Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archeology

This is one of the most famous landmarks in Bodrum, and is housed in the Castle of Saint John, which was built in the beginning of 15th century by the Knights Hospitaller. It is a unique place, especially for travellers with interest in history. The museum is centrally located in Bodrum, just a few steps away from the water’s edge and the marina.

The museum is among the few places in the world where you can see an impressive collection of ancient artifacts, discovered underwater in sunken ships. All the amphorae, jewelries, glass, coins, weapons, etc. have been beautifully presented and properly lit in several rooms throughout the castle.

There’s a expansive collection of amphora located on the ground floor of the Snake Tower, which were reclaimed from the sea by the local sponge divers, back when Bodrum was still a fishing village.

Next to the Snake Tower, is the so called Secret Museum, where you’ll find a selection of ancient medicine bottles and paraphernalia.

Over at the Coins and Jewelry Hall, are many different examples of monetary and weight systems used in the region through the centuries.

The Museum is also famous for housing the tomb of the Carian Princess, and you can also see her magnificent collection of golden jewelry and other personal belongings in that exhibition hall.

Other major tourist attractions in the museum are the two shipwrecks halls. There you can see two restored vessels with all the items that were found, staged along side them. The Glass Hall is situated in the former chapel of the castle, and represents a rich collection of glass works from several ancient cities. The museum also hosts a typical Turkish hamam (a traditional Turkish bath).

There are very detailed English descriptions next to each item presented in the museum, and audio guides are available as well. Payment in Euros is accepted, but it is advised to have some Turkish liras in cash as well. In order to plan your visit accordingly, it is useful to know that some sections in the castle are closed during lunch.

There is no real cafeteria in the castle, just a kiosk with a limited number of refreshments, but there are quite a few tables and chairs to sit at.

Besides that not all exhibitions are open all year round. The museum opens at 8:30am, but some collections don’t open until 10:00am.

Since the castle is old, the steps are very uneven. There are no escalators or elevators inside which makes the venue not easily accessible by people with limited mobility