Bodrum - Turkey Travel Guide

Top for diving, beaches, nightlife and food.


Friendly, fun and historic town with a party attitude and a good beaches.



•Bodrum is a lovely historic town with the magnificent 15th century St Peter's castle on a hillside overlooking a pretty harbour bobbing with gulets (traditional wooden boats). It is a cosmopolitan resort complete with ancient white washed houses, narrow winding streets, friendly bazaars and fabulous restaurants where you can dine under the stars overlooking the harbour. Famous for its traditional Turkish hospitality, it is a wonderful introduction to the many charms of Turkey. It has superb beaches, dive spots, nightlife and loads of history on its doorstep. It is hardly surprising that Bodrum remains one of Turkey's most popular destinations.

•You can book wonderful boat trips on the traditional gulets where you will be taken to hidden coves, snorkel, swim or simply enjoy lunch with idyllic views of shimmering deep blue waters.

•The lively resort of Gumbet is a short dolmus ride away. It has lots of good priced open air restaurants, cafés, bars and shops.

•There is also a traditional market in nearby Turgutreis.

•The beaches at Bodrum There is one beach at Bodrum with watersports, sunloungers and cafes. Put it is worth exploring a little further either by boat trip or by dolmus along the southern coast where there is a staggering choice of beaches; Bardakci, Gümbet, Bitez, Ortakent, Karaincir, Bagla and Akyarlar have fine, sandy beaches.

•Sports in Bodrum There is an incredible choice here for both adrenaline junkies and those just seeking to chill. Waterskiing, windsurfing, snorkelling, diving, horse-riding and river-rafting. There are also jeep safaris and jet skis for hire.

•Diving in Bodrum

Bodrum is a perfect place for beginner or more experienced divers and there are many boats taking out dive trips. One of the local companies, Askin Diving is a PADI Resort Centre, and offers PADI, CMAS and Baracuda courses for all levels. They can also arrange dives to underwater archaeological sites. There is a superb choice of caves, reefs and rock formations beneath the big blue.

•Eating Out in BodrumThere are some excellent traditional and modern Turkish restaurants on the marina and in the shadow of the magnificent castle.

•Best restaurants in BodrumOur holidaymakers give the food in Bodrum a total two thumbs up. The current best restaurant in Bodrum is Demeters Garden restaurant. When you get back, perhaps you could write a review and let us and your fellow Travel Republicans know which restaurant you think is the best restaurant in Bodrum.

•Barstreet in BodrumThis one mile long street runs parallel with the sea, so all the bars and restaurants on your right side offer a sitting area on the beach with the scenic view of the castle.

•Best bar in Bodrum

The jury's still out, but the Atlantic bar does seem to be the most popular currently. Tell us which bar in Bodrum rocked your holiday when you get back

•Nightlife in Bodrum The nightlife here appeals to just about everyone. There are intimate seaside cafes, trendy bars, fashionable restaurants and bars playing all sorts of music. It is often said that Bodrum is the party capital of Turkey, with more bars here than anywhere else in Turkey. It is has amazing views of the bay and the castle. There are also plenty of meyhane bars where traditionally the audience join in the singing and the dancing with the singers of traditional Turkish music. For a special night out; check out the Halikarnas Club in Bodrum which has lasers and foam parties; and usually free entry when you buy a drink.

•Excursions from Bodrum There are boat trips, village tours, salt lakes, water parks and Turkish nights.

•Take a leisurely boat cruise and visit Cleopatra's bay and see the ruins of the amphitheatre.

•There also day trips to the Greek island of Kos, Mausoleum, Pamukkale, Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary.

•Bodrum is one of our most popular destinations and we have lowest prices guaranteed on hotels in Gumbet and on cheap flights to Turkey.

•Holidays to Bodrum: We have an excellent choice of holidays in Bodrum.

•Hotels in Bodrum: We have excellent hotels in Bodrum, all with our lowest prices guaranteed.

•Cheap Flights to Bodrum: We have cheap flights to Bodrum.

•The flight takes around 4 hours from UK airports.

•Car hire in Bodrum: There's so much to explore, you would be wise to hire a car. We can offer great deals on car hire in Bodrum so check us out when completing your holiday booking.

•Transfers to your hotel in Bodrum: We can book your transfers from the airport to your hotel in Bodrum. We can also book UK airport car parks online, plus travel insurance and currency exchange for your holiday.

•Bodrum Hotel Reviews: Written exclusively by genuine customers who have booked and stayed in the hotel.

Did you know? Bodrum, known originally as Halicarnussus, is the hub of the Turkish art community which may explain its friendly and Bohemian atmosphere. There are many small galleries selling wonderful local arts and crafts.

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