Things To Do in Gumbet

This place only opened recently but word of mouth is spreading already. The menu serves up a varied mix of Turkish and European dishes. And the kitchen is open, so you can watch the chefs cooking your meal to order. The peppered fillet steak comes recommended, or if you’re up for trying something more authentically Turkish, the kofta kebabs are a winner.

If nightlife is a priority for you, you’re in the right place – Gumbet has more bars per square metre than any other town in Turkey. It’s not hard to find them, either – just head to the aptly named Bar Street for live-music venues and late-night clubs. You’ll be in good company – Mick Jagger, Richard Branson and Pamela Anderson have all been spotted partying here.

When the owner and staff at this Bar Street institution aren’t busy keeping your glass topped up, they’ll be keeping you entertained with their Turkish dance moves and cocktail tricks. Arrive early if you’re planning to bring your kids along – the dancing can get pretty racy after 10pm.

This popular beachside haunt is open from 8am until 3am. During the day, you can watch football on the big screens, or bag one of the loungers outside and make the most of the table service. The atmosphere at night gets altogether livelier, with regular karaoke going down a storm. There’s a big choice of songs, so you’re bound to find one of your favourites.

Gumbet’s mini market on Sunday is a chance for foodies to go native. Try the tulum and mature kasar cheeses, and feast your eyes on the piles of olives and fruit. While you’re there, have a go at bartering for clothes and tablecloths, too – buying in sterling brings prices down even more.

The name over the door says it all. Sahin, the owner and head chef, welcomes his customers like family. And given the number of repeat visits, his hospitality isn’t just a flash in the pan. Casseroles compete for attention with T-bone steaks and seafood – and that’s not to mention Sahin’s Turkish dancing.

Leave the main street behind and head out to the cheaper back-road restaurants on the way to Bodrum Town. The stuffed vegetables, meze, kebabs and kofte – meatballs – are worth the detour. And Turkish restaurants are happy to tweak their traditional menu for the kids.

The shops behind the waterfront stay open late – all night, in some cases. They’re the ideal place to find your gifts and souvenirs, or you can try Tuesday’s craft market. Retail highlights here include the silverware and leather goods, along with the local textiles. Don’t be shy about haggling, either – and if you pay in sterling, prices are often even cheaper.

Gumbet prides itself on being one of Turkey’s top watersports centres. Here you can frolic on banana boats and ringos, or try your hand at windsurfing or paragliding. You’ve also got a handful of top diving locations, including the Big Reef, where barracuda and parrot fish lurk. And for another good day out, you can take a boat trip to nearby Black Island.

There are daily boat trips from Gumbet beach to neaby Kargi Bay – known to everybody as Camel Beach. Here, the sands are golden and the waters so clear you can watch the fish dart around your ankles. Back on land, the atmosphere is lively, with music playing at the beach bars. And, yes, there are camel rides – head to the jetties south of the main bay, and you can’t miss them.