Bodrum Tourism And Travel Guide

This beautiful coastal city of Bodrum has everything you need for an ideal summer holiday. The sun, sand & beaches, historical monuments, nature & wildlife, adventure sports and so much more. It is located on the Aegean coast, in South-Western Turkey. It has an urban population of under 40,000. While it always been a popular destination with locals, tourism in Bodrum has seen a rise over the last few years with tourists from all over the world flocking to it.

Did you know that Bodrum is home to the once beautiful Mausoleum of Mausolus, which was one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world? Here's an in-depth travel guide to Bodrum and everything you need to know before visiting it!

By Air:

Bodrum is easily reachable by flight. There are direct flights to Bodrum daily from Istanbul, which is convenient and not too tough on the pocket. The Bodrum airport (Bodrum - Milas International Airport) is 35 km away from the city centre. Once at the airport, there are shuttles that can take you to the central areas of the city. While travelling from India, you can take a direct flight to Istanbul from Mumbai or Delhi. There are daily departures via Turkish Airlines.

By Train:

There are no railway stations at Bodrum, which makes a train journey quite long and inconvenient. From Istanbul, take a train or Ferry to Izmir (both are not direct options). From Izmir, take a local train to Aydin and then a Bus to Bodrum. You can expect this journey to take anywhere between 15 to 20 hours. You can also take a similar route from Ankara, via Izmir and Aydin.

By Road:

You can drive down yourself or hire a private taxi to take you to Bodrum from anywhere in Turkey. From Istanbul, this trip would take you around 9 hours. Buses are another option. There are frequent buses from all major cities of Turkey. From Istanbul, the journey would take around 13 hours. From Turkey's capital city, Ankara, it would take about 10 hours. Buses are definitely the cheaper option.

By Sea:

An interesting option is to travel by sea, but you can do so from the neighbouring country - Greece. The Greek Islands of Kos and Rhodes have daily ferryies to Bodrum since they are all on the Aegean Sea.

Getting Around:

Some parts of Bodrum are better explored on foot - especially the tourist spots that are in and around the city centre. However, there are some lovely neighbouring sites to be explored and of course the numerous beaches along the coast - which can be easily accessed by a Dolmus. The Dolmus has frequent routes passing popular places like Gündoğan, Gümüşlük, Torba, Yalıkavak, Göltürkbükü and others. And there are also Ubers available for any last minute or unplanned trips.

Spring (March to May):

Spring is a lovely time to visit Bodrum as a lot of flowers bloom at this time all over Turkey. There are lesser tourists as well, but the downside is that the waters are still fairly cold especially during the first few weeks of Spring. The average temperature ranges between 15°C to 25°C in these 3 months and there is a slight chance of rain, but nothing to worry about.

Summer (June to August):

Summer is the perfect weather for any coastal place. The beach water gives you that refreshment you definitely need during the summer heat. And for those who like to sunbathe - it is heaven. However, it is also the peak tourist season which makes the city extremely crowded. Due to humidity, the heat in Bodrum is quite bearable and you can expect an average temperature of 25°C to 30°C. There are many festivals and events that take place during these months.

Autumn (September to November):

A relatively slow tourist season makes autumn so much more desirable. You can enjoy warm weather in September but come October, there is a chill in the air. The average temperature is 28°C in September and by November this falls to 20°C. You can expect 3-4 days of rain per month. The Traditional Wooden Boat races is a popular event in October.

Winter (December to February):

Winter is not so harsh in Bodrum and the average temperature is about 10°C to 15°C. However, it is expected to rain about 10 to 15 days every month, and this can dampen the mood. There are indoor activities that you can enjoy though, for a rainy day. Some museums and historic places may shut down earlier during the winter months. There are no specific annual events held during these months.

Beaches:

Bodrum is a coastal city so visiting the many Beaches has got to be right on top of your To Do list! This beautiful city has crystal clear water and sandy beaches that you will love. Some of the major ones are Yahsi Beach, Gumusluk Beach, Camel Beach, Bitez Beach, Cleopatra's Beach, Gumbet beach and Kadikalesi beach. Most of the beaches also have a lot of restaurants and cafes nearby and a thriving nightlife.

Water Sports:

You can enjoy some awesome water sports in Bodrum. Try out Kite surfing and Windsurfing on Fener Beach. Or Snorkeling at Gumusluk and Turgutreis. Most beaches offer Jet skiing, Water-skiing and other activities too. So don't forget to take your adventure spirit with you!

History:

Once a greek city, Bodrum is filled with history and culture. It was called Halicarnassus once upon a time and was a thriving ancient city. It was popular for the Mausoleum of Mausolus, which was part of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. Not much remains of it now, but it is still a place worth visiting. Another iconic monument is the Bodrum castle which was built in the 15th century. The castle now houses the museum of underwater archaeology, also an incredible place to visit.

Boat Trips:

Being a seaside city, don't miss out on all the water activities. You can enjoy many boat rides - whether on private yachts, fishing boats or ferries. Take a trip around the Bodrum Peninsula and see the many beaches of Bodrum. Or visit one of the small islands that are about. You could also do a quick trip to the Greek Island of Kos! Plenty of options for you to choose from.

Bodrum is a sweet blend of Turkish & Greek cuisine. If you want to explore the street food in Bodrum, try out their Kumpir, which is a Turkish version of the jacket Potato. Also, you will find many shops selling sesame Simits, which is similar to a bagel and pretzel. Another quick bite is the Peynirli Borek which is spinach and cheese pastry.

For more traditional cuisine, visit restaurants like Memedof, which is located near the waterfront and offers great food and great views! For a more local-styled restaurant, try Nazik Ana or Sakalli. Turkish Kebabs are hugely popular, so you definitely must try them out. Sebzeli Döner is the speciality of Bodrum. If you want to experience a local Turkish Tavern, try Marmara which is located near the bus station.

While most of the cuisine is predominantly for meat lovers, vegetarians have plenty of options too. A rich variety of vegetables, cheeses and breads make for mouth-watering dishes. Don't be afraid to experiment. Some vegan and vegetarian restaurants you can visit are Vegan a la Turca, Komagene, Galiptos Mutfak and Arka.

Bodrum offers many shopping markets and malls. Walk the narrow streets of the town centre and you will find many small local shops that offer many unique and quirky items like clothing, books, souvenirs, handmade products etc. For a more modern approach, you can visit Midtown Shopping Mall in Ortakent where you will find branded stores.

There are weekly markets that are held in Bodrum and its neighbouring towns. These markets are lively and definitely worth the experience. The food markets are held every Monday at Turkbuku, Tuesday at Milas and Golkoy, Wednesday at Gumusluk, Gundogan and Ortakent, Thursday at Yalikavak, Friday at Bodrum and Bitez, Saturday at Turgutreis and Sunday at Mumcular and Gumbet. The textile markets are held every Tuesday at Bodrum and Milas and Thursday at Turgutreis. You will find inexpensive clothing, beddings and household items here.

Bodrum is famous for its Sandals, Sponges, Colourful Sea Shells, Handicrafts and Textiles. Other Turkish items include Mosaic Lanterns, Turkish Clothes, Carpets, Bags and Jewellery.