Lady’s Yalikavak, Turkey Travel Guide

Today I want to share my guide to Yalikavak, Turkey with you. This under-the-radar gem on the Turkish Riviera near Bodrum is a great place to soak up the sun by the Aegean Sea.

Yalikavak, Turkey

The shiny marina is the place to be in the summer season on the Turkish Riviera. Shops selling luxury goods and expensive coffee are interspersed with fountains fronted by yachts.

Outdoor art galleries sit under sparkling canopies, and restaurants offering al fresco dining are as open for business at the end of the high season as they were at the beginning. This is Yalikavak, Turkey, a hot spot on the Turkish Riviera.

Yalikavak Hotel

My friend and I discover Yalikavak by accident. We are staying at the Sandima 37 Suites Hotel, a boutique property on the hill above the town.

They’ve generously put us up in their honeymoon suite for two nights and the staff has taken good care of us.

The manager recommends that on our last day in Bodrum we visit Yalikavak to explore the traditional narrow streets and marina. We take his advice, and we’re glad we do.

Things to Do in Yalikavak, Turkey

Our first impression of Yalikavak is a positive one. As soon as we step out of the car, a friendly Golden Retriever runs up to say hello. As dog lovers, we take it as a sign of good things to come.

And they do. As we walk along the Yalikavak marina beside the yachts, we pop into some of the shops in the sparkling complex. My friend finds a dress to buy, and we settle down to lunch at a restaurant on the waterfront.

Plates of eggplant with Parmesan are followed by green linguine with prosciutto and bechamel sauce. The friendly manager offers us Bellinis on the house, and we enjoy the meal while admiring the spectacular view of the bay.

But Yalikavak has more to it than just the marina. Leaving the yachts behind, we walk along the waterfront to the narrow covered streets of the traditional part of town.

Souvenir shops jostle for space with open-air cafes and bars, many of them filled with local men smoking and whiling the Sunday away. Walking among them are stray kittens and dogs, all of whom seem happy and well-fed.

Walking back to the waterfront, we find ourselves passing small beaches in Yalikavak lined with colorful umbrellas and lounge chairs, most of them empty with the impending arrival of autumn.

If not for the warm sunny weather, we might have thought the high season had officially ended already.

But there’s still a bit of time left, and my friend and I still have a bit of time left at our hotel. After a quick taxi ride, we’re back up on the hill admiring the views of Yalikavak from our balcony.

Inside, we sit in the living room where we enjoyed a huge in-room breakfast of Turkish omelettes, cheese, toast, olives, and other local fare that morning. The room is spacious and cozy, as are the adjoining bedroom and massive bathroom.

We don’t get a chance to use the Sandima 37 swimming pool or garden on this trip, as the weather isn’t quite warm enough, but we admire them from above as we watch the sunset on the Turkish Riviera.

It’s a spectacular sight, and the perfect way to say good-bye to Yalikavak and the Bodrum Peninsula before traveling back to London.

Yalikavak, Turkey

I hope you’ve enjoyed this guide to Yalikavak, Turkey and that it’s inspired you to visit the Turkish Riviera yourself someday. It’s a great place to travel and offers a fun mix of old and new.

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