Day trips · Bodrum · Turkey
6 best day trips from Bodrum
Where to go when you want a day away from Bodrum, and how long it really takes.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Haluk Comertel, CC BY 3.0
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Quick answer
The classic day trip from Bodrum is Kos, Greece (About 30–60 minutes by ferry). The closest option is Kos, Greece, about 20 km away.
Key facts
- Day trips in this guide
- 6
- Closest
- Kos, Greece (20 km)
- Most popular
- Kos, Greece
Day trips compared
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kos, Greece | 20 km | About 30–60 minutes by ferry | International ferry from Bodrum | First-timers, Culture |
| Ephesus | 175 km | About 2 hours 30 minutes by car | Car or organised tour | Culture, First-timers |
| Didyma and Miletus | 120 km | About 2 hours by car | Car or organised tour | Culture |
| Milas, Iasos and Euromos | 60 km | About 1 hour by car | Car | Culture, Quiet stays |
| Lake Bafa and Herakleia | 90 km | About 1 hour 30 minutes by car | Car | Quiet stays, Culture |
| Datça peninsula | 40 km | About 2 hours by ferry | Ferry from Bodrum to Körmen, then road | Quiet stays, Couples, Beach |
The day trips
20 km · About 30–60 minutes by ferry
1.Kos, Greece
The Greek island of Kos has a harbour town with a Knights' castle, the ancient agora, the plane tree of Hippocrates and the Asklepieion healing sanctuary. It is an international crossing; check document requirements with official sources before booking.
- Getting there
- International ferry from Bodrum
- Best for
- First-timers, Culture
175 km · About 2 hours 30 minutes by car
2.Ephesus
One of the best-preserved ancient cities in the Mediterranean, with the Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre and the marble streets of the Roman city. Tours often combine it with the House of the Virgin Mary and the Ephesus Museum in Selçuk.
- Getting there
- Car or organised tour
- Best for
- Culture, First-timers
120 km · About 2 hours by car
3.Didyma and Miletus
Didyma's Temple of Apollo is one of the largest Greek temples, with massive columns still standing. Nearby, Miletus has a large Roman theatre and the ruins of a major ancient port city.
- Getting there
- Car or organised tour
- Best for
- Culture
60 km · About 1 hour by car
4.Milas, Iasos and Euromos
Inland Milas has Ottoman mosques and a Roman gate; nearby, Euromos has a remarkably intact Temple of Zeus among olive groves, and Iasos is a coastal ancient city where you can swim among ruins.
- Getting there
- Car
- Best for
- Culture, Quiet stays
90 km · About 1 hour 30 minutes by car
5.Lake Bafa and Herakleia
A lake surrounded by granite mountains, with the ruins of ancient Herakleia at the village of Kapıkırı and Byzantine monasteries on its islands. It is a quiet, beautiful area for walking and birdwatching.
- Getting there
- Car
- Best for
- Quiet stays, Culture
40 km · About 2 hours by ferry
6.Datça peninsula
The long, narrow Datça peninsula has unspoilt bays, almond and olive groves, the old stone village of Eski Datça and the ruins of ancient Knidos at its tip.
- Getting there
- Ferry from Bodrum to Körmen, then road
- Best for
- Quiet stays, Couples, Beach
Day-trip tips
- Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
- Check the time of the last dolmuş back, especially from Gümüşlük and Yalıkavak.
- For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best day trip from Bodrum?
Kos, Greece. The Greek island of Kos has a harbour town with a Knights' castle, the ancient agora, the plane tree of Hippocrates and the Asklepieion healing sanctuary.
+How long does it take to get from Bodrum to Kos, Greece?
About 30–60 minutes by ferry — International ferry from Bodrum, about 20 km.
+How long does it take to get from Bodrum to Ephesus?
About 2 hours 30 minutes by car — Car or organised tour, about 175 km.