Bozburun is the antidote to Marmaris. 43km south-west of Marmaris along a winding mountain road, this small fishing village of 2,000 people has no nightclubs, no Bar Street, and no mega-resorts. What it has is one of Turkey's last working gulet boatyards, extraordinary fish restaurants, and a harbour that looks exactly as it did 50 years ago. This is Turkish coastal life at its most authentic.
What Makes Bozburun Special
Bozburun is one of Turkey's most important gulet-building centres. The traditional wooden Blue Cruise boats that you'll see anchored in Marmaris marina were almost certainly built here, in boatyards that have passed the craft from father to son for generations.
The village is also the embarkation/disembarkation point for the southern section of the classic Marmaris–Fethiye Blue Cruise route. Many gulet crews treat Bozburun as their home port, which gives it an authentic maritime culture completely absent in more touristy resorts.
6 Things to Do in Bozburun
1. Watch the Gulet Builders
Bozburun has been building traditional wooden gulets for over 60 years. Several boatyards are still active and welcome curious visitors. Watch craftsmen work on vessels that will eventually sail the Blue Cruise.
2. Swim from Gulet Coves
The bays around Bozburun are only accessible by boat. Hire a small wooden rowing boat from the harbour for £15/half-day, or join the village's own day boat trip that runs at 10:00.
3. Eat Fish at the Harbour
4 fish restaurants line the harbour. Prices are roughly 40% cheaper than Marmaris with catch arriving directly from local boats each morning. The grilled seabass with Aegean herbs is exceptional.
4. Walk to Çiftlik Bay
A 3km coastal path leads south from the village to the completely empty Çiftlik Bay — the clearest water in the area. Bring water and a picnic. 45 minutes each way on a well-marked trail.
5. Visit the Windmills
Ottoman-era windmills on the hill above the village. A 20-minute walk up from the harbour with panoramic views over the peninsula and out to sea. Best at sunrise.
6. Attend the Village Market
A small Thursday market selling local almonds, olive oil, fresh herbs, handmade ceramics, and Datça wine. The best place to buy authentic souvenirs directly from producers.
Where to Stay in Bozburun
Bozburun Otel
Boutique pensionA 14-room family-run pension right on the harbour front. Sea-view rooms, home-cooked breakfast with local products, and owners who have lived in the village their entire lives.
Selimiye Bozburun Pension
Simple pensionBasic but spotlessly clean rooms in a converted house 100m from the harbour. The cheapest decent sleep in the village.
Sail Inn Bozburun
Nautical boutiqueA 20-room hotel popular with the sailing and gulet crowd. Private jetty, breakfast on the terrace, and gulet charter advice from owners who run their own boat.
Getting to Bozburun from Marmaris
Dolmuş (minibus)
Departs Marmaris bus station. 3–4 per day in summer. Scenic mountain road.
Private Car/Taxi
Fastest option. Highly recommended as the road is spectacular — multiple viewpoints worth stopping at.
Gulet/Day Boat
The best way to arrive. Several Marmaris tour boats include Bozburun harbour as a lunch stop on their day trips.
Bozburun on the Marmaris Blue Cruise
Classic Marmaris–Fethiye Blue Cruise Route
Full route: 7 nights · Bozburun typically Night 2 or Night 3 on the standard itinerary
Why Bozburun is the Blue Cruise's Most Special Stop
Most Blue Cruise passengers don't realise that the gulet they're sailing on was almost certainly built in Bozburun. The village has been constructing traditional wooden gulets for over 60 years, making it the spiritual home of the entire Blue Cruise industry.
Arriving by gulet is uniquely satisfying here — the locals know exactly what they're looking at, and many of the boat captains grew up watching their boats being built in these very yards. The atmosphere when a gulet crew ties up in the village harbour is unlike anything in more touristy ports.
The sheltered bay also makes Bozburun one of the few overnight anchorage options where you can actually walk into a proper village rather than anchor in an empty cove.
Visit the Boatyards
Step off the gulet and walk 5 minutes to the active yards where boats like yours were built. Most yard owners welcome visitors and are proud to show their craft.
Morning (08:00–10:00)Harbour Fish Dinner
The 4 harbour restaurants serve the same fish as your gulet chef at roughly 40% lower prices. A great excuse to dine ashore for one night.
Evening (19:00–21:00)Thursday Market
If your cruise schedule aligns with Thursday, the village market sells Datça almonds, olive oil, and local ceramics — the best souvenir stop on the entire route.
Thursday onlyWant to visit Bozburun by gulet?
The 7-day Marmaris–Fethiye route is the classic Blue Cruise. Bozburun is on almost every itinerary.
Bozburun Fast Facts
Emma Richardson
Travel writer with 10+ years covering Turkey's hidden coastal villages. Emma discovered Bozburun on a Blue Cruise in 2018 and has returned every year since. She believes it's the best-preserved authentic fishing village left on Turkey's Aegean coast.
