Is Bodrum a family-friendly city?

Bodrum is a good place for kids. You'll find many family-friendly hotels that have special menus, play areas and pools. You'll have beaches and water sports, a real live medieval castle and an underwater wreck. You can go for a swimming and snorkelling trip on an old-fashioned wooden sailboat or learn to dive. You might also want to visit the 35,000-square-metre water park at Ortakent or the Fun Town theme park at Yahsi. Here you can go horse riding, paintballing or go-karting. The restaurants and cafes are happy to welcome families.

Is Bodrum a good place for a city break?

Holidays to Bodrum are an excellent choice for a city break. You can see a ship that sank almost 3,500 years ago, a medieval castle and some beautiful old wooden boats. You'll find shops old and new, from traditional bazaars to shopping malls. Bodrum City is known as a party town, where you can mingle with the glitterati. Along the seafront, you'll see lively bars and clubs in the aptly nicknamed Bar Street. You'll also find cocktail bars and live music pubs in the old city and some bigger clubs in neighbouring Gumbet.

How long do I need to see Bodrum City?

You could go round the castle and museum in a day and have time for shopping and a restaurant. Turkey is a hot country and they don't do things in a hurry, so you'd be better off with a three-day weekend city break. This will give you a chance to go to the beach and maybe have a big night out. You can also spend more time browsing the bazaars and markets and enjoying a relaxed dinner by the sea. If you're there for the beaches with a bit of culture thrown in, you could go for a week or even two.

Are there beaches in Bodrum City?

Bodrum City is on the coast and has beaches that you can walk to quite comfortably. A bit further afield, you'll also find Blue Flag beaches at Bitez and Yahsi. Bitez is about 15 minutes' drive away and is popular with windsurfers. Yahsi beach is about 20 minutes' drive. Here you'll have a large sandy bay with clean water. Down at the marina, you can book a swimming and sightseeing boat trip. You might also try sailing, diving or other watersports like jet skiing or parasailing.

How far is Bodrum City from Torba?

It'll take you about six minutes to drive to Torba. You can walk it if you're feeling energetic but it would take well over an hour. If you're staying in the seaside resort of Torba, the most sensible thing is to catch a dolmus, or minibus, across the peninsula. This will take anything from 10-20 minutes, depending on how many people they pick up on the way. Bodrum makes an ideal day trip if you're looking for a break from the beach. The dolmus runs every 10 minutes.

Should I hire a car in Bodrum?

You won't need a car for a Bodrum city break, and it would actually be a hindrance because of the parking. You can get around the city quite comfortably on foot and most of the things you'll want to see are centred in the old town and port. If you want to go elsewhere on the Bodrum peninsula, you can catch a local bus. You'll also see a system of minibus pick-ups called dolmus, which frequently go to other resorts. You'll probably find an organised trip is your best bet if you want to go further.

Bodrum Holidays

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History
Bodrum was first ruled by the Persians in the fifth century B.C. Back then, Halicarnassus was famed for the vast mausoleum, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. You can still see its ruins. You'll also see a castle here, built by The Knights of St. John in the 15th century, where you can explore an interesting archaeological museum.
Relaxation
On Bodrum holidays you can wander the old streets and markets, shopping for bargains. You can have a sauna, massage and spa treatments in one of the city's traditional hammams or wellness centres. You might want to end your day with a sunset drink at the marina and a fresh seafood dinner. In town, you'll also come across international food outlets and traditional Turkish dishes like white bean salad, grilled kebabs or meatballs.