The 8 things to do in Bodrum

What to do in Bodrum? Discover our selection of incontours to be made in the most chic seaside resort in Turkey.

Also named the Turkish St Tropez, Bodrum is one of Turkey's main holiday destinations, a stopover of many cruises. Located on the Gulf of Cos, in the province of Mugla in the south-west of the country, it attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each summer, both from the Istanbul bourgeoisie and foreign tourists. The festivities flock there to taste its very well-known nightlife. The city, bordered by the Aegean Sea, has been able to retain an authentic charm: its alleys of white houses of cycladic style, scented with flowers and decorated with colour details. Moreover, the vestiges of the ancient city of Halicarnasse mark the places and the history enthusiasts will be able to discover invaluable vestiges.

In short, it is a destination of choice that has many assets. Find out what to do in Bodrum to make the most of your stay.

1. The Château Saint-Pierre

The Château Saint-Pierre is the emblem of Bodrum: this is the name of the city, deformation of the Latin Petreum or Petronium . It was built in the 15th century at the initiative of the members of the order of Saint John of Jerusalem, from the ruins of the mausoleum of King Carien Mausoleum.

Despite the numerous attacks that the castle has undergone since its construction, especially during the First World War, it remains extraordinaryly well preserved and visitors can even observe the weapons of the Hospitallers of Saint John of Jerusalem on certain windows. You can walk freely on the ramparts and enjoy the same occasion of the exceptional view that the castle offers, which overlooks the Aegean Sea. It also houses a garden that highlights an important collection of Mediterranean plants and their mythological meanings.

2. The Museum of Underwater Archaeology

The museum was built in the Château Saint-Pierre in 1962, at the request of the Turkish government. He exposes the findings made during numerous expeditions in the Aegean Sea. From the wreckage dating from the Bronze Age, witness to the commercial exchanges of the time, to the Roman merchant ships of the seventh century, the museum is full of treasures. It houses an important collection of amphitheatre that sweeps centuries of history, one of the four most important collections of antique glassware, jewellery and many Greek-Roman, Egyptian and Ottoman goods.

The Museum of Underwater Archaeology has a very pleasant setting in the castle enclosure. The visit will give you the opportunity to admire its historic rooms, but also magnificent views. Count a budget of about ten euros for the visit.

3. The beaches

What are the best beaches in Bodrum and its surroundings?

The beach of Bitez is a large sandy beach, with a charming and authentic setting near the small town of Bitez, located six kilometers from Bodrum. A relaxing parenthesis, away from the tourist hustle. beach of Torba is also located a few kilometers from Bodrum and has an ideal wild setting for nature lovers. Surrounded by hills and pine forests, it was able to preserve the salt of a small fishing village. Finally, in Bodrum itself, near the Château Saint-Pierre, Kumbahce offers good amenities (transats, restaurants, etc.) and a nice view of the port. If you want more calm without getting too far away from the city, opt for the beach of Gümbet, tourist but quite vast to be quiet.

4. The Mausolée d’Halicarnasse

It is inconceivable to visit Bodrum without going to see the fifth of the seven wonders of the ancient world: the Mausolée d’Halicarnasse . This funeral monument is built in 350 before our era at the request of Artemis II, widow of King Mausoleum. At that time Bodrum was named Halicarnasse and was the capital of the Persian kingdom of Carie, which became independent under the government of Mausoleum. However, it is mostly Greek culture.

If today the mausoleum is in ruin and much of its stones have been used to build the Château Saint-Pierre, we can conceive of what it looked like, especially thanks to the descriptions of the famous writer Pline l’Ancien. Imagine a structure of 43 meters high overlooking the hill, topped by a quadrige – a car statue guided by four horses. Columns surround the building and friezes represent battles between Greeks, centaurs and the Amazons. The visit of the ruins allows to marvel at the remains of this incredible monument.

5. Nightlife in Bodrum

Visiting Bodrum is also enjoying a nightlife among the most famous in Turkey. The city is packed with restaurants, bars and nightclubs that will make you spend an unforgettable evening. Turkish specialties are featured in a large number of restaurants: fresh fish, yoghurt eggplant, spicy pasta, loukoums...

What to do in Bodrum to party? Meeting on Eastern Bay, including on street Cumhuriyet to enjoy the best discotheques in the city. The Club Catamarans is worth the detour: this nightclub is actually a huge boat that takes the sea off at the beginning of the evening to only go back to the aurora. Shuttles make round-trips between the club and the coast all night.

6. The Bodrum market

The Bodrum market is the largest in the peninsula and is renowned for its diversity and authenticity. Join the locals to enjoy the explosion of colours and smells that offers you Bodrum Bazaar . Here you will find typical fresh products of the Aegean Region (weeds, olives, spices), as well as prepared dishes: gözlemes, for example, are delicious traditional baked pancakes. In addition, you can buy souvenirs: cotton tablecloths, jewelry, pottery, vanilla, blown glass...

The textile market takes place on Tuesday and that of fresh products on Friday. But don’t hesitate to go there the day before, traders settle in the afternoon and start selling their products: it’s much quieter then. Don’t hesitate to market and take care of the counterfeit. The market is huge and you will have to whip to find the right business, but it is part of the game!

7. The vestiges of the Antique Theatre of Bodrum

What to do in Bodrum to better design Halicarnasse? Built during the 4th century BC under the reign of King Mausoleum, Antique Theatre is a masterpiece of the ancient city. At its peak, it could accommodate 13,000 visitors, who came to attend gladiator battles or theatrical performances. Today, local and international artists are still on the site: keep up to date with the program when you arrive in Bodrum!

The theatre is open every day and the entrance is free. From the site you can enjoy an exceptional view of the city and the Aegean Sea: in clear weather you can also see the Greek island of Kos .

8. A boat ride

Visiting Bodrum is also an opportunity to enjoy the surroundings. And what better than doing it through another must: the boat ride? Indeed, the city is in a very rich region and the boat rental in Bodrum you will discover its peninsula and the different islands of the Aegean Sea.

A classic day trip will offer you the opportunity to discover the Black Island, or Kara Ada , known for its hot water sources that spring from a cave. The beauty of Cleopatra would be indebted to these waters, which would have magical properties! You can then go to Ortakent, very charming fishing village. Finally, a mooring point will allow you to swim in a beautiful turquoise water.

Also, think about it visit the island of Kos if you don’t know what to do in Bodrum for a day. Many excursions allow you to discover the beauty and heritage of this Greek island, accessible in just twenty minutes by boat from Bodrum. Paradise beaches, charming villages, Greco-Roman remains... Kos is worth the detour!

How do I get to Bodrum?

Bodrum is one of the main seaside resorts in Turkey. Therefore, it is well served from the main cities: Istanbul, Antalya, etc.

Bodrum-Milas Airport is 35 kilometres from the centre. By ancipating and choosing your days, you can visit Bodrum for about 250 euros per round trip by taking a low-cost flight from Paris in the summer. The average price is instead between 400 and 500 euros, with usually a stopover Istanbul . To take advantage of the best prices to visit Bodrum, use our partner's flight comparison Ulysses , which selects the best routes from the date indicated.

On site, you can move through local , the dolmus, to visit Bodrum and its surroundings. They do precise journeys, but stop on demand – say “ Inecek var ". The prices are very low.

Where to stay in Bodrum?

The city centre gives you the best access to the cultural activity of the city and mainly attracts trendy visitors. Attention, however, the nights are very lively and staying in the city centre is not suitable if you want to rest!

To enjoy a quieter environment to visit Bodrum, don’t hesitate to search for accommodations around the city. You can also enjoy high-quality hotels on the seafront, which provide guests with beautiful private beaches and a wide choice of excursions. All-inclusive formulas are then particularly interesting (to enjoy the best offers, you can consult this Compare hotels ). To find out which area to choose during your stay, go to our article « In which quarter house in Bodrum? » .