'Just 20 minutes from Greece, this hidden Mediterranean gem needs to be on your travel list.'

Have you ever heard of the Turkish Riviera? It's a destination I fell so in love with, it has taken pride of place as my phone background screen and I don't think I'll ever change it. 

For many Aussies, places like Greece and Italy take up comfortable residence at the top of our European bucket lists.

But, with the dwindling Aussie dollar against the Euro, it's getting more and more expensive to visit these places without saving pennies like a mad woman and spiralling over the amount you spent on a tube of sunscreen. 

Watch: Still, there are cool things to do in Europe. Take a sleeper pod on a train. Post continues below.

If you're unfamiliar, the blue waters of the Turkish Riviera lie just 20 minutes from the coast of one of Greece's most popular islands (Kos) and a short flight from Istanbul. The Riviera also stretches along the neighbouring shores of Greece, basically from its tip to end, so no matter where you choose along the Riviera you'll be right next door to Greece. 

I spent a week in the coastal town of Bodrum last summer and I'm hell-bent on making sure it's got a place on everyone's Euro summer itineraries. I really think I found paradise here. 

Not only is this place paradise, but the Turkish people are some of the most welcoming. This makes any trip to the Turkish Riviera feel like returning home even on your first visit. 

Here's everything you need to know if you want to add this spot to your plans. 

Getting there.

Getting to Turkey from Australia is dead easy. I recommend spending some time in Istanbul (it's one of my favourite ever cities, and if you fly with Turkish Airlines you can score a free stopover through their program!), but you can also just transfer direct to your flight to Bodrum. Once you land in Bodrum, the frequent shuttles run for a low cost directly into town, or if you stay with a fancier resort, airport pick up is likely. 

I spent my time in Bodrum, but the Riviera is littered with gorgeous beach towns so you can really take your pick. Kas, Marmaris, Fethiye and Antalya are also worth your time. To be honest, I'm just counting down the days until I can get back to check them out.

When we arrived we were met with quiet beach coves, aqua-blue water freckled with islands, and water so clear you can see the bottom without a snorkel. 

Where to stay.

Bodrum is a former fishing village and it luckily still retains that charm. The big, fancy resorts are spread out across the Bodrum peninsula's coastline which has meant the town has remained quite unchanged, save a few beachfront bars.

You'll need to choose between two options in your accommodation: being able to walk to the attractions and stay in town, or going all out with a luxurious resort that includes transfers in and out of town. If you want a flop and drop, go for the resorts.

But, if like me your love of a city correlates with how high your step count is, pick a smaller guest house in town. 

Bodrum is home to an eclectic mix of luxurious resorts, holiday apartment rentals, and smaller, boutique hotels. I stayed at the Merih Boutique (Butik) Hotel which was a street back from the beach and right by the town's main pedestrian area and marina.

Merih is run by an Aussie expat and her Turkish husband who spent years living in Turkey and the Middle East before turning her hand to running her own hotel post COVID. She organised basically everything for us (including the most phenomenal free Turkish breakfast every morning) and set us up with all of her favourite local spots in town, meaning we were able to avoid any tourist traps. 

If you're looking for luxury, the iconic Scorpios (of Mykonos fame) have opened a second location in Bodrum where you can stay for a hefty price tag. The region's coast is speckled with luxury all-inclusive spots too, so if that's your bag just pick your poison. 

Just note, Booking.com isn't in Turkey so try websites like Expedia to browse for accommodation. 

Things to do.

Explore the town.

Bodrum's charming town reminded me a lot of its neighbouring Greek islands. After all, the Greeks were here way, way back when too. Spend a day getting lost in the town's many laneways and stumble (accidentally, of course) into the myriad of boutiques, cocktail bars, and cafés that line the shorefront. Much like Greece, the streets are filled with adorable stray kitties too. Turkey is famous for how much they love and look after their local strays, so expect to see bowls of cat food and water every few metres and some very well-fed and healthy-looking cats. 

The town is an aesthetic dream: sprawling bougainvillaea, white-washed walls, cobblestone streets, and crystal clear water lapping at the bars and restaurants. 

Image: supplied.

Orak Island & Island's Boat Trip.

Now, back to my phone background. Orak Island is nicknamed 'The Maldives of Turkey' and one of the best places I have ever been. Really! This is the place I go to in my mind whenever it all gets too much. So naturally I'm a pretty frequent mental traveller to Orak. 

The boat trip we did left nice and early (so look out for this when choosing your provider!) which meant we had the island's blue, crystalline cove all to ourselves for hours. 

The water here is so clear you can see the bottom of the ocean floor from the top deck of your tour boat. It's just magic. 

Most boat tours in the area will include Orak and a bunch of other relatively empty coves. We were joined by only two other boats at most of our stops. By contrast, after Bodrum, we visited the neighbouring Kos in Greece where each beach stop on our boat trip had a minimum of SIX boats at the same location with each stop feeling busier and busier and literal queues to get back to the boats docked. 

Image: supplied.

Bodrum Castle.

The UNESCO-listed Bodrum Castle sits on the shores of water and overlooks the town. The Byzantine Castle has spanned countless pages of history books. The castle originally existed in the ancient city of Rhodes but played as the set for World War 1, Italian soldiers, French battleships, King Henry IV, the Ottoman Empire. Now, it's home to the Museum of Underwater Archaeology (one of the most significant in the world, mind you).

I highly recommend spending an afternoon here wandering the towers and coming face to face with history between island hopping. 

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The Beaches

The beaches in Bodrum really are beautiful. The closest beach to our accommodation was about a two-minute walk out of the busiest part of town and still remained quiet, clean and beautiful.

The coast is dotted with beach bars and free beaches, so you can take your pick. We found most of the places we went to you could simply buy one drink each and use the sun beds for the day. 

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Day trip to Greece. 

The ferry from Bodrum to Kos is about 20 minutes. You can find cheaper, slower boats at about an hour but for a day trip, I recommend the fast boat. The port is in the centre of town and the whole process is incredibly easy. Just board the boat with your passport, stamp out of Turkey and stamp into Greece.

Explore Kos' old town, hire a car, quad or scooter and see Kos' breathtaking beaches, grab a Gyros for lunch and then hop on the ferry home. It's such a fun day trip, I mean where else can you day trip into another country!? If you're visiting in peak season, you may experience a wait when you get to Greece, but our boat didn't have any issues in September. 

Mausoleum at Halicarnassus.

This spot is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, so I strongly recommend squeezing it in around beachside cocktails and beach reading. The Mausoleum was originally just shy of 50 metres tall, however, now you'll have the chance to walk through its ruins. Fun fact: large parts of the Mausoleum were used to build the Bodrum Castle.

Image: supplied.

What to eat.

My God, the food I ate in Bodrum haunts me in the most fabulous way. 

You can find a good quality authentic kebab (not your sloppy, 2am Aussie kebab) almost everywhere in the streets of Bodrum. Fragrant meat, the most garlicky garlic sauce, and fresh pita was something we ate nearly every day. Sorry not sorry. 

The Turkish breakfast is a MUST eat. I fell head over heels for the breakfast included in our stay at Merih Boutique Hotel: plates of cheeses, fresh bread, eggs, fresh fruit, yoghurt, tea and coffee all served under the shade of their ancient Mulberry tree.

Of course, fresh seafood is a must: stuffed mussels, grilled octopus, grilled fish, and cold seafood mezze. 

Eating really is its own activity here, so make sure you allow plenty of time each day to sample the local fare. 

Image: supplied.

When to visit.

The Turkish Riviera comes alive from May to September. To avoid the peak, visit outside of August and July.

I visited in September and was treated to quiet beaches, 30-degree sunshine-filled days.

Plus, the town was still abuzz with tourists but not too many to make you lose your mind.

Feature: supplied.