Where is Gundogan?

Gundogan is 25 kilometers from Bodrum and only 40 minutes away from the Bodrum International Airport (BJV).  It is the quietest popular holiday resort for local Turkish people and it offers the cleanest beaches and hosts historic places. Gundogan is a fishermen’s place with its fully sand beach, very clean sea and its greenery. 

There are many direct flights from major European cities to Bodrum airport. Click here to see airliners flying to Bodrum and Istanbul:

Gundogan:

Covered with colorful flowers all year round, Gundogan means `the Sunrise`. Famous for its ancient rock cemeteries and rock formations, it is a small town on the Bodrum Peninsula.  Some imaginative people believe that these rock formations are, in fact, the remains of an ancient zoo built of stone. There may be truth in this., as Gundogan is located very near to the ancient Lelegian city of Madnasa. These historians of antiquity say that the Lelegians were skilled in stone work. If you look carefully at these rock formations with a little imagination thrown in then you may see the wild animals of the ancient zoo carved in stone!

It is an important town for fishing, sponge diving, olive and tangerine growing. The old and new settlers have protected the character of the place. They have not touched the houses surrounded with trees of olive, mandarins, bananas, pomegranates and oak. The scent of orange trees welcoming visitors along the seaside still remains. Gundogan has 4000 inhabitants.

Boat trips leave from here to secluded Bays along the coast. You can catch a ferry to Didim on the other side of the Bay and watch dolphins and seals swim alongside the boat.

Situated among tangerine, olive and pine trees, intimate restaurants and cafes built on jetties circle the Bay offering traditional Turkish cuisine. Gundogan is also cheaper than other parts of the peninsula. Relax and take it easy with a chilled glass of wine or the local delicacies. There are large colorful cushions provided to sit on, on the many jetties circulating the Bay where you can chill out, people watch, sip a refreshing drink and watch the waves breaking on the rocks and children playing in the crystal blue waters.

This is a great place for snorkeling where you enter the sea from the jetties. Sit at the beach bar and watch the sun go down and witness the spectacular sunsets. There is a small harbor with fishing boats, yachts, gullets and a sailing school offering dingy sailing, windsurfing ,jet skis and waterskiing.

Across the Bay is `Rabbit Island` which has an old Greek church and standing remains of a Byzantine monastic settlement dated to the 9th Century A.D.

If you wish to be active during your stay here, you will have plenty to do - archeological trips in the area, windsurfing, under water photography, diving lessons, horse riding,

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 Aiport 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 per day in July and August, and
20 GBP 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.

Our nearest airport is the International Bodrum-Milas International (BJV) airport, which is about 45 minutes by car.  Another nearby airport is the Izmir International Airport (ADB) approx. 3 hours by driving or the Dalaman Airport (ATM) (approx. 3 hours by driving).  If you are interested in visiting Istanbul, you can always take a domestic flight from Istanbul Ataturk International Airport (IST) to Bodrum - Milas International Airport (BJV). The flight time is approx. 50 minutes. For a list of airliners and purchase your airplane tickets, please click here. If you are coming from the UK, the cheapest flights are provided by the Aegean Flights company. Please click on the picture below to check the rates, and make your booking online. Early bookers get the cheapest prices.