AREA INFORMATION
The Bodrum Peninsula and surrounding area
The Bodrum Peninsula and more recently the area between Bodrum airport and Bodrum Town are recognized as one of the most popular regions in Turkey in which to purchase property. The area's natural beauty combined with the small towns and villages dotted all round the coast, ensure that around every corner there is a wonderful view. The result is that you are spoilt for choice when it comes to buying property. The combination of view, location and price means there is an excellent chance you will find the property of your dreams in this area, ranging from 1 bed-roomed apartment to a 5 bed-roomed villa with its own pool and postcard views from each balcony, there is a property to suit every budget, every taste in this area.
The coastline is spectacular with many opportunities to explore the multitude of bays, some more populated than others, so it is possible to find yourselves undisturbed on a day out in one of the remoter corners. Day trips by boat are available from many of the marinas taking you to remote bays for a day of relaxation and swimming. The sea is generally warm, crystal clear and calm, allowing all forms of water sports to be enjoyed by all levels of experience. It is possible to swim, snorkel, windsurf and water ski at most of the major beaches. We are sure you will find your own favourite very quickly.
To top it all, the peninsula is compact, it is possible to drive from Bodrum to anywhere on the peninsula in 30-35 minutes, making this area suitable for either a summer home or all-year round living. Combined with the fact that the Airport is a maximum of 30 minutes drive from Bodrum, it is easy to see why this area has become so popular.
Below is a short description of the major towns on the Peninsula, working clockwise from Bodrum back up to the area nearest the Airport.
Bodrum
Bodrum Marina from Bodrum Castle
Bodrum, known in ancient times as Halicarnassus, the birthplace of Herodotus and the site of King Mausolus Tomb (4th century B.C.), one of the Seven Wonders of Ancient World. In the harbour, Bodrum castle, or the medieval castle of St. Peter, is the fine example of 15th-century Crusader architecture, and has been converted into the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, with remains dating as far back as the Bronze Age. Today Bodrum is an excellent centre for holidaymakers and residents alike. It is an all year round town, with a couple of hospitals (hope you never need them!) shopping centres, weekly markets, marina and excellent dolmus links to the rest of the area. There are plenty of properties available around the town; most have spectacular views of the impressive castle and marina.
Gumbet
Often dismissed as a tourist area, however Gumbet is close enough to Bodrum to make it a great choice for anyone who wants to live in the area for a few months each year. It has it’s own beach, which does get very busy in summer, but it also has a local Turkish end of town where prices are very reasonable and is close enough to a couple of large supermarkets and a shopping complex with an indoor bowling alley and cinema to provide entertainment when guests come to visit, and they surely will! There are properties to suit all pockets here, including villas on their own land to apartments in very well built complexes with great communal facilities.
Bitez
Bitez Bay
Bitez is known as the windsurfing capital of Turkey, which means there is very often a cooling breeze to counter the very hot temperatures experienced during July and August. Purchase of property along the coast at Bitez is restricted for foreigners, due to it being classed as a Military Zone. Many people have however formed their own Turkish company to get round this and enjoy the wonderful views of this popular bay.
Turgutreis
An ancient Mediterranean port which features prominently throughout history, named after the pirate Turgut Reis. History records the fact that one of his cousins also a pirate, sailed as far north as the South West coast of Ireland, landed in Baltimore in West Cork. While he was there he kidnapped 2000 Irish to take back to Turkey as slaves. Could this be the reason there are a number of fair-skinned locals in the Bodrum Area?
This is a popular area for houses and apartments, although there are some areas where ‘foreigners’ are not allowed to purchase. It is possible to get round this by setting up a company. For this reason prices are comparatively cheap around Turgutreis. The weekly market is very popular with scores of coaches arriving every Saturday during the summer. The marina and sea-front are very attractive and are popular equally with locals and tourists.
Gumusluk
Gumusluk Bay
This is probably the best known area within the Bodrum Peninsula for foreigners to buy. There are a wide variety of apartments and villas, new and old, come requiring extensive renovation, others just a coat of paint to make it livable. There are good transportation links to Bodrum. A well known fish village very popular with day-trippers from Bodrum. There are 3 major attractions:
- Rabbit Island - it is possible to walk across to the island following a concrete causeway.
- The ancient city of Myndos, buried under the sea to the north of Gumusluk.
- The excellent fish villages with their superb menus of daily fresh fish. Steak is also widely available as are a wide selection of Turkish Meze plates.
Very popular with those looking for a holiday home and famous for its fish restaurants which line the harbour. An unspoilt town which is very popular with foreign buyers and this is reflected in the prices. This is one of the most expensive towns in which to purchase on the peninsula.
Yalikivak
Probably best known for its wonderful marina, full of boats of all shapes and sizes, there is sure to be one that suits your tastes. It is possible to hire a boat for a day or week and be master of the Aegean Sea. This area grows in popularity each year with more and more villas and apartments being built and sold, from those with panoramic sea-views from the top of the hills to those at the waters’ edge. Fuelling its popularity is the fact that this is an all year round town, with its own hospital and a variety of supermarkets and frequent dolmus services to Bodrum. In the town there are a number of excellent restaurants to cater for all tastes. This is reflected in the property prices which are a little above the rest of the peninsula but complexes are generally finished to a very high standard.
Enjoy a day out on a Gulet
Gundogan
A superb town combining a local community and foreign buyers whom the locals have welcomed with open arms. The town has an influx of visitors every summer who enjoy the beautiful sheltered bay with its wide variety of water sports and excellent restaurants. Property prices here are catching up with the rest of the peninsula but there are still some wonderful bargains to be had, particularly if you are willing to refurbish property.
Torba
Another area that is fast becoming popular with foreigner buyers, already discovered by wealthy Turkish who descend on the bay in summer to spend their hard earned cash. Generally considered as an up market town, a place to be seen. The hills above the town contain a number of the best 5 star hotels in Turkey; they are very impressive in their situation and facilities. Only 10 minutes from Torba is Bodrum, frequent dolmus services run from early morning to very late at night during the summer months.
Lake Tuzla Area
A property recently sold and refurbished near Lake Tuzla
Probably the most up and coming area around Bodrum. It is already very popular with Turkish 2nd home owners. Very peaceful and quiet, with some superb sea and lake views. There are a number of very good fish restaurants in the immediate area, which make for an enjoyable evening. There are some fantastic bargains to be had in this area, mostly requiring various levels of renovation which a number of our customers have undertaken with excellent results. Public transport has improved tremendously in this area over the last few years, with dolmus running very frequently to/from Bodrum during the summer months. The pace of life is slow and simple in this area, it has been said that 1 week in this area is comparable to 1 month spent in Bodrum, so relaxing is the pace of life. A Golf Club is currently under construction in this area, which will add to the growing popularity of this area, adding to our expectation that property prices will rise over the next couple of years.
Wildlife in the Lake Tuzla Area
The shallow waters of Lake Tuzla provides a vital stop off point for birds on their migratory paths to and from Russia, Scandinavia, parts of Europe and Africa. It is nutritionally rich and supports thousands of birds each year, it is possible to see Flamingos, a spectacular sight when a flock takes off, showing beautiful pink and black wings. Other species observed on the lake and surrounding area include Grey Heron, Egret, and numerous species of duck and goose. We have observed wild tortoises, hedgehogs, owls, sea otter and large geckoes in the Tuzla area.
Gulluk
The town closest to the airport, an up and coming area which has a number of very attractive developments. There is a new road being planned to reduce the journey time to Bodrum and the new Golf Course near Lake Tuzla. Gulluk is a working port, but the industrial port is being moved a few miles north, freeing the harbour for redevelopment and a new marina. The town has seen a massive regeneration over the last few years, combined with the fact that the town is open all year round, has meant this area is becoming increasingly popular with purchasers.
Iasos
This area is a few years behind Tuzla in its popularity. It is a Turkish holiday area, although there are some new developments underway. Properties are available to suit all pockets, although a car would be necessary. The area is jam-packed with historical sites of which the locals are justifiably proud and keen to show off.
Why not arrange to contact us at info@turkeypropertylink.com and we will be happy to arrange to meet you in Bodrum, show you a wide variety of property and let you decide, in your own time, to choose your property in the sun.