Bodrum
Whitewashed harbours and the bluest of bays
The place
Bodrum is Türkiye's most stylish stretch of coast — a town of bougainvillea-draped white houses descending to twin bays, watched over by a honey-coloured Crusader castle. By day the marina fills with gulets, the traditional wooden yachts that have made this peninsula one of the Mediterranean's great sailing grounds; by night the waterfront hums with restaurants, beach clubs and a famously easy glamour.
There is real history beneath the gloss. This was ancient Halicarnassus, birthplace of Herodotus, the father of history, and home to the Mausoleum — yet another of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The Castle of St Peter that guards the harbour now holds a superb museum of underwater archaeology, with treasures raised from Bronze Age shipwrecks off the coast.
Most of all, Bodrum is about the water. Sail or cruise out to hidden coves and islands, swim in startlingly clear bays, and watch the sun drop behind the Greek island of Kos just across the strait.
What to do
Things to do in Bodrum
- Explore the Castle of St Peter and its Museum of Underwater Archaeology
- Charter a gulet for a day cruise to secluded coves and bays
- See the site of the Mausoleum, an ancient Wonder of the World
- Swim in the clear waters of Gümüşlük, Bağla and Yahşi beaches
- Watch the sunset over the Aegean from the windmills above town
- Dine and dance along the lively marina waterfront
- Browse the boutiques and bazaars of the whitewashed old town
Gallery
Ready when you are
Packages featuring Bodrum
Browse handcrafted itineraries that include Bodrum, each available in three service levels — or message our local team and we'll tailor one around you.