Introduction to Bodrum
Bodrum Turkey is the "capital" town of the Bodrum Peninsula, and is the main business and tourist hub for the area. Even though the town attracts a huge influx of Turkish and foreign visitors each year (and the area is a continual ebb and flow of road works and development), it's still possible to get delve below the surface to experience one of the many sides of Bodrum.
It's a Turkey holiday-destination Jekyll and Hyde. It’s mass tourism, and quaint local-ism. It is heaving crowds, squashed into narrow cobbled streets haggling for bargains; but it's also cobbled back lanes dappled with shade snuggled between whitewashed houses laden with Bougainvillea. It's sipping expensive cocktails in open-air night clubs, pumping dance music ’til dawn; and it’s enjoying a harbour-side cup of Turkish Coffee, as the fisherman survey the landscape at dawn’s early light.
When you visit the Turkey and head to the Bodrum Peninsula, you have two choices: Either it comes at you full-force and you just let it just wash over you; or you go in search of it’s other, quieter side.
Bodrum's History
- Fisherman of Halikarnas: Shortly after 1925, when Turkey became a Republic, Turkish writer Cevat Sakir Kabaagaçli (also known as the Fisherman of Halikarnas) was exiled to Bodrum for 3 years. He made friends with local government officials, and was released on his own recognizance after 18 months. His writings about the allure of Bodrum, transformed this tiny fishing village into one of Turkey's most popular coastal resort destinations.
- King Mausolus (377-353BC): Ruler of Caria, relocated from Mylasa to Halicarnassus (today's Bodrum). His wife (and sister) built a Musoleum in his honour, and it became of the of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World.
Location of Bodrum Turkey
- Bodrum is located just east of Gumbet on the southern coast of the Bodrum Peninsula.
- Approximate distances to Bodrum Turkey:
- 36km from Milas-Bodrum Airport
- 6km from Bitez
- 19km from Yalikavak
Getting to Bodrum Turkey
All of the towns and villages on the Peninsula have a dolmus service which leads to Bodrum, so no matter where you are, you can find your way to Bodrum Town.
Bodrum is the area's transport hub, making it easy to get anywhere on the Bodrum Peninsula from Bodrum Town. The local dolmus services are frequent and inexpensive, and it you're feeling adventurous, why not head to the dolmus station and just get on the first next dolmus to leave ... no matter where it's headed! (We did this on our first trip to Bodrum Turkey, and ended up in neighbouring Torba.)
Things to do in Bodrum
So much to do, so little time!
Things to do: Turkish Baths (Hamam)
Experience a Turkish Bath
Turkish Baths are a memorable holiday experience.
Finding the right one is only the first step in the process, and will ensure you have a memorable experience. In Bodrum Town there are two public Hamam's to choose from:
Bodrum Hamam
Located near to the dolmus and bus station, the Bodrum Hamam is the most well known.
Bardakci Hamam
The Bardakci Hamam is the oldest in Bodrum, and is hidden down a back street of town.
Things to do: Shopping in Bodrum
There's are so many different shopping opportunities in Bodrum I had to move it to another page.
Click here to read my Shop 'til you Drop Itinerary.
It covers a variety of the shopping options around Bodrum Town, and includes information about:
- Pedestrian Old Town Area Shopping
- Weekly Markets
- Designer Wear at the Milta Bodrum Marina
- Oasis Shopping Centre
- Midtown Mall Shopping Centre
- Avenue Bodrum Shopping Centre
- Handmade, Made to Measure Leather Sandals
- IKEA
For a list of different gift and Turkish souvenir shops, you should visit my Shopping in Bodrum Old Town page.
Things to do: Boat Trips and Bodrum Beaches
Click here to read my Itinerary "Relax and Tan.
It includes the nearest local beaches in and around Bodrum Town, including:
- Quick jaunt to Kumbahçe Beach
- Short stroll to Azmakbaşı Beach
- Water Taxi to Bardakçi Beach
- Dolmuş to a nearby beach
- Day Boat from Bodrum
Things to do: Bodrum Itineraries
For a summary page of all the Bodrum Itineraries I've created so far, head to this Home Page:
These pages will provide you with some inspiration to help you plan your itineraries. They’ve been grouped by interest, so you can spend a whole day focused on on activity, or mix the activities up by picking and mixing from each of the featured itineraries.
Quick Reference Travel Guide
Bodrum Quick Reference Travel Guide
Map
If you're interested in finding out why I started writing this blog and publish Travel Guides about Turkey's Bodrum Peninsula... Click here to read my About Page
Click here for help on planning your Bodrum Peninsula itinerary
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