Welcome to Bodrum!

The wild landscapes and charming, colourful seaside resorts are truly breathtaking. Visit one of the many ancient treasures scattered along Turkey's Aegean coast. Picturesque villages and towns are awash with a vibrant tourist atmosphere making Bodrum an exciting blend of exploration, adventure and, most important of all, relaxation. Described in the New York Times "as the new St. Tropez", Bodrum is a cosmopolitan melting pot where the old meets the new, mixing the style and sophistication of the international marina set with the history of one of the areas oldest towns.

A Shopper's Paradise!

Visit the designer outlets in the exclusive shopping mall located in Bodrum Marina. Here you will find a selection of top designer clothes shops as well as many jewellery stores.
Take your time and browse through the winding cobbled streets in the centre of Bodrum. Try your haggling skills to get the best bargains on items such as jewellery, leather goods, carpets and souvenirs.
Many wonderful seafood restaurants can be found within the shopping area and boast superb views of St. Peter's castle in the heart of Bodrum Bay. The Yacht Club, which can be found right in the heart of the Marina, is a surprisingly inexpensive place to dine, serving excellent food and drink, it is definitely the place to visit if you want to mingle with the rich and famous! It will always be found packed with a large number of wealthy boat owners who moor their luxurious yachts in the marina to enjoy the ambience that Bodrum has to offer.

Markets.

Three main markets can be found in and around the Bodrum peninsular;

Bodrum Market

Can be found located near the bus station in central Bodrum and is held daily selling a variety of fresh produce, household items and souvenirs, a more extensive market can be found in the same location on Saturdays.

Gumbet Market

A ten-minute dolmus ride from Bodrum bus station and is held every Sunday.

Turgutreis Market

Also held every Saturday and is a "must do" if you are a devoted shopper as most of the best bargains will be found here! To get to Turgutreis take the dolmus from the bus station in Bodrum, the journey takes about 20 minutes and is well worth the effort.

Supermarkets.

There are many supermarkets located in and around Bodrum. Most essentials can be found in any of the smaller shops, but, if you're looking for home from home items visit Kipa, which can be found on the main Bodrum road on the way to Turgutreis, as it's the Turkish equivalent to Tesco's! Kos Tas is Bodrum's B & Q selling all the items you would expect from a large retail outlet like B& Q. Makro is represented by Metro (your Makro card will allow you to use this hyper-market).

Excursions

St. Peters Castle

Open every day except Mondays. It has a small museum and the views from the castle walls are beautiful. The castle boasts an array of towers, courtyards and dungeons as well as separate museums displaying underwater finds from shipwrecks.

Kos and Rhodes

Visit the nearby Greek islands of Kos and Rhodes which are easily accessible by ferry or hydro-foil from Bodrum Marina. Crossings cost about £20 per person. Ideal for shopping trips and for adding another country to your holiday itinerary.

Ephesus

An ancient city found near to the resort of Kusadasi is steeped in history. Here you will find a wealth of historical sights including the great theatre, which is believed to be almost 2000 years old. This is a wonderful place to visit to get a feel of what it was like in Roman times. Please be aware that in the height of summer it can get very hot here so it may be advisable to plan your trip early in the day to avoid the heat of the midday sun. Be sure to pack bottles of water as these can be somewhat expensive at the site and are a definite "must have" to keep feeling cool whilst exploring these ancient wonders.

Pamukkale

Said to be one of the world's natural wonders. The word "Pamukkale" translates into "cotton castle" so called because of the gleaming white calcium formations. It is possible to swim in the warm spa waters in Cleopatra's pool which is set on top of the mountainside amongst the ruins of the ancient city of Heirapolis.

Boat Trips

Along the Marina in Bodrum you will find an abundance of tour companies offering trips in and around the bay of Bodrum. These are great way to do some sightseeing, relaxing, snorkeling and topping up your tan!

Turkish Baths

What an experience! It is advisable to do this at the beginning of your holiday to maintain a golden tan. Your visit will start with a long sweat in a marble steam room, you will then be covered from head to foot with soap-suds from something that resembles a pillow slip! A loofah body-scrub follows to exfoliate your body in readiness for a fabulous tan. To finish off you will be given an final rinse and rub down leaving you feeling wonderfully refreshed and squeaky clean!

Aqua-Parks

There are two aqua-parks in Bodrum, Aqua-Park Dedeman located on the main road to Turgutreis. The other, Icmeler Aqua-park, is conveniently placed just a few minutes walk from the apartment.

Entertainment

As well as visiting the numerous restaurants, bars and clubs (including "bar street" in Gumbet), why not try a traditional Turkish night? Sample authentic Turkish dishes such as "mezes" (small portions of food such as stuffed vine leaves, fish dishes and more...), folk dancers from different regions and, of course, the inevitable belly-dancers!

Restaurants

The huge variety of restaurants in the Bodrum area will ensure you never get bored through no-choice! Kafedaki is an outstanding restaurant/cafe bar nestled high in the hills above Bodrum. The views from this restaurant are without compare whilst the excellent service and superb varied menu treat your other senses whilst you soak up the panoramic vistas. The Yacht club in Bodrum Marina is another splendid dining venue. Enjoy live music whilst sampling the international menu and taking in the ambience that is Bodrum Marina.

Dream Girls Cabaret

Found in Gumbet, a great night out for all the family. This is a drag show from the UK, a fantastic night out that will have you laughing all night long!

Halikarnass

Number one night-club found in Bodrum, laser shows, world famous D.Js, foam parties and much more!!

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of all that is available in Bodrum and surrounding areas - this hardly even scratches the surface!

Any of the above can be arranged through one of the many Tour Operators found in and around the Bodrum/Gumbet area. Be sure to shop around and haggle as prices can vary quite considerably.

Places of Interest