Cappadocia & Bodrum, Turkey
A country that truly did not disappoint was Turkey, and till now it stands as the most beautiful country I’ve visited. We started off our trip in Bodrum and Cappadocia, and later made our way to Istanbul (I’ll save Istanbul for its own blog).
Turkey uses the Turkish Lira. It was a lot easier to use cash when we were out and about, especially in taxis. I brought the equivalent of 100 USD a day. They use the F-type plug, with 230V. This convertor is compatible with any country you visit.
Bodrum
Located in the southwest of Turkey, Bodrum is a captivating coastal town recognized for its stunning beaches, lively nightlife, and fascinating history. Situated on the Bodrum Peninsula, it offers sweeping views of the blue waters of the Aegean Sea, making it a hot spot for travelers seeking sun, fun, and culture. People tend to call it the Mykonos of Turkey with stunning beaches and lots of nightlife options.
For all those who love to shop and eat, Bodrum offers luxury shopping opportunities, and fun restaurants. Although Turkey is relatively cheap for Americans, it's important to note that Bodrum is more expensive than most other cities in the country, and is a magnet to elite individuals and celebrities. Note - Bodrum’s summer season is June-August, and this is when most of the crowds and DJs will be around.
Cappadocia
Now if you move closer to central Turkey, you’ll make your way to Cappadocia. Known for its stunning hot air balloon display, rock formations, and ancient cave dwellings carved into soft volcanic rock, it is definitely not a city to miss. Apart from these natural wonders, Cappadocia is also known to be the center of early Christianity. I’ll go more into the history later.
What You’ll Find:
Taxis in Turkey
If you need a ride share service on the fly, you can usually find cabs to hail on the street. Make sure they use the meter once the ride starts so you don’t get scammed.
Getting into Cappadocia
We flew into Kayseri airport (ASR). Keep in mind that the drive from Kayseri to Goreme, where the hotels are located, is a little bit over an hour. You can arrange this through your hotel or book one here.
Cave Hotels
Cappadocia is renowned for its unique cave hotels, which stand as a prominent feature of the region. In almost any photo you see of Cappadocia, you’ll be able to spot “fairy chimneys”. They are cone shaped rock formations that were formed over the years, and when three volcanoes in the region began erupting.
The hotels are nestled within the ancient underground cities, originally constructed by early Christians during the Byzantine era to seek refuge from persecution. Despite remaining untouched for half a century, the caves were transformed into luxurious boutique accommodations, with the first establishment emerging in 2002.
The hotels are truly stunning, and the hospitality from the staff was unmatched. We stayed at Mithra Cave Hotel, and booked their Suite Cave Room. The view for the morning balloons was perfect, and the included breakfast was delicious! We booked our hotel transfer directly through the hotel. One thing to note when considering the length of your stay is that the hot air balloons only go up if the weather is good. I’d recommend staying at least two nights, in case the balloons don’t go up. They actually only went up one of the two mornings we were there.
Here are some other hotels we were considering:
Activities in Cappadocia
Apart from its rich history to be explored, there’s a ton of other activities to do.
Hot Air Balloon Rides - This is probably the most popular thing to do here. As the sun rises over Cappadocia's insane landscape, you'll be treated to panoramic views of the rock formations and picturesque valleys. Note that if the weather isn’t ideal for the balloons, they will cancel in the morning. It may be worth discussing that possibility with the company you’re booking with/ booking for more than one morning. Here are some options for booking:
Hot Air Balloon Views - Every cave hotel will have patios for viewing the balloons, and even a little breakfast set up for photos. This is what my friends and I decided to do instead of riding the balloons. You will feel like you’re in a movie, the views are surreal! If you want to leave the hotel, you can book this hot air balloon viewing experience, which is much more affordable than riding the balloon itself.
ATVs - Another highlight for us was the ATV ride that hits some Cappadocia hot spots. It’s about two hours and get prepared to get very sandy! Here is one that’s similar to the one we booked. We started off at Love Valley, drove by Cavusin Village, then to Girls Monastery, and lastly watched an unreal sunset at Rose Valley.
Göreme Open Air Museum - This is probably Cappadocia’s most popular tourist attraction. The area contains several churches and a labyrinth of monasteries. It was founded by Bishoy Kayseri in the 4th century as a religious education center, and St. Basil’s teachings were first taught here. Apart from its history, the rock caves are something you should definitely see if you have the time.
Göreme Panoramic View Point - If you want more views of the city, this is the place you want to go. You can book a driver through your hotel to get a panoramic glimpse of the beauty of Cappadocia.
Lake Tuz - An hour and a half away from Cappadocia is Lake Tuz, a pink salt lake- and yes it’s pink! It does dry up in the summer months, so avoid it then.
Music Festivals - A lot of events happen in Cappadocia, be sure to check if there’s any music festivals happening during your trip!
Getting into Bodrum
After island hopping the Greek Islands, we took a ferry from Mykonos (with a stop in Kos), and made our way to Bodrum’s port. If you need to fly in, you can book a flight into Milas-Bodrum Airport (BJV). If you’re coming from Istanbul, there is also a ferry that makes its way to the Bodrum port as well.
Where to Stay in Bodrum
For some context, we stayed in Bodrum for 4 days, giving us enough time to explore and see different parts of the city.
Bodrum is a collection of 5 bays-
Gundogan - North Shore of Bodrum, clean beaches, and lots of villas available for booking.
Turkbuku - Here you’ll find some of Bodrum’s best hotels and nightlife.
Gumusluk - If you like your Michelin restaurants, and eating with a view, you’ll want to come here.
Yalikavak - A modern Marina with luxurious shopping, restaurants, beaches, and cafe’s.
Merkez - Bodrum’s city center and most touristy spot.
Some accommodation options are:
No 81 Hotel - This is where I stayed in Turkbuku. The service was perfect, and we got access to the hotel’s beach club, with an included Turkish breakfast that was to die for. The price was also super reasonable considering the other surrounding options.
Macakizi Bodrum - A 5-star hotel in Turkbuku, you’re bound to have an incredible stay at Macakizi. They have a stunning beach club we ended up going to (note- there is a minimum spend per person).
The Bodrum EDITION - Gorgeous hotel in Yalikavak, part of the EDITION hotel chain.
Airbnb’s - You’ll find a ton of villas and apartments for rent on airbnb for very reasonable prices!
Eating in Bodrum
Gunaydin - A steakhouse on the Yalikavak marina. The photos will have you drooling.
Cookshop - Large variety of food- open early and till late.
Memedof - A beautiful waterfront seafood and meze restaurant with sunset views
Nusr-Et - The famous salt-bae restaurant, and also in his home country! Known to be an expensive steakhouse, you can cheat the system and get the cheapest prices at any of the Turkey locations.
Zuma - Another restaurant, with locations all over the world, Zuma is a delicious Japanese restaurant right on the marina with a DJ at night and scenic views.
Miam - Turkish restaurant with good food, cocktails, and music.
Bodrum Manti - A Turkish restaurant. Make sure to try the Manti (Turkish ravioli), a mini dumpling stuffed with lamb and topped with different sauces.
Mimoza Gümüşlük - Gorgeous restaurant right on the water that gives off Greece vibes.
Things to Do in Bodrum
Beach Clubs/ Nightlife -
Bodrum Edition - An aesthetically pleasing hotel and beach club (although isn’t everything aesthetically pleasing in Bodrum?)
Macakizi Bodrum - I mentioned this one earlier. One of the most stunning beach clubs with incredible service. The grounds are modern and clean- great for a photo op, food is delicious, and they’re known for their satsuma lemonade.
Flamm Beach - A beach club situated in Turkbuku that’s a relaxing beach spot in the daytime, and a party at nighttime.
Kuum Beach Club - A hotel and spa, with a beautiful beach club, with peaceful mornings and party evenings.
Xuma Beach - One of the most famous beach clubs in Bodrum. There’s always famous DJs hosted here, so come grab a cocktail for a night out.
Yacht Rentals - With the stunning Aegean Sea, a yacht rental is a must - especially if you’re in a group. I’ve linked one local business, but you can find a ton of options on Google.
Vineyard - 25 minutes away from Bodrum is Karnas vineyards, a beautiful family owned vineyard where you can taste and shop for wines.
Hot Springs - In Karaada Hot Springs, you can get a quick dip in some mineral water which is amazing for the skin. It will smell like sulfur!
Castle of St. Peter - A castle nestled on Bodrum’s bay where each tower was built in the 15th century by knights from England, France, Germany, and Italy. After it was complete, the Ottomans seized it and made it a mosque.
Bodrum City Center/Bodrum Bazaar - Head to the city center and bazaar for shopping and exploring.
Music Festivals/ DJs - There’s a ton of DJs and music festivals that happen in Bodrum, so be sure to check before you head over.
