The Original Guide to Bodrum, Turkey
Bodrum, ancient Halicarnassus, has been the star of the Aegean since Carian King Mausolus ruled here in the 4th century BC. His mausoleum was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Now Bodrum shines with coastal villages, Michelin restaurants, secluded coves, museums, art galleries and international celebrities
Words: Lisa Morrow
11/08/2025
Assouline’s Turquoise Coast is awash with imagery and anecdotes from the Aegean
Son of Bodrum Zeki Müren, aka ‘Pasha’
Yachts moored by Bodrum Castle, as featured on @Bodrum
Pre-trip culture checklist
Read: Turquoise Coast
The photos in Irem Kinay’s coffee table book Turquoise Coast are as lush as the 600 miles that make up the stretch of coastline known as the Turkish Riviera. Photographer Oliver Pilcher perfectly captures the mix of traditional Turkish culture, both on land and sea, and the elegant old-school glamour long associated with the area. Heartfelt stories of treasured childhood summers spent beside turquoise waters and enticing anecdotes from the likes of Tommy Hilfiger leave you longing to create your own Bodrum memories.
Listen: Zeki Müren
Even though Zeki Müren died in 1996, he’s still one of Turkey’s most popular singers. During his lifetime he released more than 600 records and cassettes and composed more than 100 songs, singing passionately and eloquently about life, love and art. ‘Pasha’ to his fans, Müren was renowned for his idiosyncratic dress sense. His trademark bouffant purple hair, rhinestone jumpsuits, shiny miniskirts, made-up eyes and beautifully manicured nails have made him an LBGTQ+ icon. He was also a son of Bodrum and his home now operates as the Zeki Müren Art Museum.
Watch: @Bodrum
@Bodrum is the area’s official English language Instagram account, featuring all parts of the city to the far reaches of the peninsula. It’s packed with mesmerising shots and aerial videos dreamily swooping across the gently lapping waters of the Aegean and Mediterranean seas, hidden corners off cosy village streets, breathtaking coastal views, front-row beaches and more.
Gin Sour at Vamos
A local’s view
For me, Bodrum isn’t just a place. It’s a love story that needs to be lived and discovered. Its true beauty reveals itself slowly, only to those who take the time to feel it. Vamos captures its spirit with a laidback vibe, great cocktails and lively music – the kind of place where the night unfolds naturally. Or there’s Orfoz, where it’s all about the freshest catch, meticulously curated and served with quiet sophistication.
I truly believe the best way to understand Bodrum is from the sea, watching it from a distance and allowing its rhythm to guide you. My advice is simple. Bodrum is not a destination to be ticked off a list. It is something to be felt. Don’t plan Bodrum too rigidly. Spend time with it. As with love, it moves at its own pace and only reveals its soul to those who approach with patience.
New view
The impossibly turquoise-coloured tranquil bays surrounding Bodrum are best seen from the deck of a gulet. These sturdy teak sailing boats have graced the waters around the peninsula for more than a century. Dive from the deck or just chill after lunch while the sun, sea and scenery work their magic.
Ancient amphorae at the Museum of Underwater Archaeology
Rainy day saviours
If rain replaces Bodrum’s sunny skies or the heat gets too much, go explore the Museum of Underwater Archaeology. Underwater archaeology was pioneered in Turkey, and the museum contains fascinating artefacts retrieved from the sea floor in the 1950s and 1960s, in a castle dating back to the 15th century.
Preparing tanned leather for a sandal
The original Bodrum sandal
Handmade leather Bodrum sandals have graced the feet of celebs such as Mick Jagger and Bette Midler. First made famous by master shoemaker Ali Güven in the 1970s, Bodrumlu Sandalet 1941 continues the tradition of turning vegetable-tanned Vachetta leather into simple yet elegant footwear, along with newer kids on the block Daphne Sandals Bodrum, Fibo and Yaban Sandalet.
Bodrum Amphitheatre dates back to the 4th century BC
Bird’s-eye view
Discover culture and views over the town, stretching across the Aegean Sea to the Greek island of Kos from the Bodrum Amphitheatre, part of King Mausolus’ legacy. Originally seating around 10,000 people, today this 3,000-seat venue still plays host to concerts by local and international performers.
Anda Barut Collection community zone pool
Forest room at Lujo Hotel
Overwater cabanas at the Titanic Luxury Collection
Where to stay
These three all-inclusive hotels have you covered. Families love the Anda Barut Collection. Set on a peninsula with beach access and eight outdoor pools, there are seven bars and nine restaurants offering local and international cuisine, a mini theme park and kids’ club, plus swim-up rooms and private villas for grownups.
At Lujo Hotel Bodrum, choose from luxurious rooms or exclusive villas, indulge in water sports or dance to live music. Dine on Turkish specialities made from homegrown produce or international cuisine at its 20 restaurants, snack bars and cafés. ‘Joy Advisors’ are on hand to ensure you have a brilliant time.
A stunning bay covered in pine trees sets the scene for five-star perfection at Titanic Luxury Collection. Sip cocktails on the beach, by the pool and elsewhere in one of its 17 bars, before dining on Japanese, Greek, Italian (take your pick) in one of eight restaurants. Kids take to the stage in weekly shows while adults reconnect with indulgent spa treatments.
A view from Bodrum Castle
Access all areas
Bodrum’s hilly terrain makes wheelchair use slow going, but villages like Yalıçiftlik are relatively flat. Beaches in Torba, Türkbükü, and İçmeler have ramps allowing direct wheelchair access into the water while tactile indicators in Bodrum centre help the visually impaired get around. Entry into museums managed by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism is free for disabled visitors.
The sensory six
Aromatic fresh produce at a street market (Alex Meier)
The Marina Yacht Club comes alive after dark
Bodrum Lokum’s delectable tangerine Turkish delight
The bull is artistic signature of Ender Güzey
Buldan’s Runda natural hazelnut linen duvet cover set
Travel from darkness to light at Ritual Space (Kamila Maciejewska)
Smell
At Bodrum’s street markets, the air sings with the scent of mountain thyme, aromatic mint, spicy sumac and other Turkish favourites. Depending on the day of the week head to Bodrum Çiftçi Pazarı, Bitez, Ortakent, Yalıkavak and Turgutreis markets, or Gümüşlük for organic. Get ready for the full Turkish pazar experience, complete with colourfully spruiking vendors. Don’t forget to bring cash!
Hear
Make like a Turk and dance to live music under the night sky well into the early hours at the Marina Yacht Club. There’s a different act performing every night, so you can get your groove on seven days a week.
Taste
Before the advent of tourism, Bodrum was rich in orchards full of tangerine, lemon and bitter orange trees. You can still taste the fruit in delicious squares of natural Turkish delight from Bodrum Lokum made with pistachios and double-roasted Bodrum tangerines, created by owner Kanat Kıral.
See
The Ender Güzey ARTHill Museum, a white concrete cube perched on giant bull horns, is a visual treasure trove both inside and out. The building’s design reflects the many civilisations that thrived in Anatolia, ancient Turkey, and forms a cocoon-like interior to display artist Ender’s works as well as special art events throughout the year.
Touch
As soon as you touch a length of soft-as-silk handwoven Buldan cotton, you’ll want to own it. Choose from a vast array of peştemal – lightweight versatile Turkish wraps, scarves and throws – all created using a traditional textile technique dating back to the Ottoman Empire.
Sixth Sense
In the Ritual Space, a design award-winning wellness centre, light, colour and texture blend and weave through and around underground muted meditation rooms, oblique corridors and unexpected courtyards. The thoughtful architectural layout means moving through the different spaces is both a physical and spiritual event. An airy pavilion stands as the culmination of this journey from darkness to enlightenment.
Barbarossa Bodrum a seafood restaurant
The one spot
Two great lands, Greece and Turkey, are linked by the sea. Both come together in Michelin Guide-recommended restaurant Barbarossa Bodrum under the command of executive chef Thanasis Kakaras. Born in Paros, Greece, Kakaras brings a refined Aegean-Mediterranean sensibility to the table.
The Blue Mosque in Istanbul (Osman Koycu)
Where next?
In Istanbul, former capital of the Ottoman Empire, you can hear the call to prayer from inside the Hagia Sophia, an almost 1,600-year-old former Byzantine Church. Alternatively, view it from a nearby rooftop bar at Four Seasons while drinking cocktails. The city is a heady mix of ancient sites and dynamic modern life. Come for mosaics, mosques and museums, delectable street food, Grand Bazaar bargains, contemporary galleries and much more.
