Gümüşlük

Gümüşlük sits over the site of Myndos, a Carian and later Greek harbour town, and the ruins are the reason building has been restricted here: the bay is a protected archaeological zone, so the village escaped the development that covered the rest of the Bodrum peninsula. Sections of the ancient harbour wall lie a metre or two under the water across the bay, visible from a boat or while swimming, and more remains are scattered in the fields behind. The village itself is a single row of fish restaurants along the shore, several with tables set directly on the sand at the water's edge, which is what people come for - a long evening meal with feet more or less in the sea. A causeway of stones runs out to Tavşan Adası, Rabbit Island, walkable in shallow water with more ruins on it. There is a small artists' and music scene, and since 2004 the Gümüşlük International Classical Music Festival has been held from July to September in the ancient stone quarries at Koyunbaba; sunset here is the best on the peninsula.

What you'll find

• The sunken walls - Myndos harbour stone under the shallows.
• The shoreline tables - restaurants with seating on the sand.
• The causeway - the stone walk to Rabbit Island.
• The sunset - the west-facing bay at the peninsula's tip.

When to go

May to June and September to October. Evenings for dinner and sunset; August fills the village and the restaurants book out.

Practical notes

Restaurants are priced well above the Bodrum average, and the waterfront tables carry a premium. The bay is a protected site - do not remove or stand on the submerged stonework. Parking is very limited in season.

Nearby

Bodrum and its castle are 25 km east; Yalıkavak and the peninsula's other bays are north.

Key facts