Where to stay · Bodrum · Turkey
Where to stay in Bodrum
8 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Haluk Comertel, CC BY 3.0
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Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Bodrum Town. Whitewashed lanes, the castle, two bays, the marina and Bar Street. Best alternatives — families: Bitez; budget: Gümbet.
Key facts
- First visit
- Bodrum Town
- Families
- Bitez
- Budget
- Gümbet
- Nightlife
- Bodrum Town
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Bodrum Town | Whitewashed lanes, the castle, two bays, the marina and Bar Street |
| Families | Bitez | Family-friendly bay of mandarin orchards and windsurfing |
| Couples | Gümüşlük | Low-rise fishing village on the site of ancient Myndos |
| Budget | Gümbet | Budget resort strip with a sandy bay and a party scene |
| Luxury | Yalıkavak | Upscale marina village with superyachts, boutiques and beach clubs |
| Nightlife | Bodrum Town | Whitewashed lanes, the castle, two bays, the marina and Bar Street |
| Food lovers | Bodrum Town | Whitewashed lanes, the castle, two bays, the marina and Bar Street |
| Shopping | Turgutreis | Lively town with a marina, sunsets and a big weekly market |
| Quiet stays | Bitez | Family-friendly bay of mandarin orchards and windsurfing |
| Beach | Gümbet | Budget resort strip with a sandy bay and a party scene |
Bodrum neighbourhoods in detail
$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife, culture and food lovers
Bodrum Town
Bodrum Town wraps around two bays either side of the castle: the western bay with the marina and the Neyzen Tevfik waterfront, and the eastern Kumbahçe bay with Cumhuriyet Caddesi, the main bar and restaurant street. Whitewashed houses with bougainvillea climb the hills behind. It is the best base for history, eating out and nightlife, and the bus station has dolmuş links to the whole peninsula.
- Good
- Walk to sights, restaurants and bars; Transport hub for the peninsula; Lively all season
- Watch out
- Town beaches are small; Late-night noise near Bar Street; Traffic and parking difficulties
- Nearby
- Bodrum Castle, Mausoleum, Bodrum Marina, Bar Street
$ · Best for budget, nightlife and beach
Gümbet
Just west of Bodrum Town over the windmill ridge, Gümbet has a sheltered sandy bay lined with sunbeds, water sports and budget hotels. It is known for its party bars and clubs in summer, attracting a young crowd. Bodrum Town is a 30-minute walk or short dolmuş ride away.
- Good
- Lower prices; Sandy beach with shallow water; Close to Bodrum Town
- Watch out
- Loud nightlife in summer; Built-up and less charming
- Nearby
- Bodrum Town, Bodrum windmills, Bitez
$$ · Best for families, beach and quiet stays
Bitez
Bitez, about 6 km west of Bodrum Town, has a long, shallow bay with beach clubs and cafés along a waterfront promenade. The village behind is surrounded by mandarin orchards, and steady afternoon winds make the bay popular for windsurfing. It is calmer than Gümbet and well suited to families.
- Good
- Shallow, calm water in the mornings; Family-friendly beach clubs; Close to Bodrum Town
- Watch out
- Narrow beach in places; Windy afternoons
- Nearby
- Bitez Bay, Ortakent, Gümbet
$$ · Best for families, beach and budget
Ortakent and Yahşi
Yahşi beach, below the village of Ortakent, is one of the longest sandy stretches on the peninsula, with beach clubs, family hotels and shallow water. Ortakent itself has the 17th-century Mustafa Paşa Tower and a more local village feel about 10 km west of Bodrum Town.
- Good
- Long sandy beach; Good-value hotels; Family atmosphere
- Watch out
- Can be windy; Spread-out village
- Nearby
- Mustafa Paşa Tower, Yahşi Beach, Bitez
$$ · Best for families, budget, shopping and beach
Turgutreis
Turgutreis is the peninsula's second-largest town, on the west coast about 18 km from Bodrum. It has a marina, long promenade, sandy beaches and some of the best sunsets in the region, looking towards the Greek islands. Its large weekly market draws visitors from across the peninsula.
- Good
- Good facilities and shops; Sunset views; Ferries to Kos and nearby islands
- Watch out
- Busy and built-up; Far from Bodrum Town nightlife
- Nearby
- Turgutreis Marina, Gümüşlük, Akyarlar
$$$ · Best for couples, food lovers and quiet stays
Gümüşlük
Gümüşlük is a protected archaeological area, so building is restricted and the village has kept its low-rise character. Fish restaurants line the waterfront, with tables on the sand facing Rabbit Island and the sunset. Ancient Myndos lies partly underwater in the bay, and it is a favourite of artists and musicians.
- Good
- Unspoilt, characterful setting; Superb sunset dinners; Calm atmosphere
- Watch out
- Few hotels; Small, pebbly beach; Limited transport in the evenings
- Nearby
- Rabbit Island, Turgutreis, Yalıkavak
$$$$ · Best for luxury, couples and shopping
Yalıkavak
Yalıkavak, on the north-west coast about 18 km from Bodrum, has a large luxury marina with designer shops and restaurants, while the old village keeps its windmills and fishermen's harbour. Exclusive beach clubs and boutique hotels line the surrounding bays.
- Good
- High-end hotels and restaurants; Marina shopping; Calm, clear water
- Watch out
- Expensive; Far from the airport and Bodrum Town
- Nearby
- Yalıkavak Marina, Gümüşlük, Göltürkbükü
$$$$ · Best for luxury, nightlife and couples
Göltürkbükü
Göltürkbükü, on the north coast about 15 km from Bodrum Town, is famous as a summer playground for Istanbul's society. Instead of sandy beaches, it has wooden jetties and decks where beach clubs serve food and drinks, and the bay is lined with boutique hotels and fashionable restaurants.
- Good
- Glamorous atmosphere; Calm, clear sea; Excellent restaurants
- Watch out
- Very expensive; Few real beaches; Quiet outside high season
- Nearby
- Türkbükü Bay, Gölköy, Torba
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Bodrum Town | $$$ | Bodrum Castle, Mausoleum, Bodrum Marina, Bar Street |
| Gümbet | $ | Bodrum Town, Bodrum windmills, Bitez |
| Bitez | $$ | Bitez Bay, Ortakent, Gümbet |
| Ortakent and Yahşi | $$ | Mustafa Paşa Tower, Yahşi Beach, Bitez |
| Turgutreis | $$ | Turgutreis Marina, Gümüşlük, Akyarlar |
| Gümüşlük | $$$ | Rabbit Island, Turgutreis, Yalıkavak |
| Yalıkavak | $$$$ | Yalıkavak Marina, Gümüşlük, Göltürkbükü |
| Göltürkbükü | $$$$ | Türkbükü Bay, Gölköy, Torba |
Getting to your hotel
Milas–Bodrum Airport (BJV) is about 36 km north-east of Bodrum Town, around 40 minutes by road. Shuttle buses timed to arrivals run to Bodrum's bus station, and taxis and pre-booked transfers serve all resorts.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Bodrum for first-time visitors?
Bodrum Town. Bodrum Town wraps around two bays either side of the castle: the western bay with the marina and the Neyzen Tevfik waterfront, and the eastern Kumbahçe bay with Cumhuriyet Caddesi, the main bar and restaurant street.
+Where should families stay in Bodrum?
Bitez: Shallow, calm water in the mornings.
+Which area of Bodrum is best for a budget stay?
Gümbet ($): Budget resort strip with a sandy bay and a party scene.