Things to do · Bodrum · Turkey
16 best things to do in Bodrum
16 sights and experiences ranked for a first visit, with honest notes on time, cost and crowds.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: DoubleGrazing, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The essential sights in Bodrum are Bodrum Castle and the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, Mausoleum at Halicarnassus and Gulet day trip. Of the 16 picks below, 6 are free, 2 work on a rainy day and 3 suit children. Allow about 7 days to see the highlights without rushing.
Key facts
- Top sight
- Bodrum Castle and the Museum of Underwater Archaeology
- Free sights
- 6
- Good on a rainy day
- Bodrum Castle and the Museum of Underwater Archaeology
- Time to see the highlights
- 7 days
At a glance
| Sight | Area | Time needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bodrum Castle and the Museum of Underwater Archaeology | Bodrum Town | 2–3 hours | Mid-priced |
| Mausoleum at Halicarnassus | Bodrum Town | 45 minutes | Low cost |
| Gulet day trip | Bodrum Town | Full day | Low cost |
| Ancient Theatre of Halicarnassus | Bodrum Town | 45 minutes | Low cost |
| Myndos Gate | Bodrum Town | 30 minutes | Free |
| Bodrum windmills | Gümbet | 45 minutes | Free |
| Neyzen Tevfik waterfront and marina | Bodrum Town | 1 hour | Free |
| Bar Street (Cumhuriyet Caddesi) | Bodrum Town | An evening | Low cost |
| Gümüşlük and Rabbit Island | Gümüşlük | Half a day | Free |
| Zeki Müren Art Museum | Bodrum Town | 45 minutes | Low cost |
| Pedasa | Bodrum Town | 1.5 hours | Low cost |
| Yalıkavak Marina | Yalıkavak | 2 hours | Free |
| Mustafa Paşa Tower | Ortakent and Yahşi | 30 minutes | Low cost |
| Bitez Bay | Bitez | Half a day | Low cost |
| Turgutreis sunset promenade | Turgutreis | 1 hour | Free |
| Göltürkbükü beach clubs | Göltürkbükü | Half a day | Expensive |
The 16 best things to do
Castle · Bodrum Town
1.Bodrum Castle and the Museum of Underwater Archaeology
The Knights Hospitaller began building the Castle of St Peter in the early 15th century, partly with stone taken from the ruined Mausoleum. 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.
Allow at least two hours and visit in the morning, when the courtyards are cooler and quieter.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Views
- Rainy day
- Kids
Historic site · Bodrum Town
2.Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
The tomb of the Carian ruler Mausolus, completed in the 4th century BC, was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and gave us the word 'mausoleum'. Earthquakes destroyed it, and today the site holds foundations, scattered column drums and a small display with models of the original.
Visit the castle first; many of the Mausoleum's stones were built into its walls.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Iconic
Experience · Bodrum Town
3.Gulet day trip
Wooden gulets leave Bodrum harbour each morning in season for a day of swimming stops in clear bays, often including Orak Island and Kara Ada, where a cave holds warm spring water and mud said to be good for the skin. Lunch is cooked on board.
Pick a boat with fewer passengers and check the itinerary and lunch arrangements before paying.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Couples
- Iconic
Historic site · Bodrum Town
4.Ancient Theatre of Halicarnassus
A restored Greek theatre from the 4th century BC, built into the hillside above the town. From the upper seats there are sweeping views over the bays and the castle, and the theatre sometimes hosts summer concerts.
Climb to the top row late in the afternoon for the best view of the castle and harbour.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Photo spot
Historic site · Bodrum Town
5.Myndos Gate
The western gate of ancient Halicarnassus, with remains of its towers and a section of the defensive moat. It was here that Alexander the Great's army attacked the city in 334 BC.
Combine it with the ancient theatre and the Mausoleum on a self-guided walk of ancient Bodrum.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Off the beaten path
Viewpoint · Gümbet
6.Bodrum windmills
A row of old stone windmills along the ridge between Bodrum Town and Gümbet, with views over both bays, the castle and out to Kos. It is a popular spot at sunset.
Walk up from Bodrum Town in about 20 minutes, or take a taxi, and arrive before sunset.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
Waterfront · Bodrum Town
7.Neyzen Tevfik waterfront and marina
The palm-lined promenade along the western bay runs from the castle past wooden gulets, fish restaurants and cafés to the marina. It is the town's evening stroll, with views of the castle lit up after dark.
Walk it at dusk, then choose a fish restaurant away from the busiest stretch near the castle.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- After dark
- Couples
- Food
Street · Bodrum Town
8.Bar Street (Cumhuriyet Caddesi)
Cumhuriyet Caddesi runs along the eastern Kumbahçe bay, packed with bars, clubs, restaurants and shops. By day it is a shopping street; at night in summer it becomes the centre of Bodrum's nightlife, busy until the early hours.
Check drink prices before ordering; prices vary widely between venues.
- Time needed
- An evening
- Cost
- Low cost
- After dark
- Shopping
- Food
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Waterfront · Gümüşlük
1.Gümüşlük and Rabbit Island
Gümüşlük's bay covers the ruins of ancient Myndos, and a submerged causeway lets you wade across to Rabbit Island (Tavşan Adası). The waterfront is lined with fish restaurants that set tables on the sand for sunset.
Book a waterfront table for sunset in summer, and bring water shoes for wading to the island.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Couples
- Food
- Views
- Photo spot
Museum · Bodrum Town
2.Zeki Müren Art Museum
The house where Zeki Müren, one of Turkey's most celebrated singers, spent his last years is preserved as a museum, with his costumes, furniture, awards and cars. It offers a window into Turkish popular culture.
Ask staff about his music; they often play recordings in the garden.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Rainy day
- Art
- Off the beaten path
Historic site · Bodrum Town
3.Pedasa
The hilltop ruins of a city of the Leleges, a pre-Greek people of the region, near the village of Konacık. Walking trails lead through olive and pine woods to the remains of walls, houses and a temple, with views over the peninsula.
Go in the morning in spring or autumn; the trails are exposed in summer.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Outdoors
- Active
Waterfront · Yalıkavak
4.Yalıkavak Marina
One of the Mediterranean's best-known superyacht marinas, with designer boutiques, upscale restaurants and cafés. Next to it, the old village has a fishermen's harbour and restored windmills.
Visit in the early evening to walk the marina, then eat in the old village nearby.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Couples
- After dark
Historic site · Ortakent and Yahşi
5.Mustafa Paşa Tower
A fortified Ottoman tower house built in the early 17th century in Ortakent village, a reminder of when coastal villagers needed defence from pirates. It is a quiet stop on the way to Yahşi beach.
Stop on the way to or from Yahşi beach; there is little else to see nearby.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Architecture
Beach · Bitez
6.Bitez Bay
A long, shallow bay lined with beach clubs, cafés and a promenade, backed by mandarin orchards. The water is calm in the mornings, and the afternoon wind makes it a popular place to learn windsurfing.
Go in the morning for calm water with children, or in the afternoon for windsurfing lessons.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Active
Waterfront · Turgutreis
7.Turgutreis sunset promenade
Turgutreis's seafront promenade faces west towards a scatter of islands, making it one of the best places on the peninsula to watch the sunset. The town also has a marina and sandy beaches.
Combine it with the town's weekly market earlier in the day.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
Experience · Göltürkbükü
8.Göltürkbükü beach clubs
On the peninsula's north coast, Göltürkbükü's bay is lined with wooden jetties and decks where upmarket beach clubs serve food and drinks, with calm, clear water for swimming straight off the platforms.
Reserve sunbeds in high season and check the minimum spend before you arrive.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Book ahead
- In July and August, popular clubs need reservations, often with a minimum spend.
- Couples
- Food
- After dark
Pick by interest
| Interest | Best picks |
|---|---|
| Art and museums | Zeki Müren Art Museum |
| History | Bodrum Castle and the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, Ancient Theatre of Halicarnassus and Myndos Gate |
| Views | Bodrum Castle and the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, Ancient Theatre of Halicarnassus, Bodrum windmills and Gümüşlük and Rabbit Island |
| Outdoors and nature | Gulet day trip, Pedasa and Bitez Bay |
| Food and markets | Neyzen Tevfik waterfront and marina, Bar Street (Cumhuriyet Caddesi), Gümüşlük and Rabbit Island and Göltürkbükü beach clubs |
| After dark | Neyzen Tevfik waterfront and marina, Bar Street (Cumhuriyet Caddesi), Yalıkavak Marina and Göltürkbükü beach clubs |
| With children | Bodrum Castle and the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, Gulet day trip and Bitez Bay |
| On a rainy day | Bodrum Castle and the Museum of Underwater Archaeology and Zeki Müren Art Museum |
What to book ahead
- Göltürkbükü beach clubs: In July and August, popular clubs need reservations, often with a minimum spend.
Plan the rest of your trip
Questions travellers ask
+What is the number one thing to do in Bodrum?
Bodrum Castle and the Museum of Underwater Archaeology. The Knights Hospitaller began building the Castle of St Peter in the early 15th century, partly with stone taken from the ruined Mausoleum.
+What can you do for free in Bodrum?
Myndos Gate, Bodrum windmills, Neyzen Tevfik waterfront and marina, Gümüşlük and Rabbit Island and Yalıkavak Marina. More free things to do.
+What is there to do in Bodrum when it rains?
Head indoors to Bodrum Castle and the Museum of Underwater Archaeology and Zeki Müren Art Museum.
+What is there to do in Bodrum at night?
Neyzen Tevfik waterfront and marina, Bar Street (Cumhuriyet Caddesi), Yalıkavak Marina and Göltürkbükü beach clubs are best after dark.