Alongside Turkey’s sun-drenched Aegean coast, Bodrum has emerged as one of many Mediterranean’s most charming locations. Usually dubbed the “Turquoise Coast” and even the “St. Tropez of Turkey,” this once-sleepy fishing village has remodeled right into a glamorous haven for jet-setters and tradition lovers alike.
“Whereas Turkey is house to many stunning coastal cities, Bodrum stands out because the nation’s most famous worldwide resort,” Engin Kadaster, a T+L A-list advisor and the vp of Turkey At Its Greatest, informed Journey + Leisure. “Till the Sixties, it was a quiet fishing village. Right this moment, it’s a cosmopolitan hub the place wealthy historical past meets with glamorous seashores, luxurious lodges, and full of life nightclubs.”
A part of Bodrum’s year-round attraction lies in its local weather: gentle, breezy, and reliably bathed in sunshine for a lot of the yr. Whereas it’s stunning in each season, the height months (June by September) see the city come alive. Exterior of that window, from mid-October by April, many resorts shut for the season, Kadaster notes.
No journey to Bodrum is full with out time spent on the water. Whether or not you’re lounging on the seashore, crusing between secluded coves, or dancing at a seashore membership because the solar units, the shoreline is the guts of the expertise. “Bitez, Gümbet, Yalikavak, and Torba all have nice seashores,” Kadaster says. “There are additionally many upscale seashore golf equipment, the place you bounce in essentially the most stunning, clear turquoise waters from the decks.” Among the many hottest are Scorpios, Macakizi, and Xuma Village, every providing its personal distinct vitality, type, and soundtrack.
Over the previous decade, Bodrum has turn out to be a playground for top-tier hospitality manufacturers. Worldwide favorites akin to The Version, Amanruya, Mandarin Oriental, and Six Senses have set the tone for high-design luxurious on the peninsula. The most recent heavyweight arrival, Maxx Royal Bodrum, opened summer time 2024 and is already redefining what luxurious appears like within the area.
With 282 rooms, a 60,000-square-foot wellness middle, and sweeping views over the bay, the lodge is as a lot a vacation spot because the city itself. Right here, visitors can zip throughout the Aegean aboard a fleet of Axopar water taxis or Mazu 52 yachts for sundown cruises, airport transfers, or a classy experience to a seashore membership. Eating choices learn like a who’s who of worldwide gastronomy: Caviar Kaspia, Spago by Wolfgang Puck, and Scorpios all name the property house. For these eager to discover additional afield, a fleet of Maseratis is out there for visitors to take out for a spin on a first-come, first-served foundation.
Whereas the glamour is simple, Bodrum can also be grounded in deep historical past. The city was as soon as referred to as Halicarnassus, a significant metropolis of the traditional world and residential to the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, thought to be one of many Seven Wonders of the Historical World. Although little stays of the construction as we speak, in response to Kadaster, the positioning nonetheless attracts historical past fans. Extra spectacular is the Fort of St. Peter, also called the Bodrum Fort, which has stood over the harbor for greater than 600 years. Constructed by the Knights of St. John, the citadel now homes the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, that includes remarkably preserved shipwrecks recovered from the Aegean seabed. “Past its historic allure, the live shows sometimes held there underneath the open sky are actually magical,” Kadaster provides.
Different cultural excursions embrace day journeys to the Roman ruins on the UNESCO World Heritage websites of Ephesus and Hierapolis or a go to to the surreal white travertine swimming pools of Pamukkale, considered one of Turkey’s most photographed pure wonders.
Nick Brundle Pictures/Getty Pictures
Bodrum’s culinary scene is as wealthy and various as its landscapes. From elegant worldwide eating to soulful native fare, the area has one thing for each palette.
Count on meze (Turkey’s beloved small plates) alongside contemporary seafood and seasonal greens. Kadaster recommends not lacking out on the zucchini blossoms full of herbs and cheese or indulging in a basic Rakı Sofrası: a protracted, unhurried dinner shared with buddies, anchored by flavorful dishes and glasses of raki, Turkey’s anise-scented nationwide drink. “It’s a convention the world may use extra of as we speak,” Kadaster mentioned, including that no meal is full with out contemporary Turkish breads, savory pastries, and indulgent candy desserts.
And whereas native flavors shine, worldwide delicacies can also be making its mark, bringing world-class culinary experiences to Bodrum’s glowing shores. At Maxx Royal Bodrum, for instance, there’s Japanese (Maguro), Italian (Oro by Alfredo Russo), New Ameican (Spago by Wolfgang Puck), Latin (Casa Sol), and French (Caviar Kaspia).
With its crystal-clear waters, glamorous resorts, historic ruins, contemporary delicacies, and heat hospitality, Bodrum is a classy summer time getaway. “Guests from across the globe flock right here yr after yr, many returning again and again,” Kadaster says. “It actually stands among the many must-see summer time resorts of the world.”