11 Best Beaches in Bodrum

Yahsi Beach offers a great seaside experience near Bodrum, thanks to its clean and clear waters, along with a very accessible strip of sand. The beach has many amenities and things to do in the surrounding area. There's no shortage of places to eat, drink and sleep close by, so you can turn your phone off and relax knowing that everything you need is close by. This popular beach on the Bodrum peninsula is long and winding, so be sure to keep walking until you find the spot that's right for you.

Gümbet Beach is a 1-km-long stretch of fine golden sand against moderate shallow waters and is popular with those seeking an adrenaline rush in Bodrum. The main draw of this beach is the array of water activities available, which includes scuba diving, windsurfing, water skiing, jet skiing, and parasailing.

Gümbet Beach is one of Bodrum's best diving spots – the Big Reef dive site is right in front of the beach. Under the crystal-clear seas (7 to 40 metres deep), you’ll be able to come up close with a large coral reef, sea urchins, starfish and vibrantly coloured fish. If you want to just chill on the beach, many beach bars offer free sunbeds with an order of some food or drinks.

Kumbahçe Beach, centrally located with a view of Bodrum Castle, is mainly frequented by Turkish holidaymakers. In contrast to the most popular beaches that are packed with tourists from abroad, this 300-metre stretch of free public beach is very quiet and sees small crowds.

What truly sets Kumbahçe Beach apart from other beaches is the gorgeous view of the city and the shoreline that lights up at night. Come to watch the sunset and stay for a romantic beachside dinner with glittering city lights as your backdrop. Since this is a pebble beach, don’t forget to wear your shoes before stepping onto the shore.

Bodrum Belediyesi Halk Plajı (Bodrum Municipality Public Beach) attracts mainly Turkish vacationers and is a great escape from the bustle of Bodrum centre – without having to venture too far. A 12-minute drive from Bodrum centre, this beach is clean and developed with free sunbeds for use. There’s also a self-service cafeteria on-site serving snacks and drinks at affordable prices. This beach is also dog-friendly so you’ll share the beach with many 4-legged friends.

Restrooms, showers and lockers add to the convenience of beachgoers in Bodrum Belediyesi Halk Plajı. Come early to have your breakfast and grab your spot on one of the sun loungers.

Bodrum Yali Public Beach, touted by locals as one of the best public beaches in Bodrum, is around a 30-minute drive from Bodrum centre. Here, the Bodrum municipality provides beachgoers with free sun loungers and parasols, as well as shower cubicles and restrooms. The municipality’s beachside cafe serves food and drinks at relatively affordable prices compared to the hotels and restaurants nearby.

Surrounded by lush greenery, Bodrum Yali Public Beach is especially loved by locals for its exceptionally clear waters and clean gravel sand. It’s also popular with families as there’s a playground on site. The beach gets busy on weekends and public holidays in the summer, so get there by 9am to reserve a spot on a free sun lounger.

Ortakent Beach is on the eastern end of the Ortakentyahşi municipality, around 12 km from central Bodrum. The beach is less touristy than the other beaches in the municipality, even though it's lined with boutique hotels and resorts. This perhaps contributes to the cleanliness and beauty the beach is adored for. Various watersports are available here, with windsurfing especially popular.

While you’re in Ortakent, you can also make a splash at Bodrum Aqua Park or check out Dibeklihan Culture and Art Village, both located in Ortakent Town. To get to Ortakent Beach, take the dolmuş (share taxis) that runs every 10–15 minutes from Bodrum to Ortakent-Yahsi. Alight at the dolmuş stop located on the Ortakent side of the beach.

Yalıkavak Public Beach is a pebble beach with clear blue waters on the Kudur Peninsula, around a 30-minute drive from Bodrum's city centre. From the coast, you can take in a view of the Yalikavak Merkez Mosque and the Yalikavak bay. Several superyachts are moored on the marina as it has the deepest bay in Türkiye.

The laidback atmosphere of Yalıkavak Public Beach makes it a pretty decent spot for a picnic, so go get some fresh produce at Yalikavak’s weekly market before making your way here. Sun loungers are free to use, but there aren’t any cushions, so lay your towels on them to get comfy.

Aspat Beach is a private stretch of sand on the foothills of Aspat Hill. It’s also one of the last untouched beaches in Bodrum. On this scenic beach, there’s a dock for beachgoers to jump off into the sea to swim, with fishes visible from the surface. Palm trees lining the beach provide shade from the summer sun.

As you stroll along the beach, you’ll come across dozens of marble statues sculpted by contemporary artists. Besides spending your day on the comfortable sun loungers on wooden platforms or swinging in a hammock, you can go windsurfing or take a sailing lesson with Aspat Sailing School. Entrance to Aspat Beach costs about 80 lira, which includes food or drinks and a sun lounger.

Küdür Public Beach is one of the 2 public beaches in Yalıkavak. It sits on a protruding piece of land on the northern part of Kudur peninsula. Like Yalıkavak Public Beach, its sister beach, Kudur Public Beach is simple and offers a no-frills seaside experience. Locals can be seen barbecuing and picnicking on this beach.

The main difference between these beaches is that instead of facing the marina, Küdür Public Beach faces the Aegean Sea, making it a prime spot for spectacular sunset views. As the beach can get windy and the waters choppy, Küdür Public Beach is ideal for windsurfing. While you’re there, explore the Panormus Rock Caves, located to the left of the beach. 

Karaincir Municipal Beach is a 500-metre white-sand beach within a small village resort around 16 km from Bodrum town. It's tucked in the corner of a cove near Aspat Hill and Koca Point, sheltered by hills on both sides.

The water is clear, calm, shallow and kid-friendly. To have a proper swim, head 100 metres out into the sea for the water to reach shoulder height. While there aren’t sun loungers here, the beach is lined with rows of umbrellas which you can sit or lie under with a towel on the sand. The overwater wooden jetties are also excellent for sunbathing.

Gümüşlük Port Beach is nestled in a seaside village and fishing port that’s set on the ruins of the ancient city of Myndos. On this sandy beach, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the hillsides and the bay, which are protected from future developments. 

Unlike most beaches on the Aegean coast, Gümüşlük Port Beach will remain unspoilt in time to come. You can even walk to Rabbit Island which is inhabited by wild rabbits. Enjoy a delicious seafood dinner in one of the many beachfront restaurants while watching the sunset over the Aegean. Gümüşlük Port Beach is within a 40-minute drive from Bodrum's city centre.