Bodrum Peninsula

Turkiye is a country surrounded by four seas: Mediterranean Sea in the south, Aegean Sea in the west, Marmara Sea in the north-west and Black Sea in the north. Bodrum peninsula lies to the west of Turkiye, in the Aegean region. It is one of the largish peninsulas, stretched out to well-known Aegean Archipelago.

Although there are many towns and villages in the peninsula, it is named after its biggest town, Bodrum, which is in the south. The other towns in the peninsula include Turgutreis, Yalikavak, Gundogan, Turkbuku, Gumusluk, Ortakent, Gumbet and many more.

Location and Geography of the Bodrum Peninsula

Bodrum Peninsula is on the south-west coast of the Aegean Region which is one of the seven geographical zones of Turkiye. It is surrounded by the Gulf of Gulluk in the north, the Gulf of Gokova in the south and the Aegean Sea in the west.

All the towns and villages on the peninsula are districts of Mugla Province. Although Mugla is an inland city, it should be one of the luckiest cities in the world! Many world-renowned touristic destinations like Fethiye, Datca, Koycegiz, Marmaris and Dalaman are also in its administration.

The peninsula is on the 37th parallel which is where Granada and Santa Cruz are also located. The Mediterranean climate is effective all over the region which makes Bodrum weather so pleasant for visitors, hot summers and mild winters.

These lands have been occupied by many civilizations for thousands of years. Today, ancient history and beauty of nature combined make Bodrum one of the most popular destinations of Turkiye.

A Few Words about the Geography of the Peninsula

The mountainous terrain of the peninsula covers a total area of 557 kilometres square. The wavy coastline runs 174 kilometres forming several beaches and coves worth seeing. As Bodrum Peninsula stretches out to warm Aegean waters towards west, Turkish and Greek islands in various sizes garnish the scenery.

Towns and villages are not far from each other, and it is easy to travel from one place to another with public transport alternatives. You would probably find The Best of Bodrum’s distance chart and Bodrum map handy when planning your trip. Check them out and never be late, never get lost.

The two biggest mountains of the peninsula are Yaran and Pazar. The highest altitude is 879 metres on the peak of Yaran Mountain. The second highest point is the top of Pazar Mountain and it measures 690 meters from the sea level.

Attention to First Timers

Sometimes, the way we use the word “Bodrum” in daily conversations may cause confusion especially for the first timers because we have the habit of using it not only for the town, but also for the peninsula itself. I might say “I am going to Bodrum this summer” but that doesn’t necessarily mean I am going to stay in Bodrum town. I may stay at one of my friends’ place in Yalikavak which is another town in the peninsula, 20 km away from Bodrum town.

If you are planning to meet your friends during your vacation and they tell you that they are going to be in Bodrum for the summer, ask them which town they are talking about.

Similarly, learning the exact location of your hotel when booking would help you to plan your trip. For example, if your hotel is in Bodrum town, it would take at most 15 minutes to get to Bodrum Castle. However, if your hotel is in Gumusluk, you need an extra hour to get there in the peak season.