quintessential Bodrum experience. Lots of companies offer sunset cruises and day trips, but for something deeper, SCIC Sailing offers trips of one or two weeks. The company has been in the business for decades and has access to top guides and crew. The name means Sailing Cruises in Comfort, and that’s what it offers — not over-the-top luxury, but enough comfort and a good dose of authenticity. The core product is cabins that can be rented individually on group departures — and there’s no single supplement — but a second, super-luxury line is available for private charters.
Featured image courtesy of Maçakizi; Travel Curator may earn a commission from product or booking links on this page
