Your essential guide to Bodrum

UNWIND

When in Paradise Bay, the first thing to do is have a swim. Set on a long, gently curving crescent of sand, Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum is perfectly placed for a dip. Test the waters in the glinting Aegean, then summon a cool drink on the deck at the Blue Beach Club & Bar.

SWOOP

Get your bearings with a private sea-plane tour, taking off from the bay. It offers an exhilarating overview of the peninsula and its epic scenery, from the brilliant blue of the Aegean, dotted with tiny sails, to the wooded hills and mountains that rise behind the coast.

SEE

It’s just over half an hour’s drive to Dibeklihan Culture and Art Village. Inspired by Ottoman-era hans (resting-places for travellers), it’s a charming cluster of galleries, cafés and boutiques, whose old stone courtyard sometimes hosts jazz musicians and summer film screenings. Sip a Turkish coffee or lunch in Ru Bodrum’s shady courtyard: artichoke salad, perhaps, or a signature sous-vide kebab.

FEAST

Come the evening, head to Hakkasan, whose lattice-screened deck perches above the sea. Seasonally opening and completely open air, it makes for a memorable dinner, with its water’s-edge tables, low-lit bar and trio of private cabanas. Its modern Cantonese menu is flawless, from chilli-laced soft-shell crab to truffle-roasted duck.

SHOP

Held on different days across the peninsula, markets offer the chance to tap into local life, whether you’re tasting farm-fresh goat’s cheese or shopping for flat-woven Turkish towels. The larger markets can be chaotic, so consider somewhere smaller – like the Wednesday market in Ortakent, with its pine honey and organic olives.

PLAY

The hotel’s private beaches and calm waters are perfect for water sports, from paddleboarding to scuba diving. Alternatively, ask at the desk for a map of jogging routes with a view, or borrow a racket and hone your serve on the courts overlooking the bay.

EAT

The local seafood is a standout, from sea urchin and sole to wild sea bass. In Bodrum, claim a courtyard table at Ege’de Maya and feast on precision-grilled octopus and homemade mezze. For daring tasting plates, Orfoz is the place, with a menu that might run from house-smoked eel to grilled oysters with Parmesan.

EXPLORE

The crusading Knights of St John came to Bodrum in the 15th century and built the square-set Castle of St Peter on a rocky outcrop. Now, it’s home to the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, whose exhibits run from elegant Byzantine amphorae to shipwreck-salvaged jewellery and cannons.

DRINK

In the past few decades, the region’s wine-making tradition has seen a real resurgence. There are myriad boutique vineyards to explore, but family-owned Karnas Vineyards is particularly worthy of note. Call in for a tasting of its low-intervention wines, which include some exceptional Zinfandels and Syrahs.

DISCOVER

In central Bodrum, a prominent local family converted its former home into Zai Yasam, a sleek cultural centre. Punctuated with works from the family’s private collection, it’s a serenely lovely place, from the sculpture-dotted gardens to the library, screening room and café. To keep the peace intact, only over-15s are allowed.

SHOP

Turkey may be renowned for its carpets, but the craft is in danger of dying out. In the hilltop village of Etrim, just inland from Bodrum, locals have been fighting to keep it alive since the 1980s. The finished pieces are beautifully made: woven on outdoor looms, from hand-dyed yarns.

EXPLORE

Combine your stay on the Turkish Riviera with a day or two in Istanbul, just over an hour’s flight away. Check in to Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus, Istanbul on the waterfront, then explore this rich-layered city, dotted with Ottoman palaces, mosques and bazaars.

The Leleges were the earliest known settlers of Bodrum. They thrived between 1000 and 400 BC, building nine cities on the mountain tops. Surviving ruins include Pedasa, in the wooded hills above Bodrum, with its watchtower and ancient drystone walls. It’s one of the remarkable sites along the Leleg Way, a seven-stage hiking trail that winds through the hills and mountains. Bring walking boots, water and supplies to tackle a signposted section.

- The concierge team at Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum.