Do and See in Bodrum

Here is our to-do list of things you have to do/see while you’re in Bodrum. Also don’t forget to check the individual villages listed at the Bodrum peninsula section for a more local guide, and the Bodrum Nightlife section of course !

CULTURE & HISTORY

Visit one of these fantastic remains of ancient times :

• the famous Bodrum Castle, also known as St. Peters Castle
• the Museum of Underwater Archaeology
• the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus
• the Ancient Amphitheatre
• the Ottoman Shipyard
• the Myndos Gate
• the several Bodrum Windmills spread over the peninsula, another remain of an ancient tradition

ISLANDS IN THE PENINSULA

Visit one of the many islands in the peninsula, some of these are also great sites also for diving and snorkeling !

• Rabbit Island (Tavsan Adasi) at Gumusluk
• Orak Island
• Black Island

SPORTS 6 ACTIVITIES

• Water sports – at the beaches of Bitez, Gumbet and other places in the Bodrum peninsula a wide range of watersports is offered : riding the waves with a jet ski, sailing with a catamaran, para sailing or windsurfing are just some of the possibilities
• Aqua parks – Bodrum has two Aqua parks, one is the Dedeman Aqua park, a huge swimming world of 40.000 m2, which offers its guests a variety of extended facilities apart from its pools, jacuzzi’s and water slides, such as bars, restaurants and salvo jumping. On the road to Ortakent is another aqua park next to the TMT Hotel, direct on the sea side
• Scuba Diving – check out our seperate section ‘Scuba Diving’ for all the fantastic diving sites around Bodrum,

BEACHES

• Akyarlar has one the most spectacular beaches you can find in Turkey. Fine white sand meets a brilliant blue sea as waves crash gently against the shore.

SHOPPING

• Souvenir shops – on the main shopping streets, you’ll find plenty of small souvenir shops catering towards travelers. These are good if you want a pair of Turkish slippers, knickknacks or fabrics at a cheaper price than the other boutiques
• Bodrum market – besides the local souvernir shops you can find everywhere don’t forget to explore Bodrum’s weekly farmer’s markets. On Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, local vendors set up their booths with fresh fruit, tapestries, handicrafts, pottery, and even those well known fake Rolex watches. A perfect place to bargain and also the best place to talk to Bodrum locals

DAYTRIPS

Make a day trip to

• Greek islands of Kos or Rhodes by ferryboat (see ‘How to visit Bodrum’ section)
• Pamukkale, the cotton castle of Turkey
• Marmaris and Datca by ferryboat (see ‘How to visit Bodrum’ section)
• Ephesus, one of the wonders of the ancient world, but unlike the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, Ephesus still stands today. Once the Asian capital of the Roman Empire,much of its former glory still remains in the form of surviving temples, baths, and other buildings. Only 185 kilometers from Bodrum, Ephesus is a highly recommended visit by BodrumTurkeyTravel.com !
• Dalyan and Kaunos, visit Turtle Beach, the ruins of ancient Kaunos and take a mud bath
• Milas, the carpet capital of Turkey. Starting in the 1500s, artisans of this small town near Bodrum (a 50 km drive) began weaving the small brightly colored, geometric patterned prayer rugs that Turkey would become famous for. Today these carpets are still handwoven, and whether you want to buy a carpet or simply witness skilled craftspeople at work, you should definitely make the trip to Milas
• the most beautiful bays around the Bodrum peninsula with a daily boat trip where you can swim and snorkel in crystal-clear water or simply just relax in the mild breeze, enjoy the amazing views of the turquoise sea and perfect your suntan to the sound of the gently lapping waves.

MORE THINGS TO DO

• Rent a car and explore the peninsula on your own, and have a look at the charming villages where life still lingers on like Ciftlik or Mumcular, or you can drive to the unspoiled beaches at Ortakent or Akyarlar. Car, jeep, scooter, motorbike and bicycle rental firms can be found throughout the town and on the Milas Bodrum airport.
• Camel wrestling – in the mild winter (end of December) on the Aegean coast you can watch camel fights at the Mumcular Stadium in Mugla, a bloodless sport, where over 100 camels from all over Turkey contesting their strength to see which camel can hold his opponent down the longest. The match could be over in seconds if one camel capitulated the other, or could battle out over many minutes if they locked necks and neither gave way.
• Take a turkish bath (in Turkish called ‘hammam’), definitely an unforgettable part of your Bodrum holiday and the Turkish massage is the best part. On the marble slab as a guest you will receive a pummeling from head to toe, let the massage experts scrub of all those dead skin cells, relax again, and then drift away while the masseur straightens out all those tense bits and knots.
• Join for a traditional Turkish night in Bodrum, definitely great entertainment for everyone. You will be amazed by the folk dances from all over the country and be entranced by the beautiful belly dancers. Enjoy an evening full of eastern promise, taste the local cuisine, local salads and glass of Turkish raki or wine.
• Have a romantic dinner at sea by sunset for an unforgettable evening; enjoy a fresh fish meal in the charming fishermans port Gumusluk, where loud music is forbidden so you can enjoy the sounds of the Aegean sea