Bodrum town
First-timersThe castle, harbour and Bar Street.
Bodrum city guide
Things To Do In Bodrum
A whitewashed town around a crusader castle, with a marina of yachts and gulets, the ruins of one of the Seven Wonders, and a nightlife that runs from May to October.
6
Hostels in the city
7.9
Average, from 1,018 reviews
1 of 7
Ancient Wonders, the Mausoleum
15th c.
The Castle of St Peter
1 h
To Kos by ferry
The castle and the marina
Bodrum was ancient Halicarnassus, home of the historian Herodotus and of the Mausoleum, the tomb of King Mausolus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Only foundations remain, but the Knights of St John used its stones to build the Castle of St Peter on the harbour in the fifteenth century.
Today Bodrum is Turkey's most glamorous resort, with whitewashed houses, a marina of yachts and traditional gulets, and a nightlife that fills the summer.
It is expensive in July and August. Two or three days is right, with Kos in Greece an hour away.
Where to stay
Stay in Bodrum town for the castle and bars, or Gümbet for a cheaper beach base.
Gümbet
ValueThe beach resort next door.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 6 top-rated hostels. Map © MapTiler © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Bodrum
The Castle of St Peter holds the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, with ancient shipwrecks raised from the seabed.
See the site of the Mausoleum and the ancient theatre above town, and walk to the windmills on the hill between Bodrum and Gümbet.
Take a gulet day cruise to coves and swimming spots around the peninsula. The beaches at Gümbet, Bitez and Turgutreis are a dolmuş ride away.
The ferry to Kos, in Greece, takes about an hour; bring your passport.
Free things
Free things to do in Bodrum
The harbour, the old town, the windmills and the beaches are free.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Bodrum
Bodrum has seafood and meze restaurants along the harbour, pricey in summer. Lokantas behind the waterfront are much cheaper.
A meal is €10 to €20.
Nightlife
Going out in Bodrum
Bar Street, Cumhuriyet Caddesi, runs along the waterfront with bars and clubs open late all summer. Gümbet is the cheaper, rowdier strip.
A beer is €5 to €8.
Getting around
Getting around Bodrum
Bodrum is walkable. Milas-Bodrum Airport is about thirty-five minutes away by shuttle bus. Dolmuş minibuses reach the beaches around the peninsula.
Ferries run to Kos and other Greek islands. Buses reach Izmir and Fethiye.
Costs
What Bodrum costs
Bodrum is one of the most expensive places in Turkey in July and August. Dorms start around €18. A careful day is €45 to €65.
The currency is the Turkish lira, and prices change quickly with inflation; these are euro equivalents. Cards work widely, bank ATMs are best, and always pay in lira rather than accepting a conversion.
Safety
Staying safe in Bodrum
Bodrum is safe, with party-town care needed at night: watch your drink and use licensed taxis.
Emergency number is 112.
Day trips from Bodrum
The peninsula and the Greek islands.
Kos
A Greek island with a castle and beaches.
Gulet cruise
Coves around the peninsula.
What's on
What is on while you are there
The summer season is the event.
October
Bodrum Cup
Bodrum
A gulet sailing race.
Hostels
Where to stay in Bodrum
The top-rated places to stay in Bodrum right now, live from Hostelworld.
When to go
May, June and September are best. July and August are busy and expensive.
Jan
Quiet
Feb
Quiet
Mar
Spring
Apr
Good
May
Season opens
Jun
Excellent
Jul
Peak
Aug
Peak
Sep
Excellent
Oct
Bodrum Cup
Nov
Quiet
Dec
Quiet
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs. The nightlife runs from May to October.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Prices are euro equivalents and move quickly with lira inflation. July and August run higher.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Bodrum travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Is Bodrum expensive?
One of the priciest places in Turkey in summer.
Can I go to Greece from Bodrum?
Yes, Kos is about an hour by ferry. Bring your passport.
What is the Mausoleum?
The tomb of King Mausolus, one of the Seven Wonders; only foundations remain.
When does the nightlife run?
From May to October.
How do I get from the airport?
By shuttle bus, about thirty-five minutes.
How many days do you need?
Two or three.
When is the best time to visit?
May, June and September.
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