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
