Bodrum: dream beach or price trap? Empty beaches despite 'Eid'!

Bodrum: dream beach or price trap? Empty beaches despite 'Eid'!

Bodrum, often referred to as the Saint-Tropez of Türkiye, is experiencing unprecedented silence on its beaches this year. While Milas Bodrum Airport saw record numbers of tourists with 1,001,944 air passengers in 2024, Bodrum remains unusually empty as the 2025 beach season begins. What is particularly noticeable is that despite the Eid al-Adha holiday, the beaches are quiet. This quiet location is largely due to the exorbitant prices, which deter many potential vacationers.

Entrance fees to paid beaches have increased by a shocking 300%. Access to Buddha Bar Beach currently costs 225 euros per day, while other beach clubs charge up to 10,000 Turkish lira (approx. 220 euros). Given the minimum wage of 22,105 Turkish lira (approx. 600 euros), a visit to the beach is unaffordable for many. The high cost structure has meant that hotels in Bodrum are currently only 60% occupied, a marked change compared to previous years.

Empty beaches and high costs

Bodrum is not the only one suffering from this situation. Other popular travel destinations in Turkey, such as Çeşme and Datça, are also seeing unusually empty beaches. The high prices in the accommodation and catering industry are cited as the main reason for the decline in tourist numbers. The average cost of a visit to the beach in Bodrum or Çeşme is between 4,000 and 5,000 Turkish lira (112 to 140 euros). High-priced beaches even charge between 8,000 and 10,000 TL (225 to 281 euros).

It doesn't just stop at the beach: an evening in a club for two people can cost between 15,000 and 20,000 Turkish lira (422 to 563 euros). Food prices have risen sharply; A simple lahmacun is available from as little as 300 TL (8.50 euros), while more luxurious restaurants can charge prices up to 950 TL (26.80 euros). Even boat tours cost a significant sum of 1,000 to 1,250 euros for a boat that can accommodate six people, without meals.

Causes and reactions

Despite the availability of free public beaches, operators are failing to halt the decline in user numbers. Turkish tourists prefer cheaper alternatives, especially the Greek islands, which offer not only lower prices but also hassle-free visa policies. Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy also links the decline in tourist numbers to EURO 2024.

Hoteliers like Orhan Çiftçi see high prices and infrastructural problems as the main reasons for the departure of guests. Price examples illustrate these concerns: While a steak in Bodrum can cost 1,000 TL (28 euros), in Greece it is only 400 TL (11 euros). There is a growing impression on social media that Bodrum is unaffordable. Çiftçi is urgently calling for price reductions to make Bodrum attractive to holidaymakers again.

It remains to be seen whether the region can take appropriate measures to increase visitor numbers and establish Bodrum as a premier holiday destination. Mercury reported the reduced utilization while Hurriyet identified high prices as the main cause of the empty beaches.