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Hotels in Bodrum

Whitewashed houses, gulets and one of the Seven Wonders of the World

Bodrum

LangueTurkish
DeviseTRY
FuseauEurope/Istanbul
Température8-32 °C
Indicatif+90
Population85.3M
Superficie783,562 km²
PrisesType C / Type F
Eau du robinetNon potable

Découvrez Bodrum

Bodrum is Turkey's most Aegean spot, and unlike the resorts on the southern coast, it has kept the shape of a real town rather than a hotel zone. Whitewashed, flat-roofed houses draped in purple bougainvillea climb the slopes above 2 bays, and between them, on a rocky spit, sits the Castle of St Peter, built by the Knights Hospitaller from stones taken from a dismantled mausoleum. This was the site of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, of which only foundations and a few columns remain today — along with the word "mausoleum" itself, used across every European language. The castle now houses a museum of underwater archaeology with shipwrecks over 3,000 years old, the best museum of its kind in the Mediterranean. Bodrum is also a sailing hub: wooden gulets set out from here on blue cruises, and marinas fill with yachts from across Europe. The peninsula around the town has more than 10 bays, each with its own character — from calm Bitez to fishing-village Gümüşlük to Yalıkavak with its luxury marina. The season runs from May to October, with a dry Aegean summer cooled pleasantly by the meltemi wind in August.

What to see

The places worth your time in Bodrum, and what to expect at each

Castle of St Peter and the Museum of Underwater Archaeology

Castle of St Peter and the Museum of Underwater Archaeology

centre

A 15th-century Knights Hospitaller fortress on a rocky spit between 2 bays, built from the stones of a dismantled mausoleum. Inside is a museum of underwater archaeology with Bronze Age shipwrecks, the world's largest collection of ancient glass, and a reconstruction of the Uluburun ship.

Tip: Allow at least an hour for the Uluburun wreck and the glass hall — most visitors only see the courtyard and miss the best part.

Admission:
from TRY 600
Time needed:
3 h
Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

centre

The remains of the tomb of King Mausolus, built in the 4th century BC and one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The 40-metre structure collapsed in an earthquake, and the Knights Hospitaller used its stones to build the castle; today only foundations, channels and a few columns remain.

Tip: The site is small and shadeless; visit in the morning and combine it with a walk to the castle, a 10-minute stroll away.

Admission:
from TRY 200
Time needed:
1 h
Ancient Theatre

Ancient Theatre

above the centre

A Greek theatre from the 4th century BC on the hillside above town, seating 13,000. One of the oldest in Asia Minor, it still hosts summer concerts. The upper rows offer views over the whole bay and castle.

Tip: Best at sunset, when the castle below in the bay lights up; during the day the stone gets scorching hot and there's no shade.

Admission:
from TRY 150
Time needed:
1 h
Harbour and Marina

Harbour and Marina

centre

A waterfront lined with wooden gulets that set out on blue cruises, and a marina filled with yachts from across Europe. Restaurants and cafés line the water, and the evening promenade between the castle and marina is the town's main social ritual.

Tip: Haggle for a day gulet cruise directly at the harbour the day before, not through a hotel — it's roughly a third cheaper that way.

Admission:
free, cruises from TRY 1,200
Time needed:
3 h
Gümüşlük and sunken Myndos

Gümüşlük and sunken Myndos

25 km west

A fishing village at the western tip of the peninsula, where the ruins of ancient Myndos have sunk into shallow water. A submerged causeway lets you wade out to Tavşan islet. Restaurants sit right on the sand and specialise in fish.

Tip: Wading out to the island is best at sunset, when the water is calmest; wear water shoes, as the seabed is rocky.

Admission:
free
Time needed:
half a day
Yalıkavak

Yalıkavak

18 km northwest

A former sponge-diving village on the peninsula's north side that has become Turkey's most luxurious marina. Superyachts moor here amid designer shops and restaurants, but above the marina the old quarter survives, with narrow lanes and an old windmill.

Tip: Wander the marina, but head to the old hillside village to eat — prices are half and the views are better.

Admission:
free
Time needed:
half a day
Bitez

Bitez

7 km southwest

A calm bay with a sand-and-pebble beach, backed by tangerine groves and shallow water. No clubs and no noise, with restaurants on wooden piers right over the water. The most family-friendly spot on the peninsula.

Tip: The water in the bay stays shallow a long way from shore, and the afternoon wind picks up — one of the best spots on the Aegean for beginner windsurfing.

Admission:
free, loungers from TRY 300
Time needed:
full day
Turgutreis

Turgutreis

20 km west

The peninsula's second-largest town, with its own marina, a long west-facing beach and a Saturday market. It has the finest sunsets in the area, as the sun sets directly into the sea behind the Greek islands.

Tip: The Saturday market is the largest on the peninsula and the cheapest place for spices, dried fruit and textiles.

Admission:
free
Time needed:
half a day
Gümbet

Gümbet

3 km west

The neighbouring bay just over the hill from the centre, with a sandy beach, watersports and the liveliest nightlife on the peninsula. A family beach with shallow water by day, a strip of bars along the whole waterfront after dark.

Tip: It's a 20-minute walk over the hill from Bodrum to Gümbet; taxis charge disproportionately for this short trip.

Admission:
free, loungers from TRY 300
Time needed:
full day

Photos: Castle of St Peter and the Museum of Underwater Archaeology — User: (WT-shared) Johnycanal at wts wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 1.0) · Mausoleum at Halicarnassus — Jona Lendering (CC0) · Ancient Theatre — Carole Raddato from FRANKFURT, Germany (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Harbour and Marina — Ebru Oztaylan (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Gümüşlük and sunken Myndos — Haluk Comertel (CC BY 3.0) · Yalıkavak — DoubleGrazing (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Bitez — Tanya Dedyukhina (CC BY 3.0) · Turgutreis — https://www.flickr.com/photos/bazylek/ (CC BY 2.0) · Gümbet — Thomas Dahlstrøm Nielsen (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Where to stay

Areas and districts, matched to the kind of trip you are taking

Centre and Castle

Best for: a first visit and sightseeing

Whitewashed lanes between two bays with the castle, mausoleum, bazaar and waterfront. Everything on foot, the best choice of restaurants, and the boats set out from here. The town beach, though, is small — swimming means heading to the surrounding bays.

Gümbet

Best for: nightlife and lower prices

The bay just over the hill, with a sandy beach and a strip of bars. Cheaper hotels than the centre and everything within walking distance. A calm family beach by day, the peninsula's liveliest spot after midnight — choose your hotel by its distance from the waterfront.

Bitez and Ortakent

Best for: families with children

Calm bays west of town with shallow water, tangerine groves and restaurants on piers. No late-night noise, with regular buses to Bodrum taking 20 minutes. The best choice for a relaxed beach holiday.

Yalıkavak and Gümüşlük

Best for: peace, yachts and views

The peninsula's northern and western tips, 20 minutes by car from the centre. Yalıkavak is a luxury marina with designer shops, Gümüşlük a fishing village with restaurants on the sand. Without a car you're reliant on dolmuş, which stops running in the evening.

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Getting around

From the airport

Milas–Bodrum Airport lies about 35 km northeast of town and receives charter flights from many European cities in season. The transfer takes around 45 minutes and is usually included in package holidays. A Havaş bus also runs from the airport to central Bodrum, timed to meet arrivals. Bodrum also doubles as the easiest gateway to the Greek island of Kos — the ferry across the strait takes 20 minutes and runs several times a day.

Milas–Bodrum (BJV) · 35 km

  • Hotel transfer· 45 min· included in package
  • Havaş bus to the centre· 50 min· TRY 350
  • Taxi· 40 min· TRY 1,500
  • Ferry from Kos· 20 min crossing· €25

Around town

Dolmuş minibuses cross the peninsula, setting off once full and connecting Bodrum with every bay. They're cheap, frequent and the most practical way to get around by day. In the evening they stop running after 11 pm, and a taxi is then your only option back. Central Bodrum is pedestrian-friendly, and a car is more of a burden there, since parking is limited and the lanes are narrow. For trips to the western end of the peninsula, a car is worth it.

DolmuşShared minibuses to every bay from the bus station in the centre, departing once full. · TRY 60
Water taxiIn season, between Bodrum, Gümbet and Bitez; nicer and quicker than the road. · TRY 250
Taxi and BiTaksiMetered fares; not worth it for the short hop to Gümbet — walk instead.
Rental carWorth it for Gümüşlük, Yalıkavak and the smaller bays that dolmuş don't reach in the evening. · TRY 1,200 / day

Useful apps: Google Maps, BiTaksi, Moovit

When to go

The season runs from May to October. June and September are best: 25–30°C, sea around 23–25°C, and manageable crowds. In July and August, temperatures climb to 34°C, but the meltemi blows in from the north, making the heat far more bearable while also making the peninsula one of the best sailing areas in the Mediterranean. October is still warm, with the sea around 26°C. In winter Bodrum is half-empty, but unlike the southern resorts, it doesn't shut down entirely.

Best time

June, September and the first half of October

What to avoid

August, for the prices and crowded bays

MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Day15°15°18°21°26°31°34°34°30°25°20°16°
Night8°8°9°12°16°20°23°23°20°16°12°9°
Rainy days11986421125811
Sea16°15°16°17°20°23°25°26°25°23°20°18°

Food & drink

Bodrum cooks Aegean-style, lighter than the southern coast: plenty of vegetables in olive oil, herbs from the hillsides, fish and mezes rather than heavy kebabs. The classic experience is dinner by the water in Gümüşlük, where you pick your fish from a display case and pay by weight. Rakı with water and ice is the drink to go with it. The cheapest meals are found in lokantas inland on the peninsula and at the Saturday market in Turgutreis; the priciest are in the Yalıkavak marina, where prices match the yachts moored there.

What to try

Kahvaltı

A Turkish breakfast of cheeses, olives, tomatoes, eggs, honey with clotted cream and endless tea. Served over hours — a social occasion, not just a meal.

Mezeler

Cold and hot starters — garlic yoghurt, roasted pepper paste, stuffed vine leaves. Ordered to share in the middle of the table and easily enough to replace a main course.

Kebap and köfte

Grilled skewered meat or meatballs, the backbone of Turkish cooking. Cheapest in local lokantas, where you simply point at what's on display.

Pide and lahmacun

Turkish flatbread topped with cheese or minced meat. Lahmacun is rolled up with lemon and parsley and is the cheapest filling lunch in the country.

Baklava and künefe

Sweet filo pastry layered with nuts in syrup, and melted cheese in fine noodle pastry. Served with Turkish tea, not coffee.

Grilled fish

In harbourside restaurants, you choose from a display case and pay by weight — ask the price per kilo up front so the bill doesn't surprise you.

Rakı

An anise spirit that turns milky white when mixed with water. Sipped slowly with mezes and fish, never downed in one.

Aegean herbs

Wild greens such as şevketi bostan or wild asparagus, braised in olive oil and served cold. Distinctly Aegean and hard to find elsewhere in Turkey.

What it costs

Tea at a tea house

TRY 30–50

Lahmacun

TRY 120–200

Lunch at a lokanta

TRY 300–450

Fish dinner in Gümüşlük

TRY 1,200–2,000 per person

0.5 l beer

TRY 180–300

Dolmuş across the peninsula

TRY 60–100

Full-day gulet cruise

from TRY 1,200

Castle and museum admission

from TRY 600

Indicative prices that change over time — treat them as a guide, not a price list.

Practical information

SocketsCEuroplug, two round pinsFSchuko
Voltage220V / 50Hz
Tap waterDo not drink tap water — Don't drink tap water, even though it's chlorinated. Bottled water is very cheap, is usually included in all-inclusive packages, and a 19-litre bottle for your apartment costs just a few lira.
TippingIn restaurants, around 10% is left if service isn't already included on the bill. Hotel staff, transfer drivers and guides are given small tips, but nobody expects it.
Driving on theright
SafetyBodrum is safe and crime is low. The main risks are strong sun between 11 am and 4 pm, and the meltemi, which whips up waves on the peninsula's northern side in August — bays facing north then aren't suitable for swimming with young children. When haggling at the bazaar, expect the first price quoted to be about double. Change money at an exchange office in the centre rather than at your hotel, as the rate is noticeably better.
Opening hoursShops in the centre and marinas open from 9am until late evening, 7 days a week. Ancient sites close around 5 pm in winter and stay open until 7 pm in summer. The castle's last admission is an hour before closing, and it's usually closed on Mondays.
Customs & etiquetteMosques are entered without shoes, and women cover their hair and shoulders; a headscarf is usually available to borrow at the entrance. Swimwear is fine within resorts, but a T-shirt and longer trousers suit ordinary towns. Haggling is expected at the bazaar and with carpet sellers, not in shops with price tags.
A few local wordsHello — MerhabaThank you — Teşekkür ederimPlease — LütfenHow much does this cost? — Ne kadar?The bill, please — Hesap, lütfen

How to plan your days

1 day

A day in Bodrum

  1. 1Morning at the Castle of St Peter and the Museum of Underwater Archaeology.
  2. 2Walk to the Mausoleum, then back through the bazaar to the harbour.
  3. 3Lunch at a lokanta away from the waterfront.
  4. 4Afternoon at the Ancient Theatre for views over the bay.
  5. 5Evening promenade along the harbour and dinner by the water.

2 days

Two days on the peninsula

  1. 1Day one as in the plan above.
  2. 2Day two: dolmuş to Gümüşlük for swimming and wading out to the islet.
  3. 3Lunch at a fish restaurant right on the sand.
  4. 4Late afternoon in Turgutreis for sunset over the sea.

3 days

Three days including a cruise

  1. 1First two days as in the plan above.
  2. 2Day three: a full-day gulet cruise around the peninsula's bays.
  3. 3Swimming from the boat and lunch on deck.
  4. 4Return to the harbour in the late afternoon.
  5. 5If you have a day to spare, take the ferry to Greek Kos, or visit Ephesus and Pamukkale.

Day trips

Kos

20 km · 20 min by ferry

The Greek island is visible from Bodrum, and a ferry runs several times a day, taking 20 minutes. Highlights include the ancient Asklepieion, a Knights Hospitaller castle and a flat island ideal for cycling. Don't forget your passport.

Ephesus and Şirince

150 km · 2 h 30 min

The best-preserved ancient city in the Mediterranean, with the Library of Celsus and a theatre for 25,000 spectators, plus the mountain village of Şirince with its fruit wines. A long trip from Bodrum, but the most rewarding.

Pamukkale

250 km · 3 h 30 min

White limestone terraces filled with thermal water, overlooked by the ancient city of Hierapolis with its necropolis and theatre. Usually a full-day trip with a pre-dawn departure; those who'd rather not get up early can stay overnight.

Frequently asked questions

How does Bodrum differ from Antalya and Alanya?+

It's a real town, not a hotel zone: whitewashed lanes, a castle, a bazaar and a waterfront where locals stroll in the evening. Its beaches, on the other hand, are smaller and often pebbly, so the southern coast is better suited to a classic all-inclusive beach holiday. Bodrum is chosen for its atmosphere and its yachts.

What are the beaches like in Bodrum?+

In town, only small ones better suited to sitting than swimming. The real beaches are in the surrounding bays: sandy Gümbet over the hill, shallow Bitez with its tangerine groves, and long Turgutreis to the west. A dolmuş reaches all of them in around 20 minutes.

What is a blue cruise?+

A multi-day cruise around the bays on a wooden gulet, sleeping on board — a tradition that began in Bodrum. A shorter version is a day trip for around 1,200 lira including lunch. Haggle directly at the harbour the day before; booking through a hotel costs considerably more.

Do I need a visa for Turkey?+

For stays up to 90 days, most EU citizens and citizens of many other countries don't need a visa — just a passport valid for at least 60 days beyond the end of the trip. A national ID card isn't enough, even for the ferry to Kos.

Can you travel from Bodrum to Greece?+

Yes — several ferries a day run to Kos, and the crossing takes 20 minutes. You'll need a passport, checks are carried out on both sides, and tickets can sell out in peak season — buy them a day ahead at the harbour.

When is the sea warmest?+

In August and September, when it reaches 25–26°C, and still into early October. The Aegean is a touch cooler than the Mediterranean on the southern coast, where August can hit 29°C. In May it's around 20°C.

What is the meltemi, and does it matter?+

The meltemi, a north wind that blows almost daily in July and August. It lowers the felt temperature by a few degrees, making the heat more bearable, but it whips up waves in bays open to the north. With small children, choose beaches on the peninsula's southern side, such as Bitez.

Is it worth renting a car in Bodrum?+

For a week spent exploring the bays, yes. Dolmuş minibuses reach every resort cheaply and often, but they stop running after 11 pm, and a taxi back from Gümüşlük or Yalıkavak then costs more than a day's car hire.

Conditions de visa

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Numéros d'urgence

Police155Ambulance112Fire110

Langue

Turkish

Devise

TRY

Fuseau

Europe/Istanbul

Indicatif

+90

Population

85.3M

Superficie

783,562 km²

Tension

220V / 50Hz

Côté de conduite

Droite

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