Turkey: Bodrum

[bjorn]

Bodrum, which curiously sounds like bedroom when uttered with a thick accent, is a wild, pulsing party peninsula on the Aegean Coast. One of Turkey's best known and longest established resorts, the town is known for its lively port, good beaches, and colorful nightlife.

During the day, yachting, boating, swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving are the main diversions. Bodrum is a good place to arrange for a boat trip to neighboring islands and secluded beaches for sunning and snorkeling. At night, bars, pubs, clubs and discos rock late into the night.
Unlike many places in Turkey, anything goes in Bodrum.

There are also historical reasons to visit Bodrum. The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, is here. The impressive Castle of St. Peter, with its Museum of Underwater Archaeology is also worth checking out.

When to go:
June through August is the best time to enjoy the Aegean coast, but spring and late summer are cheaper and also pleasant times to come.

What to Do:
History/Ruins:
Bodrum has two significant historical sights: the Castle of St. Peter and the Mausoleum at Helicarnassus. Bodrum is a beach town rather than a tourist attraction. It's a fun place to spend a few days in the sun.

Shopping:
The throng of visitors has enlivened Bodrum's retail economy. Shopping is one of the top leisure activities in Bodrum. The town is well known for its leather goods, particularly for traditional woven sandals that can be custom *beep*.

Souvenirs range from the semi-precious to the schlocky, but it's fun exploring the shops. The main drag is unlikely to offer any real bargains, but you'll have your pick of silver, spices, carpets, kilim, and embroidered textiles.

Bodrum, one of Turkey's main artistic centers, can provide you with gallery-browsing diversions, and dozens of boutiques proffer souvenirs, clothing, and blue glass beads in the pedestrian bazaar on Kale Caddesi, the main thoroughfare. Leather goods, sea sponges, "evil eye" beads, and the ubiquitous carpets and kilims are among the bargains to be found at Bodrum's boutiques.

Beach:
Bodrum itself doesn't have the best beach in the area, but along the Bodrum peninsula there are plenty of secluded coves just a dolmus ride away.

Cultural Comments:
The performing arts and high culture are not exactly a priority in Bodrum. Smaller towns, accessible by dolmus, offer a chance to sample rural Turkish life. Ask the staff of your hotel or hostel for advice on where to go.

Festivals/Events:
The first week of September is the Bodrum Festival, featuring Turkish classical music at Bodrum castle.

Nightlife/Bars:
With a whole strip filled with bars, cafes, clubs, and discos, all types of diversions exist in Bodrum at night. Music here comes mostly in the form of live bands performing at bars.

Cost:
In July and August, Bodrum is very expensive - almost twice as costly as Istanbul.

Getting Around:
The Bodrum-Milas airport links locales in Turkey to the action in Bodrum. Buses are the more common choice of transport, and leave frequently from the otogar outside the city center. Many people use Bodrum as a departure point to Greece, as ferries leave daily in the summer for the islands of Kos and Rhodes. The city of Bodrum is walkable, though streets are usually poorly marked. In order to reach the nearby villages and beaches of the peninsula, you'll find that the cheapest and easiest option is a dolmus (shared taxi or minibus) service. These depart frequently to all destinations from Bodrum's otogar (bus station), centrally located on Cevat Sakir Caddesi, the main street. Fares average around $1. There is also a taxi stand at the bus station.

Language:
There are two languages to be heard on the streets of Bodrum. Turkish, the native tongue, and English, which is somewhat prevalent due to the tourist-friendly atmosphere and abundance of English and Australian tourists.

Party/Social Scene:
Bodrum is party central. If you like the beach, dancing at nightclubs and drinking at bars, and enjoy meeting new people, Bodrum is for you.

Other Info:
Click here for weather forecast from Weather.com.