Looking for the best areas to stay in Bodrum? You’ve come to the right place!
As frequent visitors to this cute Aegean city (we’ve traveled to Bodrum more times than we can count!), we know how hard it is to figure out where to stay in Bodrum.
Instead of one neat little town, “Bodrum” actually encapsulates more than 20 various cities, towns, and villages all around the Bodrum Peninsula!
While we won’t dive into every single town in this post, we will go over the top 10 best areas in Bodrum. Each of our recommendations for the best places to stay in Bodrum will include a short overview about the area, who it’s best for (i.e. “The best area to stay in Bodrum with family” or “Best for first-time travelers”), and a curated list of our favorite hotels in that area.
We hope this blog post will help you choose your ideal place in Bodrum!
Quick Bodrum Travel Tips
Book your accommodations and hotels in Bodrum well in advance — especially in the summer! Bodrum is an absolute hotspot during the summer months, and places get sold out very quickly. We recommend at least a month before your Bodrum holiday, but two to three months is ideal. Click here to check hotels →
Keep Ramadan and other holidays in mind — A majority of locals go on holiday after the end of Radaman (they get more than a week off from work!) and during Kurban Bayram, and Bodrum is one of their top destinations. Always check the dates of these holidays (we have a blog post on Turkish National Holidays here!) before booking your trip.
Consider renting a car — The Bodrum Peninsula is extensive (it’s almost 40 km / 25 mi from tip to end), so naturally there’s a lot of things to see along the way. You can make your trip even more fun and colorful by renting a car and visiting some of the towns and villages mentioned here. We’ve also written a blog post about our favorite 10+ Bodrum Day Trips here!
Likewise, here is a map of the Bodrum Peninsula in Turkey, with all of the cities and towns mentioned in this article. 🙂
Central Bodrum — Best for or First Time Visitors & Tourist Attractions
If it’s your first time traveling to Bodrum, then we highly recommend staying in the heart of it all: Bodrum center!
Also known as Bodrum Town (although it’s technically a city), this is an excellent area to stay if you’re visiting Bodrum for the first time. It has all the amenities you need, including plenty of hotels, restaurants, day tour companies, bars and nightclubs, and so on.
This area is also where you’ll find most of the tourist attractions in Bodrum, including Bodrum Castle (check our Bodrum Castle guide here!), Bodrum Marina, the Ruins of Halicarnassus, Myndos Gate, Bodrum Old Town, and so on.
Finally, this area is great if you’re trying to do Bodrum on a budget. The high concentration of hotels creates competition among hoteliers and drives prices down. If you book early enough, you can grab a hotel for less than $50/night!
❗️Travel tip: If you’re spending a week in Bodrum (or more!), you can use Central Bodrum as your starting point for 1 or 2 days, and then go ‘city hopping’ along the Bodrum Peninsula. If you want to see 2 countries in 1 trip, you can also visit the Greek island of Kos (just a 45 minute ferry ride from Bodrum)!
Best Hotels in Bodrum Center
Gümbet — Best for Nightlife
What happens when you take a pinch of epic nightlife, a lively street full of bars, and people who party until dawn, and drop it somewhere on the Bodrum Peninsula? You get Gümbet!
Among locals, Gümbet is known as having the best nightlife in Bodrum. In fact, there’s even an unofficial “Bar Street” in Gümbet where you’ll find nearly a hundred bars, pubs, lounges, nightclubs, and so on.
Best of all, these bars and nightlife spots are located within a short distance of each other, which makes it really easy to go club or bar hopping. 🙂
Best Hotels in Gümbet
Bitez — Best for a Boho Vibe & Watersports
Located just 2 kilometers (1.2 mi) from Gümbet, Bitez is the much quieter and chill neighbor.
Bitez is also our personal favorite place to stay in Bodrum, as it’s close enough to Bodrum center yet has enough amazing things to shine on its own. That, and all of the amazing hipster cafes! Seriously, it’s a dream for bloggers and digital nomads. 🙂
Besides that, Bitez’s main claim to fame is watersports. Bitez is especially famous for being a windsurfing and kiteboarding hotspot thanks to favorable and consistent wind conditions. The geographical layout of Bitez Bay makes it an ideal environment for beginners and experienced windsurfers!
Best Hotels in Bitez
Akyarlar — Best for Families
Originally an old Greek fishing village, Akyarlar has kept its quaint and peaceful atmosphere ever since. Thanks to this, Akyarlar is an excellent choice if you’re traveling to Bodrum with kids!
Besides the quiet environment, there are also excellent beaches that are child-friendly. Tiki Beach is a cute family-run beach that doesn’t have loud music (a rarity in Bodrum lol) and is popular with families. Meanwhile, Karaincir Municipality Beach (Karaincir Belediye Plajı) has nice shallow waters for the first 50 meters and is ideal for smaller children.
Likewise, one of the best hotels in Bodrum for families is located in Akyarlar — Kefaluka Resort! This all-inclusive resort is located in a quiet part of Akyarlar and features tons of kid-friendly amenities, including a children’s club (play room), art workshops, water park for kids, and even separate activities for teenagers (13 to 16 years old).
Besides the standard Double and Twin rooms, the hotel also has Family Rooms (for 2 adults and 1 child), as well as Connecting Rooms for larger families. It’s no wonder why one review noted that “[Kefaluka] is family heaven… We chose this hotel as we have a 12-year-old, and she had a blast!”
Best Hotels in Akyarlar
| Family-Friendly | Mid-Range | Luxury |
| Kefaluka Resort Kairaba Bodrum Imperial | Charm Beach Hotel La Brezza Suite & Hotel | Radisson Collection Hotel, Bodrum |
Turgutreis — Best Alternative to Bodrum Center
Turgutreis is famous for being the second-largest town on the Bodrum Peninsula, which naturally makes it an excellent alternative if you want to stay somewhere other than Bodrum City Center.
Turgutreis is also considered to be a working town (it has a population of about 10,000), which means it continues to be ‘open’ even past the summer months.
The town is very developed and has everything you need for a nice vacation, including cafes and restaurants, a local market every Saturday, multiple supermarkets, shopping opportunities, and more. It’s especially famous for its marina (D-Marin Turgutreis), which has a beach club, outdoor pool, spa, and dozens of boutique shops and cafes.
Best Hotels in Turgutreis
Gümüşlük — Best for Couples & Foodies
If you’ve started researching neighborhoods and cities in Bodrum, you’ve likely already come across photos of Gümüşlük. This tiny enclave is famous for its effortlessly chic waterside restaurants (literally — the tables and chairs are in the water), gourd lamps, and twinkling fairy lights.
With such a serene and intimate atmosphere, we give Gümüşlük the title of the most romantic place in Bodrum. 🙂
Likewise, Gümüşlük has certainly made a name for itself in the last few years, especially with the younger jetset crowd. The area markets itself as a boho vibe, complete with yoga centers, spa resorts, healthy cafes, and so on. It’s not uncommon to see Turkish (or international) celebrities hanging out in Gümüşlük.
Speaking of food, you’ll also find some of the best seafood in Gümüşlük!
In a few words, Gümüşlük is perfect for slow travel, a cute romantic getaway, and delicious food.
Best Hotels in Gümüşlük
| Budget-Friendly | Mid-Range | Luxury |
| Ladonia Hotels Zemda Gümüşlük Oza Boutique Hotel | The Rest Port Argento Bodrum Astrid Hotel Hotel Gumusluk | Liman Hotel Gümüslük – Adult Only |
Yalıkavak + Göltürkbükü + Türkbükü — Best for a Luxury Vacation
If you’re looking for luxury, chic resorts, mingling with the jetset, and being catered to your every whim, then look no further than the northern enclaves of the Bodrum Peninsula — and more specifically, the trio of Yalıkavak, Göltürkbükü, and Türkbükü.
Let’s start with Yalıkavak, which is known as the most developed area of all three. Over the years, it has become one of Bodrum’s most expensive neighborhoods (no wonder it’s often referred as the best area to live in Bodrum!) thanks to its stunning views, tranquil atmosphere, and lavish villas.
Yalıkavak is mostly famous for its cute and upscale boutique hotels and villas, such as The Bodrum EDITION.
Moving further east, we come to Göltürkbükü. This gorgeous area is known for its exclusivity, and has become a favored retreat for the rich and elite, including celebrities and high-profile individuals. No wonder Göltürkbükü is where all the luxury resorts in Bodrum are found. 🙂
In a nutshell, Göltürkbükü is also called Turkey’s Ibiza and is where you’ll see local celebrities mingling with jetset visitors who just got off their yacht.
Some of the most popular luxury hotels in Göltürkbükü include Mandarin Oriental, Maxx Royal Bodrum Resort, and Flamm, among others.
Finally, some 3 kilometers west of Göltürkbükü is Türkbükü. Actually, these two areas used to be one neighborhood until the government split them in 2012, so we’ll leave that as a little fun fact. 🙂
Türkbükü is different from the other two areas in that it’s more of a lively hotspot and attracts a social crowd (celebrities and socialites). Türkbükü has plenty of chic beach clubs, upscale restaurants, and posh nightlife, making it ideal for travelers who come alive after sunset.
No doubt, Türkbükü is best place to stay in Bodrum if you’re looking for a sophisticated vacation — no wonder it’s called the St. Tropez of Turkey. 🙂
Gündoğan — Best For a Local Vacation
Situated between Yalıkavak and Göltürkbükü, Gündoğan is a cute coastal village that’s rising in popularity, especially with the middle-age and retiree crowd.
The area tends to be pretty-low key and residential, with holiday resorts, smaller guesthouses, and a handful of boutique hotels.
Gündoğan is a popular spot among Turkish locals thanks to the local-style restaurants and cafes; a nice selection of beaches; and a calm atmosphere.
Best Hotels in Gündoğan
Torba — Best for a Peaceful Vacation
Out of all the places on our list, Torba is arguably the quietest and greenest, as it’s a small enclave surrounded by pine forests and coves.
It has a very small-town feel and is especially known for its scenic coastline, sandy beaches, and relaxed atmosphere. If your ideal vacation consists of relaxing, swimming, and exploring nearby bays, then Torba should definitely be on your itinerary. 🙂
Likewise, Torba is well-connected. You can travel to Central Bodrum via the dolmuş (minibus) system in less than 20 minutes!
Best Hotels in Torba
Traveling to Bodrum | Resources
🧿 Bodrum Travel Guide — The ultimate Central Bodrum guide, including the top tourist attractions, our favorite restaurants, transportation, and much more.
🧿 Bodrum Castle Walkthrough Guide — A photo guide with interesting tidbits about Bodrum’s most famous tourist attraction: the Bodrum Castle!
🧿 10+ Bodrum Day Trips — There are so many interesting places along the Bodrum Peninsula, including historic windmills, an ancient city, an arts & culture village, and much more. This guide takes you to all of them!
🧿 Bodrum to Kos Day Trip — Speaking of day trips, taking the ferry from Bodrum to Kos and exploring the Greek island is one of the most popular day trips from Bodrum.
🧿 Book hotels and accommodations in Bodrum
🧿 Book tours and activities in Bodrum
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