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As you embark on your journey to discover the wonders of this region, the Tourist Information Office in Bodrum Peninsula will be your gateway to a world of adventure, culture, and relaxation. The Tourist Information Office for Bodrum peninsula and Gumbet   is located in central Bodrum, near the Bodrum Castle .

Why Visit the Tourist Information Office?

1. local knowledge.

The Tourist Information Office is staffed with knowledgeable locals who possess a deep understanding of the Bodrum Peninsula. Here’s why their expertise is invaluable:

• Insider Tips : Benefit from insider tips and recommendations that only locals know. Discover lesser-known attractions, hidden beaches, and off-the-beaten-path dining spots that will make your visit truly unique.
• Cultural Insights : Gain a deeper understanding of the local culture, traditions, and customs through engaging conversations with the staff. They can offer valuable insights into the history and significance of the region’s landmarks and festivals.

2. Customized Itineraries

The Tourist Information Office can help you create a customized itinerary tailored to your interests and preferences. Here’s how they can assist you:

• Sightseeing Recommendations : Receive personalized recommendations on the must-visit attractions, including ancient ruins, museums, natural wonders, and vibrant markets.
• Local Events and Festivals : Stay informed about upcoming events and festivals, such as music concerts, art exhibitions, and traditional celebrations, allowing you to immerse yourself in the local culture.

Tourist Information Office in Bodrum

The Tourist Information Office in Bodrum Peninsula is conveniently located in the heart of Bodrum, making it easily accessible for visitors. You can find the office at the following address:

The office is situated along Cumhuriyet Caddesi, one of the main streets in Bodrum, known for its bustling atmosphere and proximity to various attractions, shops, and restaurants. Its central location ensures that you can easily reach the office from different parts of the Bodrum Peninsula.

Working Hours

It is open all days a week and works between 09.00am. – 06.00pm.

Address: Barış Meydanı No:48, Bodrum

Tel: (+90 252) 316 10 91

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How to Plan Your Trip to Bodrum, Turkey — Aegean Sea Views, Luxury Hotels, and Incredible Restaurants Included

Come for the sparkling western Aegean coast, stay for the shopping, art scene, and fine dining.

majaiva/Getty Images

Situated on Turkey’s western Aegean coast, Bodrum, a city of about 200,000, is known for its small and fragrant mandarins and for its summer scene. On the glittering coastline in the warmer months, some of the largest boats in the world come flocking to the Turkish marinas. Bodrum’s reputation has been cemented, for some, as a sun-soaked luxury escape within Europe. 

Top 5 Can’t Miss

• The exceptional luxury resorts along the water, including LXR's Susona Bodrum, in the Torba neighborhood, or the Mandarin Oriental overlooking Paradise Bay.
• Wine tasting at Karnas Vineyard, a family-owned winery producing Turkey's first zinfandel.
• Shopping the night bazaars for what one of our experts calls "a taste of the old Bodrum."
• Fine dining at ambitious restaurants like Orfoz, next to the Zeki Müren Arts Museum.
• The local arts scene; visit Zai Yaşam, an arts center, or the well-known art gallery Pilevneli.

But Bodrum is more than just glitz and glamour. Tucked away within this city are culinary delights, thought-provoking artists, and bazaars worth traveling for. Bodrum is a city that caters to the well-heeled, yes, but it is also a city of beaches and night markets, of boutique hotels and bespoke wineries. 

For a guide to planning your trip to Bodrum – including when to go, where to stay, and what to do – read on. 

Best Hotels & Resorts

Susona bodrum, lxr hotels & resorts.

Courtesy of Susona Bodrum, LXR Hotels & Resorts

At the 70-key Susona Bodrum, LXR Hotels & Resorts , which opened in Bodrum’s Torba neighborhood in 2020, bougainvillea and other native plantings line pathways and buildings. Guests staying at this hotel can enjoy an expansive view of the Aegean, multiple pools, a small beach, a spa with a hammam, and numerous casual and upscale dining venues.

The Bodrum Edition

The tony Yalikavak Marina is home to several shiny international hotel brands. “If you want the nightlife and craziness, you can have it — but if you want calm, you can have that, too,” Mina Dilber, founder of the lifestyle brand Anim Living , told T+L contributor Richard Godwin. At the 108-room Bodrum Edition , open since 2018, travelers will find a series of dining destinations, including the culinary hotspot Brava, a restaurant helmed by Peruvian chef Diego Muñoz. 

Courtesy of The Bodrum EDITION

Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum

Yalikavak’s Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum , a 2014 addition to the area, offers 130 guest rooms and overlooks Paradise Bay. Eleven dining and drinking concepts, a spa, a kids club, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and even luxury helicopter tours round out this bespoke hotel. 

Courtesy of Aman Resorts

Part of the Aman brand, Amanruya is a 36-room hotel in the Göltürkbükü neighborhood that opened in 2018. Pavilions are fashioned from stone and open into individual gardens with private swimming pools. The resort also offers a category of pool suite accommodation, also with a private pool. A comprehensive list of activities includes fishing, sailing, and cruising on a traditional Turkish gulet — a wooden masted vessel.

In the Göltürkbükü neighborhood, not far from Yalikavak, art galleries, jewelry makers, and clothing stores are interspersed between boutique hotels. More Turkish in scope than international, travelers can find the beating heart of Bodrum’s art scene, particularly at the 74-room Maçakizi , a boutique hotel that originally opened in the 1970s and that was refreshed in 2000. It often hosts pop-up exhibitions from artisan retailer ’74Escape .

Best Things to Do 

Karnas vineyards.

Visit the 165-hectare Karnas Vineyards , which is planted to both grapes and olive trees. Visitors can sit down, dine, and taste wine overlooking the fields. As Feride Yalav-Heckeroth reported in the September 2023 issue of Travel + Leisure , the vineyard was founded by the İşmen family in 2005 “to produce Turkey’s first zinfandel — a grape they fell in love with during a trip to California’s Napa Valley.” The winery’s low-intervention and sustainable wines are available alongside their formidable multicourse tasting menu each night, for around $100.

Foodrum Culinary Park

Head over to Pelin Dumanli’s Foodrum Culinary Park , in the residential Bitez neighborhood. Dumanli, a formally trained chef, offers culinary classes and bazaar tours for small groups in her fully outfitted space. 

While you’re in the neighborhood, put local arts on your radar. “Zai Yaşam is a great arts center housed in five buildings,” said Ceylin Türkkan Bilge, creative director of the fashion label Siedrés , in the September 2023 issue of T+L. “There’s a gallery, a library, and a lovely garden where they have jazz concerts in the evenings.” By car, the two spaces are only five minutes apart. 

In Yalikavak, said Mina Dilber, an outpost of one of Istanbul’s most prominent art galleries, Pilevneli , has opened up shop in Bodrum. “There’s such a buzz about this place — one of its super-exciting recent exhibitions included work by the cutting-edge digital artist Refik Anadol,” she said. “There’s a great gift shop, too. It’s a must-must-visit!”

Best Shopping 

Ceylin Türkkan Bilge recommends the night bazaars “for a taste of the old Bodrum.” “There are two main markets, one around Bodrum Castle and one along the Türkbükü promenade, by the sea in Göltürkbükü,” Bilge says. “You’ll find plenty of bag shops, but also stalls selling ankle bracelets, beaded jewelry, clothing, and handmade leather sandals. A stall called Ipekçe Türkbükü is my favorite for cotton dresses.”

Despite the profusion of luxury brands in the Yalikavak Marina, Dilber favors shops like Misela , which offer a less western fashion perspective. Misela, she says, is “one of Turkey’s leading bag and accessories brands.” 

Leleg Living , Yalav-Heckeroth writes, a boutique that is adjacent to the restaurant Leleg, diners can purchase “wares used in the restaurant, as well as wooden furniture, all made by local craftspeople using natural materials.” 

On Tuesdays and Fridays, it’s well worth a visit to the Yalikavak Bazaar, one of Bodrum’s many outdoor markets. This traditional bazaar sells an array of fresh spices, olives, cheeses, fruits, and vegetables from local vendors.

Best Restaurants

Brothers Cağrı and Cağlar Bozçağa have established an ambitious destination restaurant in Bodrum at Orfoz , next to the Zeki Müren Arts Museum. The seafood-centric tasting menu features locally caught fish in numerous incarnations and ends each might with a plate of seasonal fruit. 

Courtesy of Orfoz Restaurant

Bodrum Müdavim

In Bodrum’s City Center, Bodrum Müdavim offers both a view of the 1400-era Bodrum Castle and a compelling menu dedicated to fresh seafood. But some come just for the Raki; the restaurant boasts one of the city’s best selections of this national drink of Turkey. 

The 72-seat Malva , a destination restaurant within Susona Bodrum, leans into micro-local and seasonal cuisine under the skillful knife of head chef Necmi Agac. Biweekly trips to the Yalikavak Bazaar inform the restaurant’s menu, as does the small rooftop garden that grows just steps away from the restaurant’s kitchen. 

Limon Gümüşlük

Bilge recommends Limon Gümüşlük , calling it a “particularly stylish and secluded restaurant that serves Turkish meze in a dreamy garden full of vintage furniture.” It’s in Gümüşlük, an area of Bodrum known for its fragrant mandarin groves. Arrive early and grab a table in time for sunset. 

Best Time to Visit 

Freeartist/Getty Images

Bodrum’s high season is summer, and the majority of the hotels are open from late May though the end of October. The season is busiest in the months of July and August, but the weather stays warm well into early fall–up into the 80s and 90s, in fact. Crowds can be more manageable and prices can be more affordable in the shoulder season, which is worth considering if you’re able to travel outside of the summer months. 

How to Get There

Bodrum can be reached by bus, plane, car, and by ferry. From Istanbul, the flight to Bodrum’s Milas–Bodrum Airport takes about one hour. Turkish Airlines and Pegasus provide between five and six daily nonstop flights between the two cities. 

There are buses available from Istanbul to Bodrum, but the system is not easy for non-natives to navigate. The ride is also long; it can take close to 10 hours. Hiring a private car is another option, but it is expensive. Flying is a more cost-effective alternative. 

Travelers can also reach Bodrum via a ferry from Kos, Greece. The ferry ride takes approximately 30 minutes. Ferries run regularly during the warmer months and cost under $30 each way. 

Neighborhoods to Visit 

Bodrum’s active City Center is where most tourists will find themselves. Bodrum Castle is here, as are plenty of souvenir shops, cafés, small restaurants, and surprisingly beautiful views of the water. A walk through the narrow streets offers a true feel of this historic city. 

nejdetduzen/Getty Images

The Yalikavak Marina offers a slightly more luxurious look at life in Bodrum. Here, you’ll find upscale shopping, destination restaurants, and beach clubs; it’s a look at the good life, yachts and all. But it wouldn’t be Bodrum without a trip to this neighborhood, in all its maximalist glory. 

The laid-back fishing enclave of Gümüşlük, also part of Bodrum, has private beaches, waterfront restaurants, and a relaxing vibe that you may not find in some of the busier areas of the city. It’s worth visiting this local-centric area for a sense of how life on the Aegean is lived. 

How to Get Around

Bodrum is extremely spread-out, and hiring a taxi to get from one area to the next is necessary. Some areas of Bodrum (like the Marina and the City Center) have taxi stands available, but you may want to consider setting up a hired car in advance with your hotel’s concierge if you plan to go far afield. Taxi drivers typically require cash payment, so come prepared with Turkish lira. 

Home » Travel Guides » Turkey » 15 Best Things to Do in Bodrum (Turkey)

15 Best Things to Do in Bodrum (Turkey)

The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, was built in what is now the modern resort of Bodrum on the Aegean Sea.

In Medieval times marble and polished stone from that vast monument were reused for a castle by the Knights Hospitaller, and a lot of the masterful sculpture eventually found its way to the British Museum.

There are clues from the city of Halicarnassus all over town, at the theatre, Myndos Gate and the site of that mausoleum.

Bodrum is on a craggy peninsula where bays with clear, glistening waters are sheltered between headlands.

Here you can divide your time between thrilling archaeology and a sun lounger by a shimmering cove.

1. Bodrum Castle (Castle of St Peter)

On a promontory east of Bodrum’s harbour stands Bodrum Castle, built in the beginning of the 15th century by the Knights Hospitaller.

This location has been fortified for more than 3,000 years and is the likely setting for the palace of Mausolus from the 4th century BCE.

One of many absorbing things about this building is that stonework from the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus was recycled for its walls, either turned into dust to make lime, or simply re-used.

The castle was an international project, with its four towers named for the people who built them: German, Italian, French and English.

The castle fell to Suleiman the Magnificent in the 16th century and became a prison in 1895.

2. Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology

Since the 1960s the castle has hosted a fascinating museum dedicated to the underwater finds made at Ancient, Medieval and Early Modern shipwreck sites around the Turkish Aegean.

This is the largest museum in Turkey devoted to this field, presenting a thrilling hoard of Mycenaean copper ingots and vases, Ancient Egyptian seals, royal Carian jewellery, Roman amphorae, Medieval Islamic glassware, a Spanish four-Real piece from the 16th century and loads more.

These pieces are spread throughout the castle’s historic interior and accompanied by interesting snippets, like for example, a chronology of the development of Amphorae.

The museum also features two reconstructed shipwrecks from the Bronze Age and Medieval period.

3. Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

The magnificent tomb that first defined the term “mausoleum” was built in Halicarnassus for the Carian satrap Mausolus (d. 353 BCE). Set on a massive podium, this was a monument of incredible grandeur, 45 metres tall and with reliefs on each facade carved by one of the preeminent Greek 4th-century BCE sculptors, Bryaxis, Leochares, Scopas of Paros and Timotheus.

It was toppled by earthquakes between 1100 and 1400, and was the last of the six ruined wonders of the ancient world to be destroyed.

Most of the marble blocks and polished stone became spolia for Bodrum Castle, but, however modest, the original site of the mausoleum is a humbling place because of what it represents.

Many of the finer sculptures were removed in the 19th century and have ended up in the British Museum, but until they’re returned the surviving reliefs, fluted columns and a stairway give a tantalising glimpse of what came before.

Also here is a small exhibition with a video breaking down the chronology of the mausoleum, amphitheatre and castle.

4. Theatre of Halicarnassus

A couple of streets up from the mausoleum site is the Greek-style theatre, constructed during the reign of Mausolus in the 4th century BCE and later enlarged by the Romans in the 2nd century CE.

Its architect had an eye for the spectacular, as the theatre has a stirring view out to the Aegean from its cavea.

In its heyday this venue could seat around 13,000 people, and enough survives today that it can be used as a stage for cultural events throughout the high season.

You can look at the excavated hillside to see where the cavea continued up the slope.

5. Zeki Müren Arts Museum

The coiffed singer and actor Zeki Müren (1931-1996) is a colossal figure in Turkish popular culture and spent much of his life, especially the last few years, here in Bodrum.

Müren starred in dozens of films and recorded 30+ albums, and his influence is hard to overstate.

After he died, his home on his namesake street in Bodrum was turned into a museum.

Müren had a Liberace-esque taste for the flamboyant, and while there’s lots of stage costumes and photographs to back this up, the home itself is pared-down and gives a touching impression of a man seeking a quiet life.

As for memorabilia there’s lots of jewellery, hi-fi equipment and paintings that he composed, while an English introduction at the entrance will bring you up to speed on Müren’s career.

6. Bodrum Deniz Müzesi (Maritime Museum)

Bodrum has been involved in shipbuilding since antiquity, and the industry was given a boost in the early 19th century when Ottoman warships were launched here.

When demand waned in the middle of 19th century, that shipbuilding knowhow was put to use building three-masted gulets (schooners) for trade, fishing and sponging.

In 2011, Bodrum’s maritime museum moved into the old bazaar building (bedesten) by the castle, and has scores of models for the various wooden boats built in Bodrum.

Much of what you see, including 6,000 shells from around the world, is from the personal collection of Cevat Şakir Kabaağaçlı (1886-1973), a Crete-born writer, exiled to Bodrum in 1925. He is nicknamed the “Fisherman of Halicarnassus”, and is credited with raising Bodrum’s profile and bringing it to the attention of the Turkish literati in the 20th century.

7. Bitez Beach

While the public beach in Bodrum is more than adequate, if you’re willing to travel a little you’ll come across some outstanding beaches within a few kilometres.

The Blue Flag Bitez Beach is a short way west, and regarded as one of the best on the entire peninsula for families with smaller children.

Shielded to the east by a long headland, Bitez Beach is a scallop-shaped bay with gravelly sand (bring flip-flops) and a big spread of shallow, warm and transparent water.

And like all the touristy beaches around Bodrum, the bay is lined with eateries, many of which rent out sun loungers with the price of a drink or two included, or for free with the price of a meal.

But in spite of all this business, the resort is far quieter than Gümbet and Bodrum around the headland.

8. Ortakent-Yahşi Beach

Some ten kilometres west of Bodrum proper is one of the longest beaches on the peninsula, at the place where two villages, Ortakent (east) and Yahşi (west) have formed a single municipality.

The two ends of the beach have a different character: Yahşi is oriented towards tourism and has restaurants and shops, as well as a jetty for boat excursions, while Ortakent, over the Uludere river inlet is more peaceful and backed by hotels and holiday rentals.

Come the high season, every inch of the crescent-shaped pebble beach will be covered with sun loungers and parasols.

Drinks are normally included in the rental price, and you can cool off wading out into the clear Aegean waters.

There’s also a strip of greenery edging the beach, used by for outdoor seating by bars and restaurants, and occasionally furnished with cabanas and hammocks among the palms.

High on the Bodrum Peninsula’s rugged spine are the ruins of the ancient Carian settlement of Pedasa.

You can hike to Pedasa from Bodrum’s Konacık, and the experience maybe a welcome antidote to resort life, climbing through maquis shrub, and hushed forest under the cover of pines, cedars and larches.

The ample shade means you could attempt this hike on a summer’s morning, if you bring plenty of water.

The evocative ruins at Pedasa are from between the 11th and 6th century BCE, and a recent excavation has brought to light a temple to Athena.

The site is spread across several hill-tops, giving you stunning 360° panoramas of the peninsula and Aegean.

10. Windmills of Bodrum

The Bodrum Peninsula is littered with quaint reminders of a time before tourism, dating back as far as the 1700s.

These windmills are in various states of repair and set high on ridges to catch the breeze.

The most convenient to Bodrum proper is a row of eight, along the peninsula between this resort and neighbouring Gümbet.

Whitewashed, these circular buildings stand out against the blues and browns of the land and sea beyond.

As much as anything the windmills are a vantage point where you can survey the clear turquoise waters of the bays, the sprawl of the resorts and the coniferous hills in all directions.

11. Bodrum Harbour

It’s fascinating to think that vessels have been docking at Bodrum Harbour, tucked snug behind the castle, for upwards of 3000 years.

On the west side of the harbour is the Milta Bodrum Marina, hailed as one of the most prestigious marinas on the Aegean.

This is a Blue Flag facility, with 450 berths, some filled by ostentatious super yachts.

For landlubbers the harbour with its wide quaysides, palms and eucalyptus trees is a prime place to mill around and watch the ferries come and go, particularly in the evening when the sunset are wonderful.

And along the street at the back there’s an unbroken string of restaurants and cafes taking advantage of these views.

The harbour is also where you’ll find those traditional three-masted gulets, built right here in Bodrum.

12. Bardakçı Koyu (Bardakci Cove)

On the east side of the headland with the windmills is a delightful little cove with pool-like waters.

The drawback to Bardakçı Koyu is that there’s no public beach, and you’ll have to pay for a sun lounger belonging to one of the three hotels that crowd the cove (about 50TL or $8.50 in 2020). The good news is that you can get there the scenic way, buy catching a water taxi across the bay from Bodrum Harbour, departing every ten minutes or so.

It’s a fun way to arrive, and when you get there you can swim in sparkling waters with soft sand underfoot and hardly a trace of seaweed.

13. Myndos Gate

The last vestige of the seven-kilometre walls of the Halicarnassus can be found in the west of Bodrum.

These defences were constructed in the 4th century BCE by Mausolus, the satrap of Caria, and the Myndos Gate was one of two monumental entranceways.

Although the stonework on the gate’s two towers is a modern interpretation, there’s a lot of archaeological interest, and vaulted tombs from the Hellenistic and Roman periods have been discovered nearby.

You can make out 50 metres of the surrounding ditch, known to have slowed down Alexander the Great’s capture of the city in 334 BCE.

Around the site are information plaques explaining its historical significance.

14. Midtown Shopping Centre

As a sign of the times, a plush mall has opened in Ortakent under ten kilometres west of Bodrum proper.

On a scorching day you may be ready for an air-conditioned behemoth like this.

At Midtown Shopping Centre are plenty of brands you’d expect from a European high street, like Marks & Spencer, Gap, L’Occitane, Mango, H&M, Yves Rocher and MediaMarkt.

There’s also a giant food court, where you might try out popular Turkish chains like Simit Sarayi, alongside worldwide fast food names like McDonalds, Burger King, Popeyes and Starbucks.

And like most malls, Midtown has a multiplex cinema showing Turkish and international movies, although these tend to be dubbed.

15. Full-Day Orak Island Boat Trip

Orak Island is in the Aegean east of Bodrum, looking back to a long, mostly uninhabited stretch of the peninsula.

You can visit on a day-long cruise through GetYourGuide.com .

After setting sail from Bodrum Harbour in late-morning the cruise will make a stop at the exquisite Red Bay, before dropping anchor at Orak Island Bay, where you can swim and snorkel in shimmering turquoise waters and laze on a white sandy beach.

Lunch is prepared on board and normally involves a fresh salad and grilled chicken.

And after departing the main bay, you’ll make two or three more swimming stops, and enjoy the views of the peninsula in the late afternoon light over a slice of melon and cup of Turkish tea.

15 Best Things to Do in Bodrum (Turkey):

• Bodrum Castle (Castle of St Peter)
• Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology
• Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
• Theatre of Halicarnassus
• Zeki Müren Arts Museum
• Bodrum Deniz Müzesi (Maritime Museum)
• Bitez Beach
• Ortakent-Yahşi Beach
• Windmills of Bodrum
• Bodrum Harbour
• Bardakçı Koyu (Bardakci Cove)
• Myndos Gate
• Midtown Shopping Centre
• Full-Day Orak Island Boat Trip

The Ultimate 2 to 3 Days in Bodrum Itinerary

Published on November 22, 2023

by Brittany Scott-Gunfield

Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. That means if you click a link and make a purchase, we may make a small commission. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, see our privacy policy.

Bodrum is a beautiful small city on the west coast of Turkey with blue seas, green mountainsides and white stone pavements around the town. Our Bodrum itinerary will show you why it’s such a famous location for international tourists and Turkish visitors alike, showing you its pretty centre, great food and shopping street, as well as the local history.

2 or 3 days in Bodrum is ideal for a chance to experience a bit of everything and come away from the area feeling relaxed after a few days in the sun.

Table of Contents

How Many Days in Bodrum?

When booking a trip, you’ll want to consider what you want to do there to work out how many days to spend in Bodrum in total. It’s a small city but the lifestyle is perfectly relaxed and has a great reputation as a summer town having grown from a small fishing village due to its beautiful coastline.

So although a week may seem too long to sit on a beach, there are some great activities in between wandering the town and soaking up the sun.

Aside from the beachfront restaurants and clubs, a cute city centre to wander through and browse the shops at all times of day and night, Bodrum also has a marina, castle, mausoleum and amphitheatre, all of which are well worth visiting. Aside from the castle, however, each attraction is small and won’t take long to see, so you can easily fit them into 2 days in Bodrum.

Since the atmosphere of the place is so relaxed, however, you’ll ideally want to spend at least 3 days in Bodrum to see the sights and enjoy lounging on the beaches, eating the fantastic food and experiencing a bit of the local nightlife.

Getting To & Around Bodrum

Arriving in Bodrum is very easy thanks to the Milas-Bodrum Airport just a 35-minute drive from the city. You can reach the airport from London Gatwick directly, or from most European capitals such as Paris and Amsterdam via Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport.

Unfortunately, the airport shuttle bus to the city centre has been removed due to a legal dispute over the proposed route, however, you can easily get a taxi from the airport to the city centre, organise a transfer or rent a car yourself from the airport.

If you have more than 3 days, it can be a great idea to rent a car as the coastal roads are beautiful and you can enjoy them at your leisure, visiting various ancient sites and beaches in the area.

However, if you’re spending a weekend in Bodrum or fewer than 3 days, a car isn’t necessary as you’ll predominantly be based in the city centre.

For visitors having a longer trip around Turkey , you can also reach Bodrum coach station from most Turkish cities. The coach station has regular buses arriving in the city centre in just 15 to 20 minutes, which you can pay for with a contactless bank card. You can view schedules here.

It’s also possible to arrive in Bodrum by ferry from the Greek island of Kos. Kos also has its own airport, easily accessible from Europe. The ferry takes around 1 hour and will show you the beautiful Turkish coastline and great views of the Aegean Sea as you arrive. You can book ferries here.

You will need to show your passport and have your bags checked as you pass through border control. Likewise, if you’re staying in Bodrum and want to take a day trip out to a Greek island, you can take a ferry from Bodrum ferry port as long as you have a Schengen visa or permission to stay in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days.

Within Bodrum itself, you’ll easily be able to walk around the city. With the castle in the middle, most of Bodrum is located on the coast, with flat paths throughout the city, which is also very easy for wheelchairs and pushchairs to pass through.

There are some motor scooters available to rent with an app, but Bodrum is best enjoyed on foot. You can also rent boats for a day out at sea if you want to take the weight off your feet for a while.

2 to 3-Day Bodrum Itinerary

Each day of our itinerary will take you through a day in the life of Western Turkey; a touch of history, some delicious traditional Turkish cuisine and plenty of sunshine and sea air.

Day 1 – Bodrum Old Town

For your first day in Bodrum, you should visit the castle that sits proudly in the centre of the city to get views over the town and marina from both sides, as well as learn some of the history of the city before you explore on foot.

Bodrum Castle (Bodrum Kale)

After a long and expensive renovation, Bodrum Castle has been opened again to the public, so visitors can marvel at the spectacular views over the city as well as the ancient history of the city of Bodrum, formerly Halicarnassus to the Ancient Greeks.

The castle itself was built in the 15th century by the Order of the Knights of Saint John, a group of European knights comprising British, French, Italian and Germans, with a strict hierarchy, and who each had a hand in the construction of the castle.

After having arrived in the area, the knights found the ruins of the Mausoleum of Mausolus and used much of the stone to help build the castle; some of the friezes and carved stone can be seen in the castle walls while others can be found displayed in the castle grounds alongside many beautiful and well-preserved sculptures.

Each tower of the castle displays the emblem of one of the nationalities of the Knights Hospitaller, and within each, you can find display cases with magnificent historic artefacts recovered at the site and in the nearby waters.

One of the highlights is the artefacts of the Carian princess which were found in a sarcophagus discovered in the 1980s; the number of items, which were largely gold jewellery, and their value showed the significance of the woman who was buried there, leading archaeologists to believe this was the burial place of Empress Ada I, although she has become known as the Carian Princess.

After the Muslim conquest by Süleyman the Magnificent, the castle was taken over and the chapel located in the centre of the castle was converted to a mosque by the addition of a minaret. The vaults below the mosque have been excavated so below a glass flooring you can see the ancient crypts and graves below.

After the Allied bombing in the First World War, the castle faced some damage, although it has now largely been reconstructed and makes for a fantastic, largely open-air museum.

Some of the stone floors have been worn away over time making them rather slippery, so make sure you watch your step while admiring the architecture and history. There are also peacocks wandering the grounds and the occasional tortoise passing by so look out for those on your visit.

The entrance fee is cheaper for Turkish nationals, but it is well worth the cost for foreign visitors regardless and is one of the best things to do in Bodrum.

Museum of Underwater Archaeology (Sualtı Arkeoloji Müzesi)

The Underwater Archaeology Museum is actually located within Bodrum Castle and comprises part of your castle visit, so you can expect to spend a few hours discovering the museum as well as learning about the shipwrecks, ancient passages and recovered items in the castle’s museum.

Many of the items are displayed in the towers, although there are elements located all over the castle.

The museum is the largest of its kind, with many recovered artefacts on display, many of which come from three shipwrecks that happened just off the castle’s shore. There is a huge collection of ancient ceramic jugs used to transport wine, oil and other liquids used for trade, as well as glass ingots, bronze and iron items.

Although many of the items were found in diving expeditions in the 1960s, some of the objects found date back to around 2500 BCE, showing the historic significance of the trade routes surrounding the area of the Turkish coastline.

As the museum is located within the castle, you’re granted entrance with your castle ticket. Any fans of ancient or mediaeval history have to stop by this wonderful museum to understand the significance of Bodrum over at least the last two millennia.

Bodrum Centre

After your visit to the castle, having taken in the spectacular views, it’s time to explore the city streets. Bodrum’s pavement is white stone and most of the buildings are a sandy stone colour, lending itself to a picturesque environment as you pass through the winding streets filled with shops.

Not quite a bazaar in the style of other cities like Istanbul or Kemeralti in Izmir , these shops are more modern although with plenty of products to get lost in.

Bodrum is famous for its leather sandals, so amongst the fake Louis Vuitton bags and knock-off designer clothes being sold, you can also find some small authentic boutiques selling all kinds of beautiful real leather sandals which are often handmade.

As you pass through, you’ll come across the rock bars and some fish restaurants as well as a couple of Bodrum döner kebab spots. Bodrum döner differs from other cities as there are vegetables placed between the meat which makes for a more colourful, potentially mildly healthier, and definitely delicious kebab.

If you continue along the main street, the shops open out to reveal the coast to your right with restaurants on your left and seating areas on the beach. As you wander you’ll be offered all kinds of fantastic food, from fresh fish to kebabs and everything in between.

Some of these restaurants turn into pubs or nightclubs into the night so hang around for a night out or head back to one of the rock bars for a calmer evening.

Day 2 – Bodrum’s Ancient Sites

Your second day will show you a few more historic sites that showcase the ancient importance of the city of Bodrum and the Bodrum Peninsula before delving into the nightlife that the city has come to be known for.

Ancient Theatre (Bodrum Antik Tiyatrosu)

Heading even further back in time than the castle of the Knights of Saint John, we start day 2 in the Ancient Theatre of Bodrum. If you’ve seen Ephesus, you may not be as stunned by the wonder of this ancient site, however, all Greek history fanatics should visit this beautiful theatre and the views over Bodrum are well worth the free visit to this large and historically significant site.

Formerly known as the Theatre of Halicarnassus, the walled city which stood on the same land as modern-day Bodrum, this theatre was initially built in the 4th century BCE housing 5-10,000 spectators. It was enlarged by the Romans in the 2nd century CE to accommodate an audience of up to 13,000 for mainly gladiator shows.

At the bottom of the stands you can see the ancient altar to Dionysus (Bacchus to the Romans), while at the top, you can enjoy fantastic views over the city, from the ruins of the Mausoleum of Mausolus to Bodrum castle in the distance, with the whole city and marina in between.

Mausoleum (Halikarnas Mozolesi)

Walking a little further down towards the city centre, you’ll reach the site of the ancient Mausoleum.

Since the Mausoleum was destroyed, possibly in an earthquake, and many of the stones were used in the construction of Bodrum Castle, very little remains of the hugely significant site, so you’ll have to use your imagination a little to understand what once stood in this location.

Constructed around 350 BCE by order of Mausolus in preparation for his death, and then overseen by his sister Artemisia, this area once held a large above-ground tomb, decorated with friezes, 400 sculptures and a huge four-horse-drawn chariot with Mausolus and Artemisia inside.

The Romans were allegedly so impressed with this construction, that they named all above-ground tombs mausoleums in honour of the Carian King’s architectural triumph, which had also been declared one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Originally over 44 metres high, located on a hilltop overlooking the city of Halicarnassus, the mausoleum was enclosed in a courtyard, with statues of lions leading to the platform holding the tomb, itself surrounded by statues of gods and goddesses, with warriors guarding the marble tomb on each side.

Unfortunately due to the earthquakes, only a couple of stairways, walls and the entranceway to the tomb remain, although there is a model on display of how the site would have looked in its original glory. It’s still worth visiting the Ancient Wonder and imagining how the mausoleum would have stood, especially considering the amazing stones spotted in the castle.

The statues of Mausolus and Artemisia that sat on top of the mausoleum can also be found in the British Museum in London .

An Evening in Bodrum

Bodrum nightlife is something which brings visitors from all over the country as well as from abroad, so while in Bodrum, you should spend an evening out.

Starting with dinner on the beachfront or in one of the kebab houses, you can drift on to one of the many bars located on the beachfront before heading to one of the very popular and famous nightclubs.

If nightclubs aren’t your scene, then there are plenty of other places to spend your evening and music for all tastes. Just follow the main street from the castle to the end of the bay where the Bodrum ferry is located and go where your ears take you, whether it’s to a live show in a bar, a rock bar or a cocktail bar.

Some nights, particularly in summer due to the warmer weather and sunshine later into the evening, there are also concerts and performances held in the ancient theatre, so if you prefer a more cultural evening, you can head to Bodrum tourist office or online to see what’s going on.

The original design makes for fantastic acoustics so concerts sound amazing while giving you a wonderful environment to enjoy.

Day 3 – Beach Day or Day Trip

For your third day in Bodrum, you can either choose to wander through the town, picking up some souvenirs before lounging on the beach and munching away on some delicious Turkish treats or take a day trip further out of the city.

The public beach in Bodrum is quite small, but if you plan on spending a whole afternoon on the beach, you’d be best advised to stop by one of the on-beach restaurants.

One option is the public cafe which has its own beach with chairs and parasols as well as reasonably priced drinks and snacks in the cafe area. It can be busy at times but it’s cheaper than the private restaurants further down and there’s no pressure to buy anything.

If you’re sure you’ll have a drink and some food, the restaurants further down the beach make for another great option as the beach area is bigger and you’ll have more options for food and drink. F

or a picnic or something sweet, you should stop by Yunuslar Karadeniz which has all kinds of colourful pastries, sandwiches, cakes and desserts which are sure to catch your eye anyway. Like most of the shops in this area, through summer, they’re open late into the night so you can guarantee to pick something up even on your way home from a night out.

One of the best ways to enjoy your trip to Bodrum is by taking a boat trip. Whether you rent a small private boat for the day or join a larger boat trip with other day-trippers, the seas around Bodrum are well worth seeing up close.

You can book a trip on the larger boats from Bodrum marina, where you’ll also be provided with lunch at sea, or speak to an attendant in one of the boat-shaped cabins located along the walkway by the marina to see what your options are.

Around 20 minutes from the coast is a small bay known as the aquarium (Akvaryum Koyu) where you can go snorkelling and swimming with an array of colourful and curious fish. With no sharks or rays in the area, you don’t need to worry about any dangerous animals, simply enjoy a day swimming and sunbathing at your leisure.

The summer heat can be very strong however, so make sure you don’t spend too long in the sun and keep well hydrated to avoid heat stroke.

You can also organise a dive trip while in Bodrum to get an even closer look at the marine life.

Just off the coast, there is a ship and plane that have been placed there to form habitats for fish and other marine life, as well as provide a wonderful place to go diving and discover the local habitat. There is also a small reef in the area if you wish to discover more of the sea floor.

Bitez Hiking Trails

Just 15 minutes away from Bodrum centre by car is the area known as Bitez. This area has some fantastic hidden coves and beaches if you want a private beach day, as well as some great trails to follow.

Pack a picnic and hike around the area before stopping for an afternoon dip to cool off in Halil koyı or Oasis Beach; but don’t forget the sunscreen. Even in Spring and Autumn, the sun can be deceptively strong.

While the sea is a great day out, you can also enjoy it from above, by taking the ferry out for around one hour for a day trip to the Greek island of Kos.

Greece and Turkey, particularly the west coast, share many similarities, from the landscape to the food, but arriving in Kos you’ll still notice a large difference between the architecture and culture of the two countries, making it a great day out.

Make sure you bring your passport for the border control and arrive at the ferry port with plenty of time for any security checks; then simply enjoy your day out in Greece!

Its 14th-century castle also built by the Knights Hospitaller sits by the harbour, welcoming you into the island, where you can do a historic walking tour on foot, or join a small tourist train which takes you around the significant sites of the island.

From the Plane Tree of Hippocrates, which shaded the Ancient Greek father of medicine almost 2,500 years ago, to the restored Roman villas, the Casa Romana, there is plenty to see on foot around Kos marina in a day.

If renting a bicycle, or by taxi, you can also head out to the Asklepieion, an ancient medical centre built in honour of Hippocrates first constructed in the 3rd century BCE and later reconstructed due to earthquakes. This site has plenty to see, from the temples and church to the Roman baths, but don’t lose track of time for your ferry back to Bodrum!

Where to Stay in Bodrum

Hotel Centro Bodrum – A great mid-range choice in the town of Bodrum, this hotel boasts a range of lovely rooms along with a gorgeous outdoor swimming pool. There is also an on-site restaurant and a superb breakfast.

Casa Nonna Bodrum – This adults-only hotel is perfect for those looking for a romantic and luxurious escape here. They have a beautiful beachfront location, plenty of great rooms, an on-site spa, several restaurants and a fab breakfast.

La Luna Hostel – An excellent budget option, this hostel is located in the centre of Bodrum within easy reach of the seaside. There are plenty of room types available and great common spaces to relax in.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse other options in Bodrum!

Whether you plan to relax and enjoy great examples of Turkish food, or delve into some ancient or medieval history, Bodrum has a bit of everything. It may have a reputation as a party town for young people, but the relaxed atmosphere and lifestyle of Bodrum welcomes everyone of all ages to come to enjoy.

Are you planning to visit Bodrum? Have any questions about this itinerary? Let us know in the comments!

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About Brittany Scott-Gunfield

Brittany is a writer for The World Was Here First. Originally from Colchester, England, she is slowly but surely travelling the world as a digital nomad. She loves to hike around different landscapes and has a deep love for travelling around France (and elsewhere in Europe).

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12 Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Bodrum

Written by Jess Lee Updated Feb 22, 2024 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

Bodrum is Turkey's Turquoise Coast at its most vibrant. This unabashed summer vacation destination is known for its marina full of bobbing yachts ready to whisk you out onto the Aegean for a lazy day of coastal sightseeing between swimming stops; a handful of historic tourist attractions, if you're looking for more things to do off the beach; and a town filled with photogenic, old whitewashed houses.

Once the ancient city of Halicarnassus , Bodrum had turned into a simple fishing village by the late-Ottoman era, but all that changed in the mid-20th century, when tourism entered the fold.

Now during summer, this town is one of the best places to visit in Turkey for sun-and-sea vacations , and it buzzes with energy as tourists come from all over the world to soak up Bodrum's charm.

If you happen to visit out of season, though, you can still catch a hint of the old village atmosphere. Plan your time in Turkey's premier resort town with our list of the top tourist attractions and things to do in Bodrum.

See also: Where to Stay in Bodrum

1. Soak Up the Scenery on a Boat Trip

2. visit the castle of st. peter, 3. explore history at the museum of underwater archaeology, 4. sunbathe on the bodrum peninsula beaches, 5. see the scant remains of one of the ancient seven wonders, 6. enjoy water sports on the aegean, 7. explore bodrum old town, 8. shop at the bazaar, 9. take in the best sunset view from bodrum's historic windmills site, 10. day trip to stratonikeia, 11. visit bodrum theater, 12. see bodrum's myndos gate, where to stay in bodrum for sightseeing.

Bodrum is all about the sea. The vast amount of visitors that arrive are here for a lazy holiday of sun, sea, and sand, but when you feel the need for a change of scenery, the most popular way to sightsee is by boat.

Hundreds of boat tours are on offer during the summer months , ranging from a day trip sailing around the Bodrum Peninsula, stopping off at tiny inlets only accessible by boat for swimming, to multi-day yacht trips down the coast or across to the Greek Islands .

Bodrum's marina is where public and private yacht trip outfitters tout for business , though most visitors looking for a day-long or half-day boat trip prefer to book a recommended operator through their hotels.

Even on the short day and half-day trips, you'll be able to experience a good chunk of the Aegean's famed rocky coastline scenery and have hours of sunbathing on board, broken up by swimming stops.

When booking, check where your swimming stops will be . If possible you want to anchor off Orak Island , east off the coast of Bodrum Town, where the water is so clear, shallow, and shaded light turquoise that people nickname it the Turkish Maldives.

If you're on a private boat trip, so can curate your own itinerary, get to Orak Island before 10am or after 4pm to enjoy the bay at its quietest.

Lording over the seafront, the Castle of St. Peter is at the top of every visitor's things to do in Bodrum list.

The Knights Hospitallers of St. John built the structure between 1402 and 1437 , and knights of the various nationalities of the order were entrusted with the defense of particular sections of the walls.

Among the various towers are the French Tower; the English Tower, with a sculpted lion on its west wall; and the Gatineau Tower, which leads to the dungeons.

During the reign of the Ottoman sultan Süleyman the Magnificent, the castle passed into Turkish hands and a mosque was built inside.

Today, many of the vast halls inside the castle display the exhibits of Bodrum's Museum of Underwater Archaeology .

Address: Kale Caddesi, Bodrum Town

The absolutely brilliant Bodrum Underwater Archaeology Museum inside the Castle of St. Peter is a must-see attraction, even if you don't have an interest in underwater archaeology. It has been recently reorganized and renovated, with the exhibits displayed in various halls of the castle's upper level.

The artifact displays, which hail both from underwater discoveries off the coast here and excavations on the Bodrum Peninsula , are complemented by slick multimedia displays.

The museum's highlight is the Serçe Limanı Glass Wreck room, which displays a 16-meter Byzantine ship that sunk in 1026 CE . Some of its cargo, including amphorae and glass artifacts, is displayed artfully in the surrounding exhibit cases.

Other halls display finds recovered from several Bronze Age shipwrecks, a large collection of amphorae, and intricately decorated ceramic pieces uncovered from a Mycenaean-era necropolis near Ortakent on the peninsula.

Address: Castle of St. Peter, Kale Caddesi, Bodrum Town

Outside Bodrum town, the Bodrum Peninsula's beaches are the main drawcard for visitors during summer, and from June through August, the shorefront is crammed full of sunbathers soaking up the heat.

The peninsula towns of Ortakent, Bitez, Gümbet, and Turgetreis have the most popular beaches , with free public beaches as well as private beach clubs that you can access for an entrance fee.

Bodrum Town itself also has two strips of beach right in the center of town for those that don't want to travel far for swimming and sunbathing.

The private beach clubs come with oodles of facilities on tap. If you're staying in town, or at any accommodation on the peninsula without its own beach, and want to check one of the beach clubs out, get up-to-date recommendations from your hotel. They should also be able to book a day pass for you, saving you the hassle.

Bodrum Peninsula's towns are connected to Bodrum Town by a regular dolmuş (local minibus) public transport network, so it's easy to hop between town and the main public beaches.

The entire peninsula is popular with both domestic and European tourists, so don't expect to find an isolated patch of sand. During the height of summer, this is one of Turkey's most popular places to visit, and going to the beach is the top thing to do.

It doesn't look like much these days – you may need to put your imagination hat on – but this pile of ancient marble and rubble was once one of the seven wonders of the ancient world .

The Mausoleum of Mausolus, now known as Bodrum Mausoleum Museum , was built in Halicarnassus (Bodrum's ancient name) by the architect Pytheos as the final resting place of King Mausolus (376-353 BC).

When finished, the impressive, towering structure measured 46 meters high and was decorated with magnificent friezes by the most celebrated Greek sculptors of the day.

Despite damage by earthquakes over the centuries, it was only finally destroyed by the Knights Hospitallers, who used its stones to build the Castle of St. Peter.

The modern day site, in a peaceful garden setting, is worthy of a look if only just to say you've seen one of the seven ancient wonders. There's also a helpful scale model of the original mausoleum on site .

Address: Turgutreis Caddesi, Bodrum Town

Boat trips may be the favored way to get out onto the water in Bodrum, but more active visitors can choose from a range of water sports offered at the different beaches of the peninsula.

Kayak hire is popular at beaches such as Bitez, Ortakent, and Gümbet, while those looking for more thrills can opt to go parasailing at these three beaches as well. Paddleboarding has recently been gaining in popularity and is now offered at various beaches along the peninsula, including at Turgutreis and at Camel Beach in Ortakent.

There are also options for more specialist water sports, such as kiteboarding , with a couple of operators who work in the Bodrum area.

One of the most professional outfits is Kiteboard Bodrum which is based on Celebi Island , offshore from Ortakent. They offer kiteboarding lessons from beginner to advanced levels as well as equipment rental, with transfers to the island included in their prices.

The narrow lanes that back the beach, bazaar, and marina area are Bodrum's most interesting area. The alleyways here are lined with bougainvillea-draped and vine-clad whitewashed cottages that give Bodrum its particular Aegean ambience and charm and make it stand out amid other coastal tourist centers, such as Fethiye , that have a more modern look.

For photographers, these rambling, winding lanes are the most interesting part of Bodrum to photograph, and you can still get a real feel for the fishing village it once was.

The best way to explore is to simply duck up the skinny lanes that lead off the waterfront and go for an aimless wander. The more central lanes are scattered with cafés and restaurants that make for great pit stops while you're strolling.

The cobblestone street of Saray Sokak , which runs from the waterfront harbor up to the Mausoleum of Mausolus is an easy stroll that gives you a taster of old Bodrum's ambience. If you're feeling energetic, you could continue on foot, up Kelerlik Sokak, all the way up the hill to Bodrum Theater.

If you're looking for some retail therapy, Bodrum has it all. The modern bazaar area spreads out behind St. Peter's Castle in a series of shaded lanes. It's at its busiest after dark when restaurant-goers head here for an after-dinner stroll.

Bodrum's bazaar is an upmarket take on a typical Turkish market , with proper shops rather than stalls. It offers little room for bargaining, but what it loses in authenticity, it makes up for in choice.

There's everything here, from Turkish and Central Asian textiles, colorful local pottery, and hand-crafted woodwork to a bling-fest of gold shops, snazzy beachwear, and fashion.

Meandering between the shops after a day of sunbathing is what Bodrum is all about.

Head to the Tarihi Han (a restored historic caravanserai) in the bazaar area for coffee or tea in the shaded internal courtyard before browsing the local artisan stores that have set up shop on the han's upper level.

The sparse ruin site, with two remaining chunks of wall, you pass by on the eastern section of the bazaar district, is the remains of the 18th century Greek Orthodox Aya Nikola church.

The bazaar district is one of Bodrum Town's most buzzing areas for café life and dining , and you'll find plenty of restaurants, as well as ice cream and dessert shops scattered throughout the area.

The hill that separates Bodrum Bay and Gümbet Bay is topped with the sparse remains of Bodrum's windmills.

The windmills themselves are not worth the visit, but the panoramic vistas that stretch across the bays of both Bodrum and Gümbet are, and it's a very popular spot to watch the sun set.

Though most people come here by car, the hilltop is an easy two-kilometer walk from Bodrum marina , up a medium slope. Don't try to walk it during the midday heat, though.

To walk here, head to the very western end of Bodrum marina and veer uphill on Osman Nuri Bilgin Caddesi. At the top of the hill, turn onto Haremtan Sokak and follow this summit road until you arrive at the windmills.

The best time for strolling up here is in the early morning , when fresh breezes make it a pleasant activity rather than a slog. The site is also at its quietest during this time, so you can soak up the Bodrum Bay vistas without the crowds.

Address: Haremtan Sokak, Bodrum Town

The ancient site of Statonikeia is within easy day-tripping distance from Bodrum, but surprisingly receives very few visitors. If you've visited more famous ancient cities, such as Ephesus , on your Turkey itinerary, a stroll around the ruins here with barely another visitor in sight makes for a refreshing change.

The site has been settled since the Bronze Age Hittite era, but the oldest monuments still standing today date from the Classical Age, when Stratonikeia became an important link on the local trade routes.

Unlike many Greco-Roman cities, Stratonikeia was continuously settled up until the early years of the modern Turkish Republic as the village of Eskihisar.

Although the village was eventually moved a couple of kilometers away from Stratonikeia, several families continue to inhabit the site itself, and several Ottoman-era monuments and mansions dating from the 19th century have been preserved, along with the older ruins.

This makes Stratonikeia a uniquely stratified site, where you can stroll from the Hellenistic theater, sliced into the hillside, through lanes lined with crumbling and derelict Ottoman-era stone houses, to the impressive double-arched northern gate.

Stratonikeia is along the main Bodrum-Muğla Highway, 75 kilometers northeast from Bodrum Town.

Bodrum Theater may be small by Roman standards, but it has been decently restored, and the views from the upper tiers, out towards Bodrum Bay, are superb.

In its heyday during the 4th century, it would have held 13,000 spectators.

If you're here in summer, Bodrum uses the theater for a program of events and concerts . Check out if there's anything on while you're in town, as seeing a performance within the theater is the best way of imagining how it would have been used in the grand era of Halicarnassus.

Directly across the road from the theater, you can get panoramic photos looking down onto central Bodrum.

Address: Kıbrıs Şehitleri Caddesi, Bodrum Town

One for the supreme history fiends on a hunt for the remnants of Halicarnassus: this gate is the main still-standing chunk of King Mausolus' once sturdy fortress walls, which originally wrapped around the ancient city for seven kilometers.

Unless you are particularly interested in ancient history, this small set of ruins, which include a scattering of tomb and stele slabs and the sparse remnants of a 4th-century moat surrounding the gate fragments, are underwhelming.

The site, though, is easily combined with a stroll from the marina, up to the mausoleum and the theate r, and then visiting this site on the way back.

Address: Cafer Paşa Caddesi, Bodrum Town

Luxury Hotels:

• El Vino Hotel & Suites is a four-star boutique hotel in a peaceful location but still only a walk into Bodrum town. It has a panoramic rooftop terrace with a pool, and breakfast is included.
• The Marmara is one of Bodrum's most high-class hotels with views across the entire town stretching out to the sea, a vast pool area, a top-end restaurant, and rooms bedecked with chic modern furnishings.

Mid-Range Hotels:

• The family-friendly Voyage Bodrum has a long private beachfront, a big pool area, a games room, and a popular spa and sauna offering a vast range of treatments.
• Another affordable resort is the Forever Club, always popular with tourists due to its welcoming staff, big private beach, outdoor pool, basketball court, and spa with traditional Turkish bath facilities.

Budget Hotels:

• In a great central position, near St. Peter's Castle, the friendly Hotel Istankoy Bodrum has a sociable pool area, good-sized rooms with excellent facilities, and a restaurant. Breakfast is included.
• On the main road in Bodrum Town, just a hop from the beach, Merih Hotel is known for its hospitable and friendly management, who go out of the way to help, and excellent included breakfast.

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Island Hopping: With plenty of ferries heading to the Greek islands , Bodrum is a main entry or exit point to and from Turkey. If you want to combine a Turkey and Greece holiday, this is a great place to start. From Bodrum, you can catch regular ferries to Rhodes, with its main town of medieval walls and cobblestone alleys, as well as to Kos.

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Home > Bodrum Travel Guide – 15 Best Things To Do & See

Bodrum Travel Guide – 15 Best Things To Do & See

Written by our local expert Nicky

Nicky, originally from the UK, is now a local in Turkey. She moved to Marmaris, Türkiye for love 12 years ago and is now your Turkey travel planner.

Here is your guide to Bodrum, Turkey. It has everything you need to know and all the Bodrum travel advice that you need. We’ve got a list of the best things to do in Bodrum, top Bodrum sites, and tips for where to stay in this amazing city.

Türkiye is full of fantastic beach resorts to visit , but some stand out above the rest. There’s a reason why so many famous people are seen floating by in Bodrum Bay aboard an imposing luxury yacht.

It’s because Bodrum is a little bit upmarket, and as such, it’s a sophisticated place to stay for a few days.

Is Bodrum cheap? Not as much as other places, but it’s definitely a fantastic place to go .

Skip Ahead To My Advice Here!

Things To Know About Bodrum Turkey

Bodrum sits on the southwestern coast of Türkiye , lapped by the waters of the Aegean Sea. It’s a town that is authentic yet upmarket, and you’ll find many rich people wandering around. Of course, it’s also a bustling tourist spot every high season in Bodrum.

Bodrum’s early beginnings were very modest, especially compared to how it is now. These days, you’ll see a massive marina with costly yachts inside it, luxury stores, and white-washed houses along cobbled streets. In the beginning, Bodrum was a fishing village, but in the 1960s, it began to grow. Many professional people from Istanbul bought summer houses in Bodrum. Hence, it gained the name ‘Little Istanbul.’

If you want to go somewhere laid back and beachy , yet you want an extra side order of glamour and sophistication, Bodrum is a good choice. The likes of Ellen, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, George Clooney, and billionaire Russians have been spotted on massive superyachts around the Bodrum coastline .

Get from Istanbul to Bodrum with this guide.

Best time to visit bodrum, turkey.

It’s going to come as no surprise to learn that Türkiye is hot in the summer months, so if you’re not a fan of soaring temperatures (sometimes over 40 degrees), then July and August aren’t for you. These are the busiest times, and you’ll find very little space around the crowded streets.

However, the shoulder months of May, June, the end of September, and October are beautiful times to visit. You’ll still find very warm temperatures at this time, but the oppressive heat has gone, and it may occasionally rain – although not that often. It’s undoubtedly still beach weather until the middle of October.

Things To Do In Bodrum Peninsula

There is plenty to see and do in and around Bodrum. You can choose to enjoy your time chilling out and doing little at all, or you can explore to your heart’s content. Here are a few things to see and do.

1. Enjoy A Boat Trip

The single best way to enjoy the sun and the beautiful coastline is to take a boat trip. The sparkling waters are ideal for swimming, and if you want to lay back on a boat and chill out, there are plenty of boat trip options .

2. Castle Of St Peter

The commanding Castle of St Peter sits with the perfect view over Bodrum town, and visiting it will give you the most amazing views over the bay. The castle was built in 1402 as a defense against invaders. As with most castles, it passed hands several times throughout history, and the Ottomans even built a large mosque inside during their reign.

Today, the castle houses the Museum of Underwater Archaeology.

If you want to visit a mosque, there are beautiful options around the country.

3. museum of underwater archaeology.

Inside the castle, you will find the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, one of Bodrum’s absolute must-sees. Inside, you’ll find all manner of artifacts related to the underwater world and the many shipwrecks that have been found off the Aegean coastline . However, this isn’t your regular museum; it’s easy to follow and learn, thanks to the multimedia displays and interactive elements.

Be sure to check out the Serce Limani Glass Wreck Room, where you’ll find a Byzantine ship that sunk around the peninsula in 1026.

4. Enjoy Bodrum’s Beaches

Bodrum town doesn’t have a sandy beach; however, just outside the main town, you will find some fantastic beaches that are ideal for kicking back and relaxing. Be sure to head to Turgutreis, Gumbet, and Bitez for some of the most idyllic spots – they all have free and private beaches. There are plenty of tourist facilities around, such as bars and local restaurants.

5. Enjoy Some Watersports

6. Bodrum Theater

It’s not all beach time! Bodrum has plenty of historical spots to check out, and the theater is one of them. At the peak of its popularity, there would be 13,000 people inside, but these days, the theatre is used for regular events and concerts – see if there is anything on while you’re there. Even if not, it’s a great spot to check out anyway, and the views are nothing short of breathtaking.

7. Bodrum Old Town

Just behind Bodrum Castle, you’ll find the Old Town, with its maze of winding, cobbled streets. It’s a great idea to spend some time exploring around here, stopping at small cafes for tea or coffee, and then heading off to do some shopping at the many souvenir shops . There are also markets where you can purchase all sorts of homemade goods, including leather shoes and jewelry.

8. Bodrum Marina

Bodrum Marina is a really picturesque area that is ideal for romantic walks and sunset views. The boats here are seriously big and extremely expensive, and you’ll find upmarket cafes and restaurants lining the marina where you can stop and have a drink or a meal. This is a particularly great place for seafood.

9. Mausoleum Of Halicarnassus

The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus used to be one of the wonders of the world, and it dates back to around 350 BC. While a lot of the original building was damaged in an earthquake, you can still visit the ruins and check out the views. You head up the hill from the marina and walk for around 15 minutes.

10. Bodrum Amphitheater

You can quickly check out the mausoleum and the amphitheater during the same visit, as they’re virtually next to one another. The amphitheater isn’t as severely damaged as the mausoleum, and it really is a window to the past, dating back to around the 6th century BC. At the height of its usage, it would have held around 10,000 people!

11. Sarnic Beach Club

There are some fantastic beach clubs around Bodrum, and some are quite exclusive. Sarnic Beach Club is somewhere in between. Here, you pay a set amount of money as you enter, and your food and drink are all included. You have free access to the beach, sun-loungers, parasols, entertainment, and the water springs and cushioned areas. You’ll have to pay extra for watersports and diving, but it’s a great place to spend the day.

12. Bodrum’s White Windmills

On the short road between Bodrum and Gumbet, you’ll find a series of white stone windmills on the hill. While it might not look like much, the view from that hill is seriously impressive, and these windmills are historic in their own right, having been there for more than 300 years.

13. Zai Bodrum

This is a cute chill-out spot that’s ideal for taking in the view, a little rest and relaxation, and perhaps an excellent spot for a day’s work. This is a park area with swings, cushions, seating, views, and a fantastic restaurant on-site. It’s shaded by trees, so it’s a good spot during the summer, and be sure to check out the food because it’s really delicious.

14. A Boat Trip To Black Island (Karaada Island)

No, the island isn’t black; it’s actually very green, but it’s a fantastic spot to visit on a boat trip. A lot of people come here for the mineral springs as they’re reputed to be suitable for certain health issues, but most simply swim and dive around the crystal clear waters.

15. Take A Day Trip From Bodrum

You can visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ephesus in around three hours by bus or car. This is one of the most amazing places to visit in the whole of Turkey, and you’ll definitely need to set off early so you get the most time there. However, do be aware that during the summer months, there is no shade in this huge area, and it can get very crowded.

Ephesus is an ancient city dating back to around the 10th century BC, and the ruins are exceptionally well preserved. It really is like walking through the past.

Greek Island Of Kos, Greece

You can easily visit the beautiful island of Kos for the day via ferry, which is only 20 minutes away. You can easily confuse people on your social media by checking in at a restaurant in Kos; they’ll wonder why you’re in Greece and not Turkey!

You can book this trip via an excursion desk in Bodrum itself, or you can book your tickets directly from the port. If you go for the excursion option, you’ll be picked up from your hotel and dropped off again. If you buy your tickets from the port, you’ll need to make your own way there, but it’s only 10 minutes away by taxi.

Brands We Use And Trust

Places to eat in bodrum – restaurants in bodrum.

Traditional Turkish food is like nothing else on the planet – it’s genuinely delicious . The great thing about Bodrum is that it’s a beautiful blend of both local and international spots. You can find anything you like there, but if you want to try one of the most lauded-after restaurants, here are a couple you should add to your visit list.

Sultan Bahce Restaurant

Set in a beautiful garden, this restaurant is the perfect spot for al-fresco dining with a sophisticated edge. The menu is extensive, but every dish is perfect. From seafood to kebabs and pizza, you’ll find everything you might fancy here, but be sure to try the freshly caught fish – it’s cooked on a BBQ, and it’s the most delicious you’ll find around Bodrum.

Antik Akdeniz

A very tourist-friendly Turkish restaurant, this is the ideal spot to try traditional food while in Bodrum. Pide and lahmacun here are some of the best you’ll find anywhere else, and there is a huge menu of grilled meat kebabs to choose from. There is also an extensive children’s menu so that nobody will go hungry.

• Best Restaurants In Bodrum

How To Get To Bodrum

You can get to Bodrum in four ways: by bus, by car, by plane, or by ferry.

If you fly into Istanbul or you happen to be in another part of Turkey, you can take a long-distance coach with either Pamukkale, Metro, or Kamil Koc. You can check prices and times online, but Turkish buses are very comfortable and offer entertainment, Wi-Fi, snacks, and refreshments.

Bodrum has a small international airport of its own, called Milas-Bodrum Airport, and it’s located around 30km just outside the city itself. You can find shuttle buses and taxis that will take you directly to your hotel.

If you’re somewhere else in Turkey and you want to drive yourself, it’s very easy to hire a car. You need your full driving license, passport, and any visa paper applicable to you. You’ll also need a credit or debit card to leave details behind.

Roads to Bodrum are very clear and easy to follow, and Bodrum is easy to drive in, but parking in the city itself can be an issue. Make sure that the hotel you choose has parking before booking.

If you’re on the island of Kos, Greece, you can take a ferry over to Bodrum in the summer months. You can do this either as a day trip or to stay a little longer. The journey is only 20 minutes long, and you can purchase tickets directly from the port.

Where To Stay In Bodrum Türkiye

Of course, you need somewhere to rest your head, and in that case, let’s take a look at three choices – one luxury, one mid-range, and one on budget. And, of course, browse through our extensive Bodrum Hotel guide, too!

Luxury Choice – Raddison Collection Hotel

Raddison is always a top choice, but this particular branch is undoubtedly one of the best. Located a stone’s throw away from Aspat Beach, you’ll find numerous on-site facilities, including a bar, fitness center, top restaurant, parking, and seriously comfortable surroundings.

Rooms are large and decorated in a modern manner. Each room has a TV and private bathroom, tea and coffee-making facilities, a minibar, and high-quality Wi-Fi. Views from each balcony are breathtaking, and the level of service is like no other.

Mid-Range Choice – Asmin Hotel Bodrum

Asmin Hotel is an excellent mid-choice option, and it still gives you plenty of comfort and luxury during your stay for a lower price tag. Each room has a large bed, comfortable décor, air conditioning, stunning views, and a flat-screen TV.

There is an outdoor swimming pool, perfect for cooling during the summer months, and plenty of on-site facilities, such as laundry, excursion desk, and pool bar.

Budget Choice – Manzara Hotel

Just a stone’s throw from the beach, this budget hotel is an excellent option if you want to save money but still enjoy an excellent base for your stay. There are two outdoor swimming pools and a large sun terrace where you can soak up the sun. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout.

Rooms are large and include air conditioning, flat-screen TV, private bathroom, and minibar. There is a restaurant on-site and a large bar where you can enjoy an evening drink or two.

Here is our full guide on where to stay in Bodrum.

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Wrapping Up Your Trip To Bodrum

Bodrum is a must-visit in Turkey, bursting with attractions for every traveler. Whether you’re diving into history, lounging by the sea, or exploring the vibrant streets, there’s something here for you. 

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Comments (5)

I like your blog but dearly wish you would be more careful about promoting activities that are abusive to animals. The camels are abused and live in terrible conditions. They are tethered day and night and only allowed to walk free with the heavy cargo of tourists on their back. There is widespread camel abuse all over the world so please do your research and stop promoting animal cruelty.

Huh, because I said camels beach? That is the name of the beach. What can I do about it? And FYI, I always advocate for animals. I never go to or recommend zoo’s in any place and ask people not to ride donkeys in Greece… https://www.chasingthedonkey.com/why-you-should-not-ride-donkeys-in-santorini-donkeys/

What about Chasing the Donkey…? That’s just cruel :)

i like your article so much and it will help me on my trip to Bodrum but I have two questions I booked Airbnb instead o a hotel and my question is safe to stay in a house instead of a hotel? second question if you can help me and tell me where to rent a good car from good places? Thank you

When considering Airbnb for your trip to Bodrum, it’s crucial to take precautions to ensure a safe experience. Before booking, make sure to read the reviews left by previous guests, especially those mentioning cleanliness, safety, and host responsiveness. Consider booking with Superhosts, as they have a track record of excellent service. Also, look for hosts with verified profiles, which indicates they have undergone additional verification steps by Airbnb. Communicate with the host to address any safety concerns or questions about the property and neighborhood. Check if the accommodation has safety features like smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. Always use Airbnb’s secure platform for booking and payments. Choose accommodations in well-reviewed and safe neighborhoods.

For renting a car in Bodrum, use these guys https://www.rentalcars.com/?affiliateCode=chasingdonkey

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• 1 Understand
• 2.1 By plane
• 2.3 By boat
• 3 Get around
• 4.1 Further out
• 7.1 Downtown
• 9.3 Further out
• 10 Stay safe

Bodrum is a tourist resort on the Southern Aegean coast of Turkey. It's a budget, mass-market destination with facilities to match, and in 2020 the Bodrum metropolis had a population of almost 182,000.

The metropolis covers a large peninsula, but in tourist literature "Bodrum" is used to market an even greater area, effectively any resort served by Milas-Bodrum airport. This page describes the city and its westward extension through Gümbet, Bitez and Yahşi, its southeast extension as far as Yalı, and its north coast extension of Torba and along the highway from the airport. Turgutreis describes the west coast of the peninsula from Akyarlar up to Gümüşlük. Yalıkavak describes the villages on the peninsula north coast to Göltürkbükü. Some brochures even include Didim , which lying 100 km north is too far even to hear the discos of Bodrum.

Understand [ edit ]

Bodrum was founded as a Grecian city, but fell under Persian rule from the 4th century BC; they appointed a hereditary provincial or regional governor called a "satrap". Nowadays this word is a political jibe, implying a corrupt and cruel petty ruler: in the movies the satrap always gets killed in the last act by his favourite concubine, who helps the hero escape at the cost of her own life. But one satrap more able than most was Mausolos, who ruled the province of Caria from this walled city called Halikarnassos, and he came to rule several others. However, he was sufficiently insecure about his legacy to commission a vast ornate tomb for himself, still unfinished at his death in 353 BC, and this gave us the word "mausoleum".

Halikarnassos then fell in turn to Alexander the Great , Seleucid rulers, the Romans and Byzantines. The Knights Hospitaller arrived in 1402 and rebuilt the castle, which had stood on an islet but was now fused to the mainland. Waste not, want not; they used stone from the mausoleum for the castle and called it Petronium ("St Peter's fortress") - hence Bodrum. They scarpered in 1522 when Suleiman the Magnificent approached, and the town became Ottoman.

Nothing much else happened for 400 years, and Bodrum was just a sleeping fishing and sponge-diving village. It became the exile of Cevat Şakir Kabaağaçlı (1890-1973), the Cretan Turkish scholar, writer and environmental activist. This fellow had already served 14 years in jail for shooting dead his father, who didn't approve of his wife. After a further 3 year term for "seditious" writing, he settled here and his lyrical descriptions of traditional life began to reach a wider readership. His pen-name was Halikarnas Balıkçısı , the Fisherman of Halicarnassus, and a boho community collected around him. His "blue voyages" in traditional fishing gulets, for leisure not for wresting a living from the sea, inspired a crowd of wannabes. European tourists flocked in search of a bygone Med undiscovered by tourists, and unscathed by the concrete apartment blocks that spoilt the Spanish and Italian coastlines, and guess what they found? Bodrum rapidly evolved into another Benidorm, a budget mass-destination, plus holiday homes for jaded Istanbulites. However this does mean good visitor facilities, price competition, and you don't have to go far to discover quiet coves and the ruins of antiquity.

The climate is typically Mediterranean, with hot sunny summers and mild rainy winters - see the Southern Aegean climate chart. Climate plus popularity add up to a longer holiday season than other Turkish resorts. May is a good time for shore-based activities but the water temperature lags a month behind the land, so June-October is better for water sports, with sea temperatures above 24°C.

Get in [ edit ]

By plane [ edit ]

To town: package tourists are bused direct to their hotels. Bus 48-24 runs spasmodically from the airport to Bodrum intercity bus terminal (at Torba) and downtown. The Havas bus isn't running in 2023, as the taxi drivers are gleefully aware.

You could also fly into İzmir or Dalaman airports, both 3 hours travel from Bodrum.

By bus [ edit ]

Buses from Istanbul take 11 hours overnight via Gebze , Bursa , Balıkesir , Manisa and Izmir , for a fare in 2023 of 450 TL. From Izmir it's an hourly service taking 3 hr 30 min for 200 TL. From Ankara is 10 hours and from Antalya it's 7. Operators on these routes are Metroturizm , Pamukkale and Flixbus.

Aras Seyahat makes a grand cross-country journey daily, from Kars via Erzurum , Erzincan , Sivas , Kayseri and Konya .

37.0639 27.4636 2 Yeni Otogar (lit: New Bus Station) opened in 2022, 5 km northeast of town, at the road junction for Torba. Already it's looking battered by its travelling public, and the cafe and toilets are overpriced. The dolmuş transfer into town should be included in your inter-city ticket; check when buying.

37.0381 27.4336 3 City bus station is downtown next to the bazaar, and feels like part of it.

By boat [ edit ]

Tilos Travel sails from Kos twice a day year-round, taking 25 min for €23 in 2023. It's a small catamaran for foot passengers only; a day-trip either way is easily possible. The landing pier in Bodrum is in the marina by the castle.

Sky Marine compete on the route from Kos April-Oct, similar times and fares.

Bodrum Feribot sail from Datça peninsula (Kairos Marina) 2 or 3 times daily June-Aug and four times a week Apr May Sept Oct. The crossing takes 1 hour 45 min and the fares as of May 2023 are 275 TL for an adult, 925 TL for a car plus 125 TL for each of the occupants.

37.025 27.439 4 Bodrum Cruise Port is where Med cruises dock. It's also the pier for the Sky Marine ferry, which doesn't use the marina.

Ferries no longer sail direct between Bodrum and Rhodes. Travel via Kos, which is connected to the extensive Greek ferry network.

Several agencies in Bodrum charter yachts and traditional gulets; the best conditions are June-Sept. Bodrum is a Port of Entry into Turkey, check out the Greek regulations if you plan to enter their waters, and beware Dikilitas Reef 2 km west of Bodrum.

Get around [ edit ]

Most town buses start from Yeni Otogar the inter-city bus terminal and run to downtown Bodrum, so this service is every couple of minutes. They then fan out across the peninsula:

• Bus 2-28 to Gümbet beach strip, Bitez, Müskebi, Ortakent and Camel Beach, every 20 min daily 07:00-00:00.
• Bus 2-34 to Gürece, İslamhaneleri, Akçaalan and Turgutreis , every ten minutes daily 07:00-00:00.
• Bus 2-45 to Gürece, Gümüşlük and Gümüşkaya, hourly daily 07:00-22:00.
• Bus 2-6 to Gökçebel and Yalıkavak every 20 min daily 07:00-22:00.
• Bus 2-48 to Bitez, every 15 min daily 07:00-21:30.
• Bus 2-2 to the western suburb of Konacık, every 15 min daily 07:30-23:00.
• Bus 2-4 to Konacık, Gürece, Bağla and Akyarlar at the south tip of the peninsula, M-Sa hourly 08:00-19:00.
• Bus 2-20 runs from Torba village via Yeni Otogar to downtown Bodrum, M-Sa every 30 min 07:00-20:00.

Others run to Çamarası, Dağbelen, Gündoğan, Mazıköy, Mumcular, and Yalıçiftlik; the full list is posted on the Muttas regional transport website. A swarm of dolmuşes also reaches those destinations and others.

See [ edit ]

• Maritime Museum , Nazım Hikmet 4 ( north side of castle ), ☏ +90 252 316 3310 . Tu-Su 09:00-17:30 . The sailing and fishing traditions of Bodrum, such as gulets, sponge-fishing and sea-shells. Adult 20 TL . ( updated Mar 2023 )
• Kızılhisarlı Mustafa Paşa Mosque just north of the castle was built in 1724.
• Merkez Adliye Mosque another block north was built in 1901.
• The marina , now full of leisure craft, was once the shipyard and general harbour. In the 18th century there was a spell of military work as the Ottoman navy was strengthened, but Bodrum's main product has long been the traditional gulet. These are two or three-masted but nowadays run on diesel, with only auxiliary sail power.
• Tepecik Mosque is at Neyzen Tevfik Cd 88, midway along the marina front. It was built in 1735.
• 37.0339 27.4355 2 Kumbahçe Mosque on Atatürk Cd has a richly tiled interior.

• 37.037658 27.413412 5 Myndos Gate is the only survivor (if these two stumps can be called a survivor) of the monumental gates of the 7-km city wall of Halikarnassos. The area includes a short course of wall foundations and is free to explore 24 hours. Myndos, the destination of the road west, now lies buried beneath the coast resort of Gümüşlük. In its heyday, Myndos had such grand gates that Diogenes urged them to be shut, before the entire town got out. Wisecracks like this made him the doyen of the "cynic" school of philosophy.
• 37.0329 27.4216 6 Ottoman cemetery on Neyzen Tevfik Cd has interesting funerary monuments.
• 37.0251 27.4138 7 Windmills ( değirmenleri ) in various states of dilapidation stand on the ridge west of the bay, in a line of seven. They were used from mid-18th century up to the 1970s to grind corn into flour. The area is free to stroll around and you mostly come here for the sunset view over the next bay, pity about all the trash. Similar windmills dot the peninsula beyond.
• 37.0302 27.4398 8 Zeki Müren Art Museum ( Zeki Müren Sanat Müzesi ), Zeki Müren Cd 19 , ☏ +90 252 313 1939 . Tu-Su 08:30-17:30 . Zeki Müren (1931-96) was a prolific, flamboyant and frankly camp singer-songwriter. He was born in Bursa, launched his career in Istanbul and retired to Bodrum when his health failed. His house has been made into a museum with memorabilia such as his costumes. He had rather a lot of costumes. Adult 75 TL . ( updated Nov 2023 )

Further out [ edit ]

• 37.013 27.329 9 Camel Beach is a small resort strip to the west, where the big attraction is that camels parade up and down the strand. These are as authentically bad-tempered and overpriced for rides as any you'd encounter in Arabia. A waterbus plies here from Bodrum Marina. Ideally you'd get here by Kamil Koç — camel coach — but they've been taken over by Flixbus.
• 37.068 27.4218 10 Pedasa was a small city-state in 400 BC, but the territory was handed over to Halikarnassos. You reach it up a dirt road (2WD okay in dry weather) and follow the steps from the parking area up to the ruined acropolis. It's free to explore any time.
• 36.974 27.463 11 Kara Ada , meaning "black island", is a wooded and almost uninhabited island visited on boat trips. You pay extra to swim in the hot springs ( sıcak suyu ) that emerge in a cave on the north coast. They're only lukewarm, they're smelly from the sulphur, and the cave has sharp rocks on its low ceiling and shallow base.
• 37.1917 27.7577 12 Uyku Vadisi means "Sleeping Valley" — it's a scenic canyon through limestone bluffs above the village of Gökçeler, 45 km east of Bodrum. You can also explore İncirli Caves [dead link] here. The hotel may pretend that you have to pay them admission - don't part with a single lira unless you wish to use their facilities.

Do [ edit ]

• Beaches in town are pebble but good for swimming. For sandy beaches go further west to Gümbet or Bitez.
• Hamam or Turkish baths are at Fabrika Sk 48 southeast side of the city bus station. They're segregated by gender with both sides open daily 07:00-23:00.
• Windsurfing is better on the more exposed west coast around Turgutreis , since the calm sheltered waters of Bodrum are its selling point.
• Scuba diving : Some half-a-dozen dive shacks offer day trips for qualified divers April-Sept. There are several shipwrecks, a Dakota DC47, rock formations (including Kara Ada) deepening into caverns, and eelgrass meadows with not much marine life - this is the Med. Bodrum is a good place for scuba training for its clear calm waters, and this includes advanced and specialty courses.
• Boat trips: some dozen companies offer trips by modern launch or traditional gulet. They're based around the marina but may pick up from other resort beaches.
• 37.0365 27.3944 1 Bodrum Aquapark , Bekiroğlu Cd 6 , ☏ +90 532 342 2144 . May-Sept daily 10:30-17:00 . A park with 23 waterslides, a 350-m wave river, a wave pool, a range of other pools, and a disco. Food is overpriced and they search you to keep it that way. ( updated Mar 2023 )
• Football: Bodrumspor play soccer in TFF 2. Lig, Turkey's third tier. Their home ground Bodrum Şehir Stadı (Old Stadium), capacity 4563, is 500 m north of town centre towards Hwy D330.
• 37.0519 27.3383 2 Bodrum Golf & Tennis Club , Pazardağı Çk, Ortakent , ☏ +90 252 358 7280 . This is the closest golf course to Bodrum. There are others to the northeast at Regnum Resort and at Vita Park. ( updated Mar 2023 )
• Dolphin Park Bodrum , Guvercinlik ( 20 km northeast of Bodrum towards airport ). The dolphins are in the sea but in a fenced enclosure. You watch them perform tricks and may swim and interact with them. Staff seem to invent prices as they go along. The park remains closed in early 2023. ( updated Mar 2023 )
• Modern & Jazz Festival and competition is next held 19-23 April 2023.
• Ballet Festival is July / Aug, but is not confirmed for 2023.

Buy [ edit ]

• Lots of little convenience stores, there isn't a big western-style supermarket.
• Always haggle at street markets. For clothing you're aiming for half the quoted price.

Eat [ edit ]

Downtown [ edit ]

• Orfoz at Zeki Müren Cd 13 is extolled in many guide books, but visitors find the food nothing special and the "tasting menu" little more than tapas.
• 37.0351 27.4293 1 Körfez , Neyzen Tevfik Cd 2 , ☏ +90 252 313 8248 . Daily 09:00-23:00 . Quality seafood restaurant on the marina front, where they ensure you pay for the view. ( updated Mar 2023 )
• Bodrum Kumru , Adliye Sk ( by Kumbahçe Mosque ), ☏ +90 252 313 0131 . Daily 09:00-22:00 . Cheap and cheerful eatery, great value. ( updated Mar 2023 )
• Curly's Demeter Pool Garden Restaurant Bar , Dere Sk 45 ( next to Kavala Apts ), ☏ +90 532 620 9087 . Daily 09:00-02:00 . Garden restaurant mostly doing roasts and steaks. ( updated Mar 2023 )
• 37.0383 27.4384 2 Umurça Pide Salonu , Derviş Görgün Cd 19 , ☏ +90 252 313 1872 . Daily 10:00-21:00 . A sfiha restaurant, that's flatbread topped with mincemeat. ( updated Mar 2023 )
• Umurça Unlu Mamulleri , Derviş Görgün Cd 20 ( next to Pide Salonu ), ☏ +90 252 316 3874 . Daily 06:00-23:00 . A bakery also doing desserts such as baklava. ( updated Mar 2023 )
• Berk Balik , Cumhuriyet Cd 167 ( on promenade a block north of Zeki Müren Museum ), ☏ +90 252 313 0066 . Daily 11:00-00:00 . Friendly fish restaurant with views of the castle. ( updated Mar 2023 )
• Sunger Pizza , Neyzen Tevfik Cd 160 ( next to Hilton by Marina ), ☏ +90 252 316 0854 . Daily 08:00-23:00 . Good menu selection besides pizza. ( updated Mar 2023 )

Gümbet [ edit ]

• 37.0309 27.4064 3 The Windy Bay , off Melengeç Sk, Gümbet . Daily 09:30-00:00 . Good spot for inexpensive food. ( updated Mar 2023 )
• 37.0329 27.4073 4 Cafe De Colombia , Mister Hadi Sk 6, Gümbet . Th-Tu 08:00-04:00, W 08:00-00:00 . Inexpensive steakhouse open late. ( updated Mar 2023 )
• 37.0183 27.3382 5 Vira's , Bıtırak Sk 27, Ortakent , ☏ +90 252 348 3992 . Small hotel on Yahsi seafront serving good Turkish cuisine. B&B double 1000 TL . ( updated Mar 2023 )

Drink [ edit ]

• Körfez is a long established rock bar on the waterfront at Cumhuriyet Cd 59, open M-F 13:00-01:00, Sa Su 13:00-03:00.
• Funk is an open air club just north of Körfez, pricey and couples only. It's open nightly 21:00-04:00.
• Adamik is another old stager, just north of the castle and open 24 hours.
• Kule Rock City is a rock bar on Cumhuriyet Cd open 20:00-05:00, couples only.
• Club Catamaran east of the castle is on a large catamaran, with a glass deck for the dance floor. At night the boat putters out into the harbour where lights have been set into the ocean floor. Lights plus food scraps thrown overboard draw fish to swim beneath the glass floor. It's open nightly 21:30-03:00.
• Karnas Vineyards are in the hills 20 km northeast of town and have a restaurant.

Sleep [ edit ]

• 37.0382 27.4276 1 Su Hotel , Turgut Reis Cd , ☏ +90 252 316 6906 . Charming small hotel with pool in the Western Bay. Close enough to walk to city centre, but Turgut Reis is a narrow busy street with no sidewalk. B&B double 2000 TL . ( updated Mar 2023 )
• 37.0359 27.4358 2 Atrium Hotel , Üçkuyular Cd 31 , ☏ +90 252 313 1111 . Simple central budget place, cleaning erratic. B&B double 1000 TL . ( updated Mar 2023 )
• 37.0353 27.4383 3 Kavala Studios , Sevecenler Sk 5 , ☏ +90 252 316 6564 . Very basic but central rooms. ( updated Mar 2023 )
• 37.0331 27.4381 4 Hotel İstanköy , Atatürk Cd 73 , ☏ +90 252 316 4187 . It's clean, central and value for what you pay, but rooms are poky and facilities limited. B&B double 1500 TL . ( updated Mar 2023 )
• 37.0398 27.4393 5 El Vino Hotel , Pamili Sk , ☏ +90 252 313 8770 . Oasis of calm on the north edge of the busy city. B&B double 1500 TL . ( updated Mar 2023 )
• 37.042 27.4411 6 Marmara Bodrum , Sulu Hasan Cd 18 , ☏ +90 252 999 1010 . Charming hotel on the hillside north edge of town. B&B double 2500 TL . ( updated Mar 2023 )
• 37.0354 27.4314 7 Kaya Pansiyon , Eski Hükümet Sk 10 ( 150 m from bus station ), ☏ +90 252 316 5745 , [email protected] . Peaceful clean rooms in town centre. ( updated Mar 2023 )
• 37.0347 27.4218 8 Doubletree by Hilton ( Bodrum Marina Vista ), Neyzen Tevfik 168 , ☏ +90 252 313 0356 . Smart well-run hotel by the marina, good reviews for comfort and service. B&B double 2500 TL . ( updated Mar 2023 )
• Seçkin Konaklar Hotel , Neyzen Tevfik 186 ( 100 m south of Hilton ), ☏ +90 252 316 1351 . Comfy place by the marina. B&B double 1000 TL . ( updated Mar 2023 )
• 37.0291 27.4178 9 Azka Otel , Kaptan Kalesi Sk , ☏ +90 252 316 8992 . Beach-front hotel with spa and fitness centre. Some facilities tired, a tad pricey for what you get. B&B double 2500 TL . ( updated Mar 2023 )
• 37.0289 27.4163 10 Salmakis Resort , Salmakis Cd 7 , ☏ +90 252 316 6507 . Resort and spa hotel on the beach 3 km from city centre. Mixed reviews. B&B double 2000 TL . ( updated Mar 2023 )
• Antique Theatre Hotel is a small mid-range place opposite the amphitheatre.
• Bodrium Hotel is a clean, friendly, budget hotel at Büyük İskender Cd 13, 100 m southwest of Myndos Gate.

• Ali Baba is a basic but clean friendly place at 3144th Sk 24, east edge of Gümbet. Tosunoglu a block east is of similar standard.
• 37.028 27.4093 11 Jasmine Beach Hotel , Dayılar Sk, Gümbet , ☏ +90 252 333 0745 . On beachfront east edge of bay, limited facilities and food repetitive, but value for what you pay. B&B double 1500 TL . ( updated Mar 2023 )
• Siesta Beach are apartments next to Jasmine Beach.
• 37.0324 27.4084 12 Serpina Hotel , Mister Hadi Sk 1, Gümbet , ☏ +90 252 319 4547 . Pleasant budget place near beach. B&B double 1000 TL . ( updated Mar 2023 )
• Hotel Bagevleri next to Serpina is of similar standard.
• 37.0317 27.4048 13 Parkim Ayaz Hotel , Ayaz Cd 20, Gümbet , ☏ +90 252 319 5550 . On beachfront, lays on kiddy entertainment, but a busy area with disco and street noise. B&B double 1500 TL . ( updated Mar 2023 )
• 37.033 27.4032 14 Nagi Beach Hotel , Ayaz Cd 10, Gümbet , ☏ +90 252 319 1464 . Beachfront hotel, a bit worn and dated, but clean and good service. B&B double 1200 TL . ( updated Mar 2023 )
• 37.0339 27.4067 15 Water Garden Apart Otel , Fettah Sk 10, Gümbet , ☏ +90 252 319 5157 . 20 simple rooms in a clean welcoming apartment hotel. ( updated Mar 2023 )
• 37.038 27.4092 16 Tropicana Beach Hotel , Dayılar Sk, Gümbet , ☏ +90 252 319 3523 . Friendly midrange hotel, good service. B&B double 1000 TL . ( updated Mar 2023 )
• 37.0382 27.4062 17 Ağar Apart Otel , Nergiz Sk 3, Gümbet , ☏ +90 252 319 5166 . Simple hotel 1 km from beach, well managed by Irish couple. ( updated Mar 2023 )
• 37.0358 27.402 18 Club Shark Hotel , Garahasan Cd 4, Gümbet , ☏ +90 252 424 0491 . Basic hotel 500 m from beach, cleanliness varies and food indifferent. B&B double 800 TL . ( updated Mar 2023 )
• 37.0338 27.3981 19 Green House Apart Hotel , Adnan Menderes Cd 33, Gümbet , ☏ +90 252 319 4236 . Simple town apartments with pool and friendly helpful staff, great value for what you pay. Some rooms have kitchenettes. Double (room only) 500 TL . ( updated Mar 2023 )
• 37.0325 27.3976 20 Bronze Hotel , Adnan Menderes Cd 49, Gümbet , ☏ +90 252 319 5505 . Simple family-friendly place near the beach. ( updated Mar 2023 )
• 37.0306 27.3975 21 Gümbet Cove Hotel , Adnan Menderes Cd, Gümbet , ☏ +90 252 319 5252 . Spotless friendly budget hotel on beach. B&B double 1500 TL . ( updated Mar 2023 )
• 37.0289 27.394 22 Asteria Bodrum Resort ( Selectum Colours ), Adnan Menderes Cd 63 , ☏ +90 252 319 7000 . "Selectum" is the silly new name, but the Asteria continues to deliver good comfort, service and cuisine. B&B double 3000 TL . ( updated Mar 2023 )

Torba [ edit ]

• 37.0806 27.4591 23 Voyage Torba , Atatürk Cd 108, Torba , ☏ +90 252 367 1820 . Rave reviews for comfort and service here. ( updated Mar 2023 )
• Casa Dell'Arte , İsmet İnönü Cd 66, Torba ( One block east of Voyage Torba ), ☏ +90 252 367 1848 . Smart hotel with a private beach. B&B double 5000 TL . ( updated Mar 2023 )
• 37.0814 27.4759 24 Vogue Hotel , Usuluk Koyu 10, Torba , ☏ +90 252 311 1818 . Good inclusive resort hotel. B&B double 6000 TL . ( updated Mar 2023 )
• 37.0855 27.4772 25 Işil Club Resort ( Doubletree by Hilton ), Kaynar Mevkii 11, Torba , ☏ +90 252 337 1010 . Good standards at this resort hotel on the north-facing coast. B&B double 3000 TL . ( updated Mar 2023 )
• 37.0946 27.4924 26 Rixos Premium , Zeytinlikahve Mevki , ☏ +90 252 337 1122 . Good service and comfort at this beachfront resort hotel. B&B double 5000 TL . ( updated Mar 2023 )
• 37.1377 27.5606 27 Lujo Hotel , Çomça Mevkii Sk 10, Meşelik , ☏ +90 252 311 5555 . Slick upscale resort hotel, most visitors are on package holidays. B&B double 5000 TL . ( updated Mar 2023 )
• La Blanche Island , Pina Yarimadasi, Meşelik ( headland just west of Lujo ), ☏ +90 252 322 0000 . It's a peninsula not an island, but does feel away from it all. Mixed reviews for comfort, cleanliness and food. B&B double 4000 TL . ( updated Mar 2023 )
• 37.0048 27.4627 28 TUI Magic Life , İçmeler Kümeevleri 60 , ☏ +90 850 281 0113 . Great reviews for comfort and service at this all-inclusive resort hotel. It's mostly block-booked for package holidays by TUI but they may have availability for independent travellers. B&B double 5000 TL . ( updated Mar 2023 )
• Bodrum Holiday Resort ( next to TUI Magic Life ), ☏ +90 252 313 6401 850 . Friendly service; good rooms in the main building but those in the annex are tiny, and the site is hilly. ( updated Mar 2023 )
• 36.9927 27.5109 29 Kempinski Hotel Barbaros Bay , Hacıgiden Cd 33, Yalıçiftlik ( 14 km southeast of Bodrum ), ☏ +90 252 311 0303 . This is some distance from town or anywhere else, so regard it as a secluded luxury destination in its own right. Good facilities, some visitors have found it rattling empty. B&B double 4000 TL . ( updated Mar 2023 )

Stay safe [ edit ]

• Usual precautions about safeguarding valuables, swerving clear of drunks and lowlife, and beware traffic - including marine traffic, such as mad bats on jet skis.
• Keep children away from the many stray dogs. Turkey is considered high risk for rabies, so if you get bitten, you need immunising.

Connect [ edit ]

Bodrum, its approach roads and the peninsula have 4G from all Turkish carriers. As of March 2023, 5G has not rolled out in Turkey.

Go next [ edit ]

• Bodrum Peninsula is lined by resort villages. The largest are Turgutreis , Gümüşlük and Yalıkavak .
• Kos is the Greek island 20 km southwest, often visited as a day-trip.
• Priene, Miletus and Didyma are three Greek ruins on the ridge 80 km north.
• Kuşadası is a big resort town just beyond that ridge, with must-see Ephesus 20 km further inland.
• Datça is an unspoilt town to the south across the Gulf of Gökova, accessible by ferries or a long detour via Marmaris .

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Road is Calling

My 21 Favorite Places to Visit in Bodrum (Peninsula) That You’ll Love Too

Last updated on September 23rd, 2023

Recently, we have spent almost two months in Bodrum. I thought it was enough time not only for lazy days on the beach after a long working day but also for driving around and exploring the peninsula. However, it turned out that two months was not enough for us. Because we were working a lot and because there were just too many cool places to visit in Bodrum.

While this trip is still fresh in my memory, I would love to share a list of Bodrum activities and places that we personally loved. Depending on your interests and preferences, you will also find some of these spots interesting and unique.

Whenever you are visiting Bodrum, try to hire a car , get out of the city, and discover the peninsula. There is a lot to see outside the city, especially during Bodrum’s spring and fall seasons !

Interesting & Unique Places to Visit in Bodrum

1. ancient st. peter castle – bodrum wonder of the world .

I want to start my list with one of the most historic Bodrum tourist attractions that is of big interest to many. This castle (to me looks more like a fortress) is the most important symbol of Bodrum.  It was built by the Knights Hospitallers of Rhodes in the 15th century and dedicated to St. Peter. It is more like a huge complex with several exhibitions where you can visit the Museum of Underwater Archeology, check the gallery of glass and amphorae, and see the remains of a 14th-century ship.

Within the walls of the castle, there is a luscious garden with pomegranates, mulberries, aloe and quince, and beautiful peacocks that imposingly walk in shade.

Another reason why many people visit is the view of Bodrum from above. If you climb the Commander Tower, on top of it you get an incredible panorama of the picturesque hills, marina, and the sea.

It is better to go to such an ancient and historical place with an experienced guide. He/she will be able to tell you the history of this place and understand its historical value. If budget allows, you can request a guided tour. 

2. Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology 

Among all Bodrum attractions, it is worth highlighting the Museum of Underwater Archeology which is part of St. Peter’s castle. To visit it, you pay for the entrance to the castle and visit it on your own as part of a general tour.

Here you will find not just a dusty collection of lifeless relics but unique, artful, and breathtaking artifacts. The museum displays exhibits dating back to the Bronze Age, Archaic, Late Antique, and Hellenistic periods. Among the most interesting ones are household items and decorations of the Bronze Age, amphoras raised from the bottom of the Aegean Sea, parts of sunken ships, Princess Ada’s impressive jewelry, glassware of the XII century, fossilized seashells, and more.

For the fullest museum visit, you probably need about an hour or so. Don’t forget sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, camera, comfortable shoes, and water – there are no grocery stores near the museum (castle).

3. Bodrum Old Town

One of the most interesting districts of Bodrum lies right behind the St. Paul castle. Its narrow streets are lined with vines and stone houses hidden behind them like a postcard.

The main part of the city has been modernized, therefore, it is one of the few areas where you can still feel the atmosphere of the fishing village , which it once was before the advent of tourism here. It is an incredibly inviting place for an afternoon stroll and a photographer’s paradise. There are many cute boutiques and cafes to relax after the walk.

There is also a lovely market with lots of handmade jewelry, clothes, accessories, Turkish souvenirs, and famous Bodrum sandals and leather bags. Prices at the market are higher than average but you can find some really unique items. Every time I went there, I couldn’t pass by without purchasing at least something. And if you can buy only one item, choose leather shoes, Bodrum is famous for them!

For some quirky hidden restaurants in the old town, turn onto Sanat Okulu street.

4. Zeki Muren Arts Museum 

If you are looking for some unique things to see in Bodrum city, I suggest you check out the local Zeki Muren Museum of Art.  It was built after a famous Turkish singer Zeki Muren who was also a composer and actor. And the museum is actually located in a singer’s house. People know him for his contributions to music in the same way as Elvis.

The exposition of the museum consists of many of his personal belongings, souvenirs about his outstanding career, other things and information that directly explains how Muren became an icon of modern Turkish music. This museum is definitely not everyone’s cup of tea but many people will appreciate a visit here. Especially considering that you need only an hour, a maximum of two to learn about everything.

5. Famous Bodrum Windmills 

Among other Bodrum must see places are the old white-stone windmills. They are located in a picturesque place between Bodrum and Gumbet where they have been standing for more than three hundred years. And although windmills on their own are in a dilapidated state and do not sparkle any interest, the breathtaking panorama opening from the mountains makes this area a must-see.

On the one hand, from here you can admire the beautiful views of Bodrum and the castle of St. Peter. On the other side, you see the Gumbet bay.

You can get to the mills both independently by dolmus or a private transfer, or as part of an excursion tour. We made a quick stop by car.

There is a cafe on the territory where you should try a rather unique drink – freshly squeezed pomegranate juice without seeds. It is worth devoting about 1 hour for sightseeing and taking photos.

Here is the address of the cafe next to the Bodrum windmills .

Tours in Bodrum not to miss :

Best Cafes, Restaurants & Bars in Bodrum

6. cafe del mar .

The first cafe on my list is a Cafe Del Mar in Bodrum old town which is a bit hidden away from the eye and located on the beach line. To the right and left of this place you will find many other restaurants and bars. But I wanted to say a few words about Cafe Del Mar where we stopped for a quick meal which actually lasted almost 3 hours. And this cafe was fantastic.

So I am highlighting it for the food, good (as for the city center) prices, lovely services, and dining experience almost in the sea. We ordered something simple as chicken kebabs but there was so much food on our plates that we had to pack it for later.

My favorite part was eating by the water while enjoying the view of the castle and the Aegean Sea. Someone else next to us came just for drinks and a quick swim.

With quiet relaxing music in the background and a pleasant breeze from the sea, it’s easy enough to lose track of time. We came for an early dinner but stayed until sunset. Even though we spent too much time in only one cafe, it was well worth it! 

You can find this restaurant here .

7. Curly’s Demeter Restaurant & Pool Club

Not far from Ataturk Street, just a 5-minute walk away, you can find this nice and cozy restaurant with international cuisine. It has its own garden where you can enjoy delicious food in the shade of fragrant tangerine trees. And my favorite part is a small lovely pool where everyone who eats at the restaurant can swim during the day.

There are always a lot of locals here because the menu still focuses on the national cuisine. Popular dishes are lamb and beef steaks, Ottoman-style barbecue, kebabs, and smoked fish dishes. There are also various pizzas on the menu, fresh juices, all kinds of cocktails, beer, and wines. The portions are generous.

From early morning until noon, guests can order a traditional English breakfast with Turkish coffee.

I personally loved it for the idea of being able to swim in the pool. You come here to eat (and the food is great) but can swim and sunbathe as well.

The restaurant address is here . 

Would you like to taste the most delicious fish and seafood in Bodrum? Then check out my other favorite restaurant called Zazu. It is quite popular among locals and is always full of people. They cook seafood here like nowhere else. The menu offers stuffed fish and squid, juicy mussels, shrimp casserole, baked seafood mix, and other rare delicacies. Each week the menu is complemented by some original chef’s dish.

Parents will appreciate the fact that there is a children’s menu. Kids should love Zazu’s cheeseburger, eggplant puree, chicken sandwich, or tuna sandwich.

Oh, and there are also some very good desserts like custard with ice cream (ever tried them together?), panna cotta with wild berries, pumpkin pie with ice cream, and more.

Zazu is open in the morning for a hearty breakfast. It includes three types of cheese, olives, boiled eggs, meat cutlet, vegetables, toast with honey. In the evening after 21.00, there is live music and shows.

I love this place for the atmosphere, very delicious seafood, and live music in the evening. The average bill for two with hot meals, snacks, coffee, and two glasses of wine is around 150 TL.

Find the location of this restaurant and read more reviews here .

9. Mabolla Bodrum Bar

And here is a truly amazing bar in Bodrum where besides the luxurious presentation of good food and cocktails, you get a calm peaceful ambiance with live music in the background.

We also stumbled upon this bar by accident when wandering around towards our car which was parked nearby. It was pretty easy to miss this place since it was a bit hidden in bushes and behind the fence. So yeah, you won’t see many people there since Mabolla Bodrum is away from the coast and Old Town.

We really enjoyed every single aspect about this bar, starting with the atmosphere and friendly welcome and finishing with the drinks and music. The music here, by the way, is never too loud, so you can enjoy a conversation. Prices here are average but lower than anywhere near the coast. 

Here is the address of this bar .

Instagrammable Places to See in Bodrum

10. bee bistro & cafe in turgutreis.

I should have probably put this cafe in the section about the best Bodrum cafes but instead, I am dropping it here. Why? Because it is really an Instagram worthy spot.

Everything is just so pretty in this cafe, including the food, drinks, and setting. The interior design was created by the owner and it’s full of many stylish details. The owners, by the way, are always in the cafe and they welcome you even before you step inside. Both main dishes and desserts on the menu are very delicious. I ate there a few times, enjoyed every single meal, and took a bunch of instagrammable photos. 

Oh, and by the way, speaking of food. Turkish breakfasts and hamburgers there are incredible and you simply have to try them. The San Sebastián cheesecake is one of the best cheesecakes I have ever tasted. No matter what you order here, also don’t miss San Sebastián with a glass of Turkish chai! And, if you are staying in Turgutreis, come to Bee Bistro & Cafe for breakfast.

11. Sianji Well-Being Resort

If I had my own list of top 10 hotels in Bodrum, Sianji Well-Being Resort would be definitely on that list. In fact, many publications do mention this resort as one of the best beach hotels in Bodrum. It has a fancy spa, outdoor pool, a beautiful beach with fine sand that is perfect for families with children, and lots of space for every guest. And in my humble opinion, it is one of the most postcard-worthy Bodrum resorts. I am leaving a few photos for you to judge.

The entire territory here is clean and full of pretty details, villas near the pool have a sea view (as well as most of the rooms in the main building), there are many exotic decorations, and overall this resort feels like a bit of paradise. Oh, and this Bodrum resort prides itself on the excellent organization of honeymoon stays . It is definitely worth your money.

We had a very short vacation here and it certainly was not enough. Sianji Hotel surprised us with superb service and amount of activities. And their clean beautiful beach. The staff was very helpful, trying to go above and beyond to create unforgettable memories for each guest.

If you can, come at least for a night (better two). Otherwise, if not able to stay, visit for drinks in their top-floor bar. It has an outside terrace with so incredible views.

Check availability, rates, and more photos here . 

12. Melengic Balik Restaurant

Another place on the list should be probably in another part of this post. But again, I am dropping it here. Melengic Balik restaurant is a romantic restaurant by the sea with absolutely gorgeous decorations, very pleasant music, a unique colorful setting in a perfectly picturesque location. It is located on the beach in a chic village Gümüşlük and offers beautiful sunset dinners.

This restaurant is one of the most instagrammable places because of the tables in the sea (see photo below) where you can have dinner, overlooking a harbor. Being one of the last restaurants on the shoreline, it’s somewhat hidden from the eyes. If you want to get the best table near the water (or in the water), come very early or better make a reservation. For the food, Melengic Balik restaurant mainly focuses on seafood and has good octopus, calamari salad, and meze. 

To be honest, the food here is not better than the food in nearby restaurants, yet it’s more pricey. Sure thing, since you mainly pay here for the atmosphere and vibe. If you don’t feel like this is your type of place, choose another restaurant on the beach. There are quite a few other fantastic places where to eat on the same beach near the water.

NOTE : If you are coming from anywhere in Bodrum , you need to take a cab or one of the minibusses (dolmus taxis). If reaching by car, park along Karnak street away from the village (not to get a ticket) and walk here.

13. Mavi Suite Turkbuku 

Mavi Suite in Turkbuku village in the northern part of the Bodrum peninsula is a lovely hotel with 40 rooms located right by the sea. It has a restaurant facing the beach and most of the rooms overlook Turkbuku Bay. The entire property is very cozy, clean, and is a great deal for those who are on a budget but want to stay near the beach in one of the most picturesque Bodrum villages.

However, the reason I included it in this list of the best places to go in Bodrum is not the hotel itself.  

Mavi Suite has its private beach with a bar and a big patio where guests can sunbathe and relax. But the beach and outdoor area are open to outside guests who can come for a day there. The requirement is to spend a minimum of 200 TL per person at their restaurant and bar which gives you access to all facilities and Instagram-worthy beach.

We discovered this hotel also by accident when actually visiting Cilek Beach Club nearby. And we personally loved it. They were one of a few places in Turkbuku that actually had a sandy (although small) beach together with a wooden platform beach. What makes it an Instagram-worthy spot is a cool swing in the sea.

Also as a guest, you can join scuba diving, water skiing, and play table tennis if you wish.

If interested to see the property for a possible stay, check the rates, reviews, and availability here .

14. Aspat Termera Resort Village

Aspat Termera is a new private resort-like mini-village built around the Aspat beach outside Akyarlar that reminds of somewhere in Italy. While the beach itself is one of the most beautiful beaches (and I talk more about it in my other post here ), it has been privatized and you need to pay to get in. Not everyone will do that with many free beaches around.

If you don’t plan to go to this beach but have a car and travel from Bodrum to Akyarlar or Turgutreis via a scenic coastal road, you can make a stop at the Aspat Termera resort just to walk around, possibly ride in a gondola, and enjoy the atmosphere. The village has water canals where people kayak, a few cafes by those canals, shops, and a pretty inner courtyard with a marina.

15. Duru Butik Hotel

Duru Butik hotel is a small guest house in Bodrum center that offers very basic accommodation and amenities. Being 2 minutes away from all main Bodrum sightseeing spots and 5 minutes away from the sea, it can be a decent hotel to stay for budget travelers who also look to be in the very center. 

However, as with a previous hotel, I mention this one for a totally different reason. If you are in search of bright colorful places in Bodrum that will make an Instagram perfect photo, add Duru Butik hotel to the list of things to see.

This property has such a pretty courtyard full of flowers and old antiques, a swing, a hammock, and an area with cushions to relax. As an outside guest, you can stop here for Turkish chai and photos. There is just so much to photograph! 

Other Really Cool Places to Visit in Bodrum

16. aquapro dive center .

If you are looking to go diving in Bodrum, check the Aquapro Dive center in Bitez village. This center is famous for its unique diving sites, excellent organization, and a 5* service. Also, what is important for many, they help to have an enjoyable diving experience without fear and anxiety. Among all the companies, for many reasons, these guys have earned special trust.

All divers get well-maintained equipment, helpful and experienced instructors, clean and comfortable boat, and meet all required safety measures. This club has something to offer to all types of adventurers. It is really great for both beginners and professionals as instructors divide all divers into groups according to their level of experience.

The cost of a diving tour depends on the number of dives, so check details and prices in advance .

During the dives, the club’s crew takes pictures of you underwater. If you wish, you can purchase them after the tour.

17. Zai Bodrum

The first time I went to Zai, I got a feeling that I was in one of Ubud’s warungs or some other magical Bali meditation spot. Because Zai is a happy elegant place in Bodrum that has a library cafe concept where everyone can chill and distract from beach life.

Once you enter the premises, you find yourself in a big lush garden with water streams, flowers, art displays, a big library, comfortable seating options, and very delish food and drinks. You can come here with a laptop to work, do some reading with a tea or dessert, or have an Instagram worthy meal. We were there a couple of times and one time there was a temporary exhibition which attracted many artsy souls.

If you need a bit of relaxation in between your beach activities or a perfect coworking space in Bodrum, I highly recommend you Zai! Or, if you are just looking for a unique cafe in Bodrum, visit Zai too. They are located not far from the main road, so it is easy to get there by car or dolmus taxi. Here is their location by the way.

NOTE : In July and August it gets incredibly hot during the day. So the best time to visit is in the morning or after 16.00.

18. Sarnic Beach Club

We have been to 5 beach clubs in Bodrum and Sarnic Beach club turned out to be our favorite one. I highly recommend you checking this place out and spending one fantastic day on their beach! Overall, Bodrum is famous for its beach club concept when you pay a certain amount of money for a day by the beach and get drinks and food included in that price.

And Sarnic Beach Club offers just that.

Among all beach clubs, this one has one of the lowest entrance fees, yet the highest number of activities. Besides that, the menu is pretty extensive and everything is very delicious. Some people complain and say that food prices are high (yes, they are) but hey, you are not paying for the food alone. When spending a day in a beach club, you have access to their amazing beach, diving platform, water swings, hammocks, loungers, music, wifi, and a vast area for relaxation. Check out some of my photos to understand more.

The entrance fee is 150 TL per person (€17 based on today’s exchange rate) which already includes drinks and food on the menu. No matter if you drink or eat, in the need of the day you still need to pay 150 TL. So you better spend it!

In some resort-like cities in Europe, you pay only €15-€20 for a sunbed somewhere on the crowded beach. But here, for this amount of money you can be hanging out in one of the nicest places in Bodrum with access to a gorgeous beach and fresh delicious food.

19. Dibeklih Culture & Art Center

Dibeklih Culture and Art Center is a complex with a shopping center and dining establishments that also hosts various seasonal art and cultural events in Bodrum. The amenities here are pretty basic but beautifully designed grounds offer fantastic views of the hills.

Small galleries here have interesting exhibits, a steak restaurant live music some nights, a coffee house and bar offer decent food and drinks. In the summer months, this center hosts concerts and Bodrum jazz festival as well as holds movie nights under the open air next to the film cafe bar.

Dibeklih Culture & Art Center is a fantastic stop to make for art lovers, those who are in the area and want to have a Turkish breakfast in a beautiful serene setting or a cup of Turkish coffee, see an exhibit, or visit one of the festivals. For more details and events, see their website .

20. Bodrum Dolphin Park

Among the best things to do in Bodrum with children and on your own is to go to a Dolphin Park which boasts the most comfortable living conditions for dolphins and other sea animals. Shows in high season take place only a maximum of four times a week in order to have time to recover and rest.

The dolphinarium is a fenced open-air section of the bay where in addition to traditional performances, guests can do the next:

– go for a walk along the adjacent beach (entrance to its territory is free for everyone);

– have lunch at a restaurant serving freshly caught seafood;

– join swimming with dolphins and performers.

The dolphinarium is located outside the peninsula but reaching it is easy and quick. The best way if to go by dolmus or a cab.

The show schedule is on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 16:00. The adjacent area and restaurant are open daily from 9:00 to 18:00. The prices for interaction and swimming with dolphins vary. Get answers to all your question on the Bodrum dolphin park website . The website for some reason removed the English version and all information is there in Turkish now, but google translator does a good job translating.

21. Karaada (or Black) Island 

Kara-Ada or Black Island looks more like a green island in a distance but not black. It is actually covered with a thick layer of exotic greenery. On the slopes of the island mountain, you can admire a pine forest and amazing thickets of amber trees. However, the elongated land area owes the name of a ‘black island’ to a large number of mud and mineral springs on its own territory.

Every year thousands of tourists come here for health improvement and relaxation. The summer months of July and August are somewhat hot for mineral springs but other reasons to visit are diving and swimming.

In fact, Karaada island is of big interest to divers. A ship and even an airplane were sunk near its banks especially for diving reasons.

The most convenient way to reach the island, if you don’t have your own boat, is on an excursion or rented yacht.

Anya is originally from Ukraine but in heart she is a citizen of the world. She is working online and that’s why has an opportunity to travel a lot and live in different countries. At present time, she is based in Spain while waiting for the war in Ukraine to be over to be able to return home. On this blog, her main goal is to inspire others to travel to under-the-radar places and discover the world while working remotely.

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So lovely and interesting! Thank you for this wonderful, helpful, detailed post. Wishing you many great future adventures!

Thank you, Anastasia, for stopping by to drop this comment! I am wishing you many beautiful adventures too! 🙂

The Dolphin park from what reviews I read is a rip off. Otherwise decent article

Thank you for mentioning that, they used to be good, I wonder why that changed.

I think the cafe Del Mar is now closed.

Good to know, I’ll get in touch with them to varify, thank you for stopping by to tell me!

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Bodrum Peninsula

The Bodrum Peninsula, named after the seaside resort town near its centre, offers a mix of exclusive resorts and laid-back coastal villages where you can enjoy good swimming and and upmarket restaurants. Despite the glaringly visible inroads of modern tourism, tradition and tranquillity are partially preserved by local open-air vegetable markets and the rugged coastline, overlooked by scarcely populated hills in the peninsula's centre. The area has an efficient and inexpensive dolmuş network, making it easy to hop between Bodrum and the outlying coves, where, with some advance planning, you can find quality beach accommodation at still-reasonable rates.

Leave the planning to a local expert

Experience the real Bodrum Peninsula. Let a local expert handle the planning for you.

Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Painter and sculptor Ender Guzey established this unique space in a remote hillside location east of Bodrum, showcasing contemporary art and (occasional)…

Bodrum Town

One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Mausoleum (originally 44.8m high) was the greatest achievement of Carian King Mausolus (r 376–353 BC),…

Bodrum Castle

Bodrum's magnificent waterfront castle, built by the Knights Hospitaller, dates back to the 15th century. It houses the excellent Museum of Underwater…

Dibeklihan Culture & Art Village

In the all-but abandoned village of Yakaköy just off the road between Yalıkavak and Ortakent, this complex contains an art gallery, shops, the Dibek…

Bodrum Maritime Museum

This small but well-formed museum spread over two floors examines Bodrum's maritime past through finely crafted scale models of boats and an excellent…

Ancient Theatre

Ancient Halicarnassus' theatre was built in the hillside rock in the 4th century BC to seat 5000 spectators but that capacity was increased to 13,000 for…

Myndos Gate

These are the restored remains of the only surviving gate from what were originally 7km-long walls probably built by King Mausolus in the 4th century BC…

For the best vistas of Bodrum, head to the peninsula on the west side of town which is crowned by seven old windmills.

Plan with a local

Experience the real Turkey

Let a local expert craft your dream trip.

Purchase our award-winning guidebooks

Get to the heart of Bodrum Peninsula with one of our in-depth, award-winning guidebooks, covering maps, itineraries, and expert guidance.

Bodrum Peninsula and beyond

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Best Time to Visit July-September

Population 136.317

Airports Milas–Bodrum Airport

Best Places to Stay Downtown Bodrum

Bodrum is a well-known city located on the Bodrum Peninsula and one of Turkey’s most charming beach destinations. This hidden treasure attracts a varied population of travelers who enjoy strolling along its long palm-lined waterfront while their elegant yachts crowd the marina.

Expanding west into the Aegean and flanking the Mediterranean, the peninsula has twelve hotel towns and towns along its shores, of which Bodrum is the most famous one and might be one of your top retreats as well. The beautiful village lets you enjoy its seashores, lodgings, and numerous other joys.

The Palmarina is a recently revamped marina that we indeed suggest you visit! Go for a comfortable walk underneath palm trees, be hushed by the forward and backward of the tide, appreciate the yachts docked by the harbor, and submerge yourself in the exciting nightlife that port-side towns enjoy!

Planning a trip to Bodrum soon? Answer this trip planner and get your FREE quotation within 24 hours.

The History

Before arrival, what to eat, tips & etiquette.

In ancient history, Bodrum was called Halicarnassus and has been influential since the 5th century BCE under the Persian Empire’s rule. The city thrived under the control of Mausolus and his wife Artemisia II (who is also his sister) and continued the Hecatomnid dynasty founded by his late father, Hecatomnus.

When Mausolus died in 353 BCE, his widow ordered the construction of a tomb on the magnificent hillside in memory of her late husband. This building is called the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus and is built in a classic Greek style with a roof design reminiscent of Egyptian architecture. Upon completion, it became one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

How to Get There?

From Istanbul, it is a pretty long ride of 692 km (that would take you more than 8 hours), although there are direct flights available from both Istanbul airports and some other cities. Milas–Bodrum Airport (BJV) is a global air terminal that serves Bodrum and Milas’s Turkish towns. The air terminal is arranged 36 km east of the city and 16 km south of Milas.

Therefore, you can either opt for a plane ride if you want to get there quickly or the long route by land if you want to enjoy some roadside attractions.

What to Pack?

To save money on heavy luggage, numerous lodgings offer washers and dryers for clothes. So, it’s an excellent tip to remember that you have the option to wash clothes rather than pack each day for an entire trip.

• Dodge dim attire during summer because the shadings ingest the warmth.
• Cotton and material garments are lightweight and extraordinary for keeping cool even though the last is inclined to wrinkling.
• In the case of visiting in summer, disregard denim. It’s excessively weighty for hot atmospheres.
• To make additional room in your bag, the roll doesn’t overlay.

The summers are sweltering, damp, dehydrated, and clear; the winters are long, chilly, wet, and halfway shady; and it is blustery all year. Throughout the year, the temperature commonly fluctuates from 9°C to 32°C and is seldom beneath 4°C or above 35°C.

The best occasions to visit Bodrum for ideal climate are:

Cooler: April 5 to June 1 Best time for the beach or gulet charter: June 1 – September 15 Least crowded: October 1 to December 9 Off-season: December 9 to late March or April

• Gumusluk, Turkbuku, Ortakent, Torba, and Yalikavak are acclaimed for their fish.
• The focal Bodrum, Gumbet, Bitez, and Yaliciftlik are acclaimed for their meat dishes.
• Golkoy is celebrated for its baklava and cakes.
• Turkbuku is celebrated for its pastry made of green apples plunged in mint alcohol.

The Bodrum Cup

If you are visiting in October, you can enjoy the Bodrum Cup, an amazing international event for classic sailing yachts, at which about 100 vessels sail five legs in 5 days. The best part is, you don’t even have to be a sailor while you can join and be a part of the race and enjoy the other activities in the evenings.

The Nightlife

Bodrum, the old and legendary Halicarnassus, is one of Turkey’s most engaging urban communities with its vibrant nightlife that will please all youngsters. Its clubs are open until sunrise, and its business sectors and bazaars offer a broad scope of items for those looking for that ideal keepsake.

Now, You're Prepared for Visiting Bodrum

On the off chance that you need to astonish your companions or family with an exciting blessing, at that point, this is the city. With clubs, seashore bars, and numerous occasions, Bodrum throughout the late spring season never stops!

To make life easier for you, check out our range of tours that include Bodrum. We’re here to take the pressures off from complicated travel planning, leaving you to enjoy your trip to Turkey to the fullest. We can’t wait to welcome you to Turkey!

Bodrum Tours

Private Blue Cruise on Bodrum-South Dodecanese-Bodrum

Private Blue Cruise on Bodrum-North Dodecanese-Bodrum

Priene, Miletus, and Didyma Tour

Dalyan (Caunos) Boat Tour, Koycegiz & Iztuzu Beach

The First-Timer’s 11 Night Turkey Itinerary

Private Blue Cruise Charter in Bodrum – Fethiye – Gocek

The Ancient Stratonikeia Tour from Kusadasi or Bodrum

Private Blue Cruise from Bodrum to Gokova

Honeymoon Tour Package: Land Tour of Turkey

Where to go next.

If you are looking for a historical expansion after the beach or onboard time, the best possible route would be to start with Didyma, Miletus, and Priene that are on the way to other western Turkey landmarks.

If you are looking for other beach adventures and would like to spice up the trip with some offroad activities, anywhere until Adana to the south should be the next destination!

Situated on a landmass confronting the Greek Island of Kos, Bodrum is a worthy opening stage to lease a sailboat, a private gulet yacht, boat, or clipper and locate the “Turkish Riviera” and the islands of the Dodecanese, exactly where the Aegean and the Mediterranean.

Would like to join the other happy travelers?

Bodrum Travel Guide: A Turkish Gem by the Aegean Sea

Some links in this post contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission if you use the links at no extra cost to you! Happy reading 😀

Bodrum is a hidden gem along the beautiful Turkish coastline. Before we visited, we knew very little about what Bodrum had to offer, and we were simply blown away by how beautiful it was!

Located on the southwestern coast of Türkiye, Bodrum is a stunning destination that combines ancient history and culture with the beauty of the crystal-clear Aegean Sea.

Bodrum is a great place to visit off-season. You can get  flights to Bodrum with Jet2 from London Stansted that take just 3.5 hours, making it the perfect short autumn weekend break!

We visited with Jet2 for four nights in October, and the weather was perfect . Whilst we were relaxing in 25°C heat, our friends back in England were battling high winds and heavy thunderstorms. Bliss! 😅

In this Bodrum travel guide, I’ve included everything you need to know about this up-and-coming destination, including how to get there, what to do, where to stay and some of my favourite insider tips. So, let’s get started and get exploring Bodrum!

This article is sponsored by Jet2.com/Jet2holidays.  However, I would never recommend a stay or destination that I didn’t truly love.  All opinions in this post are my own .

TOP TIP: Look out for the 🍃 icon for tips on how to make your holiday more ethical and sustainable! We’re passionate about travel, but we’re also passionate about looking after the planet and travelling responsibly.

Bodrum Travel Guide: A Summary

Short on time? Here’s an overview of this Bodrum travel guide so you can grab your information and go!

Why you should visit Bodrum

Bodrum is such an underrated destination to visit in Türkiye. Along with the stunning coastal towns of Antalya, Ölüdeniz and Marmaris, Bodrum is becoming one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country.

Bodrum is an ideal place for  couples holidays with Jet2holidays , especially for those wanting to relax on the beach, sunbathe in the hot weather, eat tasty local food and learn about some of Türkiye’s ancient history.

Along with classic holiday activities such as swimming, snorkelling and boat trips, it’s also perfect for those who want to hike and get outside . There are plenty of hiking trails in the surrounding mountains, and some of the viewpoints are just incredible!

In the evenings, if you want to experience the Turkish nightlife, Bodrum has it all. From traditional Turkish restaurants and bars to late-night clubs, Bodrum is a great place to party and unwind.

However, it’s easy enough to avoid all of this if you’d rather relax, sunbathe, hike and swim!

How many days should you spend in Bodrum?

Four days in Bodrum would be a minimum, especially if you’re travelling from the UK and getting a 3.5-hour flight.

In my opinion, the main sites and attractions of Bodrum can be explored in 4-5 days, but if you’d like to spend some days on the beach relaxing and sunbathing, a 7-day trip to Bodrum would be perfect.

What to do in Bodrum

The thing that surprised us the most about visiting Bodrum was how much there was to do! Our days were filled with activities, and I still feel like I would have wanted to have done and seen more .

Here are some of my best recommendations when it comes to visiting Bodrum for the first time!

1. Visit Bodrum Castle and the Bodrum Underwater Archeology Museum

One of the first things we did when we arrived was to head to Bodrum Castle and the Underwater Archeology Museum. Both are located in the same place, so it’s easy to pair the two activities together!

You’ll buy a ticket at the main entrance (near Bodrum Marina) and have unlimited time to walk the castle grounds and read about Bodrum’s history. As we had a local guide with us, we were able to learn even more in-depth about Bodrum’s past, including the way the castle was used to protect the area.

After walking around the forts and looking at the views of Bodrum from the highest points of the Castle, head into the Underwater Museum. There are shipwrecks, artefacts and types of equipment on display that are over 1000 years old!

🍃 If you’re visiting Bodrum Castle, I highly recommend hiring a local guide. Not only does this support local communities and tourism, but you’re able to learn on a deeper level about the history of Bodrum from someone who has lived there all of their life. This is an unmatched insight – even the internet can’t give you viewpoints like this!

2. Walk along Bodrum Marina

One of our favourite spots in Bodrum was the marina. With hundreds of beautiful, tall yachts lined up along the port, with extravagant restaurants and bars overlooking the water, it’s the perfect place for an afternoon stroll or lunch stop.

We loved the Marina Yacht Club restaurant, as it’s perfectly situated on the port. I sat and ate my creamy seafood tagliatelle whilst admiring the views. There’s even live music in the evenings, so you can check it out at any time of day!

🍃 There are also some great shops and markets at the marina run by locals. Buying gifts and souvenirs from smaller businesses helps to support the local economy (and they’re gorgeous !)

3. Experience the Bodrum nightlife

Now, I know this might not be for everyone, but bear with me. Bodrum nightlife can be crazy, loud and hectic, but it can also be chilled, enjoyable and relaxed. It all depends on where you go, and what you want from your night!

If you want to party the night away, I recommend heading to the centre of Bodrum, especially around the market area. There are plenty of bars and clubs to choose from, with most packing out from 10 p.m. onwards. We politely declined shots of Raki as we snuck off to bed at 11…

But, if you still want to enjoy Bodrum’s nightlife and don’t want to be dancing on tables , I recommend the Gümüşlük area. It’s a little further from the centre of Bodrum, but it had such a great evening atmosphere that was better suited for two thirty-year-olds going on ninety.

It has a late-night market and an artsy and eclectic vibe. There were restaurants along the water with live music and entertainment, and we sat here for hours whilst drinking Efes beer and enjoying the Turkish culture!

4. Visit the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

Did you know there’s an Ancient Wonder of the World in Bodrum? We didn’t either!

Visiting the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus (Halicarnassus is the ancient name of Bodrum) was one of our favourite parts of our trip. We spent over an hour walking around the ancient ruins that were once a tomb built between 353 and 350 BC.

A structure that was once over 40ft tall now remains as rubble, due to an earthquake that hit the area between the 12th and 15th Century.

However, some of the original artwork is still in place, as well as some of the podiums. Some of the Mausoleum can also be found in the British Museum in London.

It’s worth a visit, and not many people can say they’ve visited an Ancient Wonder of the World!

5. Head to the Ancient Amphitheatre

There’s a lot of history in Bodrum, isn’t there?!

Another incredible activity is to head further into Bodrum and up to the ancient amphitheatre.

Dating back to the 4th century BC, the theatre was later developed by the Romans. Ultimately, it was restored to become a 13,000-seat theatre which was the home of entertainment in the area.

With free admission, this is a perfect afternoon activity in Bodrum!

6. Go on a Gulet Cruise

Have you ever heard of a Gulet cruise? We hadn’t either!

Gulet sailboats are traditional to Turkiye, and enjoying a day at sea whilst in Bodrum is a great way to spend the day!

We boarded our sailboat early in the morning and spent the day swimming in the crystal clear water, jumping off the side of the boat, snorkelling, eating fresh seafood, relaxing on deck and drinking Turkish coffee.

It was a day I’ll always remember!

You can pick from different durations of Gulet cruises, for example, an entire day or just for a few hours. You can also choose whether you’d prefer to enjoy it privately or with other people (and we did see a few party boats!)

7. Visit the Bodrum windmill viewpoint

If you’re in Bodrum town centre, I recommend taking a slight detour and heading up to the windmill viewpoint.

Whilst the windmills are no longer in use, it’s a beautiful, panoramic spot to look over the entire coastline of Bodrum. There’s even a restaurant at the top to grab a drink or some food and soak up the views for a little longer.

8. Try local Turkish food and drink

It’s not a holiday without trying new food and drink!

We loved trying the new foods recommended to us by our guide, especially as my partner, Tom, is a huge seafood fan! We didn’t have many meals that included your typical Turkish cuisines (kebabs, shish etc), as Bodrum is so well-known for its fresh and tasty seafood.

My personal favourite was Turkish coffee – something I’d never tried before. Made over a fire, the strong coffee is a popular post-meal drink in Turkish culture, and it’s a tradition we adapted to quickly!

We walked away with a new Turkish coffee mug which now sits on our living room shelf, just waiting for its first brew. I’ll let you know when that day finally arrives!

Getting around Bodrum

Getting around Bodrum will depend on where you’re staying. Most of the hotels are either in the main city centre or further out towards the coast.

If you’ve booked a holiday to Bodrum with Jet2 holidays, the resorts you’ll be staying at will often provide transport. Our hotel had linked taxi drivers and shuttles so you could get to and from different areas easily.

You can also hire a car or board the local bus. Just be sure to check with your hotel where the bus stops so you can make the right travel arrangements (and not get stuck somewhere!)

Where to stay in Bodrum

As holidays to Bodrum are so popular (with both Brits and locals), there are plenty of hotels and resorts to choose from.

We stayed at the beautiful  Jet2holidays Kefaluka Resort , which was around a 35-minute drive from the main centre of Bodrum. This didn’t affect our plans, but it depends on what you want from your trip. We also liked having closer access to some of the other nearby towns, like Gumusluk.

With a balcony view over the ocean, two giant pools, unlimited breakfast, a waterpark, a private beach, evening entertainment, a spa and comfortable rooms, we loved our stay at Kefaluka, and would love to return in the future!

It’s nice to live in luxury before returning to reality back home…

Getting to Bodrum

Getting to Bodrum from London Stanstead is straightforward. When flying with Jet2, you can check in online and everything is taken care of. You’ll just need to check in your bags if you have checked luggage!

We arrived at the airport around 2 hours before our afternoon flight, cruised through security and even had time to grab some pre-flight food.

The flight time from London Stanstead to Bodrum is listed as 4 hours, but it usually takes around 3 and a half hours. This goes by surprisingly quickly!

Currently, Jet2 have flights from all over the UK to Bodrum, departing on different days of the week. This includes destinations such as Glasgow, Leeds, Newcastle and Manchester.

Arriving in Bodrum

When you arrive in Bodrum, most hotels and resorts are at least 1 hour away from the airport. This means you’ll either need to arrange a transfer or driver (which is usually included in your Jet2 Holiday).

When you’ve collected your luggage, you’ll meet your driver at the arrivals gate. Most drivers will have a written sign marked ‘Jet2 Holidays’ or your name, depending on the type of holiday you’ve booked.

Bodrum Travel Guide: In a Nutshell

So, there you have it! I hope this Bodrum travel guide has inspired you to book your next trip and experience this incredible place for yourself.

And don’t forget to try Turkish coffee!

When you’re planning a trip to Bodrum,  make sure you let me know over on  Instagram  or in the comments below! It makes my day to know I’ve helped you on your travels!

Keep an eye out for more Turkiye content,  all written from a personal and realistic point of view.

As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!

Happy travelling 🙂

MEET THE AUTHOR!

Hi! I'm Jennie! As a part-time travel blogger based in London, I'm using my 10+ years of travel expertise to encourage & inspire you to step out of your comfort zone through sustainable, mindful and purposeful travel.

If I'm not writing, I'm either reading, drinking coffee or taking a wild swim (all at the same time if I'm feeling impressive).

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• Bodrum Information
• Where Is Bodrum?
• Where To Stay In Bodrum?
• Public Transportation
• Bodrum History
• Bodrum Beaches
• Bodrum Cuisine
• Around Bodrum
• Bodrum Night Life
• Festivals In Bodrum
• Shopping In Bodrum
• Dont Leave Without
• Bodrum Marina
• Yalikavak Marina - Port Palmarina
• D-marin Turgutreis
• Gumusluk Music Festival
• Famous Bodrum Doner Kebab
• Weather In Bodrum
• Golturkbuku
• Yaliciftlik
• Guvercinlik
• The Mausoleum
• Underwater Museum
• Amphitheater
• Ottoman Tower
• Myndos Gate
• Zeki Muren Museum
• Dolmabahce Palace
• Hagia Sophia
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Bodrum is the dreamland of those who answer as “yes” the question “ Would you like to go on a holiday after work every day? ”

Bodrum is an inviting, colorful crowd full of surprises, sometimes a humble wiseacre and a loose wise man, sometimes it is an alone crazy, it is freedom, love; Bodrum is sun, sea and after all it is history… In short Bodrum is everything and everybody. Because everybody has it is own Bodrum here. Some live a modest, peaceful and quiet life, some live crazily madly. Bodrum is a White that bears all colors and also internalizes them. It rains different here and also the sun rise different and sets completely different. Wind blows different, sea smells else. Bodrum is the naughtiest, the haughtiest, the most inert, the most beautiful, the most honest and the most frank child of Nature Mother.

Today, Bodrum is one of the most important centers of trade, art and entertainment as it has been since centuries ago… This coastal town in which traditional and modern life go along hand in hand in an excellent harmony opens it arms for those who want to be acquainted with her and live her.

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Bodrum: the most glamorous hangout in the Mediterranean

By Laura Fowler

The afternoon sun slants low, hazy as a dream, and paints the water gold. Out in the stillness of the bay a group of girls and boys swim, heads slick as seals, their laughter skipping over the sea like a song. It is known as the Turquoise Coast but here, where the Aegean meets the Mediterranean , the colour of the sea is capricious as the shifting sky.

The sea informs everything in Bodrum . This place only really makes sense from the water. Turkey’s jagged south-west does not lend itself to sweeping corniches, its evergreen peninsulas stretching out into the inky waters towards the Greek islands a couple of miles away. Its seafaring people lived around its edges, in disconnected fishing villages which, even now on Bodrum’s sleepier neighbours of Bozburun and Datça , are only accessible from the sea. Well-groomed Bodrum also keeps secrets: fragments of islands too small to name, hidden coves where you drop anchor to swim in lagoons or come ashore for lunch at beach restaurants.

Bodrum’s stars aligned almost 100 years ago when a writer – an aristocrat from Istanbul called Cevat Sakir Kabaa˘gaçli – was exiled here for three years. In a hut! On a beach! He fell in love, of course, and stayed for three decades. The local sponge divers showed him the underwater treasures. As the Fisherman of Halicarnassus, he wrote about Homer’s land of eternal blue with its submerged cities, its imprints of Greeks and Romans, of saints and apostles, of Antony and Cleopatra. His idea of the Blue Voyage brought all Istanbul society to Bodrum, to spend summers sailing gulets along the fragrant coast.

In the 1970s Bodrum emerged as the most glamorous spot in Turkey. And now, in pale-mineral Göltürkbükü bay, the waterside decks shine with oiled limbs lying cheek by jowl like a backgammon board. Hard to believe that a couple of years ago Europeans and Americans had all but stopped holidaying on the Turkish Riviera. It hasn’t taken long to recover. ‘People have short memories when the offering is this good,’ says Sahir Erozan, the owner of the hotel Maçakizi, surveying all the buzz and beauty with a fiendish grin.

It’s true. Bodrum was back with a bang in 2019, booming like never before, all aflutter with sleek openings which manicured great swathes of the peninsula into next-level hotels. Old favourites have been revived; Nicolas Sarkozy was among those holing up in the sexy and secluded Amanruya. The enlarged Yalikavak Marina is deep and glitzy enough to accommodate superyachts with Monets and Rothkos on board.

Among the newcomers is the Bodrum Edition, importing Ian Schrager’s trademark all-white minimalism and knock-out proportions, along with the star chef Diego Muñoz from Peru, soft sand on the beach where children splash about on paddleboards, and Balearic house music. Its bar, Discetto, has a giant pink disco ball.

Across the water on the mainland, an altogether more grown-up crowd drink cocktails from copper cups at Kaplankaya’s Anhinga beach bar. Rising up from the shore into a scrub of pistachio and olive trees, Kaplankaya is not just a hotel , but an entire new town: a turbo- smart hideout on a wildly ambitious scale, with one modernist Six Senses hotel and destination spa , and three more hotels in the offing (Cheval Blanc is confirmed) plus a marina by Foster & Partners.

Kaplankaya’s creator, Burak Oymen, spent hot, happy summers here as a child in the 1980s, his parents part of that Turkish intelligentsia lured by the Fisherman’s tales. Like Bodrum, Burak grew up and made his fortune; and with it bought a stretch of empty land. ‘I wanted to recreate the Bodrum of my childhood,’ he says. Such is the power of nostalgia. It started simply, he and his girl Tereza living in a beach hut, not in exile but in love. If they wanted civilisation, they took their boat across the bay for lunch at Maçakizi, the trade winds in their sails.

Stacey Lastoe

Becky Lucas

Liz Humphreys

CNT Editors

Maçakizi has encapsulated the spirit of Bodrum since it was opened in 1975 by Sahir Erozan’s mother. It is authentically Turkish yet completely international, pretty yet progressive, barefoot and sexy as hell. Whitewashed suites tumble down the hillside among oleander and palms; then deck after deck for eating and drinking and dancing, all the way to the sea. Sahir is invariably found in the thick of things, telling stories. He throws the kind of parties that get out of hand. ‘You know – you tell two girls, they tell 88 people.’ Guests waft around, brown skinned and beautiful with absurdly tiny waists. Kate Moss, so the story goes, checked out of nearby detox retreat LifeCo early and came straight to Maçakizi.

People dance here all hours of the day, ebbing and flowing with the rhythm of the tides. It looks artfully effortless, but don’t be fooled: this is a slick operation. Sahir spends his winters travelling the world for inspiration and rebuilding – last year adding a new beach club and state-of-the-art outdoor kitchen.

‘Good, simple food like my mama used to make,’ insists Sahir, when the dishes arrive. His mother – whose picture is in every room – must be a sensation in the kitchen , because this is no down-home cooking; it is accomplished and worldly wise, joy after jewel-coloured joy. Chargrilled octopus, its fat tentacle curled into a question mark, suckers like trumpet keys, comes with lentil cream and coconut vinaigrette. There’s sunchoke and purslane, roasted aubergine and stuffed vine leaves, and heavenly salads with spice.

Forget your plans. Lunch lasts all afternoon. By the end of it I am three hours late and three too many sheets to the wind to drive wherever it was I was supposed to be going. What fool drives here, anyway? ‘The important thing is never to stop at stop signs,’ says Sahir. ‘Because if you do the person behind will crash into the back of you.’ Luckily, Sahir has a boat. Someone in Bodrum always has a boat.

Like the sponge divers of Bodrum past, restaurant owner Çağlar Bozçağa still swims for his supper. Even this morning, with a broken leg, he slipped off the plaster cast to free-dive 25 metres down and pluck urchins from the sea bed as though it were an underwater larder. Whatever he does not slice open and eat raw for lunch on his boat, he serves in his restaurant, Orfoz. It is found on an unlikely side street of Bodrum City, where bergamot trees planted by the Fisherman of Halicarnassus shade the whitewashed buildings, next to a statue of the cross-dressing singer Zeki Müren. Beneath the bougainvillaea Caglar is clattering around on crutches, balancing plates of meze and pouring homemade wine from bottles scribbled with ‘Chardonnay’ and ‘Shiraz’ in marker pen.

It all looks unassuming, but what he serves is a bold adventure in seafood . Grouper soup is followed by morsels of house-smoked eel; oysters grilled with Parmesan; stone crab and sea snails and huge clams in their shells, sweetness in saltwater. The grand finale is testing: mantis-shrimp ceviche. Caglar is particularly delighted by these semi-opaque götügöz (ghosts), which he gleefully calls ‘eyes on arse’. People who lustily slurp down oysters should try raw mantis-shrimp ceviche. I manage a head or an arse, I can’t tell which; then sink a glass of biodynamic white in a rush. It is made in a tiny local vineyard called Neferiye. The hand-labelled bottles may hint at moonshine, but the wine is good, clean and sweet; as Caglar points out, ‘They’ve been making wine in Bodrum since 2000bc.’

Homegrown and home-cooked is not a trend here, but an eternal way of life. At the peninsula’s quiet tip, Gümüslük’s sheltered shore is lined with rustic restaurant tables set literally in the water (in-the-know Turks head for Mimoza, the best of them), so you can cool your toes while you eat what the fishing boats hauled in that morning. Hidden in the hills above, bohemian Limon is possibly the best sunset spot anywhere, a patched-together outdoor café with bright-painted sculptures among the mismatched vintage furniture, and festoon lighting strung tree to tree, serving seasonal dishes and mama’s legendary mint lemonade. Nearby, grass-rootsy Adali Kafe opened in summer 2018: blue views on a cool hillside, where the family pour local Vin Bodrum and grow their own tomatoes.

Turks, like Italians, can talk about tomatoes for hours. In Bodrum the pink ones are the sweetest; seek them out in the market, where the sellers tease with scoops of stardust, offering them up to my lips to taste and leaving the scent in my hair and on my skin. People still shop like this here. Testing the firmness of fruit and swapping cookery tips. Around the periphery, old men sit in the shade beneath strings of dried chillies ( pictured above ), smoking like mad and drinking sweet black tea, and playing okey (rummikub with Turkish rules), the tiles rattling in their hands like pebbles in a jar.

Old and new swim together in Bodrum. As the muezzin calls at dawn, young things are swaying home, the night finally over. Out to sea, a gulet cuts across the water, its prow thrusting sharp as a sailfish. There’s a softness to the early-morning light that’s something close to nostalgia for this very moment, even as it happens. And it is easy to see how, despite all Bodrum’s newfound glossiness, you can fall in love with the simple life here. Just as long as there is good food to eat and good wine to drink, and someone has a boat.

8 Off-the-radar addresses

1. Havva Ana in the quiet village of Gökçebel is a true farm-to-fork breakfast spot. It pulls in urbanites from Ankara and Istanbul for hot börek (flaky pastry filled with vegetables), sweet cherry jam, fried eggs with peppers, and urns of red-tinted Turkish tea. The sheep, chickens and cow in the neighbouring field support the whole endeavour.

2. Akyarlar Bay’s pale turquoise water makes it one of the loveliest places to go for a morning swim. Its sandy beach is backed by whitewashed houses and a handful of seafood restaurants that line the harbour.

3. For underwater action, take a gulet out to Orak Island, which is great for both shallow and deep-sea divers, with an incredible vertical reef wall that descends nearly 80 metres.

4. Windsurfers make a beeline for Bitez beach; the calm bay keeps beginners busy in the morning and then the breeze picks up later in the day for the pros.

5. Monochrome-modern Vamos in Bitez village gets packed out at lunchtime for its burrata salads and pizzas in the mandarin- and lemon tree-filled garden. There’s a market somewhere on the peninsula every day.

6. The ones in Bodrum and Turgutreis are well known, but savvy shoppers head to Ortakent or Gündo˘gan for amazing cheeses, fresh honey and homemade soaps. The best leather bags and shoes are found at Tuskany in Bodrum town; the owner Shafak will negotiate a decent discount if you ask nicely.

7. Supper at beachside Ayana Mes still feels like a secret. Even in Bodrum’s crazy high summer the tables on the sand are taken up almost entirely by locals feasting on meze, grilled octopus, stuffed pumpkin flowers and a speciality of boiled cockerel.

8. And for a nightcap, Fenix in Yalikavak serves up citrussy cocktails. By Ashley Pearson

Where to stay

MANDARIN ORIENTAL, BODRUM

Glamorous on the outside, with swathes of powdery sand and elegant restaurants, and spacious on the inside, with brave colour accents and giant bedrooms, this is a revved-up, starry beach base. But despite the grown-up good looks, families need not panic: all ages are welcome and children will love the buzzy kids’ club. The spa is also worth the trip – a little bit Japanese, a little bit Balinese – with bonsai trees and mini teapots of fresh ginger infusions, plus a lovely indoor pool and steam rooms. For all its grandeur, the space remains intimate, with staff injecting a lot of heart into everything they do. A winner for those seeking bold design along with detail-obsessed service.

Address: Mandarin Oriental, Göltürkbükü Mahallesi 314. Sok. No: 12, D:1, 48400 Bodrum/Muğla, Turkey Telephone: +90 252 311 18 88 Book your stay

MAXX ROYAL KEMER, ANTALYA

Combining the giddy otherworldliness of a smart members’ club – marble architecture, cathedral-high lobby – with a distinct feeling of seclusion, this hotel faces out to the coastline but backs onto Beydağlari Coastal National Park’s craggy mountains and ruins including Termessos, pictured. Highlights range from the whimsical – a chocolatier station, a campervan bar – to the wonderfully over-the-top, with three beaches and bathrooms stocked with Bottega Veneta products. There’s a chilled-but-sceney vibe as well as an unmistakable sense of place, from the black tea with baklava and the disarmingly good rustic lahmacun flatbread to the sound of cicadas and scent of pine.

Address: Maxx Royal Kemer, Kiriş Mh., Kiriş Cad. No:88, 07980 Kemer/Antalya, Turkey Telephone: +90 242 813 60 60 Book your stay

One of the Mediterranean’s most blissful little seaside hotels. There are 74 fairly simple rooms (though you wouldn’t know it) among the tropical and Mediterranean greenery, bowers of bougainvillaea framing sea views from every spot. It has a small but marvellous spa, a beach-rocking bar and the best restaurant in all Bodrum. In the pipeline for 2020: summer hotel residences, Maçakizi Lofts.

Address: Maçakızı, Göltürkbükü Mahallesi, Narçiçeği Sokak, 48400 Göltürkbükü, Bodrum Turkey Telephone: +90 252 311 24 00 Book your stay

SIX SENSES KAPLANKAYA

Barcelona architects OAB originally created Kaplankaya’s centrepiece, which was launched as a Six Senses hotel with an epic spa last year. Low-slung and low-impact, it branches along the sweep of the landscape and, inside, opens up into a cathedral-like space. Sleek, warm wood suites and pool villas are arranged like a neighbourhood. On one of Kaplankaya’s seven beaches, Anhinga bar was designed by K-Studio, who did Scorpios in Mykonos ; the sea bream is fat and delicious and the drinks are stuffed with herbs from the garden.

Address: Six Senses Kaplankaya, Bozbük Mahallesi, Merkez Sokak No:198, 48200 Muğla, Turkey Telephone: +90 252 511 00 51 Book your stay

THE BODRUM EDITION

The hot new arrival on the peninsula, the latest collaboration between Ian Schrager and Marriott has public spaces of awesome proportions – best of all is the main terrace, with lots of white and triple-height gauziness. Rooms of creamy stone are uncluttered and calm. At Brava restaurant Diego Muñoz adds Mediterranean and Asian twists to his excellent Latin American food.

Address: The Bodrum Edition, Dirmil Mahallesi, Balyek Caddesi, 48400 Yalikavak Bodrum, Turkey Telephone: +90 252 311 3131 Book your stay

The locals' guide to the Turkish Riviera

This story includes images of Bodrum and along the length of the Turkish coastline from Turquoise Coast , a travel book published by Assouline. Co-producers Irem Kinay and Nevbahar Koç let us in on their Turkish Riviera secrets...

Where is home?

Irem Kinay: I live in Rumelihisari, very close to Istanbul’s Bebek neighbourhood on the Bosphorus. For me being at home means having an escape in a city populated by 17 million people. I love being close to the water yet nestled among the trees. Bebek is also where I opened the first Assouline store.

Nevbahar Koç: My hometown is Istanbul, but we spend the summer on a boat, sailing along the south coast of Turkey.

What would your ideal day involve?

IK: Wake up early to the sounds of the birds around my home, then go for a walk along the Bosphorus. After a quick breakfast in a local café in Bebek, I’d take a boat to the old city and take in Istanbul with all its contrasts. I love getting lost in the bazaar, listening to the shopkeepers who always have the most interesting stories from all around the world. I would finish the day in Pera, on the terrace of Mikla restaurant, sipping a locally inspired cocktail overlooking the Golden Horn and the Topkapi Palace for a true synthesis of East and West.

NK: My ideal day would be to wake up in one of the beautiful green bays of Göcek and enjoy the sun and sea with my family and friends. I like cruising around the coast and getting to experience all it has to offer. Whether it’s visiting a magical cave where you can enter with a dinghy or waterskiing in the late afternoon when the water is calm, there’s always something to keep you occupied. At night I like going to one of the local restaurants for fish and mezze.

What is the most unusual experience you’ve had?

IK: When you are anchored in a bay in Göcek – isolated in peace and quiet in pure wilderness – you can hail the pancake boat in the morning for fresh pancakes filled with cheese and herbs. Similarly, you can jump on the massage boat in the afternoon for a spa treatment just when you thought you were far away from any form of civilisation.

Are there any secret spots you like to go to?

IK: Orfoz restaurant is a great secret spot in Bodrum, behind the castle. It’s really the most extraordinary restaurant on the coast for fresh shellfish, all prepared by brothers Cağri and Cağlar and paired with a perfect local wine list. The original Orfoz was run by their parents in Bozburun, and I used to crave the food during the winter, but their sons’ restaurant in Bodrum is also a treasure.

NK: Bozburun Cave is still not known to many. It’s amazing.

Where do you go for the best view?

IK: There’s a small island in the Gulf of Hisaronu, across from the D Maris Bay hotel, which is a great spot to anchor and watch the sun go down. I have seen the most epic, magical sunsets here.

**NK:**The sunset over the ‘Seven Islands’, or Yediadalar, is like walking into another dimension.

Which are the most impressive historical monuments in the area?

NK: The carved rock tombs in Kekova. To swim around them is an incredible experience.

Where do you go to soak up the atmosphere of the coast?

IK: For me, Bodrum is the Maçakizi hotel in Türkbükü. The sea, the food, the music and the crowd all come together to create a unique atmosphere.

Your top places to eat?

NK: The Bozburun Yacht Club for its delicious fresh food – it’s like eating at home. Sit down at a table right by the sea and order the just-caught turbot.

Is there one place where you always order the same thing?

At Orfoz in Bodrum I get the fish soup to start, then pink tomato salad, oysters with Parmesan and oven-baked aubergine.

What is your favourite local dish?

NK: You can only get the famous blue crab in Dalyan, nowhere else.

IK: Gözleme (local pancakes) with herbs in Göcek.

Where are the best shopping areas?

IK: Bodrum bazaar on Tuesdays for textiles, herbs, wooden spoons, fresh fruit and local teas. And Yalikavak Marina for local designers.

NK: I love the shopping in Kaş – there’s a street with small artisan shops and antiques. The best items to buy are the authentic thin Turkish towels and robes. I’d recommend anyone to get a couple of them in different colours.

Do you have a favourite shop?

IK: Atelier by Sumru Sekeroğlu in Kaş.

Do you go to any food markets?

NK: If you catch the weekly local bazaar, you can buy directly from the villagers. If not, they come to your boat to sell food and crafts. In downtown Bodrum there’s an open bazaar where locals sell everything from herbs to fish and fabrics to wooden spoons and sponges…

Which local artisans have you discovered?

NK: There’s a lovely atelier in Kaş producing authentic clothing. Other artisans make natural soaps with herbal ingredients, or craft objects in wood and mother of pearl.

Do you dress differently when you’re on the coast?

NK: Light, soft fabrics and Riviera-chic designs are my favourite for sailing.

Turkish Coast is published in summer 2019 (£65; assouline.com)

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A guide to Bodrum- the white city of Turkey: what to do and see

Sunny seacoast, turquoise waters, olive and pine forests, palms, ancient ruins… this is the Mediterranean Sea. Many cities, towns, villages, and resorts are established at its coast, keeping a lot of the local cultures. And some of them are incredibly beautiful and unique. One of them is Bodrum, in Turkey. At first sight, what makes it different than other cities nearby is its color- it is white! And it is full of beautiful panoramic sights and ancient history. So, read this guide to Bodrum, and let’s go explore it!

Table of Contents

Basic facts about Bodrum

Let’s open the map of Turkey and focus on its southwestern part. Here you can see the Aegean Sea full of islands, and the complex coastline of Minor Asia. This coastline, its peninsulas, promontories, and bays turn eastward, and the Aegean Sea opens into the larger eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea.

Here, in this area, you can see two peninsulas, separated by a deep bay. Let’s zoom into the northern one, called Bodrum Peninsula. And here you can see it- a city, established at the slopes of the hills of this peninsula that consists of white buildings.

This is Bodrum . Today, it is a famous Turkish resort with beaches and stunning panoramic views, full of life, local culture, and entertainment. But it also keeps secrets from ancient times, including one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world- the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus. And all of this combines into a unique mixture of impressions, attracting a lot of tourists, travelers, backpackers, and explorers.

But let’s first start with its history- how the city of Bodrum was born and how did it become as it is today.

History of Bodrum

Bodrum has a long and complex history, so we will try to simplify it by dividing it into periods.

Pre-history and Bronze Age (until 1200 BC)

Little is known about the earliest traces of human activity in Bodrum Peninsula, but according to the discovered artifacts, this place has been under the influence of the Mycenaean civilization. This period ended with the wars of the so-called Bronze Age Collapse.

Early Iron Age (1200 BC to 512 BC)

The local Dorian Greeks established the city of Halicarnassus. The exact date of establishment is unknown but probably happened after the so-called “Dark Age” (12th to 9th century BC). The city became a part of the Dorian Hexapolis- a league of cities in the area.

Persian Age and the Hekatomnids (512 to 333 BC)

Around 512 BC, the Persians conquered the area around Bodrum, including the land called Caria (the southwestern angle of Minor Asia). However, they allowed Halicarnassus to enjoy autonomy. Thus, the rulers of the city that belonged to the dynasty of Hekatomnids established the autonomous kingdom of Caria.

One of them was called Mausolus and ruled Caria from 377 to 353 BC. When he died, his sister and widow Artemisia II of Caria employed the best architects and sculptors in Greece to build a special tomb for Mausolus. This became known as the “Mausoleum”- an ancient version of the famous Taj Mahal in India, and one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Today, this is one of the main places of interest in Bodrum.

Hellenistic Age (333 to 129 BC)

Alexander the Great of Macedon conquered Caria, and the last Hekatomnid queen Ada declared Alexander as the new king of Caria. Later, this area was ruled by the Diadochi of Macedon, the Seleucids, and the Ptolemy kings of Egypt. Finally, Halicarnassus gained its independence, but not for long.

Classical Roman Age (129 BC to 395 AD)

After 129 BC, most parts of Minor Asia became a part of the Roman Republic. It included Halicarnassus. However, due to earthquakes and pirate attacks in the next centuries, the city started declining.

Early Byzantine Age (395 to 1060)

In 395 AD, the Roman Empire was divided into Western and Eastern parts. The Eastern is known as the Byzantine Empire, and Halicarnassus was a part of it. Christianity entered the area too, and the city became a bishopric. Nevertheless, its decline proceeded until it turned into one-two fishing villages amidst ancient ruins.

Middle Medieval Age (1060 to 1522)

This is the age of the Crusades and the coming of the Turks. The early Turkish dynasties of Seljuk origin ruled various parts of Minor Asia after 1060, and one of them, called Menteşe ruled Caria and what was left of Halicarnassus.

In 1402, the Crusader Knights came and started building a fortress called the Castle of Saint Peter, today known as Bodrum Castle- one of Bodrum’s landmarks. The fortress and the villages around it became known as Petronium, a name later changed by the Turks into “Bodrum”. The Crusaders possessed the fortress until 1522, when the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent conquered the whole of Caria, including the Bodrum Castle.

Ottoman Age (1522 to 1923)

It was a relatively peaceful age. The villages around Bodrum Castle, distant descendants of the ancient Halicarnassus turned into one quiet town. Its inhabitants were far from politics and just lived here as fishermen and sponge divers. The presence of Cretan Turks contributed to the forming of the local architectural style- the white houses. And everything remained as such until the 20th century.

Modern Age (1923 until today)

The town of Bodrum remained quiet even during the events of World War 1 and the establishment of the Turkish Republic. However, in the second half of the 20th century, the town started to grow. And its white architecture was preserved. It soon became attractive for tourists and tourism quickly developed. As a result, Bodrum became a large city resort, preserving the past and developing a typical resort atmosphere. It became one of the best resorts in Turkey.

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Our trip to Bodrum

All of the above was the reason why we included Bodrum in our Western Turkey itinerary. We traveled by car from Kusadasi, explored the ancient cities of Ephesus and Miletus, and finally arrived in Bodrum, where we stayed for one night. And on the next day, we visited the most important points of interest in the city.

How to explore Bodrum- places to see and things to do

One day is the minimum time if you want to explore Bodrum, and that was what we did. So, here are the places we visited (and they were the most essential places), and the places that we didn’t visit but would if we had more time.

The central part of Bodrum and the Marina

This is the most beautiful part of Bodrum, and if you want to explore the city, this area is a must to visit. It is located around the Marina Bay of Bodrum and the Bodrum Castle, and it is the city’s old core.

There is a coastal street and a nice pedestrian alley along the coast of Marina Bay. Just walking on it and enjoying the yachts from one side, and the white houses from the other side- this is worth the experience. And it is a nice place for photos too.

If you walk on the coastal alley to Bodrum Castle, you will reach the pedestrian market area. Here is the main place for shopping for souvenirs and things for daily use, and most importantly- to enjoy the atmosphere of the city. At the same time, there are a lot of restaurants and cafes, which perfectly fit the local old city environment.

In addition, there is a nice local museum- Bodrum Maritime Museum, presenting a lot of artifacts from the maritime history of the city and models of typical vessels used here in the last centuries. Entrance fee: 25 TL.

But if you leave the coast and penetrate deeper into the streets of Bodrum, you can feel something different. These streets are narrow and everything is calmer. The locals live their daily life and time goes slowly. So, don’t miss it, it is another great place for old town photos and impressions! And while you make your route around the old streets of Bodrum, you can visit the next must-see place- the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus.

Mausoleum of Halicarnassus

This is one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world- the ancient “Taj Mahal”. But unlike its famous Indian version, this one is built by a queen for her husband in the 4th century BC. It has risen over the ancient buildings of Halicarnassus for centuries, but times changed, new empires emerged, and new people came to live here. The earthquakes also had their role, and as a result, this magnificent building gradually turns into ruins.

Today, only the foundation of the glorious Tomb of Mausolus and some scattered stones from it have remained. They are turned into an open-air museum with a small hall where you can see the history of Caria, Mausolus, and the building of the Mausoleum. Then, you can walk around the ruins- the place is quite small, and along with the presentation in the hall, you can explore the place just for 30-40 min. Entrance fee: 25 TL.

The Ancient Theater of Halicarnassus

Most of the ancient cities from the Classical, Hellenistic, and Roman times had ancient theaters. And Halicarnassus is not an exception. Usually, they were built on hills or mountain slopes, and there is such terrain in Bodrum.

The Ancient Theater of Halicarnassus is located not far from the Mausoleum- just about a 10-15 min walk. You only have to cross the main road (called Bodrum-Turgutreis Yolu.- better find a proper crossroad, this road has intensive traffic!) and you are there.

The theater itself is not so special- just another ancient theater, not too big, and not too small. But what makes it worth visiting, besides the ancient history, is the breathtaking panoramic views from there to the whole city of Bodrum and its spectacular coastline! This is another great place for photos.

Today, the Ancient Theater is often used for cultural events, concerts, or plays. Entrance fee: free .

Myndos Gate

This is another historical site, located today in a small park west of the Mausoleum and the Theater, where Turgut Reis Cd. Joins Bodrum-Turgutreis Yolu. It was an important element of the fortification of the ancient Halicarnassus, one of the two main gates of the city (the other one hasn’t survived today).

Myndos Gate is known as one of the few places where Alexander the Great, the notorious Macedonian king failed in a battle, although just temporarily. Eventually, he still conquered the city, but not through Myndos Gate. Today, it is one of the notable places to visit in Bodrum. Entrance fee: free.

Bodrum Castle of St. Peter

This is the most spectacular historical landmark in Bodrum. As already mentioned above, it was built by Crusader knights, starting in 1402 and completing it by the end of the 15th century. However, they didn’t use it for long. Soon later it was conquered and possessed by the Ottoman Turks.

The knights that built the castle were from the Knights Hospitaller on Rhodes Island. They were from four nations- French, English, Italian, and German. Subsequently, the castle has four towers, each of them presenting one of these nations.

After the conquest by the Ottomans, the chapel inside it was turned into a mosque. They used the castle for the next several centuries and finally abandoned it. But after 1960, the Turkish government restored the castle and turned it into one of the most spectacular museums in Turkey.

Bodrum Castle is quite large. When you enter inside, you can follow a route that guides you to various halls, located in the towers and beside them. These halls are a part of the museum exhibition of the site. Each hall exposes different artifacts and stories related to the Castle, and the ancient history of the area, including the naval and underwater history.

The Museum of Underwater Archaeology

The most famous hall in Bodrum Castle is the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, as a part of the whole site. It exhibits reconstructed shipwrecks from the 14th century BC (Uluburun shipwreck) to the Fatimi ship (sunk in 1077), as well as a lot of amphoras, and other artifacts found on the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea nearby.

The whole site has one entrance, so you can explore it at once. And if you want to do it best, better plan for at least 2 hours- not only for the museum exhibitions, but also for some relaxation, and the spectacular views of the city and the sea from the walls of the castle.

Entrance fee: 150 TL Working hours: Summer: from 8:30 to 18:30; Winter: from 8:30 to 16:30

Bodrum Windmills

The city of Bodrum is divided into two parts- Central Bodrum on the east (with the old part of Bodrum, Bodrum Marina, Bodrum Castle, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, and more, and Gümbet, the western, newer part of the city. These parts are joined into one urban area, but the coastline is divided into two bays by a narrow peninsula. And here, on this peninsula, you can find them- another landmark of Bodrum – the Windmills.

These windmills were built in the 18th century and were used until 1970. After that, they were abandoned and started gradually turning into ruins. But at the same time, they began to attract visitors of the growing tourism in Bodrum.

In fact, the most attractive thing here is the location of the Windmills. They are built in a place with breathtaking panoramic views in every direction- a great place for photos! And the Windmills, combined with the panorama around create fantastic scenery.

Currently, the Windmills are not turned into a tourist attraction. No entrance, and no fee- you just go there and enjoy. The panoramic views are spectacular during the day, and at the night, with different vibes at different hours, including the sunrise. Thus, the Windmills have turned into one of the symbols of Bodrum.

Bodrum beaches

Bodrum is not only a city with long history and landmarks, but it is also a resort. And being a resort, it should have some beaches to enjoy, right? So yes, there are beaches in Bodrum. All of them are small, scattered here and there, and several of them are located directly in the urban area, easily accessible from the city.

The beaches of Bodrum are quiet, and the water is turquoise and transparent, especially out of the city. So, like most of the beaches in Turkey, they are more proper for swimming, diving, and just relaxing on the sand.

The beaches that are located in the city- Gümbet (Alora) Beach, Bitez Beach, Bodrum Town Beach, and Ortakent Beach are full of cafes and restaurants, that directly installed their tables on the sand. Here you can join even some beach parties, especially in the high season.

But if you prefer something quieter, go west of the city. The best beaches in this area are Yalıkavak and Aspat beaches, where you can enjoy not only the calm sea and sand but also some stunning panoramic views of the coastline and the sea around.

Finally, to explore Bodrum in full, go on a trip to its surrounding waters! The sea around Bodrum is really spectacular- full of bays, promontories, islands, and panoramic views in every direction. And the water is clean and turquoise in the shallow places.

There are a lot of boats that depart from two locations- Bodrum Marina (Halicarnassus Port), and Gümbet Port. Most of them go on daily trips to the nearby coasts, beaches, and islands (but only in the Turkish territory), and one of the most popular islands is Black Island, located not far from the city. The boat trip offers also vary from all-inclusive with a party to lunch only, or something else. And the price is between $20 and $40 USD per person.

You can also rent a private boat, for $150 to $400 USD, but of course, it is for the whole boat and is more proper for a larger group of friends or families. For more information, check here .

Useful tips

All of the above has made Bodrum a popular tourist destination. So, it is easy to travel, and everything is well-arranged for tourists. Anyway, let’s see some important tips when you go to visit this city.

Transportation

Bodrum is well-connected to the other main destinations in Turkey, and even with some nearby islands in Greece. It also has a small airport (Bodrum-Milas Airport) with flights from Istanbul and Dublin (Ireland) but also used for charter flights from other destinations. Once you arrive there, you can take an airport shuttle bus (35 km, between 25 and 40 TL, depending on the season) to the city.

Another option is to reach Bodrum by bus. There are regular buses from Istanbul, Izmir , Ankara, Antalya, Denizli, and other cities, as well as short-distance local minibuses, called dolmus, used between the nearby towns and villages.

Check for transport options to Bodrum on 12Go!

Check for transport options to Bodrum on Bookaway!

An attractive way to reach Bodrum is by boat. You can arrive by ferry from the Greek islands of Kos and Rhodes. They travel once daily, and the trip from Rhodes is 1 hour, and from Kos- about 25-30 min.

Check for ferries from Rhodes to Bodrum on 12Go!

But have in mind that it is quite expensive- $60 USD from Rhodes and $56 USD from Kos per person. A cheaper way is to reach Bodrum by ferry from Datça if you come from Marmaris. In this case, you just cross the Bay of Bodrum from Datça to Bodrum Peninsula. The price is 200 TL per person (about $10 USD) for one way, and the trip is about 1 hour and 50 min. There are 4 boats per day during the high season.

By car to Bodrum

The most convenient way to travel to Bodrum is by car. You have the freedom to go wherever you want, whenever you want. The roads to the city, and within the city are excellent (just be careful in the narrow streets of the old part of Bodrum- many of them are one-directional), and there are a lot of paid parking lots (usually between 20 and 50 TL for the whole day). You can arrive also by car from Datça by the same ferry- the price is 650 TL for the vehicle (but you still have to pay the price for a person).

Anyway, if you still arrive in Bodrum by bus or by ferry, you can use taxis or dolmus to travel around the city. But if you just explore the old part of Bodrum (around Bodrum Marina), you don’t need transport. You can just walk, and enjoy the city at the same time.

Accommodation

Being such a touristy city, Bodrum offers a lot of places to sleep. They vary from splurge luxurious hotels to budget hotels, pensions, guesthouses, hostels, and more. Have in mind that all of them are a bit expensive. Even the cheapest ones are about 500 TL ($26 USD) per room per night. And the more luxurious hotels are more proper for long-term vacations in Bodrum (of course, if you have enough money to spend on this).

Check for accommodations in Bodrum on Booking!

Check for accommodations in Bodrum on Agoda!

But for a budget explorer, a much better option is Airbnb. It is cheaper than hotels and at the same time with better conditions. It is also an opportunity to get closer to the local people (but have in mind that most of them don’t speak English, so you just have to use Google Translate). To avoid scams, just check the Airbnb property for good reviews and contact the host in advance, especially for the cheapest options.

Check for accommodations in Bodrum on Airbnb!

Finally, you can go camping. You can bring your own tent, or rent a local tent or RV. There are two campsites in the city- Zetaş (in Gümbet), and Bodrum Askeri Kamp (in the old part of Bodrum). They are a bit more expensive than the average campsites- between 400 and 500 TL for a local tent or RV, and 150 TL per person for your own tent (while the average is 100 TL per person for your own tent in other campsites).

And you are more adventurous, you can just go out of the city and sleep in the wild for free. It is allowed in Turkey, but just try to avoid camping near ancient ruins- it is considered sensitive (the authorities are suspicious about whether you would steal some artifacts).

Find a tour around Bodrum:

In general, most of the year is good for visiting Bodrum. All the time from March to November is high season. During the spring and autumn weather is pleasant, not very hot, and perfect for exploring the city. You can even go to the beach, although in spring the water would be a bit cold.

July, August, and September are the driest and hottest months of the year in Bodrum. But again, this time is perfect for going to the beach and water sports. And it is still full of tourists. Just avoid the early afternoon hours for walking under the sun.

The rest of the year- from December to February is the winter season. The weather is cold, but not enough for snow. Yes, snowfalls are possible, but still quite rare. However, the rains are regular, especially in January. And they are cold rains, caused by normal for this season Mediterranean cyclones. But when the weather is sunny, winter is still good for exploring, just too cold for the beach. At least prices in this season are lower, and there are fewer tourists.

We wanted to take the ferry to Datça by our car to reach our next destination on our route- Marmaris . But the departure time was not convenient- there were ferries from 9:00, 10:00, 12:00, and 18:00. We wanted first to explore the city, and 12:00 was too early. On the other side, 18:00 was too late- we wanted to enjoy some beach in or around Marmaris. So, we just traveled on smaller roads along the northern coast of Bodrum Bay.

So, we left Bodrum. And it left a deep impression on us as one of the most beautiful destinations on our route. It remained in our travel life as the White City of Turkey.

Check some travel books about Bodrum and around:

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Hi, we are Krasen and Ying Ying. Krasen is from Bulgaria, and Ying Ying is from China. We are passionate about geography and history, and we believe that the best way to experience it is by exploring the Earth in reality, not in a school, and not virtually.

So, we created this blog Journey Beyond the Horizon, where we share geographical knowledge, travel guides and tips how to experience it when you explore our planet, and a lot of inspiration.

And we wish you a happy journey, not just virtually, but most of all- in reality.

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EUROPE , TURKEY · August 2, 2023 Last Updated on March 21, 2024

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BODRUM, TURKEY

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We may receive a small commission when you make a purchase using our link.

The Bodrum Peninsula sits on Turkey’s southwest coast on the Aegean Sea. It is easily accessible from Istanbul and has long been a summer destination for wealthy Turkish travelers.

In recent years, Bodrum has become an international hot spot for celebrities and the jet-setting elite who flock here in the summer months to vacation on the beautiful Turkish Riviera.

Bodrum offers an array of luxury resorts, world-class dining, fun beach clubs, and excellent shopping, all set around the crystal blue Aegean Sea.

In July, I spent seven days in Bodrum celebrating my birthday with a group of friends. We lived like kings and queens for the week: We stayed at the best hotels, dined at the best restaurants, and partied at the best beach clubs.

Based on my experience, I put together this ultimate guide to Bodrum to help you make the most of your visit to this little slice of paradise. 

10 Things To Do In Bodrum

The Bodrum peninsula is about 250 square miles. While many people visit to relax and party here in the summer there is a lot to do and see. Here are 10 of the best things to do in Bodrum .

1) Explore Bodrum By Yacht 

There’s no better way to explore the coastline of Bodrum than by yacht. There are dozens of islands and over 100 inlets around the Bodrum Peninsula providing an array of beautiful spots to explore by boat. 

During my birthday week, we rented a gorgeous 115ft yacht for the day from Gulet Bookers . We had 15 people in our group but the yacht could accommodate up to 60 people and had plenty of room for lounging, beautiful estate rooms, and all the water toys you could want on board. 

The crew was excellent. They kept our drinks filled and served us a wonderful sunset dinner. We swam in private bays, danced, and did an excursion to a seaside bar at an amazing new hotel, Bodrum Loft , which has killer views and delicious handcrafted cocktails that would rival any of the top bars in the world. 

This was by far my favorite day in Bodrum and I would highly recommend booking a boat through Gulet Bookers . They offer luxury charters at reasonable prices in Turkey, Greece, and Croatia.

2) Stay At Macakizi Hotel

Macakizi Hotel made Condé Nast Traveler’s Gold List in 2021 and after spending a blissful week here in July, it’s easy to see why. It’s hard to explain how much I love Macakizi Hotel – it exudes a hip, old-world, unpretentious charm.

Built into a hillside, Macakizi is situated on the north side of the Bodrum peninsula, at the very end of a beautiful bay in the charming fishing village of Türkbükü, just a 50-minute drive (or 2o minute water taxi ride) from Bodrum Airport and a 40-minute drive from downtown Bodrum.

The property opened in the late 1970s and is richly landscaped with walking paths that meander through trees, vines, bushes, and vibrant flowers. The basic rooms are small, and very expensive in the summer months (expect to pay over 1,000 euros a night), but you don’t stay at Macakizi for the rooms. You stay here for the gorgeous property and all its luxury amenities including seaside lounge chairs that are reserved daily for guests, and the excellent concierge service.

The focal point of the hotel is a vibrant beach club with a lively beach bar, and an over-water deck jetting out from the rocks into the Aegean Sea. Two of my favorite days during our trip were spent lounging here, taking in gorgeous views of Türkbükü Bay, listening to music, drinking rosé wine, reading a book, swimming in the sea, and chatting with other hotel patrons.

Macakizi Hotel has an excellent restaurant and the breakfast, which is included in your stay, is the best breakfast I’ve had at any hotel. Fresh local tomatoes, cucumber, olives, fresh fruit, freshly baked bread, an array of fresh local cheeses, locally made yogurt, and made-to-order egg dishes accompanied with fresh vegetable juices and coffee. Did I mention everything is fresh?

3) Türkbükü Boardwalk 

The little fishing village of Türkbükü embodies the overall boho-chic spirit of Bodrum and is definitely worth visiting. Türkbükü has excellent hotels so it’s also a great area to stay. 

Macakizi Hotel and No:81 Hotel (where our friends stayed) are both located on Türkbükü Bay. Macakizi is at the end of the bay where the boardwalk ends and No:81 Hotel is right next door so during our stay we were able to walk from our hotels to the boardwalk to dine and shop.

The boardwalk wraps around Türkbükü Bay, a beautiful little bay that is dotted with yachts and sailboats. Along the boardwalk, there are an array of great restaurants, beach bars, and boutiques selling clothing, jewelry, home goods, and souvenirs. It’s a charming place to spend a few hours shopping, exploring, and taking photos. 

4) Beach Clubs

Bodrum is home to an array of luxury beach clubs, where you can dine, lounge, drink, and dance while listening to some of Turkey’s most popular DJs. Here are a few of the best beach clubs that I personally experienced during our Bodrum trip and loved. 

These beach clubs are lively and have great DJs that draw a fun crowd. In Bodrum, beach club patrons tend to arrive around 2pm and have lunch, and then by 4pm everyone is up drinking and dancing.

• Momo Bodrum – Beautiful spot to hang for the day, about two miles from Yalikavak Marina, in the same bay as The Bodrum EDITION . DJ has everyone up dancing by 4pm. Best day to book this beach club is Sunday.
• Lucca Beach – Mandarin Oriental’s beach club, chic upscale spot for lunch, lounging and swimming, you can take a water taxi from Türkbükü directly to Mandarin Oriental – they have their own private dock. Everyone will be up dancing by late afternoon when the DJ comes on. Best day to book this beach club is Saturday.
• Macakizi Beach Club – The beach club at Macakizi hotel goes off every day with great DJ music and a lively beach bar scene from 4pm-8pm, dies down for dinner from 8pm-11pm, then picks back up again until 2am. Macakizi has its own private dock so you can take a water taxi here if you aren’t staying in Türkbükü. 
• Before Sunset – If you like to dance, check out Before Sunset. They serve great cocktails in a beautiful seaside setting and a big party crowd with notable DJs, light shows and a massive dance area.  

Bodrum has excellent shopping that is very affordable. Most of the beach clubs have pop-up shops and most of the hotels also have little boutiques on property where you can buy chic swimsuits, beach cover-ups, jewelry, and shoes as well as dresses and clothes for going out at night. 

If you want to shop for more affordable, locally-made clothing and souvenirs head to the Türkbükü  Boardwalk, as I mentioned above. No:81 Hotel also has a cute clothing boutique. There is also good shopping in Bodrum Old Town.

If you’re looking for designer bags, shoes, clothing, and jewelry head to Yalıkavak Marina . 

One thing to note about shopping in Turkey: It’s part of the Turkish culture to haggle and negotiate when buying. Be sure to shop around and find the best prices and then come back and negotiate on everything you want to buy.

6) Yalıkavak Marina

The Bodrum Peninsula is home to Yalıkavak Marina , one of Europe’s most renowned luxury marinas. Yalıkavak Marina is able to accommodate the biggest yachts in the world and is lined with designer shopping boutiques, and upscale restaurants and bars.

Yalikivak Marina is extravagant and beautiful and the perfect place to spend the afternoon window shopping and taking in your ultra-luxurious surroundings. It’s also a great place to have drinks and dinner.

We had my birthday dinner here at Sakhalin Bodrum. Sakhalin was named for the largest and most beautiful island in Russia. Founded by Russian restaurateur Boris Zarkov and brand chef Vladimir Mukhin, Sakhalin boasts an incredible seafood menu and quite possibly an even better ambiance. 

7-8) Bodrum City & Bodrum Castle

Bodrum City is a beautiful port city on southwest side of the Bodrum peninsula, featuring twin bays with views of Bodrum Castle (also known as Castle of St. Peter), a medieval fortress built partly with stones from the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World that was completed in the 4th century B.C.

In 2016 Bodrum Castle was added to the tentative list of Unesco world heritage historical sites in Turkey. You can book this 5-hour Private Bodrum City Tour where you’ll explore the ancient city of Bodrum Castle, the Underwater Museum of Archeology (home to the world’s oldest known shipwrecks), and the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus.

Book This Tour: Private Bodrum City Tour

9) Day Tour: Ephesus & House of Virgin Mary 

While in Bodrum you can also take a guided day trip from Bodrum to enter the ancient city of Ephesus, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This ancient city is regarded as one of the best-preserved sites in the Mediterranean.

During this tour, you’ll visit magnificent ruins, including the Library of Celsus, and the house of the Virgin Mary. This tour includes pick-up in Bodrum, transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle, and lunch at a local restaurant. 

Book This Tour: Ephesus & House of Virgin Mary Tour

10) Day Trip To Kos

The Greek island of Kos is just a short 20-minute boat ride away. If you want to check two countries off your backlist in one day you can book this day trip to visit Kos . You will get picked up in the morning, from your hotel in Bodrum and get to spend all day on Kos.

Book This Tour: Day Trip To Kos

The Best Areas & Hotels On The Bodrum Peninsula

There are an array of luxury, mid-range, and budget hotels across the Bodrum Peninsula. Here are the best areas to stay in, and the best hotels in those areas in each price range.

1) Türkbükü 

While Yalıkavak is booshie and ultra-luxurious, Türkbükü is unpretentious, easy-going, and fun while still being upscale. As I mentioned above, the little fishing village of Türkbükü embodies a boho-chic spirit and is home to the Türkbükü Boardwalk, a fun stretch of restaurants bars, and shops along Türkbükü Bay.

It also has some of the best hotels in Bodrum. I loved staying in Türkbükü and would highly recommend booking a hotel in this area. Here are 7 of the best hotels in Türkbükü .

• Macakizi Hotel – There are an array of luxury hotel chains taking over Bodrum, so it’s important to support locally-owned boutique hotels in the area like Macakizi, plus as I explained, this place is amazing and easily the best hotel in Türkbükü. Pricey but worth it .
• No:81 Hotel – Ideally situated on the boardwalk next to Macakizi, No:81 Hotel is a 5-star boutique hotel. Our friends stayed here so I checked out their room and we spent one afternoon at the beach club. The rooms were modern, clean, and nicely appointed and the beach club was excellent. I highly recommend this hotel as a more affordable option in lieu of staying at Macakizi.
• Mandarin Oriental Bodrum – Largest Mandarin Oriental property in the world, over 150 acres set on a gorgeous bay with a world-class beach club and top-notch restaurants such as Hakkasan. Mandarin Oriental has its own dock and is just a short water taxi ride away from Türkbükü Bay.
• Galen Hotel & Beach – Budget-friendly, beach hotel with free breakfast and 24/7 front desk .
• Divan Hotel Bodrum – Beachfront hotel, budget-friendly , spa services, private beach.
• Mavi Suite Türkbükü – Budget-friendly , 4-star boutique hotel on the boardwalk in Türkbükü.
• Flamm – Beachfront boutique hotel, clean, modern, sophisticated, affordable.
• Bodrum Loft – Not in Türkbükü, but a short water taxi ride away, gorgeous property on a beautiful, peaceful bay.

2) Yalikavak

As I mentioned about, the draw of Yalikavak is its new ultra-luxurious marina with an array of upscale restaurants, bars, and boutiques. Yalikavak Marina is a bit over the top for my personal taste but I can see the appeal.

For those who are traveling in super yachts, Yalikavak Marina can accommodate their large ships making it an ideal location. Here are 7 of the best hotels in and around Yalikavak . 

• The Bodrum EDITION – 108 guest rooms, suites, and villas, most with views of the Aegean Sea — some with private pools, balconies, and gardens. Just two miles from Yalikavak Marina, one of the top-rated new hotels in Bodrum .
• Yalikavak Marina Hotel – Situated at the heart of Yalikavak Marina with direct access to all the shops and restaurants there plus an array of amenities and gorgeous views. 
• Allium Bodrum Resort & Spa – Chic boutique hotel with a private beach and full-service spa with a Turkish bath , walking distance to Yalikavak Marina. 
• G Beyond Residences & Villas – Stylish, Mediterranean hotel with full-service spa and free breakfast, excellent option for travelers seeking a lovely, central location with great views.
• MGallery The Bodrum Hotel – Private beach, beautiful views, full-service spa, mid-range priced option in Yalikavak.
• Arts Hotel Yalikavak Bodrum – Mid-range priced hotel option in Yalikavak, private beach, modern, wood-paneled rooms. 
• 4Reasons Hotel & Bistro – Budget-friendly with a pool and outdoor restaurant, 4 minute drive to Yalikavak Marina. 

3) Bodrum City

The beautiful port city of Bodrum is where you’ll find many of the top tourist attractions, tours, and landmarks on the peninsula such as Bodrum Farmers’ Market, Oasis Mall, Bodrum Castle, and Mausoleum at Halicarnassus (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World).

Bodrum City sits at the entrance to the Gulf of Gökova so it acts as a gateway for nearby beach towns and resorts. Since it’s the oldest town in Bodrum, it offers an array of budget-friendly restaurants and hotels. Here are 6 of the best hotels in Bodrum City .

• Caresse, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa – 5-Star, luxury hotel , beautiful build out on the sea with a private beach.
• Doria Hotel Bodrum – 5-Star Hotel with mid-range pricing , near the beach in Bodrum.
• Kaya Palazzo Resort & Residences Le Chic Bodrum – Mid-range pricing , located on the beach in Bodrum City center.
• Su Hotel – Budget-friendly , Mediterranean hotel in Bodrum City Center, near Bodrum Ferry Terminal.
• El Vino Hotel Suites – Budget hotel set in a garden with views of the sea and city.
• Costa Viva Bodrum – Clean budget hotel, located near the beach, in Bodrum City Center.

The Best Restaurants In Bodrum

Bodrum has incredible food; it is fresh, flavorful, and delicious. The produce we enjoyed in Bodrum is some of the best I’ve had anywhere in the world. Many of the restaurants here serve up Meditarian-inspired cuisine.

While in Bodrum you’ll enjoy fresh seafood, fresh vegetables, freshly baked bread, and delicious homemade sauces that will have your mouth watering long after you leave Turkey.

While this is certainly not an extensive list, based on my experience spending seven days eating my way through Bodrum, here are 10 of the best restaurants in Bodrum .

• Macakizi Hotel – Excellent spot for dinner or lunch seaside at the water’s edge. Visit the Macakizi website to make lunch or dinner reservations. 
• Lucca Beach Club – Lucca Beach at Mandarin Oriental Bodrum is a great spot for a beach club lunch experience. You can book a water taxi directly to their private dock. The beach club party gets going around 4pm.
• Momo Bodrum – Momo is a fun spot for lunch and drinks in a beautiful setting. The food is exceptional and the beach club party gets going around 4pm.
• Sakhalin – Located in Yalikavak Marina,  Sakhalin Bodrum is a lovely dinner spot that has an incredible seafood menu and a beautiful, upscale ambiance. 
• MIAMI – Located on the Türkbükü boardwalk, MIAM is a fun dinner spot that serves Mediterranean cuisine in a beautiful setting (request a seaside table), plus they have a lively after-dinner party scene with a DJ.
• Hakkasan – Also located at the Mandarin Oriental, Hakkasan is a beautiful spot for an upscale dinner. Food is pricey but excellent and their build out over the water is stunning.
• Naru Bodrum  – Naru serves up fresh Mediterranean and Turkish cuisine in a gorgeous setting in the Pine Trees, about 25 minutes drive from Türkbükü. Great for lunch or dinner.
• Atilay – Great dinner spot located on the Türkbükü boardwalk. Atilay has been a local favorite since 1988, offering a seasonal selection of mezze, salads, and fish in a lovely setting (request a seaside table).
• FENIX – Located in Yalikavak Marina, FENIX offers a unique atmosphere embodying Istanbul’s spirit, serving up international and South American cuisine in an upscale Aegean atmosphere. Great for dinner and drinks.
• Brava Restaurant – Located inside The Bodrum EDITION, Brava serves up Latin-Aegean-inspired dishes. Their elevated menu celebrates the biodiversity of Bodrum, using only the freshest local produce.

Getting To Bodrum

Bodrum is easily accessible. Turkish Airways offers multiple flights daily from Istanbul to Bodrum and the new Istanbul International Airport (IST) is impressive and not a bad place to spend a few hours on a layover. There are tons of designer shops, restaurants, bars, and boutiques in the airport. 

From Istanbul Airport it’s a quick 1hr 15 minute flight to Bodrum. You fly into Milas-Bodrum International Airport (BJV). From the airport, it’s an easy 50 minute cab ride or 20 minute water taxi ride to Türkbükü. 

If you want to take a water taxi from the airport to your hotel make sure to set this up in advance. You should also set up your pick-up in advance as there are no Ubers in Bodrum and taxis can be hard to find.

Best Time To Visit Bodrum

If you want to experience everything Bodrum has to offer including a lively beach club scene then summer is the best time to visit. June, July, and August are considered high season in Bodrum. This is when all the hotels, beach clubs, restaurants, and shops are open and in full swing. 

But while summer is an ideal time to visit it can be pricey, hard to get reservations, and very hot, especially in July when average temperatures peak at 94°F and sea temperatures around Bodrum average 76°F.

If you want to avoid the crowds and score better prices on hotels I suggest visiting during shoulder season. May and September are both great months to visit Bodrum. Flights to Bodrum and hotel prices are much cheaper during these months, most places are open, and the weather is great.

September, in particular, is an ideal month to visit. In May, the sea around Bodrum can be a bit chilly averaging around 64°F in the spring, but in September the sea is still warm with an average temperature of 73°F in the fall.

Other Things To Know About Bodrum

Here are a few other useful Bodrum tips to help you make the most of your stay!

How To Dress In Bodrum

Turkey is a predominately Muslim country with over 99% of the population being registered as Muslim. The Muslim dress code for women is very conservative (don’t show your shoulders or wear shorts or skirts above the knee), so I wasn’t sure what to expect as far as the dress code in Bodrum.

When we arrived I was pleasantly surprised to see that across Bodrum, the dress code is beach chic casual meaning you can basically wear whatever you want. In fact, many women dressed sexy beach chic casual – so basically the same attire you’d wear in St. Barts or St. Tropez. During the day for lunches at beach clubs, you can wear a bathing suit with a cover-up and sandals.

At night you’ll see most women in dresses, and flat sandals. If you’re eating dinner in Yalikavak Marina you can dress up a bit more and wear a fancier dress and high heels, but this is the only place I would recommend heals. For the rest of Bodrum flat sandals are ideal.

For men, during the day, t-shirts, shorts, and sandals are fine. For going out to dinner at any of the upscale spots in Bodrum, men should wear collared short (or long) sleeve shirts paired with nice shorts or slacks and loafers. 

If you want to pay in cash in Turkey you need to get Turkish Lira. Most places do not accept US dollars. All the small local shops and a lot of the taxi cabs require you to pay in cash in Turkish Lira. However, most of the high-end restaurants, bars, and boutiques take credit cards. 

Reservations

If you’re visiting Bodrum in the busy summer months of June, July, and August it’s crucial that you make dinner and beach club reservations in advance: All the best places get booked up quickly in the summer. 

Unless you have clout, the best beach club tables and cabanas seem to be given out on a first come first serve basis so while you’ll need a reservation, you’ll also need to arrive early (before 2pm) if you want to snag a good table or cabana, especially if you have a large group.

If you’re staying at a luxury hotel let your concierge make all your bookings because they will be able to get much better reservations than you will get on your own. Our concierge at Macakizi Hotel worked with us for weeks leading up to my birthday week to ensure we had all the best places booked for our large party.

Getting Around Bodrum

Getting around Bodrum can be tough. Plan ahead and leave extra time for logistics. Taxis are hard to find and the roads are small and full of potholes leading to extended driving times around the peninsula. 

When possible, I highly suggest taking a water taxi. If you’re staying at a luxury hotel with its own dock they can call a water taxi to pick you up at your hotel and take you to any of the nearby beach clubs, restaurants, or hotels on the water that have their own docks.

Bodrum Ultimate Guide Wrap Up

Bodrum, in my opinion, is similar to St. Barts or St. Tropez but much more affordable and without the snobbery. Food, drinks, beach clubs, and shopping are still pricey at the luxury hotels in Bodrum but it’s still cheaper than many luxury destinations, and if you wander off the beaten path and go to local spots it’s very affordable.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from Bodrum. I knew it would be nice but it was more upscale, fun, and more relaxed than I imagined it would be. It has everything St Barts and St Tropez have but without the pretentiousness, which I found very appealing.

If you’re looking for a new luxury seaside destination to try, I definitely recommend booking a trip to Bodrum.

We hope that this Bodrum guide has inspired you to visit the Turkish Riviera. If you have questions or advice please share with our readers in the comments below.

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November 10, 2023 at 1:03 pm

As someone who has been to Turkey twice (I’m obsessed with it, my parents ended up going after). I feel like I need to go back a 3rd time just to go to Bodrum! Great post, thanks for all the tips and pics.

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Mid-September Is My Favorite Time to Visit Bodrum

Coastal villages, chill beach days, and endless mezzes..

Everyone knows that person who spends weeks sniffing around travel blogs, going deep into Tripadvisor rabbit holes, collecting Google docs from friends of friends, and creating  A Beautiful Mind –style spreadsheets to come up with the best  vacations  and itineraries possible. In this recurring series, we find those people who’ve done all the work for you and have them walk us through a particularly wonderful, especially well-thought-out vacation they took that you can actually steal.

Mina Dilber , founder and creative director of Turkish lifestyle brand Anim , has spent summers in Bodrum from an early age and makes it back there a few times each year. “Ideally in the beginning of May or mid-September, right before and after the crowds take over,” she says, adding that the sun’s out nearly every day and you can even expect high 80s going into fall. A short one-hour-and-change flight from Istanbul, where Dilber is based, Bodrum is situated in the heart of the Turkish Riviera, otherwise known as the Turquoise Coast. It’s become a somewhat less obvious alternative to places like Mykonos, but is similar in the sense that all of the beaches are at beach clubs. There’s a lot of beach-club hopping , to be sure, but also tons of swimming in the Aegean sea shaded by olive trees and snacking on traditional mezze platters. “Last summer, we had some friends from all over the world travel to Turkey — coming from London and Los Angeles — so we could show them our special slice of paradise,” Mina says. After a few days taking them around her hometown of Istanbul, they departed for four days in Bodrum. “It’s fun to see familiar places through the lens of outsiders.”

9 a.m.: Check into the hotel

We flew from Istanbul to Bodrum, which is a little over an hour. When we landed at Bodrum airport, I had already arranged a pick up earlier with a reliable car company, Bodrum VIP Transfers , so they were there waiting at baggage claim with a sign. After about a 45-minute drive, we finally arrived at Amanruya ( Göltürkbükü, Demir Mevkii, Bülent Ecevit Cd., 4848 3) and checked into the hotel. I have stayed here three times before and am always mesmerized by the whole ambiance of the property. It’s so calm compared to the sceney beach clubs that make up much of Bodrum and so vast and breathtaking. I would also recommend Bella Sombra and No81 Hotel as they’re great, more affordable options in Bodrum. After a quick change in our rooms, we took buggies provided by the hotel to the beach on the property.

1 p.m.: Eat lahmacun by the sea

We spent the afternoon relaxing by the water. It’s a super-calm vibe here compared to other beach clubs in Bodrum. We sipped on a glass of cold white wine while munching on lahmacun, traditional Middle Eastern flatbread topped with meat, veggies, and herbs. It was delicious.

7 p.m.: Boat over to Macakizi for the evening

We took a speedboat provided by Amanruya to Macakizi ( Göltürkbükü, Narçiçeği Sokak, 48400 ), one of my favorite hotels and beach clubs in Bodrum. Captain Musa picked us up in his super-sweet and speedy boat for the 20-minute ride there. We lounged by the water a bit, then got some margaritas at the bar — they’re so good here. The music at Macakizi also always makes me so happy. Eventually, we made our way upstairs to dinner. The seafood spaghetti is one of the best dishes here.

Disclaimer: Bodrum is not cheap. To access any of the beach clubs in Bodrum during the high season, there’s a minimum spend. At Macakizi, the minimum spend during May through September is 140 euro per sunbed, but the food and drinks are so good, I think it’s worth it. I highly recommend staying at Macakizi if you want to be a part of the action as it has a fun scene during the day with a cool, young crowd.

10 a.m.: Eat a traditional Turkish breakfast

We woke up and headed to breakfast at Asmali Cardak ( Yalıkavak, No:52 48400, Kayacık Cd., 48990 ). They have the best traditional Turkish breakfast with a variety of fresh pastries and an array of crazy delicious jams. My favorite is always the Bodrum Mandarin jam. The Turkish breakfast consists of an assortment of cheeses, like feta and eski kasar, and tomato and cucumber salad and olives. Honey and kaymak (like a soft cream cheese that you spread on bread) is probably the best part of a Turkish breakfast. Also Turkish tea! Asmali Cardak’s super-cute ambiance within a small garden with shabby tables makes you feel almost at home.

1 p.m.: Have a delicious Italian lunch

We took a 35-minute cab ride to Bodrum Loft ( Göltürkbükü, 48483 ) for a very chill beach day. Bodrum Loft is a villa compound on the hills of Golturkbuku, with amazing views as well as amazing waters, that people can rent throughout the summer. We visited because a friend was staying there, though it’s also open to guests not staying on the compound as there are various restaurants on site. The beach is so calm that you want to stay there all day. Also Paper Moon , one of the best Italian restaurants from Istanbul, has a restaurant on the property, so we had some delicious salad and pizza under the sea breeze. Nearby, Naru ( Gölköy Mahallesi, Gökburun Mevkii, 48400 ) is a new addition to the Bodrum dining scene and worth checking out if you’re in the area for lunch or dinner.

5 p.m. Visit a gallery before dinner

We went back to the hotel for a quick change and started getting ready for the night. We took a 30-minute cab to Pilevneli Gallery ( Yalıkavak, 6047. Sk No: 7/A, 48990 ), one of Istanbul’s pioneer galleries up in the hills of Yalikavak. It’s located in a beautiful villa with great views, featuring artworks by contemporary Turkish and international artists, and is host to ever-changing exhibitions in the summertime. (This summer, Wim Delvoye had a solo show there.) After a quick stroll through the gallery, we stopped for dinner at an Istanbul-based restaurant called Sisko Perihan ( Pilevneli Yalikavak Mah 47sk No:7/A ). We shared a terrific Turkish mezze feast while Turkish music played in the background — the perfect combination.

10 a.m.: Head back to our favorite beach club for the day

We hopped in a cab and headed back to Macakizi — this time to chill around the beach, have some lunch, and check out their amazing boutique, 74ESCAPE , curated by Istanbul 74 . We strolled down through the mimosa trees while the sea breeze welcomed us at the entrance of Macakizi. After making our way down the steps that weave through the property, we arrived at the beach. The Macakizi staff is always the most genuine and sweet and so welcoming. Since it was a really hot day, we had to get into the water every 20 minutes. We treated ourselves to the best Bloody Mary any of us have ever had and ordered another lahmacun to share.

3 p.m. Walk through Turkbuku for a scoop of mandarin ice cream

We eventually made our way back up the stairs to check out the boutique. From beachwear to jewelry, bags, ceramics and more, the curation is fantastic. The ambiance is also great, surrounded by greenery and interiors swathed in rattan. We did a little shopping, then followed the path to exit the property and walked five minutes to Bella Sombra Hotel ( Bağarası Mahallesi, Bağarası Cd. No:24, 48400 ) for drinks at their bar. This boutique hotel combines the sweet essence of Bodrum with a Tuscany kind of feeling.

We made one last visit before dinner: a pit stop at Dogal Dondurma in the Türkbükü area ( Göltürkbükü, Liman Cd. No:55, 48483 ) and had a bite of their amazing mandarin ice cream. Türkbükü, which is walking distance from Bella Sombra, is a really nice coastal village with lots of nice shops and seafood restaurants along the port, like Garo’s Restaurant, which I’ve been coming to since I was young. We then walked through Türkbükü Market, the open-air market that’s open daily, selling a variety of items, from pottery to jewelry to homeware and other unique souvenirs to bring home. After a little shopping, we headed back to our hotel, which took about 20 minutes by cab.

7 p.m. Have a seaside dinner in Gumusluk

After freshening up at the hotel, we took a 40-minute drive over to Mimoza Restaurant ( Yalı Mavkii No 104, Gumusluk 48400 ) in Gümüşlük, near the water. Since this is a longer drive, we hired a driver from the same company we used on the first day. After a long way with some bumpy roads, we arrived at Gümüşlük, one of the sweetest bays and towns of Bodrum, surrounded by local craftsmen shops where they sell everything from handmade jewelry to hand-embroidered textiles to ceramics. This town feels a bit more authentic than Türkbükü with its sleepy fishing village and scarcity of beach clubs. You come here to stroll through the charming town and escape the bustling scene you’ll find in other parts of Bodrum. After popping into some shops, we finally arrived at Mimoza, a place that makes your heart warm with its colors, people, and unreal sunset. Colorful light fixtures were hanging all over the restaurant and the food was great — literally all the mezzes. Then Turkish music started playing a little later at night, and we found ourselves dancing around the tables!

10 a.m.: Get in a morning stretch

Since it was our last day, we decided to chill around the beautiful pool at the hotel and have a little bit of breakfast and coffee there. We ventured up to their yoga studio with an incredible view for a morning stretch to kick start our day.

1 p.m.: Share ceviche by the beach

Right after breakfast and pool time we went to Lucca Beach & Restaurant ( Göltürkbükü, Cennet Koyu Cd 314. Sok No: 12/1, 48483 Bodrum/Muğla ). Lucca is by far the coolest new spot in Bodrum. Originally from Istanbul, they now have the best beach spot along with a huge restaurant. Their appetizers are great to share and the ceviche is my favorite.

6 p.m.: Watch the Bodrum sunset one last time

After a long day of lounging, it was time for some drinks. We took a 15-minute cab to Limon Gumusluk ( Gümüşlük, Kardak Sk. No: 7, 48970 ). Limon Cafe claims to have the “most delicious sunset out there,” and I would have to agree. I can’t decide if the sunset or the cocktails are better. They serve some of their best cocktails in big glass jars. I ordered the Satsuma Witch, a margarita-adjacent cocktail with citrus fruits. It was the perfect combination of acidic and refreshing.

8 p.m.: Pick up rattan souvenirs before heading home

After the sun set, we took a ten-minute cab to one of my favorite places in Bodrum: Derekoy Lokantasi ( Dereköy, Derekoy Yolu No:133, 48960 ) for our final dinner. Located in a beautiful garden, this place has a relaxed atmosphere. They serve Mediterranean food and Turkish mezzes with a twist. The sailor’s pie and crispy chickpeas are really good. After dinner, we strolled around the property. Right near Derekoy restaurant is another one of my favorite stores, called Leleg Living ( Dereköy, Derekoy Yolu No:133, 48960 ). They sell home furniture and mostly rattan accessories, like wooden cooking utensils and raffia poufs and décor — nearly everything is made from natural materials. After a few days in Bodrum, it’s the perfect place to pick up some mementos to bring a little slice of this paradise back home with you.

Mina’s Bodrum Packing List

I pack printed bandanas for every vacation, but they’re especially ideal for Bodrum, where the sun is always shining.

I’m never without them.

A cool pair of sandals, like K Jacques or a pair of ancient-Greek sandals, will go with any outfit.

These beach towels are ultrasoft and lightweight on one side, peshtemal on the other — best of both worlds.

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Bodrum travel guide

What to do, where to stay, and why you’ll love it.

B odrum lies at the southernmost point of the Aegean coast and is a swish playground for rich, famous and beautiful Turks — as well the millions of tourists that touchdown each summer. Its sparkling marina, whitewashed houses and laid-back vibe has been immortalised in countless songs since it boomed from a small fishing village into a busy resort. The metamorphosis began in the 1960s, when Istanbul’s writers and artists began using it as their bolthole — and it’s still known as “little Istanbul” due to the number of city-dwellers with second homes there. The town itself, while still lovely, has become rather commercialised in recent decades, with huge hotels blighting parts of the area. However, the atmosphere is more chi-chi on the other side of town; the wealth gathers around the yacht harbour, and you’ll find the real glamour that Bodrum is renowned for out in the far reaches of the peninsula, where a dramatic coastline hosts hidden cove beaches and secret islets are dotted with detox retreats, designer bars and luxury hotels.

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Spend a day wandering through the maze of alleys that make up Bodrum’s old town, once the place where artisans sold their wares, and now where souvenir shops and fish restaurants will try and tempt you inside. It’s easy to forget that you’re so close to the sea when you’re deep in the town’s web of shaded passageways — expect to be suddenly reminded with a glimpse of a bolt of blue through a gap in the buildings. The town’s main landmark is the Castle of St Peter, built by the Knights Hospitaller in the 15th century, on the site of an even older castle. A visit will teach you about the history of this long-contested corner of the world; during the Ottoman era its chapel was converted into a mosque with an added minaret. Make time too for the adjoining underwater archaeology museum — it’s stuffed with ancient shipwrecks discovered in the Aegean.

A day trip by boat will whisk you to Catal island, a mile off the coast at the end of the Bodrum peninsula. Climb to the top of one of the three hills that give it its name — “fork island” — for panoramic views over the mainland.

Where to stay

Planning to bed down in town? Stick to the area around the marina — it’s made up of tempting boutique hotels in traditional Bodrum houses. For low-cost package holiday, try the near by Gumbet district for all-inclusives as well as a lively strip of clubs and bars. Families will be better served in Bitez , which is less frenetic and has great water sports on offer. Turgutreis, a 30-minute drive from Bodrum, is another good base — it’s relaxed and secluded, with a large population of British expats.

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For the famed Bodrum glamour, try Yalikavak and Turkbuku: two of the most exclusive parts of the peninsula. A landmark in the former is the ruins of three of the distinctive stone windmills that this part of Turkey is famous for, while its marina is crammed with glitzy restaurants. Gumusluk has more of a bohemian artistic vibe and hosts an annual music festival.

Food and drink

With this region being a magnet for the international jetset, it’s only befitting that it’s home to some of Turkey’s finest restaurants, serving Turkish and global cuisine with plenty of pizzazz.

Palmarina in Yalikavak is the place to head for an upmarket meal where you can guess the costs of the mega-yachts as you tuck in. Local dishes have a heavy Greek flavour, unsurprising given its location — the island of Kos is visible on a clear day and can be reached in 45 minutes by boat . Expect lots of fresh grilled vegetables drizzled in olive oil, yoghurt dips and fish. Desserts are a less healthy affair, but there are a few regional specialities worth the calories. Sarayli — the dessert “of the palace” — is as rich as you would expect, a baklava-esque concoction of flaky pastry, honey and nuts, but with the addition of sherbet stuffing. Katmer offers the same mouth-watering combination of flavours, but comes assembled as flat pockets. Both can be served with kaymak, a type of clotted cream that is also sublime when combined with honey at the end of a Turkish breakfast.

There are several international festivals in Bodrum, and the biggest is for ballet, held in July and August, followed by a Baroque festival in September. Both use the town’s best features as venues — you could watch a show at Bodrum Castle or the amphitheatre of the ancient city of Halicarnassus. There are also a number of other dance and music festivals throughout the year, and a biennale to appease art lovers.

Head to the Zeki Muren Arts Museum to be introduced to modern Turkish music. It’s dedicated to Muren, a singer who unites every Turk, and whose vocals are the soundtrack to most evenings spent in traditional Turkish mezze restaurants. When Muren died in 1996, he left all his assets to Turkish educational charities, and in return they turned his house into this museum, replete with a bronze statue of him, microphone in hand.

Know before you go

The local currency is the lira, and international cards are accepted everywhere. If you choose self-catered accommodation, familiarise yourself with Migros, Turkey’s answer to Tesco, for affordable picnic supplies. Be prepared to bargain at Bodrum’s bazaars; vendors expect a stiff negotiation with every sale.

This part of Turkey is extremely liberal, bar the fact that topless sunbathing is illegal, and you can wear anything unless you want to enter a mosque (opt for something that goes over the knees and bring a jacket to cover your shoulders). Don’t be tempted to take home any relics you might come across — it’s a crime to do so, and Brits have been landed in prison for it. If you do find anything old-looking, hand it in to the authorities. Be careful when driving; the roads are narrow and winding around the coast, and Turks like to drive fast.

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Inspired to visit Bodrum but yet to book your trip? Here are the best packages from Tui and Jet2 Holidays .

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Bodrum is a port city located on Turkey's southwest coast overlooking the Aegean Sea. Only 10 nautical miles from the Greek island of Kos, Bodrum is renowned for its history, culture, cuisine, and its beautiful beaches with crystal waters. 

On Ferryhopper, you will find useful information about the city: beaches, nightlife, gastronomic delights, and ferries to / from Bodrum. Check out all the available routes and book your tickets with just a few clicks !

The Bodrum Castle, also known as St. Peter Castle, overlooking the bay  

Vacation in Bodrum

The city of Bodrum is at its best during the summer , when it is possible to swim in its crystal clear waters and enjoy the sunset on the beach. 

A visit to Bodrum, however, does not only mean going to a seaside resort, but also immersing yourself in a town rich in history . In fact, during your trip you can visit one of the ancient wonders of the world, as well as some great museums. Moreover, a vacation in Bodrum is a great opportunity for you to sample delicious Turkish food . 

Overall, Bodrum is an excellent option whether you’re looking for a romantic getaway, a vacation with the family or to travel with friends.

How to get to Bodrum

You can reach Bodrum by bus, plane, car and, of course, by ferry !

Bodrum is an ideal destination in case you want to travel by ferry from Greece to Turkey and vice versa. The Dodecanese island of Kos offers frequent ferry rides to Bodrum during the summer season.

If you want to travel by plane , the closest airport to Bodrum is the International Bodrum Milas Airport (BJV), 35km and about 45 minutes inland. During spring and summer, there are regular direct charter flights from many regional airports in Europe. From the airport you can then get to the center of Bodrum by bus .

A beautiful wild beach in Bodrum, Turkey

What to do in Bodrum

If you are wondering what to do and see in Bodrum, you will be excited to discover that the coastal city offers several attractions to its visitors. 

The majority of visitors that come to Bodrum seek an easygoing sun and sea vacation . Visit the Bodrum Peninsula's popular beaches and soak up the heat. 

Furthermore, during your vacation in Bodrum you can’t miss the city’s popular farmers markets . For amazing cheeses, fresh honey and homemade soaps visit Ortakent. For local textiles and fabrics, fresh fruit and herbs, visit the Bodrum bazaar on Tuesdays. 

Bodrum is also an ideal destination for adventure lovers. If you are a hiking enthusiast , make sure to visit the Carian Trail. Many of the greatest archaeological sites in the country are connected by this 820km trail. 

Thanks to its crystal clear waters, Bodrum is a well-known scuba-diving center . You will see plenty of spectacular marine life, reefs, caverns, as well as wrecks. You can also take a gulet out to Kara Ada (Black Island), the most popular diving location for both beginners and professionals. 

Beaches in Bodrum

From public beaches close to restaurants and nightclubs to more secluded bays , Bodrum has it all! 

Here are 8 of the best beaches in Bodrum: 

• Gümüşlük : in this unspoilt beach you can swim near some of the ruins of the ancient city of Myndos. Also, thanks to its incredible fish restaurants, Gümüşlük is one of the favorite beaches for fish lovers. 
• Karaincir : around 16km from Bodrum town, this beach is located within the small village resort of Akyarlar. With clear, calm and shallow waters, Karaincir is perfect for kids. 
• Gümbet : with many hotels and restaurants, this is one of the liveliest beaches in Bodrum. There are also many water activities available, such as scuba diving and windsurfing. In fact, the Big Reef dive site is right in front of the beach. 
• Torba : located around 8km from Bodrum, Torba is perfect for those looking to escape the bustle of the city and relax in a calm atmosphere surrounded by nature. 
• Aspat : located in a very romantic and beautiful bay filled with palm trees, Aspat is perfect for nature lovers. The uniqueness of Aspat stems from the dozens of marble statues sculpted by contemporary artists.
• Camel : with a small entrance fee, this beach is perfect for families. There are sun loungers, umbrellas, showers, and a small restaurant available. Also, you can ride camels for an additional fee (thus the beach's name). 
• Yahsi : marked with the Blue Flag, Yahsi is one of the cleanest beaches in Bodrum. It also offers many amenities, such as bars, restaurants and shops. 
• Bitez : located around 15 min from Bodrum center, this is a perfect beach for windsurfers and other thrill-seekers. With a long stretch of sand and clear waters, Bitez also offers natural shade to its visitors thanks to its olive and citrus groves. 

Sightseeing and Activities in Bodrum

In addition to its wonderful coastline and beaches, Bodrum is also a historic city dating back to the Dorian era under the name Halicarnassus. 

Here are some of the most famous attractions in Bodrum:

• Mausoleum of Mausolus , one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world
• Museum of Underwater Archaeology
• Halicarnassus Theater
• Castle of St. Peter
• Myndos Gate
• The Old town of Bodrum
• Ruins of Pedasa
• Ottoman Cemetery 

View to the ruins of the Mausoleum of Mausolus in Bodrum, one of the 7 wonders of the world

Nightlife in Bodrum

Bodrum is the perfect destination for a party animal. The Old Town is where most of the action happens. Bodrum’s mile-long Bar Street (Cumhuriyet Street), swamped with the largest and most extravagant nightclubs in the city, can be found there. 

The seafront area also offers many more restaurants and pubs, some of them right on the beach. For something a little more traditionally Turkish, we would recommend visiting a local tavern ( meyhane ) to enjoy a nice meal and drinks. 

If you are not a party animal, you can go to a quiet bar to have a drink and a narghile. The Limon bohemian café is the best sunset spot in town. 

Tip : have you been to a floating club before? If not, make sure to visit Club Catamaran, a glass-bottomed boat offering weekly dance parties on the decks of a luxury catamaran.

Food in Bodrum

The cuisine of Bodrum is well known for its traditional Aegean and Mediterranean flavors . A holiday in Bodrum isn’t complete without trying various mezes , a meal of fresh fish and a glass of raki (a local alcoholic spirit). 

Here are some local dishes and delicacies you absolutely must try during your holiday in Bodrum: 

• hot börek (flaky pastry filled with vegetables)
• gözleme (local pancakes filled with any mixture of cheese, vegetables and meat)
• kumpir (Turkish style baked potatoes topped with mixtures of olives with yogurt)
• çökertme kebabı (marinated strips of veal served with tiny fried potatoes, tomato sauce, and yogurt)
• keşkek (dish made with lamb or chicken meat combined with wheat or barley stew)
• su böreği (Bodrum’s special pastry baked with cheese)
• bergamot jam
• lokma (fried dough soaked in syrup)
• ayran (drink made from salted yogurt mixed with water)

A delicious traditional Turkish dessert, Lokma, made out of dough and syrup

Villages in Bodrum

Bodrum is surrounded by smaller towns and villages that provide a wide range of holiday experiences. 

Here are 4 places that we recommend you visit if you find yourself staying in Bodrum:

• Yalikavak : 20km away from Bodrum town, Yalikavak is without a doubt the rising star with its sandy beaches, charming cafes, restaurants, and shops. The Palmarina, an ultramodern marina accommodating mega yachts, transformed Yalikavak into the most talked about town.
• Gumusluk : located at the western end of the Bodrum Peninsula, this small idyllic village is well known for its seafood restaurants and the Gumusluk International Jazz Festival where important artists from Turkey and around the world take stage. 
• Gokcebel : for off the beaten track holidays, Gokcebel is an ideal destination as it is one of the lesser talked about districts of the Bodrum peninsula. The old part reflects traditional, rural Turkey, while the new region focuses on modern and luxury villas. 
• Turgutreis : Turgutreis is the second largest town in the peninsula, famous for its marvelous sunsets and its fabulous shopping streets. It offers seclusion yet it has an easy transport network to the rest of the peninsula.

Tips for Bodrum

Here are 4 tips that we hope will be useful to you during your stay in Bodrum: 

• For the best shopping experience in Bodrum, visit the Oasis shopping and cultural center where you will find a lot of international and Turkish brands.
• Depending on the time of year you decide to visit Bodrum, try to attend one of the city’s famous festivals , such as the International Dance Festival, the Gündoğan Sucuk and Wine Festival ( Gündoğan Sucuk-Şarap Festivali ), and the Mandarin Festival. 
• A traditional Turkish hammam is a must-do during your trip to Bodrum. 
• During your stay in Bodrum, you cannot miss a day excursion by boat with a traditional gulet if you want to explore the stunning isolated coves close to the city. 

A traditional Turkish gulet docket at a beautiful bay with calm waters

Useful information about Bodrum

Bodrum is one of the most popular tourist resorts in Turkey and offers many services to travelers.

If you want to spend some time shopping during your trip to Bodrum, you will find all kinds of shops, from markets to big shopping malls. 

As for accommodation , Bodrum offers hotel facilities for all budgets. The city is known for its spectacular luxury hotels, but if you’re looking for a cheaper option, it would be better to stay in the neighboring towns. 

In Bodrum there is also a wide range of medical services available. The Acibadem Bodrum Hospital provides healthcare services for both residents of Bodrum and tourists.

Important phone numbers for your stay in Bodrum

Here are some numbers that could prove useful during your holiday in Bodrum:

• Tourist Information Office: +902523161091
• Bodrum State Hospital: +902523131420
• Bodrum Bus Station: +902523162637
• Police emergency: 155
• European emergency number: 112

Transportation in Bodrum

Much of the old town of Bodrum, including the marina, is pedestrianized, therefore easily explored on foot .

In order to travel from east to west Bodrum and to the nearby resorts along the Bodrum peninsula however, you’ll need to hop into a taxi or the local dolmuş (minibus). 

In fact, Bodrum has a very efficient urban transportation network . These mini buses depart from Bodrum center every 15 minutes and go pretty much anywhere you want. Since Bodrum’s yellow taxis might get quite expensive, the dolmuş is by far the most convenient and cheap way to get around Bodrum.

Ports in Bodrum

The port of Bodrum is located about 2km from the city center. The port features a finger pier, which can accommodate two large ships. Apart from the cruise pier, the port also has 3 ferry boat ramps. 

In the area where the port is situated there are various services , such as shops, a café, an information booth, and car rental services. In addition to the famous Bodrum Castle, which overlooks the harbor, there are other cultural attractions in the vicinity of the port.

You can easily reach the port by taxi or by bus from several parts of the city.

Bodrum ferry, schedules and tickets

Are you thinking of visiting Bodrum this year? The coastal city can be reached by ferry from the Greek island of Kos ! 

The companies that operate the route from Kos to Bodrum are Makri Travel , Sky Marine Ferries and Yesil Marmaris Lines . 

On Ferryhopper's Map of ferries , you can see all the available ferry routes from Bodrum, so that you can easily and conveniently plan your ferry trip. 

Here are some more details on the ferry connection to Bodrum:

• Ferry Kos - Bodrum : the route from the port of Kos to Bodrum is seasonal and available 4-5 times per day during summer with sailing durations from around 20 min . 

Tip : visit our relevant blog post to find out all the latest updates on Turkey - Greece ferry routes .

The busy port of Bodrum in Turkey, filled with boats and ferries

Where to book ferry tickets to Bodrum

Book cheap ferry tickets to Bodrum online on Ferryhopper with no extra fees . Find all the information you need about ferries to Bodrum, compare companies, trip duration and ticket prices, and organize your holidays in Bodrum in just a few clicks .

Bodrum ferry timetable

View the complete ferry schedule from and to Bodrum for the upcoming week. Find up-to-date trip information, including departure and arrival dates and times, ferry operators and ticket prices.

Frequent ferry connections

Nearby destinations, bodrum has direct ferry connections to 5 ports :.