Day Tripping -- Bodrum is perfectly situated for 1-day trips to Ephesus (usually Wed and Sat); to Pamukkale (Mon and Fri), Dalyan, and Kaunos (Thurs and Sun). The trips are scheduled to coincide with local market days. All are easily arranged through local travel agents for 40YTL ($30) each.
If beachgoing is the main event, the surrounding bays and villages offer a combined glimpse of fantastic bays and (as of yet) authentic seaside villages. On the northern end of the peninsula and only 8km (5 miles) from Bodrum is Torba, where fishermen haul in their nets and you can stroll along the beach to the remains of an old Byzantine monastery. The simple hillside village and serene bay of Türkbükü, combined with a number of extraordinary hotels, inns, and beach clubs, have attracted the jet set of Turkey. The spot is now drawing foreigners, too, as the hotels fill up with travelers looking for relaxation and the charm of a typical Turkish village. Some favorite sunspots -- essentially wooden piers with ground-level cushions neatly lined up -- are at Ada Beach; Granca Restaurant, Bar and Beach; Maki Hotel and Beach; Maça Kizi Hotel; and Havana Beach Club, all located on Türkbükü Bay.
The new marinas at Yalikavak and Turgutreis are meant to fill the gap for yachters traveling between Kusadasi and Bodrum, where beaches and sheltered waterfront promenades lined with restaurants and souvenir shops make for an easy and enjoyable day out.
At the westernmost tip of the Bodrum Peninsula is the enchanting fisherman's cove of Gümüslük, site of the ancient city of Myndos, now partially visible just under the surface of the water. The village increases in charm in the evening, when area residents choose their favorite waterside fish restaurant from the many lining the cove. Thanks to its archaeological value, Gümüslük has rejected the onslaught of "progress," and will hopefully remain as remote, charming, and scenic in the future as it is today. The remains of ancient harbor walls are scattered at the base of the headlands just to the north and west of the village; bring a snorkel to explore the site to which Brutus and Cassius escaped in 44 B.C. after having murdered Julius Caesar. Guarding the entrance to the cove and harboring its own set of ruins is Rabbit Island, connected to the mainland by way of a sunken ancient city wall that allows visitors to wade over from the town center. There's also an inviting beach at the far end of the village.
Other great beach destinations are Turgutreis, crowned by a brand-new marina; Akyarlar, the choice of advanced windsurfers due to the strong winds; the less windy Ortakent Beach; and scenic Bitez Bay, full of windsurfing traffic and a long sandy beach.
