Golturkbuku Beach, Bodrum
The verdict
- Best for: Style seekers and couples who want polished beach clubs, wooden decks over clear water and the most glamorous scene on the peninsula.
- Best spot: A daybed on the wooden deck of one of the named beach clubs; the quieter Golkoy side of the bay for a calmer, lower key day.
- Know this: There is little natural sand here, so the day is spent on decks and jetties, and the smart clubs come with minimum spends to match.
Published 7 March 2026. Last reviewed 27 March 2026
Golturkbuku is the glamorous corner of Bodrum, two joined bays, Turkbuku and Golkoy, that together have earned the area its reputation as the Turkish answer to the smartest Mediterranean resorts. It is where Istanbul comes to be seen in summer, and the look is distinctive: wooden decks and jetties reaching out over clear, calm water, daybeds and cabanas in place of beach towels, and a run of named beach clubs that set the tone for the whole peninsula.
The honest thing to understand is that this is not a beach in the usual sense. There is little natural sand; instead the day plays out on the decks, with swimming straight off the jetties into sheltered, clear water. The well known clubs along the Turkbuku side, names that draw an international crowd, run on sunbed fees and minimum spends, and the bills reflect the setting. The Golkoy side is a little quieter and lower key, a useful release valve when Turkbuku is at full tilt.
It suits style seekers, couples and anyone who wants the most polished scene on the peninsula and is happy to pay for a daybed and a long lunch. Who should skip it is the family after free sand and shallow paddling, or the budget traveller, because Golturkbuku is club led and priced accordingly. For sand and calm at a gentler pace, Torba sits along the same northern coast, and the sandy bays of the south are a drive away.
Clubs on this beach
Golturkbuku is defined by its named beach clubs along the bay. We describe them factually below and never invent terms; for the full list and to enquire, see our Bodrum beach clubs directory.
Macakizi
Macakizi is the best known name in Golturkbuku and one of the most famous beach clubs in Turkey, set on wooden decks above the water on the Turkbuku side with a restaurant, daybeds and an international following. Day access, minimum spend and reservations vary by season and are to be confirmed, and booking well ahead is wise in summer.
Maki Beach Club
Maki is a smart beach club on the Turkbuku side with decks, daybeds and a well regarded restaurant, drawing a stylish crowd through the season. Day passes, minimum spend and any terms vary and are to be confirmed, so check directly before planning a visit.
Kuum Beach Club
Kuum is among the trendier venues on the bay, known for cabanas, attentive service and resident DJs. Access, sunbed fees and minimum spend change by season and are to be confirmed, so confirm the latest terms before you go.
Golturkbuku lies on the northern coast of the peninsula, around eighteen kilometres from Bodrum town and roughly forty minutes from Milas Bodrum airport by car. A car is the easiest way to arrive and move between the Turkbuku and Golkoy sides; seasonal dolmus minibuses also run from Bodrum, though the clubs are spread along the bay.
Parking can be tight near the popular clubs on summer evenings, so arrive early or use a club that arranges it. Most visitors come for a particular beach club, so reserve a daybed ahead in high season, check the minimum spend, and plan to make a long, unhurried day of it on the decks.
Reserve a day at Golturkbuku
Tell us the date and party and we will match you to a club on or near Golturkbuku and pass on your request. No charge to enquire.
Common questions
Does Golturkbuku have a sandy beach?
Not in the usual sense. The two joined bays of Turkbuku and Golkoy have little natural sand, and the day is spent on wooden decks and jetties, swimming straight off the boards into calm, clear water. If you want soft sand and shallow paddling, the southern bays of the peninsula are a better fit.
Which are the main beach clubs in Golturkbuku?
The best known is Macakizi on the Turkbuku side, one of the most famous beach clubs in Turkey, alongside smart venues such as Maki Beach Club and Kuum Beach Club. Each runs on daybeds, sunbed fees and minimum spends, and exact terms vary by season and are to be confirmed.
Is Golturkbuku expensive?
It is the smartest and generally the priciest part of the peninsula. The day runs through the beach clubs, with sunbed fees, minimum spends and restaurant prices to match the polished setting. Costs vary by club and season and are to be confirmed, so check the terms of your chosen club before you go.
Is Golturkbuku good for families?
It can work for families who are happy on the decks, but it is not a free sand and shallow paddling kind of beach, and the club led, dress up scene is aimed at adults. For easy family swimming, calmer and more affordable bays such as Torba or the sandy southern beaches suit better.
What is the difference between Turkbuku and Golkoy?
They are the two halves of Golturkbuku. Turkbuku holds the best known beach clubs and the liveliest, most glamorous scene, while Golkoy on the other side is quieter and more low key. Many visitors pick Turkbuku to be in the thick of it and Golkoy for a calmer day.
