Bodrum

The Bodrum Peninsula protrudes into the Aegean Sea on the South West coast of Turkey. It has a real mix of upmarket, chic resorts and laid-back, old-fashioned coastal villages. Mass tourism and Turkish tradition seem to live together very happily here. Bodrum caters for every type of tourist and would-be homeowner, and includes a number of smaller, sub-resorts. This is our Turkish resort guide to Bodrum.

Like many resorts dotted along the gorgeous Turkish coast, Bodrum was once a quaint fishing village.

The Land of the Eternal Blue

Homer, the famous Greek poet, once described the area around Bodrum as “the land of the eternal blue”. The Mediterranean meets the Aegean, where azure waters lap against spectacularly sunny beaches and rugged coastlines. Some 3,000 years later, and every Summer, Bodrum welcomes over one million visitors to its shores. Incredible!

Over the last 10-15 years investment has poured into Bodrum’s incredible marina developments. To illustrate the rise in profile, celebrities like Bill Gates and Roman Abramovich have moored their yachts here. It is the St Tropez of the Aegean.

Yes, Bodrum has a vibrant nightlife and a plethora of bars, cafés and restaurants. When you’re not dancing the night away or sampling cocktails, you can take a lovely stroll around the picture-perfect white-washed alleys of townhouses. In addition, there is also plenty of local history to soak up. Families will love it as there are plenty of things for the kids to do, lots of family-friendly restaurants and safe beaches.

Similarly, as with many coastal towns, planning restrictions are in place to protect the skyline. There are no high-rise developments or apartment blocks here. Instead, by protecting the lovely character of the existing townhouses and coastline, you’ll be able to own a slice of Aegean life!

The Property Market in Bodrum

Although the property market here is long-established, foreign ownership only accounts for a small proportion of sales in Bodrum. Consequently, it is not as susceptible to changes in foreign property trends. Bodrum has seen strong capital growth over a number of years now, partly due to the domestic demand.

With the hillsides and peninsula of Bodrum, the appeal for many property buyers here are the views. You’re pretty much guaranteed a sea view of some description, whether you are looking for a luxury villa or a compact apartment. The surface area of properties might be slightly smaller than in other, flatter regions of Turkey, but the amazing views and enviable lifestyle make up for a few square meters less in your bedrooms.

Prices are also higher in Bodrum than in other resorts; it is perceived to be more desirable. There is a premium to owning property and living here. For those who don’t choose to live here all year round, strong rental yields can be had from Easter through to October.

If you’re looking potentially to live in Bodrum all-year-round (and with this weather and sea views, why would you not want to?!) there is a small and friendly expatriate community, as well as excellent international schools.

Bodrum is well-situated from an infrastructure perspective, being just 30 minutes’ drive from Bodrum Milas Airport.