The most glamorous hotels in Bodrum for a trip this summer (or autumn)
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The most glamorous hotels in Bodrum for a trip this summer (or autumn)
On a peninsula stretching from Turkey’s south-west shores all the way to the Aegean, this port city is the perfect choice for an urban break with added sun and sand – and when choosing where to stay, look no further than our edit of the best hotels in Bodrum.
Up there with other glamorous Mediterranean destinations, whether you're checking into the best hotels in Sicily or staying at chic South of France hotels, Bodrum attracts well-heeled travellers to its five-star beach hotels.
The city’s two bays overlook the castle, a medieval fortress that was built using stones from one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World (the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus) – other historical points of note include Didyma, an Ancient Greek sanctuary, the narrow streets of the old town and, a little further afield, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus.
But if you’re coming in search of sun loungers and sundowners, no one’s judging – there are lots of beach towns and resorts to locate and lie horizontal at (buzzy Bodrum is favoured by celebrities for a reason).
The new METT Hotel & Beach Resort Bodrum is a beach club in its own cove on the edge of the Aegean, with views back across to Bodrum’s old town.
Or for classic luxury, check in to the city’s Mandarin Oriental, which has lots of restaurants to choose from, including its own Hakkasan outpost.
Here are the best hotels in Bodrum…
Courtesy of The Bodrum Edition - 2/11
1) Mett Bodrum
In its own cove on the shores of the Aegean, this shiny new beach resort is opposite the old town and just a short drive from the airport. The brand’s full name is ‘Mett Social Living’ and it won’t take long to figure out why – spending time outdoors is encouraged (and with this setting, it’s not hard) and the beach resort is designed for peak conviviality.
If you’re bringing an entourage, book one of the multi-room villas – the blow-out option is the 240 square-metre Villa Ak Ana, which has four bedrooms, its own infinity pool, a terrace, winter garden and views out across to the old town and its ancient fort.Booking.com - 3/11
2) Mandarin Oriental
In the aptly named Paradise Bay, Bodrum’s Mandarin Oriental has a Nikkei restaurant on the beach, a steakhouse and its very own Hakkasan – other dining options include a beach club, cocktail lounge and sushi counter. It’s enough to ensure you stay put, but don’t miss the many restaurants and buzzy bars in the centre of Bodrum.
As is to be expected with this hotel brand, the split-level spa is superlative. There’s a peaceful outdoor pool in the gardens, cabanas overlooking the Aegean and, naturally, several hammams.Courtesy of the hotel - 4/11
3) The Bodrum Edition
On the Turquoise Coast – also affectionately called the Turkish Riviera – the Edition in Bodrum is set across several levels, with terraces leading down to its private beach and jetty. Spend your days on the hammock on your room’s deck, at the spa or at the bottom of the resort on its Aegean shores. It’s hard to choose but the ultimate spot is probably a cabana right at the water’s edge.
The spa has a traditional Turkish hammam, along with a beauty salon to deal with any salty, sun-damaged hair.Courtesy of the hotel - 5/11
4) Caresse, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa
Another Bodrum hotel on the edge of the Aegean, Caresse has made the wise decision of adorning each of its guestrooms with a private terrace or balcony. There are orange sun loungers lined up along the shoreline, or you can set up for the day by the infinity pool, which has an equally good view of the bay.
The view can also be enjoyed with Asian fusion food at the hotel’s Buddha-Bar Beach Bodrum, or shotgun one of the sunken seats on the terrace at the Glass Lounge.© George Fakaros - 6/11
5) Casa dell'Arte
In the fishing village of Torba, just outside the city, Casa dell’Arte is a refined residence for those in search of somewhere quieter to stay. As the name suggests, it has its own art gallery, with works gracing the walls of its sea-facing lounge and cosy corners.
It has a pool in the gardens and a jetty with sun loungers for sunbathing and swims, plus two traditional gulet boats for when you want to set sail – guests can charter them for overnight sailing trips for when being on dry land won’t do.Booking.com - 7/11
6) Kaya Palazzo Resort
To fully appreciate Bodrum’s beachy, sunny life, book a stay at Kaya Palazzo, where some of the rooms have terraces that you can swim to the main pool from. It’s a whole mini village, with cube structures stacked up the hillside, with a beach and jetty at the bottom, plus a restaurant on its own pier.
Entirely unnecessary, but there’s an indoor pool, too. And if you’ve overdone it on the kebabs, there’s a gym with reformer Pilates machines.Booking.com - 8/11
7) Door'a
Door’a bedrooms may be nice, but it’s hard to beat the standalone villas, which are striking even from the outside: the angular modern structures have their own gardens, a private pool and balconies attached to most of the bedrooms. The regular rooms also have sleek, contemporary interiors – and sea views.
Along with a cafe in the lobby, the hotel has a restaurant on the beach, with the prime spot inevitably one of the pairs of sun loungers helpfully set up on the jetty.Booking.com - 9/11
8) The Marmara
As with most of the best hotels in Bodrum, the dealbreakers are a seafront setting and a great pool – the curvy one here forms the Marmara’s centrepiece, with a deck on which to enjoy the views of the city and the bay (there’s a regular rectangle pool, too). Each room has a terrace or balcony, so you can enjoy watching the yachts in the harbour.
Divers can sign up for courses at one of the nearby diving schools, or stay above ground with a trip to the ancient castle, hanging around afterwards for drinks in one of Bodrum’s buzzy bars.Courtesy of the hotel - 10/11
9) Kempinski Hotel Barbaros Bay Bodrum
This resort is on the cliffs of Barbaros Bay, with views of the water in almost every direction. There’s a sandy beach, an infinity pool, a huge spa and several restaurants, spanning the classic Aegean dishes served at Barbarossa, Turkish delights (sorry) at Olives and pan-Asian favourites at Saigon.
The spa has an open-air couples’ treatment room, Ayurvedic rituals and traditional hammams, plus you’ll be able to book packages that include a Turkish bath, massage and facial all at once, for the ultimate indulgence.Courtesy of the hotel - 11/11
10) Voyage Bodrum
This adults-only resort has its own beachfront, with the city centre less than a kilometre away – though you’ll be able to admire the castle without having to leave the hotel. There’s an open-air restaurant with a lovely view of the water, plus pool and beach bars to keep you hydrated as you sunbathe and swim. The hotel also has its own patisserie for ice-cream and cakes on tap.
Rooms are pared-back with white walls and red soft furnishings, the highlight being a sea-facing balcony.Booking.com
