There are always plenty of new hotels for travelers to choose from in Istanbul, Turkey’s capital, but for those keen to unwind on the pristine beaches of Bodrum in the southwest part of the country—approximately a 90-minute flight from the bustling metropolis—a new crop of chic accommodations is putting the vacation destination on the map.

Located on the Turkish Riviera, Bodrum was once a humble fishing village before it blossomed into a hideaway for jetsetters. They may seek out hotels from high-end brands like Aman Resorts, Mandarin Oriental, and Six Senses, but more recently, the market has become crowded with fashionable lifestyle offerings.

The scene took an especially vibrant turn in 2018 when the Bodrum EDITION opened. Designed by Paris-based Christophe Pillet Studio in collaboration with Ian Schrager Company, the property entices with an infinity pool, a beach club complete with a private cabana-dotted jetty, and 110 breezy guestrooms, most of which amplify views of the Aegean Sea.

Greenery brightens the bar at Brava restaurant at the Bodrum EDITION

OKU hotels, with a portfolio that counts properties in Ibiza and the Greek isle of Kos, will likely have some cachet in the region as well. This summer, the brand is ramping up its Mediterranean presence with a second Spanish outpost in Andalusia and an adults-only property on Bodrum’s northern coast, sandwiched between the mountains and the sea, crafted by OKU’s in-house design team.

The hotel’s 58 guestrooms, many with private pools, will overlook the water and boast terraces. Decked out with local marble and walls fashioned out of stone salvaged from the original site’s excavation, the accommodations are an extension of the location. OKU Spa’s open-air treatment cabanas along the sea and the clifftop yoga shala further anchor the hotel in the Aegean Sea.

When it opens this summer, OKU Bodrum will feature a lounger-lined pool, shown in a rendering

Along with OKU’s signature Japanese fusion restaurant, guests can feast on Mediterranean dishes at To Kima or spend more time reveling in the outdoors atop the cove-side jetty over cocktails at Sunset Bar.

This streak is poised to continue as the travel and tourism market in Turkey reaches new heights. In 2024, revenues rose by 8.3 percent year over year to $61 billion, according to the Turkish Statistical Institute, helped by a rise in international visitors to places like Bodrum.

Here, we look at three hotels that are fast making their mark on the coastal escape.

Maxx Royal Bodrum Resort

The Maxx Wellbeing center at the Maxx Royal Bodrum Resort boasts a relaxation lounge and Himalayan salt room

Doubling as a contemporary arts hub, Maxx Royal Bodrum Resort greets visitors in the lobby with a media installation by Turkish artist Refik Anadol, while one of French artist Bernar Venet’s steel sculptures graces the garden. Up-and-coming talents also partake in the summerlong Arts Connected residency.

Joining the Maxx Royal Belek Golf and Maxx Royal Kemer resorts in Antalya, the Maxx Royal Bodrum comprises 282 suites and villas, the nearly 50,000-square-foot Maxx Wellbeing center, and plentiful F&B establishments, including Latin-inspired Casa Sol, Oro by Alfredo Russo, and familiar brands like Spago by Wolfgang Puck and Caviar Kaspia.

The first Turkish resort to achieve LEED Platinum certification, the eco-friendly property designed by Istanbul studios GEOMIM and GEO_ID is in dialogue with the secluded cove setting.

“By directing the internal living experience toward the cove, we designed spaces that exude serenity and intimacy, reflecting the concept of silent luxury,” explains GEO_ID partner Tuğçe Rizeli Bilgi. “Every element is thoughtfully oriented to create a direct relationship with the natural surroundings. The fully opening joinery systems enhance this connection, blurring the boundaries between interiors and terraces.”

Green, tangerine, and turquoise tones pull from the terrain, and custom patterns that reference Bodrum’s buri palm trees dress everything from wall panels to lighting fixtures in the wellbeing center, adds Rizeli Bilgi, bringing “both functional depth and regional character to the overall design.”

Bobo by the Stay

Sofas flank the open-air lounge at Bobo by the Stay

GEO_ID also lent its design expertise to the 24-room Bobo by the Stay. Part of Turkey’s Stay Hotels collection, the property was conceived as a seasonal complement to the Stay’s Bebek Hotel in Istanbul, emulating its energy in Bodrum yet “embracing the spirit of a summer retreat,” points out Rizeli Bilgi.

Although there are synergies between the two hotels, such as Istanbul’s ceiling motifs reinterpreted as screens emblazoned with dragons in Bodrum, Bobo flaunts its own personality, defined by “how the design feels inherent to the landscape rather than imposed upon it,” as Rizeli Bilgi puts it.

Throughout, there is a sense of lightness. In the common areas, for instance, the reflected surfaces of mirrored block cubes discreetly housing restrooms project a sense of openness.

Inside the restaurant Paraliaki, traditional Bodrum taverns play muse. A seafood display at the entrance speaks to the region’s culinary heritage and “simple furniture pieces, linen details, and handmade serving sets emphasize authenticity and ease,” explains Rizeli Bilgi. “At Bobo Beach, we introduced repurposed ship beams, wrought iron, and wicker to reinforce a tactile connection to the sea while maintaining a timeless, uncontrived atmosphere.”

Scorpios Bodrum

Sun loungers and private cabanas populate the Beach House at the Scorpios Bodrum

Art, music, and nature fuel Scorpios, the Mykonos-born concept from Thomas Heyne and Mario Hertel that is part of the Soho House & Co family. Eager to bring a more holistic experience to the flashy, party-centric Greek island, Heyne and Hertel, two veterans of the nightlife world from Germany, hatched Scorpios in 2015.

For their second location, the duo chose a remote peninsula in Bodrum, orchestrating a robust design team overseen by Berlin-based Lambs and Lions that includes Istanbul architecture practice GEOMIM and Berlin-based StudioMacBride.

“Bodrum marks the first new destination in the evolution of Scorpios. Our intention was to retain the tactile essence of the original design identity, along with its nuanced palette of muted, warm, and earthy tones,” says Michael Schickinger, creative director and founder of Lambs and Lions. “For this iteration, we sought a heightened level of material articulation and refinement, establishing a distinct departure from the vernacular language of Mykonos.”

The glass-wrapped bungalow bedrooms at the Scorpios Bodrum flaunt earthy hues

Sustainability is at the heart of the project. Existing three-story buildings were knocked down to make way for Scorpios, but 95 percent of those materials were repurposed, yielding minimal environmental impact. Plant diversity and efficient irrigation systems were also implemented, leading to ivy-drenched walls and verdant olive and palm trees.

Guests spend ample time in the 12 skylit bungalows bolstered by outdoor pools, but they frequently hole up in the Temple, too. The wellbeing space, capped with rectangular openings in the ceiling that filter in light, is enveloped in natural stone walls.

“I love [the Temple’s] bold, Brutalist architecture and the seamless transition between interior and exterior spaces,” says Schickinger. “The maze-like layout adds a sense of discovery, creating an unexpected atmosphere that feels both immersive and transcendent.”

Photos by Nikolas Koenig and Georg Roske, and renderings courtesy of Bobo by the Stay, Maxx Royal, and OKU Hotels

This article originally appeared in HD’s February/March 2025 issue.