Bodrum Districts, Neighborhoods, and Map: Which Town Suits Whom?

The topic that confuses first-time visitors to Bodrum the most is this: Bodrum districts None of the searched places — Yalıkavak, Turgutreis, Gümüşlük, Bitez, Türkbükü — are actually districts. Bodrum itself is a district of Muğla; all of these names are neighborhood. But these neighborhoods were separate towns with their own municipalities until 2014, and the locals still refer to them as ’belde“.

This guide answers two questions at once: what is Bodrum's administrative structure really like, and Map of Bodrum You are on the right page if you are wondering which resort town is where, on which coast, and suits whom, or if you are choosing a place to stay or thinking, “Which side should I stay on?”.

Last update: August 2026

Does Bodrum have districts? The correct administrative structure

Short answer: No. Bodrum is a district; it does not have districts, it has neighborhoods.

Bodrum is one of the 13 districts of Muğla province. In the administrative hierarchy, a neighborhood is below a district. Therefore, places searched as “Bodrum districts” such as Yalıkavak, Turgutreis, Gümüşlük, Ortakent, Göltürkbükü, Gündoğan, Bitez, Konacık, and Mumcular today with the status of a neighborhood.

Then why does everyone talk about them like a town? Because they once were.

What changed: Law No. 6360

adopted in 2012 and taking effect with the March 30, 2014 local elections Law No. 6360, made Muğla a metropolitan municipality. In provinces that became metropolitan municipalities:

• The provincial border has become the municipal border
• The legal personality of town municipalities was abolished.
• The legal entity status of the villages was abolished, and all of them were turned into neighborhoods.
• The provincial special administration was abolished.

before 2014 in the Bodrum district 11 different municipalities There was: the Bodrum Municipality and ten town municipalities. Since March 30, 2014, the entire peninsula has been administered by a single Bodrum Municipality. Every town and every village turned into a neighborhood with its own headman (muhtar). Bodrum, from this regulation, 42 neighborhoods It came out with.

14 new neighborhoods in 2015

In December 2015, the Bodrum Municipal Council divided nine of its growing neighborhoods and 14 new neighborhoods created. Total 56‘came out and is still at this number today.

The 56 neighborhoods of Bodrum

According to Bodrum Municipality's neighborhood headman records, the complete alphabetical list:

Akçaalan · Akyarlar · Bahçelievler · Bahçeyaka · Bitez · Cevat Şakir · Cumhuriyet · Çamarası · Çamlık · Çarşı · Çırkan · Çiftlik · Çömlekçi · Dağbelen · Dereköy · Dirmil · Eskiçeşme · Farilya · Geriş · Gökpınar · Gölbaşı · Gölköy · Gümbet · Gümüşlük · Gündoğan · Gürece · Güvercinlik · İslamhaneleri · Karabağ · Karaova · Kemer · Kızılağaç · Konacık · Koyunbaba · Kumbahçe · Kumköy · Küçükbük · Mazıköy · Mumcular · Müskebi · Peksimet · Pınarlıbelen · Sazköy · Tepecik (Bodrum) · Tepecik (Karaova) · Torba · Turgutreis · Türkbükü · Türkkuyusu · Umurca · Yahşi · Yakaköy · Yalıkavak · Yeniköy · Yeniköy (Karaova) · Yokuşbaşı

There is a striking detail in the list: in Bodrum two Tepecik and two Yeniköy It exists, they are separated on the official list with the suffix Karaova. It is not a data error, it is a real situation.

The area that visitors call “Bodrum center” actually it consists of these neighborhoods: Çarşı, Kumbahçe, Eskiçeşme, Türkkuyusu, Umurca, Cumhuriyet, Yokuşbaşı, Cevat Şakir, and İslamhaneleri. The Castle and the bazaar are in Çarşı Neighborhood; the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus is in Tepecik; the Ancient Theater is in Yeniköy.

Bodrum map: what is on which coast?

The most practical way to understand the Bodrum Peninsula is to divide it into three coasts. Each coast has its own wind, sea, and character.

Southern coast towns

West coast towns

North coast towns

inland neighborhoods

How long does it take to cross the peninsula from end to end?

The Bodrum peninsula is smaller than thought. In terms of highway distances:

Bodrum population: on paper and in the summer

According to TurkStat's 2025 address-based population results The population of Bodrum district is 207,196. Son on yılda yaklaşık %29 artmış; her yıl 4.000–5.000 kişi ekleniyor.

But the real picture is very different. According to the Bodrum Mayor's statement in 2025, the summer population To 1.1 million is reaching — approximately of the registered population 5.4 times. In the local press, when including undocumented residents and year-round vacation homeowners even the winter population is 400–450 thousand It is stated to be.

In summary: 207 thousand on paper, actually 400–450 thousand in winter, 1.1 million in August. This is the single sentence behind the traffic, water, and parking problems on the peninsula.

Intercity transportation: is a car necessary?

First, let's separate the two bus stations

This is the topic that surprises newcomers the most:

• Bodrum Bus Station (New / Torba) — Opened in 2021 intercity The terminal is in Torba neighborhood. Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir buses and airport shuttles arrive here. There are 21 bus and 45 minibus platforms, open 24 hours.
• Old Bus Station (Cevat Şakir Street) — about 1 km to the castle. Heading to the towns of the minibuses This is the practical center.

Line structure: all roads lead through Bodrum

Bodrum's dolmus network radial from the center outwardAll routes of Turgutreis, Yalıkavak, Gümüşlük, Gündoğan, Göltürkbükü, Akyarlar, Bağla, Torba, Gümbet, Bitez, Yalıçiftlik, Güvercinlik, Mumcular and Mazı depart from Bodrum.

The only major error bypassing this: Turgutreis – Göltürkbükü. Turgutreis functions as a second transfer center in the west.

So, is a car necessary?

No — but it depends on where you are staying.

If you are staying in Bodrum center, Gümbet, Bitez, Ortakent, Turgutreis, Yalıkavak, Göltürkbükü, or Torba, the dolmuş network is frequent enough (every 10–30 minutes, roughly from 06:30 to 24:00, later in the summer). You will be perfectly fine without a car.

If you are staying in Yalıçiftlik, Kızılağaç, Mazıköy, Çamlık, Mumcular, or in a villa outside a village center, a car is practically a must.

From the airport There are no direct buses to any town.; shuttle services come to the bus station, and transfers are made from there. This is why those going to Turgutreis, Gümüşlük, Yalıkavak, and Göltürkbükü choose transfers or taxis. For details on how to get to Bodrum to our Bodrum transportation guide You can take a look.

Which region is suitable for whom?

If you would like to compare the accommodation side in more detail Bodrum Hotels Guide It is gathering options region by region for beach selection. To our guide to Bodrum beaches, to eat to our Bodrum restaurants guide You can take a look.

The peninsula's market calendar

Every town in Bodrum has its own market day, and these are at the center of local life. Timing a trip to a town to coincide with market day is a completely different experience from seeing the same place on an ordinary day.

Sundays can vary depending on the season; it is a good idea to confirm locally before going. For the complete list of neighborhood markets and what to buy where to our Bodrum district markets guide You can take a look.

If this is your first time visiting: 5-day regional program

Exploring the peninsula region by region makes much more sense than rushing to a different end every day. In the summer traffic, this difference translates to hours.

Airport, transfer, and peninsula entrance

Milas-Bodrum Airport (BJV) is on the east of the peninsula, entered from the direction of Torba.

Published sources on airport distances do not match; there are differences of up to 10 km depending on the measurement point. The rough ranking is as follows:

For all transportation details — including flight, bus, ferry, and transfer options — to our Bodrum transportation guide Look.

Coastline selection: the same peninsula, three different seas

In Bodrum, there is no single answer to the question “How is the sea?” Depending on which coast you go to, you experience three distinct experiences, and this determines the character of your vacation more than your beach choice.

To compare the beaches one by one To our guide to Bodrum beaches, for free options to our list of free beaches You can take a look.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many districts does Bodrum have?

Bodrum does not have districts. Bodrum itself is one of the 13 districts of Muğla province and administratively consists of 56 neighborhoods. Places like Yalıkavak, Turgutreis, and Gümüşlük, which the public refers to as “districts” or “towns,” have held neighborhood status since 2014.

How many neighborhoods does Bodrum have?

56. This number first reached 42 in 2014 when towns and villages were converted into neighborhoods, then rose to 56 in December 2015 with the division of nine large neighborhoods, and has remained the same since that day.

Why were the town municipalities abolished in Bodrum?

Since Muğla became a metropolitan municipality with Law No. 6360, the legal entities of town municipalities and villages in metropolitan provinces are abolished. The practice entered into force with the March 30, 2014 local elections; since that date, the entire peninsula has been governed by a single Bodrum Municipality.

Which side is better to stay on in Bodrum?

It depends on what you want. The south coast (Gümbet, Bitez, Ortakent) is for shallow sandy beaches and families; the west coast (Turgutreis, Gümüşlük, Yalıkavak) is for sunsets, wind, and food; the north coast (Torba, Türkbükü, Gündoğan) is for peace and luxury. Keep in mind that in some bays in the north, access to the sea is from a pier rather than sand.

Is it essential to rent a car in Bodrum?

If you are staying in Merkez, Gümbet, Bitez, Ortakent, Turgutreis, Yalıkavak, Göltürkbükü, or Torba, it is not essential; the dolmuş network is frequent enough. In places like Yalıçiftlik, Mazıköy, and Mumcular, or in villas outside the villages, a car is practically a necessity.

What is the population of Bodrum?

According to TURKSTAT 2025 data, the official population is 207,196. However, in the summer months, this number reaches 1.1 million, and it is stated that even the winter population is 400-450 thousand, including unregistered residents.

Can I tour the peninsula in a day?

Geographically yes — about 45 minutes end-to-end. But in July–August traffic, these times can double. You can comfortably visit at most two or three towns in a single day; the distances between neighboring towns are very short (Bitez–Ortakent 5 mins, Gölköy–Türkbükü 4 mins).