Konacık is an up-and-coming village 4 km away from Bodrum centre, and also 4 km from beautiful Bitez beach. All nearby beaches offer great water sports facilities and many have been awarded the Blue Flag. It is a quiet but growing resort - an ideal spot for relaxing beside the pool before heading down to the beach, or seeking out historic landmarks.
The nearby ancient city of Pedasa was an important Leleg city located near Mt. Gökçeler that enjoyed its heyday between the 11th and sixth centuries B.C. Excavation is in the process. In the future the ancient buildings will be restored and opened to the public.
Bitez is a popular resort very close to Bodrum centre. Its major allure is a long and broad beach easily accessible by one of the many dolmuses in Bodrum. Both the beach and the sea are very clean and as the sea only deepens gradually, it is ideal for children.
Bitez is also the best place for wind surfing throughout Turkey . It was discovered by British who set up a windsurfing school on the cove. Turkish windsurfing championship is organised here.
The numerous restaurants and bars are quite active in the evening, and with dolmuses running late into the night Bitez offers an alternative to Bodrum nightlife.
Because of the archaeological and natural riches of the area, Antalya is also known as the Turkish Riviera. The sun, sea, nature and history combine to form a very popular resort, highlighted by some of the cleanest beaches in the Mediterranean. The 630km shoreline of the province is liberally scattered with ancient cities, harbours, memorial tombs and beaches, secluded coves and lush forests, many of which are easily accessible from the city.
With its palm-lined boulevard, internationally-acclaimed marina, and old castle with traditional architecture, all set amidst a modern city, Antalya is a major tourist centre in Turkey. In addition to the wide selection of hotels, restaurants, bars, nightclubs and shops, the city also plays host to a number of sporting events throughout the year, like International Beach Volleyball, triathlon, golf tournaments, archery, tennis and canoeing competitions. The Cultural Centre, which opened in 1995, hosts cultural and art events in the fields of music, theatre, and creative arts. The main area of interest in the city is central old quarter within the Roman walls, known as Kaleici, and there are many good museums.
Gümüşlük is a peaceful village and one of the oldest settlements on the peninsula. It is located in the west of the peninsula, 30 minutes drive from Bodrum, and on the site of the ancient city of Myndos . The village has a few modest restaurants and several pensions and motels, but it retains a small-scale atmosphere for the simple reason that most of the village is designated an official archeological site so that no landscaping alterations or large scale development are allowed. This will ensure that the area will remain unspoiled and that number of new properties will be kept under control. Increasing demand together with controlled supply will create a healthy growth of property prices.
Some of the best fish restaurants of the Bodrum peninsula are here offering food of exceptionally good quality. Several restaurants have terraced roof, perfect for enjoying the tranquil scene or for watching the sunset as in the evening the sea turns into thousands of different colours.
There is an excellent sandy beach awarded Blue Flag status offering a good range of water sports and sunbeds with many beach side restaurants.
Gümüşlük is the best place for snorkelling ; in the calm waters of the sheltered bay all sorts of sunken ruins can be found. The island, known as Rabbit Island by the locals, separates the two well-sheltered bays of Gümüşlük. You can walk there through water.
A small Byzantine church above the beach is now a cultural centre with a regular programme of concerts and exhibitions. Nightlife enthusiasts can take a short drive to Bodrum.
It is 71 km. away from Aydin city center, and on the coast of the Aegean, and close to Selcuk and Pamucak. Kuşadasi Port, is the second most important seagate for tourists coming to Turkey due to the closeness of Greek island of Sesam.
The first settlements in Kusadasi and its surroundings go way back to the Bronze age. The cities such as Marathesion and Neapolis, which were established during the period of of the Ionians around today's Kusadasi, had continued to be significant ports during the Hellenistic and Roman eras.
The city had been one of the significant trade colonies of the Aegean seashore with the name of Scala Nova (New Port) established by the merchants of Venice and Geneva in the 14th century.The Turks preferred to live mainly inland on foothills around Pilav Mountain near the ancient settlement known as Andizkule.
Mild climate allowed the inhabitants to grow essential products such as olive, grape and figs for extracting oil or making wine and sweets on the fertile lands around the city.
In the 10th century BC "12 Ionian Cities "-Samos, Khios, Miletos, Priene, Ephesus, Teos, Erythrai, Priena, Klazonemi, Lebedos, Phokaia, Colophon, Smyrna, were established and reputed for the most developed cities of that age. Asthe annual meeting place of the Ionian League, Panionian, was founded around Kusadasi; the cities of Phygale, Marathesion and Neopolis were established within the borders of the city. During the period, the ports of Phygale and Neopolis were not busy and necessary, as they were close to the famous trading centers and ports, Miletos and Ephesus.
Following the expeditions of the Seljuks and the Crusaders, the Ottomans conquered the city in 1413. During the reign of Ottomans, Kusadasi was introduced to glorious structures, giving a new look to its former spectacular view. Okuz Mehmet Pasa Caravanserai is the principal of Ottoman architecture in the city, was built by the man of the same name, who was the vizier during the reigns of Sultan Ahmet1 and Osman2.
The fortress gates &walls and many mosques in the center of Kusadasi, as well as the citadel of the castle in Pigeon Island, were built in the Ottoman period, reflecting the architectural style of the era. "Kusadasi " that means "bird island" took its name from the Pigeon Island.
Following the Italian and Greek occupations at the end of World War I, Kusadasi became a part of newly established Turkish republic on 7 September 1922. The construction of a new port during the 1960s has enabled the arrival of huge cruise liners; together with its location as the center of world wide famous antic sites and various other tourism potentials, Kusadasi is one of the biggest toruism centers of the world and Turkey today.
Gündoğan is a secluded village a few minutes drive of Yalikavak and 25 km from Bodrum. It is one of the more popular holiday resorts of recent years with its beaches and historic places and the warmest climate in the peninsula (you can still swim in September and October).
The waterfront in Gündoğan is spacious and not crowded. There are a few small but comfortable hotels along the beach, and theintimate seaside restaurants. Also the numerous jetties jutting from the shore provide plenty of comfortable and private spots for sunbathing and swimming and daily boats for hire are available from the small harbor. Despite increasing popularity of Gündoğan the village is largely unspoilt and has a rural feel with locals herding their cows through the streets and selling their home grown produce.
Gündoğan is easily accessible and there is a frequent public transport connecting the village with neighbouring Yalıkavak which is 15 minutes drive away and offers a good shopping street, a marina, beach, bars and restaurants. Bodrum is 25 minutes away for those who fancy an exciting nightlife.
Gündoğan also offers some interesting historical sites. Across the bay is Küçük Tavsan (Little Rabbit) Island , where an old Greek Church is clearly visible atop the hill. A step climb up the ridge just outside the upper village leads to a flight of 50 steps cut into the rock and the entrance to a small but spectacularly sited monastery.
