While searching for the tiny fishing village of Bogazici, I managed to get lost in Muğla province, Turkey. I had been given directions but ended up climbing narrow mountain roads that seemed to lead to nowhere. Eventually I rejoined the Bodrum–Muğla highway, where reckless drivers ignored speed limits and treated the road like a roulette table.
It turned out I had missed the turn because a car was blocking the signpost. I felt a wave of relief, though the morning’s mishaps had already provoked a stream of Turkish swear words as I vented about the drivers and the chaotic highway.
I left the highway and drove down a long straight road flanked by marshland. For a while I feared I might end up calling a breakdown service to pull my hire car from a watery ditch, but I pressed on more cautiously.
Arriving in Bogazici, Milas
Those worries faded as I realized I had reached Bogazici. The village is small and seems to have two distinct faces, a contrast common in many coastal Turkish towns. On the left side of the main road, older houses showed signs of wear and could use a fresh coat of paint. A new brand-name supermarket stood out awkwardly among them and detracted from the village’s charm.
On the right side of the road, seafront fish restaurants offered a traditional Mediterranean atmosphere. The salty breeze often carried the pungent, appetizing scent of freshly cooked fish. Despite the inviting restaurants, rows of empty tables and very few tourists or cars gave the village a quiet, unhurried feel. A local I spoke to explained that Bogazici comes alive at night, when well-heeled visitors from nearby coastal resorts such as Bodrum arrive to enjoy fine cuisine and wine.
Being in a fishing village, I ordered fish for lunch: jumbo king prawns, octopus salad, red mullet and calamari. The prawns and mullet were impressively large — either the local waters are bountiful or the seafood here simply seems super-sized.
I spent about three hours exploring Bogazici. It’s not a long visit, but the village doesn’t offer a long list of attractions. If you want to get off the beaten track, Bogazici is worth a visit, but don’t expect a packed itinerary. The village’s slow pace makes it ideal for anyone needing a calm escape from the hustle of everyday life — a place to relax, eat well, and watch local fishermen go about their day.
