Bodrum, Bodrum

  • Published
  • By 425th Air Base Squadron host nation advisor
  • 425th Air Base Squadron

Bodrum, a Turkish town in the South Aegean, is full of little white houses and is founded on ancient Halicarnassus. It is one of the most famous cities of antiquity. The town can take one by surprise when they start discovering the attractions of this interesting summer resort.

Bodrum is built on a w-shaped peninsula and includes the famous St. Peter’s castle that can be viewed from almost every corner of the town. The castle, which people were afraid to enter at the time because it was used as a prison, is now the symbol of Bodrum. It has the biggest underwater museum in the world. The museum’s artifacts include some of the best and biggest amphora in the world. The castle includes a Glass Wreck Hall, in which glass and amphora left from ship wrecks of the time are exhibited. Additionally, there are German, English, French and Italian towers, the snake tower and the dungeon in the castle.

Before one enters the section of glass ship wrecks, they will be able to watch a video presentation of the history of the ship wrecks and how they were put together again by a team of American, British and Turkish experts in order to be exhibited at the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology. If someone wants to travel back in time and envision knights, they can wear the costumes of the era and sit in the thrones of nobles with a small donation at the English tower.

Also, there is a chapel which was one of the first buildings to be completed during the castle’s construction, which shows Spanish influences in its planning ornaments and heavily decorated façade.

On the right side of the chapel there is the domed building, a Turkish bath, which was built around 1895 when the castle began to be used as a prison.

Another great attraction of Bodrum is the famous Cumhuriyet Street, where visitors may find clubs, bars, little souvenir shops, great fish and steak restaurants, many hotels and pensions lined up by the waterfront. As one continues walking they will find the way to the famous disco called Halikarnas.

If this is not your scene or you prefer a quiet night, an enjoyable dinner by the beach will be a memorable experience.

Finally, the marina on the other end of the peninsula is another place to visit which has a lot of hotels, pubs, nice historic restaurants and shopping centers.

Bodrum’s season ends in October. It is possible to take a ferryboat from Bodrum to Kos (İstanköy) or to Rhodes. During summer months, boats are available from Kos to Bodrum every morning and evening.  

For more information about the boat tours, call the Bodrum Ferryboat Association at 0-252-316 08 82.