No other area on the Turkish Aegean coast provides the visitor with the opportunity to experience traditional Turkish life only a few minutes away from  a modern tourist centre.

 One of the unique features of Bodrum as a holiday resort is that in addition to  recreational opportunities available by day time,  visitors also have  unequalled Bodrum nightlife. 

Ortakent Village and Yahsi Beach

In the centre of Bodrum Peninsula, along the main highway there is this considerably large village of Ortakent which is famous for the attractive 17th century 'tower houses' unique to the area. These tower houses were built by locals for defensive purposes especially to protect themselves from the dangers coming from the sea. The  oldest house is the Mustafa Pasa tower house built  in 1601.The house, which is built over the rocks, has three floors. 

Kargı Beach

 Kargı Beach is certainly one of the best beaches in Bodrum Peninsula with its white sand and palm trees and camels for a ride.

Yalikavak 

Gümbet 

Located at  2,5 km distance from Bodrum, Gumbet is a holiday resort created to provide the usual facilities expected from a beach holiday. Unlike nearby Bodrum, Gumbet has a long beach curving around a bay, and the space for the hotels and apartments required to accommodate an expanding package holiday industry. read more...

Bitez

 Bitez is located at 7 km west of Bodrum, in the bay next to Gumbet. The old village of Bitez is set back from the beach and populated almost entirely by local residents. The increase in tourism over the last few years has seen an expansion of the village along the sea front. The few original old stone houses have been converted into restaurants and bars and the spaces in between are now new hotels, apartments and shops.  read more...

Gündoğan

 Known in antiquity as Farilya, Gündogan rightly claims to have been one of the earliest human settlements on the peninsula. Gundogan is a little village in the North of Bodrum situated at only 5 minutes drive in the west of Yalikavak. It is quite and peaceful place which is still more or less unspoiled despite the holiday developments on the surrounding hills. Since the north of the Bodrum peninsula has often a fresh breeze... a favorite destination for surfers...

Gumusluk

Akyarlar

Akyarlar offers good camping sites and is an ideal place  for wind surfing. It has marvelous scenery of the Greek islands and  it has safe and sandy beaches for children.  Several cafes and a tiny harbor welcome the visitors. Those looking for an accommodation have camping facilities and inexpensive pensions at this quite  place.

Türkbükü and Gölköy 

These two fishing villages are  mention in one name, because they are so  close to each other. ıt is located on the peninsula map east of Yalikavak. These delightful spots are the favorite retreats of many well-known Turkish artists, actors and entertainers who appear at  many small bars and restaurants at night. Several of the more popular restaurants are run by Istanbul couples who have fled the big city.

Golkoy

Golkoy is an inland village by the sea 18km north of Bodrum where visitors also enjoy heavily forested area in the Bodrum Peninsula. The village is divided into upper and lower Golkoy. Since the area was once occupied by Greeks population,  it is possible to see the remains of a number of  churches. Until as recent times, main occupation of the local people was fishing and sponge-diving and the town did not have good roads. With the arrival of tourism starting from 1970s, the town and way of life started changing. 

Torba 

Torba, one of the nearest  villages in the north of Bodrum,  is located  in a charming little bay. There are also the remains of a Byzantine monastery, and nearby is a small path leading to the next bay, which is ideal for a  walk. Torba is only active during the summer months, but due to the  high quality of the summer  homes  is a pleasant  place to visit. Ferries to Didim (ancient Didyma) leave from Torba harbor across the Gulf of Güllük.

Karabag

15 minutes from Turgut Reis situated  the tiny village of Karabag, believed to be the site of the first settlement in the area. The word "bag" means either "vineyards" or "ties", and there are two very different theories as to the origins of the name. One theory has it that the local grapes were of particularly high quality. Another more colorful story relates that a group of Venetian traders were captured and tied up by the local women, with the name "Karilar Bagi" (wives ties) later being shortened to Karabag.