Bodrum: Bodrum is a liberal and open-minded community that opens its arms to all people who enjoy the adventures of life.  Bodrum stands on the site of the ancient city of Halicarnassus, once the capital of the kingdom of Caria.  Herodotus who was the famous historian and the father of history was born in 484 B.C. in this city. 

Throughout history Bodrum, known as Halicarnassus in ancient times, has always been fought over and people have been unwilling to share its beauty with others.  Built on a peninsula formed by the meeting of the eastern and western harbors, Bodrum, with its narrow streets winding down to the sea, is famous for its castle, its world-renowned yachts, its windmills, its shipyards and the dazzling white houses and tombs lining the shores of its two harbors.

Today Bodrum has everything that one would expect to find in a vacation getaway. It is an important tourist center in both winter and summer. The Underwater Archeological Museum of Bodrum is one of the biggest and important museums of its kind in the world. This museum is located in the Bodrum Castle (aka Saint Peter's Castle). 

The intellectual climate of Bodrum is shaped by tourists and people living on the Bodrum peninsula from countries such as England, Ireland, France, Germany, Russia, Italy, Spain, and even the USA.  The villa is within 20 minutes from the city of Bodrum, which allows for many entertainment opportunities (Turkish Blue Cruise Voyages, Greek Island Excursions, Historic sites, Nature Adventures, and excellent Night Life activities).  Bodrum is well-recognized for its artistic heritage, and is therefore an open-minded community.  Nightlife in Bodrum offers restaurants, bars, and clubs for all life styles. 

The southwestern Aegean region of Turkey is full of historical sites from many civilizations over time. This section includes the archeological sites of the Bodrum area as well as ancient Greek ruins that can easily be worked into your trip to Turkey. Some options include: Ephesus, Lycian Rock Tombs, and the ancient Greek city of Knidos.  This map shows the geographic location of the historical sites discussed below.

Beaches: Gundogan's long stretch of sandy beach is divided by the harbor and boasts a number of jetties that stretch out from the shore so there are plenty of comfortable spots for sunning and bathing. Caressed by refreshing sea breezes, Gundogan beach is particularly popular with windsurfers and the sailing community.

Eating out: Whether you fancy steak or pizza, there are plenty of waterfront restaurants to choose from. For a real taste of Turkey, try some 'meze' dishes such as 'imam bayildi', cold baked aubergine, onion and tomato, 'coban salatasi', chopped cucumber, parsley, tomato, pepper and onion salad, and 'antep ezmesi', hot chilli mash. Simply delicious!

Nightlife: While there are some bars dotted along the harbor-front, nightlife in Gundogan tends to be quite low key with most evenings spent savoring a good meal or sitting out with a gin and tonic in hand watching the sun set on another day. For nightlife events, Bodrum is the place to be, and come back to relax at villa of your choice.

Shopping: The northern section of the Bodrum Peninsula is well known for sponge fishing, particularly around nearby Yalikavak. Pick up a soft, yellowy sea sponge from one of the waterfront stalls they're a fraction of the price you'd expect to pay back in the UK!

Local information:  Not far from Gundogan lie some interesting historical sites. Perhaps the most enthralling is the extensive set of caverns encrusted with stalagmites and stalactites - one of the caves has been identified as an early human settlement replete with Bronze Age ceramics, milling stones and axe heads. Across the bay on Big Rabbit Island you'll find the remains of a 9th-century AD Byzantine monastic settlement while on the far side of the Yalikavak road an old Ottoman tower pokes out above the lush pine canopy.

Location: 18 km from Bodrum, and 35 km from the Bodrum International Airport (BJV).

Transfer time: 45 minutes to 1 hour from the Bodrum International Airport (BJV)

Car Rental or Airport Transfers: We work with a local car company to provide this service.  The local car company we have arrangements with charge the following rates (including all taxes and insurance) on average depending on the car chosen: 

22 GBP or more per day in July and August, and 
20 GBP or more per day in May, June, September and October 

Please click here to view all the car choices and information about airport transfers from Bodrum, Izmir and other nearby areas.