While you are in Bodrum you may just want to spend the entire time at the beach. With sandy beaches and rocky coves surrounding the peninsula you will have no problem finding great spots to sunbathe and cool off in the Aegean. If you are able to extract yourself from your lounge-chair, however, you will discover that there are many other great things to see and do in Bodrum.
Exploring the town of Bodrum
The Bodrum waterfront is split into two bays by the castle in the middle:
- To the west of the castle (to the right if you are approaching from land) is the more upscale part of town and the home of the fancy marina. You’ll find a new little upscale outdoor shopping center, a number of restaurants, and the marina itself.
- To the east of the castle you will find a cute shopping district, the more budget accommodations, fast-food type restaurants and nightclubs. I really enjoy strolling through the shopping streets here; you will find many cute shops, some selling the standard Turkish souvenirs and beach paraphernalia, but others selling more unique goods. Bodrum is also known for its hand-made leather sandals. I’m still kicking myself (pun intended) for not buying a pair the last time I was there.
Castle of St. Peter
The 15th century Bodrum castle, built by the Knights of St. John, is absolutely worth a visit. There is an underwater archaeology museum inside which has interesting artifacts and information about shipwrecks discovered in the area, but I think it is most fun to just explore the inside of the castle itself. (This would also be fun for kids). The last time I visited the castle there was a peacock living inside who kindly showed us her (his?) full plumage. There is also a not-to-be-missed opportunity to take a photo with your own head on top of a head-less stone statue. Way better than the cutouts you find at amusement parks and state fairs! I have photos from 1993 and 2010 to prove how this kind of activity never gets old…
Visitor info: The castle is open from 8:30am to 6:30pm in the summer and closes at 4:30pm in the winter. Closed Mondays in winter. Admission fee is 30TL.
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Bodrum Amphitheater
There is a small ancient amphitheater in good condition on the side of the road as you drive from Bodrum towards Gümbet. It is fun to explore and offers beautiful views of the Bodrum castle and the Aegean sea. The theater still hosts live concerts during the summer.
Visitor info: The site is open from 9:00am-7:00pm in the summer and closes at 5:00pm in the winter. It is free to visit the theater.
Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
One of the seven wonders of the ancient world is now just a few scattered stones in a courtyard in the middle of the city. This is thanks to the Knights of St. John repurposing some of the stones when they built Bodrum’s castle and the Brits taking most of what remained back to the British museum. There is one lion statue from the Mausoleum that remains in Turkey and can be seen at the Istanbul Archaeology Museum. Although not much of the original structure remains, the site of the mausoleum is still worth a visit. You can explore some old stones and stand in the spot where one of the ancient wonders once stood, which alone is worth a few minutes of your time.
Visitor info: The site is open from 8:00am-7:00pm in the summer and closes at 5:00pm in winter. Admission is 10TL. The site is located in the middle of the town of Bodrum; follow signs throughout the city to reach it.
Day-trips on a boat
A fun thing to do in Bodrum is to take one of the daily boat trips. Your hotel will likely be able to arrange one of these trips for you. You can also sign up at any of the myriad travel agencies sprinkled around town or along the shore right where the boats are docked. Typically these tours leave at 9am (many will pick you up at your hotel) and bring you back by 5pm with lunch provided on board (and drinks available for purchase). The boat will visit 4 or 5 different coves during the course of the trip where you have the opportunity to get off the boat, either via a dock or just by jumping into the Aegean. You typically don’t travel very far on these tours but it’s a fun way to see other parts of the peninsula and to spend some time in the crystal-clear Aegean.
Visiting Greece
The Greek island of Kos is is just 4kms off the coast of Turkey and is easily visible from Bodrum. There are daily ferries that will take you to Kos, run by several operators. Timing of the ferries make day-trips very doable. Don’t forget to take your passport with you! (I have never done this trip but I’ve always wanted to).
- Bodrum Ferryboat: Operates regular ferries between Bodrum and Kos and Turgutreis and Kos. Ferries depart from near the Bodrum castle. You can buy tickets in advance online.
- Ferry Bodrum: Operates catamarans to Kos so the journey is faster and a little more expensive than the traditional ferry. Boats depart daily, you need to reserve a spot a day in advance. You can make reservations online. Morning ferries depart from the Bodrum cruise port.