Lazy days on a crescent-shaped beach, shopping at local markets and spectacular sunsets welcome visitors to this laid-back beach resort.
Yalikavak Beach is a picturesque beach resort that stretches around a bay on the Kudur Peninsula. Come here to relax on sandy beaches and browse the stalls of local markets. Dine at traditional and exclusive restaurants or marvel at magnificent sunsets. Inhabited since the Middle Ages and once an important fishing port, Yalikavak Beach offers an alluring mix of traditional charm and modern comforts.
The beach sprawls around a long bay that looks out to the Aegean Sea. Beach lounge chairs and umbrellas are available for rent at several points along the beach. Try your hand at watersports such as windsurfing. Walk to the end of one of the jetties and watch local men fishing. Join a boat tour from the small harbor and visit some of the secluded bays of the Kudur Peninsula.
Stroll along the waterfront to the modern Yalikavak Marina, where luxury yachts sparkle in the Turkish sunshine. The marina is home to a small amphitheater, which hosts open-air movie nights and occasional live music events. Sample local cuisine at the taverns and luxury restaurants that line the waterfront. Sip on a glass of aniseed-flavored raki liqueur or order a meze, which is a selection of small appetizers.
Take a break from the beach and explore the quiet streets of Yalikavak town. Find independent art galleries, souvenir shops and then check out the town mosque, characterized by its whitewashed façade and tall minarets. Come on a Thursday when the town hosts its weekly bazar. Barter with the vendors for fresh fruit, cheeses, spices and olives, among other things.
Walk up into the hills behind the town to see a set of old windmills. They present good photo opportunities, with the beach and bay in the background. It’s a 20-minute walk to here from the town center.
Yalikavak Beach sits on Kudur Peninsula, on the westernmost coast of Turkey’s Bodrum peninsula. It’s about a 30-minute drive from the town of Bodrum. Local buses travel regularly between the beach and the center of Bodrum. While here be sure to visit the nearby beaches. The secluded Dodo Beach and Xuma Beach are both less than 1-hour walks via the coastline of Yalikavak.
