Bozburun Peninsula Travel Guide: Selimiye, Kızkumu, Söğüt and Bozburun

The Bozburun peninsula – also known in English-language guides as the Loryma or Hisarönü peninsula – is the rugged finger of land south-west of Marmaris, running parallel to the Datça peninsula. In a single day you can wade out along the Kızkumu sand spit at Orhaniye, lunch on a jetty in Selimiye and watch gulets being built in Bozburun. This guide takes you village by village, with road tips and a ready-made one- or two-day route.

Short answer on getting there: fly into Dalaman, then hire a car or book a private transfer, because buses down the peninsula are infrequent. We have covered the Selimiye journey in detail in our Selimiye travel and transfer guide, so here we stick to what to see and do.

Where is the Bozburun peninsula?

The peninsula begins at Hisarönü, just after you turn off the Marmaris–Datça road, and stretches down to bare, rocky headlands facing Rhodes. The north is pine-forested and green; the further south you go, the stonier and emptier it becomes. In antiquity this was the Carian Chersonese, and it is dotted with small ancient settlements, hilltop forts and a Rhodian harbour fortress.

• North shore (Gulf of Hisarönü): Hisarönü, Orhaniye, Turgut and Selimiye – green, sheltered bays.

• South and west tip: Bozburun, Söğüt, Taşlıca, Serçe Limanı and Loryma – drier, quieter, with views to Symi and Rhodes.

Hisarönü and Orhaniye: walking on water at Kızkumu

Hisarönü is the first stop, with a long, shallow shoreline that suits families with toddlers. A few kilometres on, the road drops to the bay of Orhaniye, roughly 30 km by road from Marmaris town.

Orhaniye's party piece is Kızkumu ("Maiden's Sand"), a natural sandbar running out into the middle of the bay. It is usually quoted at around 600 metres, while a 2020 geoheritage study measured the visible bar at about 400 metres – so expect it to vary with sea level. For much of the way the water is ankle- to knee-deep, which makes for brilliant "walking on water" photos. A statue at the start recalls the legend of a girl who carried sand in her skirt to reach her lover across the bay, and drowned when it ran out.

• Tip: the water drops away quickly on either side, so keep little ones on the centre line.

• The seabed can be slippery in places – water shoes help.

• On the hillside above Orhaniye lie the remains of ancient Bybassos, reached by a forest path.

Staying in Orhaniye itself? Prices for the Dalaman Airport to Orhaniye transfer are shown instantly by vehicle type.

Turgut village and Turgut waterfall

About 5 km past Orhaniye on the way to Selimiye is the village of Turgut. Its waterfall sits a few hundred metres off the main road – a series of small cascades and pools in a shady stream. Entry is free, and it is a regular stop for summer jeep safaris, so it gets busy around midday.

A fair warning: the July 2021 wildfires reached the forest around the falls, and flow can be very low by late summer. Spring or an early-morning visit is your best bet. If you are staying in the village, see our Dalaman to Turgutköy transfer.

Selimiye: the bay, jetty restaurants and castle islet

Photo: Elelicht, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Selimiye is the liveliest village on the peninsula, set at the head of a calm, narrow-mouthed inlet of the Gulf of Hisarönü. Its waterfront restaurants on wooden jetties are the best-known places to eat on the whole peninsula – yacht crews tie up for lunch, and families drive over from neighbouring villages for dinner. In July and August, book your table.

• Castle ruins: a tiny rocky islet in the bay and the hill behind the village both carry ancient fortification remains; the hill path is unmarked and stony.

• Swimming: there is no long beach in the village itself; Sığliman bay, about 2 km further on, is the nearest sandy, shallow option.

• Boats: small local boats reach nearby coves in 10–20 minutes.

We won't repeat airport transfer times and options here – they are all in the Selimiye transfer guide. To book, use the Dalaman to Selimiye transfer page.

Bozburun: gulet yards and a laid-back harbour

Bozburun, the village that gives the peninsula its name, had around 2,200 residents in 2022 and is linked to Marmaris by a winding road. Like Bodrum and Güllük, it is known for traditional wooden gulet building: hulls taking shape in open-air yards and boats hauled ashore for winter maintenance are part of the scenery.

• The harbour: small and tidy, and a classic stop on Blue Cruise itineraries. Perfect for an evening stroll.

• Eating out: a handful of fish and meze restaurants, tea gardens and a bakery around the waterfront.

• History: marble was quarried around here in antiquity – the 19th-century traveller Charles Texier mentions the quarries.

As of 2026, our Dalaman Airport to Bozburun transfer page lists the distance at about 144 km and the drive at roughly 150–165 minutes, with private saloon cars from around £84 for 1–2 passengers at the time of writing. If you are already in Marmaris, the Marmaris to Bozburun transfer is the shorter hop.

Söğüt and Taşlıca: hillside villages facing Symi

Photo: Arif Sipahi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Beyond Bozburun the road curls south to Söğüt, a village spread across a hillside about an hour's drive from Marmaris. It is one of the larger settlements on the peninsula, with a big yacht mooring, guesthouses and restaurants known for seafood and wild local greens. Across the water sits the Greek island of Symi – sunset here is the main event.

About 2 km east, a steep, narrow lane climbs to Taşlıca ("stony place"), where dry-stone walls criss-cross the slopes. The views on the way back down are worth the detour. Practical note: Söğüt is one of the few villages on the peninsula with a cash machine, so plan cash before heading further south.

Serçe Limanı and the ruins of Loryma (Bozukkale)

Photo: Marmaracalypso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The tarmac ends at the small, sheltered cove of Serçe Limanı, famous among archaeologists for a Byzantine merchant ship that sank here around AD 1025. Excavated in 1977–79, its cargo of glass is now displayed at the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology.

The peninsula's most impressive ancient site is Loryma, locally called Bozukkale ("broken castle"). Built for Rhodes around the late 4th to early 3rd century BC, its harbour fortress is roughly 330 metres long with 11 towers, and much of the wall still stands. Rhodes is only about 22 km away as the crow flies.

• By boat: the easiest way – around 30 minutes from Serçe Limanı; some gulet trips from Marmaris also call in.

• On foot: the Taşlıca–Loryma stage of the Carian Trail is about 17.5 km; allow a long half-day one way and carry plenty of water.

• The bay's jetty restaurants mainly serve yachts and may be closed out of season.

The villages at a glance

Driving the peninsula: road tips

• The main road is surfaced but narrow and twisty – take the climbs after Selimiye slowly.

• There are few roads, so it is hard to get lost, but side roads such as the one to Taşlıca are very steep.

• Summer traffic can bunch up around Orhaniye; arrive at Kızkumu early for parking and space.

• Minibuses run from Marmaris bus station to Selimiye and Bozburun, but not often, and Söğüt and Taşlıca are harder still.

• Mobile coverage is good as far as Bozburun and Söğüt, patchier beyond.

Rather not drive on holiday? A chauffeured private transfer can be arranged for the day as well as for airport runs.

A suggested one- or two-day route

Day 1: the north shore

1. Morning: through Hisarönü to Orhaniye – walk the Kızkumu spit before the crowds.

2. Midday: cool off at Turgut waterfall.

3. Afternoon: Selimiye, with a swim at Sığliman or a short boat trip.

4. Evening: dinner on a Selimiye jetty; overnight in Selimiye or Bozburun.

Day 2: the wild south

1. Morning: Bozburun harbour and the boatyards.

2. Lunch: Söğüt, then the scenic detour up to Taşlıca.

3. Afternoon: Serçe Limanı and, if a boat is available, across to Loryma.

4. Evening: sunset over Symi from Söğüt.

Combining two peninsulas? Our first-timer's guide to Datça covers the neighbouring one.

When to visit

• May–June: warm sea, green hills and the waterfall still flowing – the best all-round time.

• July–August: hottest and busiest; Selimiye and Kızkumu can be packed.

• September–October: sea still warm, crowds thinning – ideal for Loryma and the Carian Trail.

• Winter: many restaurants and guesthouses close, though Bozburun's boatyards are at their busiest.

Getting to the peninsula

For UK and European flights, Dalaman is the natural gateway. If you are stopping in Marmaris first, our guide on how to get from Dalaman Airport to Marmaris compares every option, and the Marmaris transfer page covers onward journeys. Mavi Transfer drivers meet you at desk no. 4 in arrivals – see our Dalaman Airport meeting point guide.

The Bozburun peninsula rewards those who take it slowly. Let us handle the first and last leg: book your Dalaman to Bozburun transfer with free cancellation and 24/7 driver support, and save your energy for the coves.