Bodrum
Turkey's most glamorous resort — a whitewashed Aegean town with a Crusader castle, world-class beach clubs and the gateway to the Turquoise Coast
Explore Bodrum
The castle, beaches, beach clubs and bays of the Bodrum Peninsula.
Things To Do in Bodrum
Crusader castles, exclusive beach clubs, gulet cruises and the finest restaurants in Turkey.
Castle of St Peter
The Castle of St Peter is one of the finest examples of Crusader architecture in the eastern Mediterranean — built by the Knights of St John in the 15th century using stones from the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World). Today it houses the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, which has an extraordinary collection of Bronze Age shipwrecks and ancient artefacts recovered from the seabed.
Türkbükü — The St Tropez of Turkey
Türkbükü on the northern shore of the Bodrum Peninsula is Turkey's most exclusive beach destination — a small bay lined with chic beach clubs, excellent restaurants and boutique hotels. The clientele is Istanbul's wealthy elite and international jet-setters. Macakizi Hotel is the most famous address. The atmosphere is sophisticated, the food is excellent and the setting — a calm bay with views across to the Greek island of Kos — is beautiful.
Gulet Cruises from Bodrum
Bodrum is the main departure point for gulet (traditional wooden sailing boat) cruises along the Turquoise Coast — one of the great sailing experiences in the Mediterranean. A typical week-long cruise from Bodrum to Göcek visits secluded coves, ancient ruins (including the sunken city of Kaunos), fishing villages and the extraordinary Göcek bays. The water is crystal clear, the anchorages are beautiful and the food cooked fresh on board is excellent.
Beaches of the Bodrum Peninsula
The Bodrum Peninsula has excellent beaches to suit all tastes. Bitez is a long sandy beach popular with windsurfers and families. Gümbet is lively and popular with younger visitors. Ortakent-Yahşi is a long sandy beach with a more relaxed atmosphere. Akyarlar on the southern tip of the peninsula has the clearest water. Camel Beach near Turgutreis is one of the best sandy beaches on the peninsula.
Mausoleum of Halicarnassus
Bodrum was the ancient city of Halicarnassus, and the ruins of the Mausoleum — one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, built for King Mausolus in 350 BC — are in the centre of town. Although little remains above ground (the Knights of St John used the stones to build the castle), the site museum has excellent exhibits and the scale of the original structure is still impressive.
Bodrum Food & Nightlife
Bodrum has the best restaurant and nightlife scene in Turkey outside Istanbul. The harbour area has dozens of excellent restaurants — fresh fish, meze and grilled meats. Bodrum Bar Street (Cumhuriyet Caddesi) is the centre of the nightlife scene. Halikarnas Disco, one of the most famous open-air nightclubs in the world, has been operating since 1979 and can hold 5,000 people.
Bodrum Travel Guide
Bodrum is Turkey's most glamorous resort — a whitewashed town on a peninsula between two bays, dominated by a magnificent 15th-century Crusader castle. It has a character quite different from the all-inclusive resort towns of Antalya and Belek — more sophisticated, more boutique, more Aegean.
The town itself is beautiful. The white cubic houses, bougainvillea-draped walls, the castle reflected in the harbour and the views across to the Greek island of Kos create an atmosphere that is part Greek island, part Turkish bazaar, part international jet-set playground. The harbour is lined with gulets (traditional wooden sailing boats) and the restaurants and bars along the waterfront are excellent.
The Bodrum Peninsula has a range of beaches and bays to suit all tastes — from the lively Gümbet (popular with younger visitors) to the exclusive Türkbükü (Turkey's answer to St Tropez) to the quiet coves of the southern peninsula. The water is clear and warm from May to October.
The luxury hotel offer in Bodrum is exceptional. The Mandarin Oriental Bodrum and the Six Senses Kaplankaya are among the finest hotels in Turkey — and among the finest in the Mediterranean. Both are set in extraordinary locations on the northern shore of the peninsula, with private beaches, world-class spas and exceptional restaurants.
Bodrum is also the main departure point for gulet cruises along the Turquoise Coast — one of the great sailing experiences in the Mediterranean. A week on a gulet, sailing between secluded coves, ancient ruins and fishing villages, is one of the most relaxing and beautiful holiday experiences available anywhere in the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to visit Bodrum?
May to October is the main season. July and August are the hottest and most vibrant months — the beach clubs and restaurants are at their best, but it can be very busy. May, June and September are excellent — warm enough to swim (sea temperature 22–26°C), less crowded and slightly cheaper. October is still warm and the light is beautiful.
Is Bodrum good for families?
Bodrum is better suited to couples and adults than young families. The town has a sophisticated, adult atmosphere and the nightlife can be lively. Families with older children (12+) will enjoy it. For younger families, Antalya, Belek, Side or Marmaris are better choices with more family-oriented all-inclusive resorts.
How do I get to Bodrum from the UK?
Bodrum has its own international airport (Milas-Bodrum Airport, BJV), approximately 35km from Bodrum town. our travel partners and Jet2 both fly direct from multiple UK airports throughout the summer season. Flight time is approximately 3h 45m to 4h.
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