Bodrum Holidays

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Turkey’s beach-and-buzz classic

Bounce to Bodrum for Turkey’s original beach-and-nightlife combo, a place with whitewashed houses, bougainvillea and bright-blue bays stealing the show. The castle and twin harbours give everything a postcard feel, especially at sunset. Days here can be as lazy or lively as you like. Flop on a sunbed at one of the town’s beach clubs, take a boat trip around hidden coves, or hop on the dolmuş to nearby Gumbet, Bitez or Yalikavak for a change of scenery. Wander the old town’s narrow streets for shops, cafés and those all-important souvenir rugs you’ll definitely “think about”.

When the sun dips, Bodrum switches gear. The marina fills with twinkling yachts, restaurants grill the catch of the day, and bars along the waterfront warm up for late nights. Whether you’re planning some chilled meze and sea views or dancing until the call to prayer, you’ll find your level. Add in day trips to ancient sites like Ephesus, local markets, hammams and sunset viewpoints and you’ve got a resort that does a bit of everything. Bodrum’s big, buzzy and fun – but still knows exactly how to serve up a quiet, perfect swim when you need it, and have you plotting your next trip before you’ve even dried off.

History
Bodrum’s story starts long before the beach clubs. In the fifth century BC, this was Halicarnassus, a Persian-ruled city famous for its vast Mausoleum, once one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. You can still see the ruins today. Fast-forward to the 15th century and the Knights of St John built the imposing castle that still dominates the harbour, now home to an atmospheric archaeological museum well worth a wander.
Relaxation
On Bodrum holidays you can take life at a gentler pace. Amble through the old streets and markets hunting for bargains, then reset in a traditional hammam or sleek wellness centre with a sauna, massage or full-on spa session. As the day cools, head to the marina for a sunset drink and a fresh seafood dinner. In town you’ll find everything from international favourites to proper Turkish plates like white bean salad, grilled kebabs, and juicy meatballs.
Exploration
Start with Bodrum Castle and its Museum of Underwater Archaeology, then stroll the harbours, ice cream in hand, while gulets and yachts glide in at sunset. Hop on a gulet cruise to swim in hidden coves, snorkel in clear water, sunbathe on deck and tuck into a delicious onboard lunch. Back on land, browse the shops and bazaars, linger over a long meze dinner by the water, then bar-hop or head to a chilled rooftop for cocktails, shisha and sea-breeze people-watching.

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Your Bodrum questions, answered

Is Bodrum a good place for a city break?Is Bodrum better for nightlife or families?When is the best time to visit Bodrum?Where is Bodrum in Turkey?Are there beaches in Bodrum City?How long do I need to see Bodrum City?Is Bodrum a family-friendly city?How far is Bodrum City from Torba?Should I hire a car in Bodrum?

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.

Both work. The centre is lively and loud, while nearby resorts and quieter bays offer gentler evenings, shallow water and restaurants where kids will feel right at home.

May, June, September and October bring warm weather, swimmable seas and smaller crowds, while July and August are hottest and liveliest in Bodrum.

It’s on the Aegean coast in the southwest, opposite the Greek islands, with its own airport around 30-40 minutes’ drive from the main resort areas.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.