Official language: Turkish
Time zone: UTC +3
Currency: Turkish lira (TRY)
From Bodrum a few times per day are sailing out excursion ferries that take tourists for cruises around nearby bays. It is worth to go for one of them in order to admire the Turkish shore from perspective of the sea.
From the port you can perfectly see the St. Peter Castle that is located on a cape and was built by Knights of Malta. Today instead of the Christian fortress you will find there the Museum of Underwater Archaeology.
Though Bodrum may seem like a modern, party city, just behind its tollgates, in nearby villages, there is real Turkey – women in headscarf are taking water from well, instead of cars everyone use donkeys.
A Turkish city located by the Aegean Sea, in the picturesque gulf of Gokova, famous for its nightlife, water sports and magnificent historical buildings. The ruins of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Mausoleum of Mausolus (known as The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus), a satrap who died in the 6th century BC, are located there. It is worth also to take a closer look at the Gate Myndos, the only ruins of defensive walls from Mausolus era, that are preserved to this day. Nearby the gate there is a Roman cemetery with 17 tombs. Partially preserved are there ancient mosaics.
Visible everywhere white houses, olive groves and mountain views are connotating rather Greece than Turkey. No wonder – from the city’s port a few times per day there are sailing ferries to nearby islands of Kos and Rodos. Thanks to that in Bodrum, like nowhere else, there are mixed influences of both cultures.
No one needs to be persuaded that shopping on a Turkish bazaar is an adventure of its own – colours, smells, laughter and music – this place is always vibrant. Also bargaining over price of every little thing – so typical for Turkey. You can find there fantastic souvenirs from journey, but remember to try to bargain over prices, as otherwise you will show lack of respect to a vendor.
Tired of sightseeing? Rest on Halk, the only beach in the city. Though Bodrum is a seaside resort, sandy beaches are not its strong point. Resourceful citizens found a solution to that – they offer a vast range of sports, that you can do in water. If you want to try windsurfing, kitesurfing or scuba-diving, you are in a perfect place. The same with sailing – gulfs and small islands are making up for a beautiful landscape and providing ideal conditions to do this sport.
There is no point of sleeping in Bodrum. This city is waking up to life at nights. In the city’s centre quite a sensation is causing Halikarnas Disco, where outdoors simultaneously around 5 thousand people can party. But the real party spot is the district Gumbet. Along several streets there are discos, clubs and bars. The party lasts there till dawn.