[Umit]

An impressive medieval castle built by the Knights of Rhodes guards the entrance to the dazzling blue bay of Bodrum, where the Aegean and the Mediterranean Seas meet. This charming town attracts a diverse population of vacationers who stroll along its long, palm-lined waterfront, while elegant yachts crowd the marina.



Not far from town, you can swim in absolutely clear, tideless, warm seas. Underwater divers, especially, will want to explore the numerous reefs, caves and majestic rock formations. The waters offer up multicolored sponges of all shapes and sizes, and an immense variety of other aquatic life, including octopus.

The reputation of Bodrum's boat yards dates back to ancient times. Today, craftsmen still build traditional boats: the tirhandil with a pointed bow and stern, and the gulette with a broad beam and rounded stern. The latter are especially used for excursions and pleasure trips, and in the annual October Bodrum Cup Race.


Yacht Race, Bodrum

The yearly throng of visitors has encouraged small entrepreneurs to make shopping in Bodrum a delight. Leather goods of all kinds, natural sponges and the local blue glass beads are among the bargains to be found in the friendly little shops along the narrow, white- walled streets. Charming boutiques offer kilims, carpets, sandals and embroidery as well as original fashions in soft cotton fabric.

Bodrum has gained the reputation as the center of the Turkish art community with its lively, friendly and Bohemian atmosphere and many small galleries. This community has encouraged an informal day time life style and a nightlife full of excitement. The evenings in Bodrum are for sitting idly in one of the many restaurants, dining on fresh seafood and other Aegean specialties. Afterwards, daytime night clubs (some with cabaret) and superb discos keep you going until dawn.

Bodrum, known in ancient times as Halicarnassus, was the birthplace of Heredotus and the site of the tomb of King Mausolus (4th century B.C.), which was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. In the harbor, the Bodrum Castle, or the medieval castle of St. Peter, is a fine example of 15th-century Crusader architecture. It has been converted into the Museum of Underwater Archeology, with remains dating as far back as the Bronze Age. The stunning panoramic view from Goktepe, nearby, is much photographed by those who visit the second-century theater there.



The beautiful Bodrum Peninsula suits holiday makers interested in a subdued and relaxing atmosphere. Enchanting villages, with guest-houses and small hotels on quiet bays, dot the peninsula. On the southern coast, Bardakci, Gumbet, Bitez, Aktur, Ortakent Yalisi, Karaincir, Bagla and Akyarlar have fine, sandy beaches (Bitez, Ortakent and Aktur are blue-flag beaches). Campers and windsurfers enjoy Gumbet, and at Bitez colorful sailboards weave skillfully among the masts of yachts in the bay. On shore you can enjoy quiet walks through the orange and tangerine groves bordering the beach. Ortakent has one of the longest stretches of sandy beach in the area and offers an ideal place for relaxing in solitude. One of the most beautiful beaches on the Bodrum peninsula is Karaincir, ideal for active days by the sea and relaxed evenings with local villagers. Finally, Akyarlar enjoys a well-deserved reputation for the fine, powdery sand of its beach.


Turgutreis, Gumusluk and Yalikavak, all with excellent beaches, lie on the western side of the peninsula and are ideal for swimming, sunbathing and water sports. Gumusluk Beach is a blue-flag beach. In Turgutreis, the birthplace of a great Turkish admiral for whom it is named, you will find a monument honoring him. In the ancient port of Myndos (Gumusluk) you can easily make many friends from among the hospitable and outgoing local populace. In Yalikavak, white- washed houses with cascading bougainvillaea line narrow streets. Small cafes and the occasional windmill make it a picturesque setting.


The north coast of the peninsula Torba, Turkbuku, Golkoy and Gundogan - can be seen by road or, even better, hire a boat and crew to explore the quiet coves, citrus groves and wooded islands. Little windmills which are still used to grind grain crown the surrounding hills covered in olive trees. Torba, a modem village with holiday villas and a nice marina is located 8 km north of Bodrum. Golkoy and Turkbuku are small and simple fishing villages with a handful of taverns overlooking a lovely bay.

After a boat trip to Karaada, half an hour from Bodrum, you can bathe in the grotto where warm mineral waters flowing out of the rocks are believed to beautify the complexion.

The translucent and deep waters of the Gulf of Gokova, off the southern shore of the Bodrum peninsula vary from the darkest blue to the palest turquoise, and the coastline is thickly wooded in every hue of green. In the evening, the sea reflects the mountains silhouetted against the setting sun, and at night it shimmers with phosphorescence.




You can take a yacht tour or hire a boat from Bodrum for a two, three or seven-day tour of the gulf.

The Gulf of Gulluk, and harbor of the same name, lie north of the Bodrum peninsula on the Aegean. The mythological Dolphin Boy is said to have been born a little farther to the north at Kiyikislacik (lassos). South of Gulluk, Varvil, ancient Bargilya, sits at the end of a deep narrow inlet surrounded by hillsides covered in olive trees.

Inland from Gulluk, is Milas, ancient Mylasa, known for its beautiful carpets - a century old tradition which continues today. The weavers rarely mind a visitor watching them at work. Plenty of old Turkish houses with carved timbers and latticed windows provide examples of the local architectural style. Gumuskesen, a memorial tomb, thought to be a small copy of the famous Halicarnassus Mausoleum, stands west of the city.

[aleks]

Hiii!!!!
Please for one information!!! At 30 august I will be ariveed at Kusadasi with bus.Than I want go to Bodrum with bus,but I dont know have a direct line from Kusadasi to Bodrum .Please tell me if have or some alternative solution if dont have direct line.
P.S sory for my bad english

[Umit]

Hi Aleks;

Please be assure that there are bus lines to Bodrum to Kusadasi and Kusadasi to Bodrum.

[cemeesti]

a flash stuff
http://www.apelsin.nu/classics/?url=badrum

(ex: badrum badrum = bathroom bathroom in swedish)

[VivaKusadasi]

Somehow I don't like Bodrum at all.

[Hande]

me too... I stayed there some years ago and didn't like it.. everyone I know loves bodrum.. so they treat me like I was crazy :roll:

[tracy]

Hi,

I have been to Bodrum and also Gumbet and turgutreis.
I enjoyed Bodrum but much prefer Kusadasi and Marmaris.
In my experience Bodrum isn't quite as friendly as other places in Turkey. Whenever I have been to Turkey I have always made friends with the locals and got to know people in the bars etc but this never happened in Bodrum. Also, there isn't a bar street as such. The bars are along the sea front and are more like cafe/bars. There was a really good rock bar called the BBC if anyone is into that!
Gumbet is a little better for night life I think, and its easy to get a dolmus from Bodrum to Gumbet. In Gumbet I stayed in some apartments called the 'greenhouse' which I can recommend, we went back again the following year so they must be good!
Turgutreis is a quiet little place. I have a friend from England who moved there 3 years ago and she is so happy and looks 10 years younger! It must be the Turkish air! ( or the Turkish men!!) lol :cheesy:

Tracy x

[VivaKusadasi]

It is probably the air. I don't know what makes us so special but I think we are as normal as any other men.

[Mella]

Before i went to Turkey, My friend had been to Bodrum the year before and was telling me how much she loved it. I decided to goto Kusadasi but for my last day we did the Bodrum transfer [which is basically you get taken by bus to Bodrum, put up in a little hotel, taken out around bodrum on a boat and then you can explore Bodrum at night until you get picked up for the airport] I didn't like Bodrum at all and was literally pining for Kusadasi. I cried when we left (sad, much!)
I did go back for a 2 week holiday to Bodrum a few weeks later (only coz my mum was going) and It wasn't so bad, actually it was really nice.. I guess my first bodrum experience wasn't great because I went from Kus straight to Bodrum, and I was missing Kus like mad.
I got told that alot of people had this wierd experience where the first city/town/place they stayed at on their first trip to Turkey will always be in their heart. And it's true. I don't like anywhere in Turkey as much as i liked Kusadasi. And my friend's been all round the country and still loves Bodrum the most because that is where she first fell in love with the people,culture,country.
I suck at explaining, but blah.



*Obviously this does not apply to everyone.

[Gangsta-girl]

carmella i totaly agree you
i went to turkey when i was 12 for the first time ,
to kusadasi and i really liked it and after that i returned 2 times to kusadasi and the fourth time i went to turkey i went to bodrum and i totally dissliked it
didnt like the city at all but all turkish people love bodrum and all people i know like bodrum more than kusadasi but really i went back to kusadasi 1,5 month ago and it was so much better than bodrum , i'll never go back again there i think , maybee marmaris is nice but i still cant imagine there's something better than kusadasi :roll: