Bodrum Travel Guide

Bodrum stands on a peninsula in the southwest corner of Turkey's Aegean coast, facing the Greek island of Kos. The town centre curves around two bays with a castle between them, and white cube houses climb the hills behind. In antiquity this was Halicarnassus, home of the historian Herodotus and the Mausoleum, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Why visit Bodrum

It works for many kinds of trip. The Castle of St Peter, built by the Knights Hospitaller in the 15th century partly with stones from the Mausoleum, now houses the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, with finds from shipwrecks going back to the Bronze Age. The peninsula has distinct villages: Gumusluk with fish restaurants on the water next to the ancient town of Myndos, Yalikavak with its big marina, Turkbuku for upmarket beach clubs, and Bitez for a quieter family beach. Bodrum is also a gulet cruise hub and a good base for Ephesus, Didyma, Priene and Miletus.

How many days you need

Three or four days covers the town, a boat day and a day around the peninsula. Add one or two days for the ancient sites of the region. Cruise passengers usually have a single day in port; our private Bodrum peninsula tour from the port is planned around ship times.

Best time to visit

May, June, September and early October are ideal: warm sea and fewer people. July and August are the peak, with the highest prices, full beaches and a strong nightlife scene. From November to April the town is quiet and many beach clubs and restaurants close.

Getting there from Istanbul

Flights from Istanbul to Bodrum-Milas Airport (BJV) take about 1 hour 10 minutes. The airport is roughly 35 to 40 km from town. By road it is a long drive of about 9 hours. Ferries connect Bodrum with Kos and other Greek islands in season.

Top experiences

• The Castle of St Peter and the Museum of Underwater Archaeology.
• The site of the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus and the ancient theatre above town.
• A boat day to the bays and Orak Island.
• Sunset in Gumusluk, with the ruins of Myndos in the water.
• Didyma's Temple of Apollo, with Priene and Miletus. See our Didyma, Priene and Miletus tour from Bodrum port.
• A day trip to Ephesus, about 2.5 to 3 hours away. See our Ephesus and House of Virgin Mary tour from Bodrum.

Where to stay

Bodrum town for walking to restaurants, the castle and the harbour. Gumbet and Bitez for beach hotels close to town. Yalikavak, Turkbuku and Golturkbuku for upmarket resorts. Gumusluk for a slower, village feel.

What to eat

Seafood and meze by the water, of course. Look also for cokertme kebabi, a local dish of thin fried potatoes topped with meat and yoghurt, and the region's mandarins in winter.

Practical tips

• In high season, restaurant and beach club prices can be much higher than elsewhere on the coast.
• Dolmus minibuses connect most peninsula villages to the town bus station.
• The castle has many steps; wear comfortable shoes.

Bodrum is also the end point of our 8-day gulet cruise from Fethiye to Bodrum. See all Bodrum tours.