Natalie Any useful Turgutreis area guide must start by emphasising the town’s importance, not only on the Bodrum peninsula but also for Turkey’s holiday and foreign real estate markets. Even though in recent years, neighbouring Yalikavak has overshadowed it, it remains a popular summer destination for British holidaymakers.
Many Brits have bought property there, and either use it as a summer second home or to live there all year round. Its thriving tourism and real estate market also show no signs of dying down. This popularity differs vastly from how it was 50 years ago. Locals relied on fishing and sponge diving for an income, and it was not until mainstream tourism took off, that foreigners started visiting.
Turgutreis Area Guide
These days, as the Bodrum peninsula’s second largest town, locals have easy access to a variety of shops, restaurants, bars, banks, and health facilities as well as frequent transport links around town and to other resorts.
Named after an Ottoman admiral, if you haven’t already been, it’s worth visiting to see for yourself what all the hype is about. Hotel accommodation is plentiful, either by opting for a basic bed-and-breakfast or all inclusive. A popular choice for large groups though is to rent a villa, or penthouse apartment and go self-catering, so, at night, you can taste your way around the world in many restaurants.
Where is Turgutreis in Turkey?
Turgutreis, on Turkey’s western coast belongs to the Aegean region, but is also part of the large Bodrum peninsula, a top touristic area in the country. Getting there from other countries is easy during summer because Bodrum airport sits just 60 kilometres away. They dial down their flying schedule after October, but during this time, locals use Izmir either for direct flights or connections via Istanbul.
Car drivers should follow the main D300 highway coming into the peninsula, as Turgutreis is at the ending point. People arriving by bus should first head to Bodrum’s town bus station (otogar) and from there, catch a connecting and smaller dolmus bus.
Best Things to do In the Turgutreis Area
Without a doubt, a big lure is its long 5-kilometre sandy beach, where water sports like parasailing and windsurfing are also available. Turgutreis has another feather in its cap though. At sunset, head to beach-side restaurants, grab an ice-cold beer and front row seats to a fantastic sunset view of Turkey.
Saturdays are the highlight of the community agenda when everyone flocks to the local weekly market. For first-time visitors to Turkey, this experience is an eye opener as you practise your bargaining skills on souvenirs.
A popular thing to do is a lazy day boat cruise around the coastline in which you visit small, hidden coves and bays for swimming breaks. Eat a BBQ lunch on board, and for families, kids enjoy seeing a different aspect aside from the hotels swimming pool. These boat trips leave every day from the harbour, or to swap cultures for a day, catch a ferry to Greek islands like Kos or Kalymnos from the marina.
Otherwise, companies in resort sell tours and excursions for scuba diving, horse riding, the nearby water park, and major tourist attractions of Turkey like Ephesus and Pamukkale, a 3-hour drive away. We love hiring a car to explore surrounding areas and resorts like rustic Gumusluk and its famous seaside fish restaurants.
Turgutreis D Marin
The ultramodern marina, a significant landmark brings in even more tourists and visitors via sea. You don’t have to own a yacht to see it though. Wandering around shops, and sitting marina side is an enjoyable and lazy afternoon.
Many yachts whose destination is the upmarket Turkbuku resort, often stop by this marina. Its fame and reputation in recent years have been overtaken by the neighbouring superyacht Palmarina in Yalikavak, but it’s still a central point for yachts sailing the Aegean Turkish Riviera.
Best Time to Visit the Turgutreis Area
The primary tourism season runs from May to October, and this is the best time for a holiday because beaches are clean, restaurants have full menus and bars put on entertainment.
July, August and the first half of September are sweltering with temperatures sometimes reaching the high 40s, so this time is ideal for rest, relaxing and soaking up those Turkish sun rays.
People who enjoy hiking and exploring would do well to visit in April, May, June, October, and November. The rainy season happens from January to February, so avoid holidaying during these months.
Buying Property in Turgutreis and Bodrum
Turgutreis is an ideal location for people who want to buy property in Turkey because it has much to offer including a beachside lifestyle, mass of leisure pursuits, a relaxed, laidback pace of life, and doorstep amenities and facilities. Email, call us or use our chat messaging feature to request a portfolio of homes for sale, or see our extensive Bodrum property portfolio here.
Bodrum Towns for Expats: This Turgutreis area guide aims to show what attracts foreign house buyers to the region, but in this article, we also look at other popular towns for an expat and beach-side lifestyle.
Why Buy Property in Bodrum? Foreign house buyers have thousands of destinations to choose from in Turkey, but we look at why the region stands out over others.
