Sharm el-Sheikh is an Egyptian resort town on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula. It’s very modern and has tons of restaurants and entertainment, several possibilities for tours and adventures, decent beaches, and all-inclusive resorts on the crystal clear Red Sea if you just want to relax.
The tiny fishing village of Gümüşlük has retained its charm by limiting development. My Turkish friends told me to visit in the afternoon to eat very reasonably priced fish at one of the restaurants up against the harbor. I took my family there when they came to visit one day during their cruise ship stop in Bodrum.
The Greek island of Kos (Κως) is a popular tourist destination in the Aegean Sea, just across from the Turkish resort town of Bodrum. Many tourists make day trips to and from Bodrum.
Turgutreis is a modern resort town named after the Ottoman admiral Turgut Reis, who was born there to a Greek family in 1485. The town was originally known as Karatoprak until it was renamed in honor of Turgut Reis in 1972.
Most people go to Bodrum to relax, enjoy the sun and sea, and party. While all of those are great reasons to visit, Bodrum’s city center has a long and colorful history with some decent archaeological sites, a Crusader castle, and a bazaar to keep you busy for a day.
The real beauty of Bozcaada is not found within the town limits. To really appreciate this small, charming island, you must explore the interior, the vineyards, the beaches, and its many coves. The best way to do this is to rent a bicycle or scooter and set off from the town. It’s impossible to get lost!
