2 days in Bodrum

Day by day

1. Day 1: Bodrum Castle and the Museum of Underwater Archaeology and Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

   Bodrum Castle and the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, Gulet day trip and Ancient Theatre of Halicarnassus, then Neyzen Tevfik waterfront and marina in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Bodrum Castle and the Museum of Underwater Archaeology

      Its towers, named after the knights' national tongues, now house the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, with the Bronze Age Uluburun shipwreck, the Glass Wreck Hall and amphorae from the seabed.

   2. Late morning

      Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

      Earthquakes destroyed it, and today the site holds foundations, scattered column drums and a small display with models of the original.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Çökertme kebabı

      Traditional restaurants in Bodrum Town and inland villages; less common at waterfront fish restaurants.

   4. Afternoon

      Gulet day trip

      Lunch is cooked on board.

   5. Late afternoon

      Ancient Theatre of Halicarnassus

      From the upper seats there are sweeping views over the bays and the castle, and the theatre sometimes hosts summer concerts.

   6. Evening

      Neyzen Tevfik waterfront and marina

      Walk it at dusk, then choose a fish restaurant away from the busiest stretch near the castle.

2. Day 2: Myndos Gate and Bar Street (Cumhuriyet Caddesi)

   Myndos Gate, Bar Street (Cumhuriyet Caddesi), Zeki Müren Art Museum and Pedasa, then Yalıkavak Marina in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Myndos Gate

      It was here that Alexander the Great's army attacked the city in 334 BC.

   2. Late morning

      Bar Street (Cumhuriyet Caddesi)

      By day it is a shopping street; at night in summer it becomes the centre of Bodrum's nightlife, busy until the early hours.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Stuffed courgette flowers

      Meze restaurants and fish restaurants in summer; ask what is fresh.

   4. Afternoon

      Zeki Müren Art Museum

      It offers a window into Turkish popular culture.

   5. Late afternoon

      Pedasa

      Walking trails lead through olive and pine woods to the remains of walls, houses and a temple, with views over the peninsula.

   6. Evening

      Yalıkavak Marina

      Visit in the early evening to walk the marina, then eat in the old village nearby.

Before you go

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 17–21 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.6 hours in December to 14.7 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Bus. Dolmuş minibuses leave Bodrum's bus station for Gümbet, Bitez, Ortakent, Turgutreis, Gümüşlük, Yalıkavak and Göltürkbükü, running frequently in summer.

More or fewer days

• One day in Bodrum
• 3 days in Bodrum
• 5 days in Bodrum

Questions travellers ask