Yalikavak is locally known as small paradise.
Visitors are still regarded more as guests than tourists, giving the town a well-deserved reputation for its friendliness and hospitality. The journey from Bodrum to Yalikavak provides the visitor with some spectacular scenery of the peninsular, climbing through fertile valleys, the road stops at the mountain range running down the center of the peninsular, providing unbroken views of the north and south coasts before descending to the village of Yalikavak. Once over the hills, you will see the magnificent view of Yalikavak. You will slowly descend between the orchards, full of tangerine trees, and reach Pasha Bay, Tilkicik Bay and Agacbasi Bay.
The colourfully painted gulets and fishing boats in the harbour are a delight to watch from one of the relaxed and friendly waterfront bars or cafes. The many restaurants of Yalikavak offer the freshest and tastiest local cooking in the area.
History in Yalikavak is a part of every day life. The city of Ouranium, of which the Sicilian historian Daidolos spoke of, was once established here. Some sources state that the roots of the town go back as much as 700 B.C. and some others agree that the Leleg people lived in this region before 700 B.C. Few tombstones and city walls still bear witness to history of the town.The Carian cave tombs are worth seeing. The tombs have been carved directly into the rock and fronted with cut stones. It once contained a funerary urn in the shape of a ship's prow. Located along the main road are a number of antique cisterns, which have been used by the numerous civilizations. Many are still used today. The historic sites such as Sandima, Pasanda , Kandiba and Termil (Dirmil/Gökçebel) attract visitors from all over. Archaeological excavations have established that human habitation in the region began near the end of the second millennium B.C, artifacts show that the area was inhabited in the Carian, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman eras. Yalikavak is famous for the numerous windmills found in the vicinity.
You may prefer either the Erdemil or the Gıcıman beaches due to their close proximity to the town center. Erdemil is a crescent shaped and slightly concealed cove. Sometimes winds that windsurfers love prevail in this beautiful cove. Amazing waves are witnessed here which will place a big smile on the faces of those who enjoy body-boarding. Gıcıman is a beach that stretches as far as the eye can see. No matter how crowded the beach is, you can be sure of finding a peaceful spot where you can place your towel and relax. You should also spend a day at the Prensen beach.
There are good connections with public dolmus buses to the neighbouring towns or to the larger shopping places of Bodrum. Yalikavak is so popular that Istanbul's most famous Jet-setters often frequent the town. Yalikavak has basketball and tennis courts for public use, and the Municipal Cafeteria by the shore is a favorite venue for backgammon or scrabble enthusiasts.There are many places to visit from Yalikavak, including - Bodrum, full of nightlife and fine restaurants, Gumusluk, ancient Myndos, Torba, Gumbet, Akyarlar, Turgutreis, Bitez, Gundogan, Turkbuku, Kargi, Karaincir to name a few. All places are easily reachable by car or dolmus. Ephesus is an easily arranged tour from Bodrum. The Greek island of Kos can be reached from Bodrum quite cheaply by daily ferry .{ to book a ferry to Kos, go to Kos page on tour peninsular }
There are many waterside restaurants in Yalikavak, superb places to end the day and watch the famous sunsets. The fish, served in the town’s waterside restaurants, are a local speciality. Nature has blessed Yalikavak has a warm Mediterranean climate, rich soil, and a clean, clear blue sea. Dolphins, Monacus seals and many species of fish, as well as other marine life, like octopus, also abound in these waters. On land olives, tangerines, lemons, oranges, grapefruit, figs, carob trees, cacti, as well as wild herbs and many species of plants grow in profusion. In springtime the fragrance of citrus blossoms permeates the air, while the brilliant colours of bougainvillea, and other summer flowers, paint the countryside with a colorful contrast to the brilliantly blue sea.
