The Bay of Bodrum rests on the west coast of the Aegean Sea. Central in the bay is Bodrum, which has three upmarket marinas, a wealth of superb restaurants, a buzzing nightlife, super luxury villas, fabulous shops and numerous hidden bays and beaches. Although it has recently become a decidedly sophisticated destination, the diverse peninsula boasts of sleepy villages, hidden coves, pine-and-citrus-clad hills, and pretty beaches.
Known initially as Halicarnassus, the capital of the Caria kingdom, Bodrum boasts a wealth of history. Thankfully, modernisation has been kind, and Bodrum remains the picture postcard setting we see in travel brochures. The photos of pink bougainvillaea cascading down the whitewashed houses and into the sea are apt; the Castle of St Peter separating Bodrum’s two bays is a stunning spectacle. Bodrum may be where the traditional sits next to the modern, but the atmosphere and beauty lure you in, leaving even the hard-hearted wanting more.