With kids · Bodrum · Turkey
Bodrum with kids
Family-tested sights, a calm base and the practical details that make travelling with children easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: DoubleGrazing, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Bodrum suits families who stay in the calmer bays: Bitez, Ortakent-Yahşi and Turgutreis have shallow beaches and family hotels, gulet trips are popular with children, and the castle's towers and shipwrecks make history fun. Top picks: Bodrum Castle and the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, Gulet day trip and Bitez Bay. Families usually base themselves in Bitez.
Key facts
- Family picks
- 3
- Best area for families
- Bitez
- Rainy-day options
- 1
- Busiest months
- July–August
Best things to do with kids
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
Experience · Bodrum Town
2.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
Beach · Bitez
3.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
Rainy-day ideas
- Bodrum Castle and the Museum of Underwater Archaeology — Allow at least two hours and visit in the morning, when the courtyards are cooler and quieter.
Where families should stay
$$ · Best for families, beach and quiet stays
Bitez
Bitez, about 6 km west of Bodrum Town, has a long, shallow bay with beach clubs and cafés along a waterfront promenade. The village behind is surrounded by mandarin orchards, and steady afternoon winds make the bay popular for windsurfing. It is calmer than Gümbet and well suited to families.
- Good
- Shallow, calm water in the mornings; Family-friendly beach clubs; Close to Bodrum Town
- Watch out
- Narrow beach in places; Windy afternoons
- Nearby
- Bitez Bay, Ortakent, Gümbet
Family travel tips
- Choose Bitez or Ortakent-Yahşi for shallow water and calm mornings.
- Avoid staying in Gümbet or near Bar Street with young children because of late-night noise.
- Bring water shoes for pebbly beaches and rocky swimming spots.
- Ask gulet operators about life jackets for children before booking.
- Plan sightseeing for early morning in summer; afternoons are very hot.
When to go with children
The best months overall are May–June and September–October. July–August are the busiest, so book the big sights early. Weather by month.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Bodrum good for kids?
Bodrum suits families who stay in the calmer bays: Bitez, Ortakent-Yahşi and Turgutreis have shallow beaches and family hotels, gulet trips are popular with children, and the castle's towers and shipwrecks make history fun.
+What can kids do in Bodrum?
Bodrum Castle and the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, Gulet day trip and Bitez Bay.
+Where should families stay in Bodrum?
Bitez: Family-friendly bay of mandarin orchards and windsurfing.