Virgin Voyages' guide to Bodrum, Turkey

Bodrum is the ideal location to live out all your keyif fantasies. Spend the day at one of its idyllic top-rated beach resorts or gaze out the window on the short drive to the nomadic village of Etrim – where notoriously warm locals are eager to share their homemade wine and carpet weaving abilities. 

Geographically part of Asia Minor, or Anatolia, most of Turkey is surrounded by seas that border Europe, Africa and the Middle East – creating the perfect fusion of colliding cultures, tastes and an aesthetic unfathomable to those who’ve yet to have the privilege of wandering through its famed outdoor bazaars. 

However, Bodrum has so much more to offer than perfectly designed cuisine and instagram-worthy beauty. Dripping with a history richer than one of its homemade baklavas, Bodrum has something to offer everyone – especially the forever adventurer at heart. 

Originally built as a gothic style fortress, the legendary Bodrum Castle came under the rule of the Ottoman Empire until after WWI when it was vacated and left vacant for nearly 40 years. Now serving as one of the world’s premier archaeological museums it houses a (literal) treasure trove of artifacts pulled from sunken ships and wreckage sites dating back to the Bronze age. Continue your adventure and make your way to Bodrum Castle’s neighbor, The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus – one of the seven wonders of the world. 

Whether in search of a history lesson unlike any other, an over the top underwater adventure, phenomenal cuisine or to simply lay out on one of the best beaches the world has to offer, in Bodrum the only thing you have to worry about – is keyif.

There’s a reason there’s a specific word for vibes in Bodrum — and when it comes to “happily doing nothing,” the Republic of Turkey certainly has a lot to offer. The intentionally simplistic ivory-washed facades peppered with verdant green trees and purple-pink bougainvillea flowers will bring an unknowing smile to even the most seasoned of travelers. 

Just like the classically designed wood-accented gulet sailing vessels and modern champagne-slinging luxury yachts dotting its coast, Bodrum’s mainland offers the perfect balance of old-school wonder and contemporary flair. Witness the city’s heritage unfold before your eyes through a panoramic performance of folkloric song and dance at a 25,000-seat amphitheater in the Greco-Roman city of Ephesus. Here you can also visit the house of *the* Virgin Mary and shop along the streets of the bustling nearby market — just follow the billowing finely handcrafted tapestries. 

Stone windmills atop Gümbet Hill. Pink flamingo filled bird sanctuaries. Off-road Jeep safaris to the Çamlik village. Dalyan mud baths at turtle bay beach. Dancing the night away under the stars in a club on a stationary catamaran — these are just a few things that exemplify the keyif mentality. 

Whether you’re looking out over the coast from a conveniently located mountain top village, enjoying a traditional meal of locally sourced ingredients that you helped create with your own hands,  or staring aimlessly into the sapphire waves from a seaside lounger — in Bodrum all you have to do to have the time of your life is embrace the vibes.