St Peter's Castle, Bodrum and other Bodrum, Turkey Things to Do Tips

This is a super archaeological site (also home of the fworld famous underwater museum) and a very relaxing way to spend 2 or 3 hours.
The castle itself is largely preserved (with some minor additions!) and represents an example of the skill of the builders - showing Bodrum as more than a good time place. It has been home to many of Bodrum's famous sons and was even a modern day prison too. The castle is a heat trap and make sure you have a hat and some sun screen as much of the area is open to the elements. The view from the top of the castle is phenomenal and well worth the trek. The downside is that every up creates a down and the down is a rather treacherous staircase down to the dungeon area - it is steep and not easy to descend, be careful.
The castle is home to a vast array of its own wildlife including lizards and some very noisy peacocks.
There are places to buy water and other drinks while you are in there. Not much for children to see however unless they are interested in history.

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Address: On the Marina

St Peter's Castle has another treasure, particularly for the lover of archaeology - the castle houses the museum of underwater archaeology and it is the centre of underwater archaeological techniques in this part of Europe.
Look at artefacts taken from wrecks in the Aegean, the mural of the development of sea trade in this area and huge ships. Some of the exhibition is contained in the old ottoman mosque which was originally a chapel in the time of the Knights of St John. The shipwrecks held here come from medieval and Roman ages as well as teh Uluburin - the oldest shipwreck ever discovered. This all makes St Peter's Castle a double treat.
The Haluk Elbe Art Gallery at the front of the Castle is named after the first Director of the museum.

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Address: Inside St Peter's Castle
Website: www.bodrum-museum.com

The beach at Gumbet is a great escape from the frenzy of Bodrum Town and is only a short taxi ride (or Dolmus if you like) away.
The beach is of a good quality and has a range of watersports and activities available.
Many of the sun loungers are available but at a small cost (about 5YTL) but this is for the whole day. If you do not wish to purchase the time on sun beds you can just lounge on your beach towel at no charge!!
The beach is surrounded by hotels and food outlets so there is no shortage of places to buy a snack or drink (and occassionally people come to sell fresh fruit on the beach too).
THe beach in Bodrum itself is not really very good (shingle and very small so try this beach or some of the others around the peninsula (Bardaci etc).

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Address: Gumbet

As you walk along the Marina towards St Peter's Castle you will be inundated with offers to sell you excursions and especially boat trips.
A good boat trip is a must on a visit to Bodrum but "good" is the important word there and you must look carefully to find the best deals (remembering that the cheapest trip is not always the best bargain!!). Having been on at least 5 of these excursions I can tell you that the quality really varies between companies. There are some basic questions to ask before parting with your money:
* How much will the visit cost?
* How many places will the boat visit?
* Will I get an opportunity to get off the boat and explore?
* What is provided in the cost (lunch is usually but not any beverages)?
* Is there a vegetarian option for lunch (chicken pasta is the favoured meal option of most boat companies)?
* How many people will be on the boat (some sellers do get as many people as is legal on the boat andthis can be quite uncomfortable)?

The boats all tend to visit the same bays and coves so at some stages of the day it will seem like every boat in Bodrum has descended into your space at the same time!
Ask people for recommendations of nice trips they have been on too.

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Address: Available from Marina and tour operators

The Bodrum Hamami is one of the oldest and most traditional Turkish baths left in Turkey. There are separate sections for men and women and you will be massaged by a Hamam of the same gender as you. They are open from 6am til Midnight and cater for local and tourist alike. The whole experience can last up to 1.5 hours depending on the level of attention you require or ask for. The experience can be as physically exhaustinbg or as relaxing as you want too. The hamam's speak good English and the price range is very reasonable starting at approximately £7 for a basic treatment.

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Phone: +90 22 313 4129
Address: Cevat Sakir Cad. Fabrika Sokak, No. 42
Directions: Located across from Bodrum's main bus station
Website: www.bodrumhamami.com.tr
Other Contact: info@bodrumhamami.com.tr

Just outside Bodrum you will find the small bay of Bardakçi (the local Turkish word for water seller). Bardakçi has some luxury hotels, smaller friendly hotels and varied seaside restaurants surrounding a really beautiful sandy beach. There is a local daily boat service to Bardakçi and it is only a few minutes walk over the hill between the marina and Gümbet if you feel that way inclined!

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Address: Bardakçi Bay
Directions: About 1 km from the marina

One of the Seven Wonders of the World stands proudly in Bodrum - I say stands but in reality it is far from being as it was when it was designed and built to keep the remains of King Mausolus secure. The building work was begun 2 years before he died and finished by his wife but we can only imagine what the full structure would have looked like. Archaeologists think the Mausoleum was 41 metres tall. When the Knights of St John came to Bodrum the Mausoleum was already falling apart (then they assisted its demise somewhat!!) and they used some of the stones in their Castle building project.
Very little remains of the Mausoleum except the reconstructed foundations and there is an exhibition area that shows mock ups/models of what the full building may have looked like. The remains are easily found by heading down Neyzen Tevfik Caddessi and half way you will see signs to turn left and then yellow signs will show you the way. There is a small entrance charge.

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Address: Turgetreis Caddessi
Directions: Look out for the yellow signs! (Indicating archaeological sites)

Situated on the main road that runs through Bodrum, the Theatre is not the best example of amphitheatres but it is relatively well preserved (it has also undergone some restoration). The site is mostly used now for public musical/operatic performances.
King Mausolus began the work on the theatre but it was completed and changed by the Romans to met their needs. It has been suggested that this theatre was used as a site for Gladiatorial fights but there is no great evidence for this.
The seating rows, orchestra area and stage are easily identifiable.
The site is easily reached by walking but due to the danger of the main road I would recommend getting a taxi from the town centre (about 7YTL and the driver will probably wait for you if you ask nicely!!). There is no entry fee to get onto the site but if there is a scheduled concert or performance there may be limited access.

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Address: Kebris Sehitler Caddessi
Directions: Unmissable on the main road in/out of Bodrum

Bodrum (or Halikarnassus as it was originally called) was a walled city. Very little would indicate this unless you have a closer inspection. The best preserved evidence of this defensive structure is the Myndos Gate on the very outskirts of the town. The gate was the western exit from the city on the raod to Myndos (hence the name and you will see that it is very near a street called Myndos Caddessi). Myndos still exits but is now called by its modern name - Gumusluk. These walls were most likely built by King Mausolos and did extend for nearly 5 miles around the town. Myndos was also created by King Mausolos - busy man :-)
This gate was the scene of one of Bodrum's most gruesome incidents - when Alexander the Great attacked the Persians who were in the town in 334BC, there was great loss of Bodrum life during that period and Alexander destpyed the gate and much of the wall that prevented his access to Halicarnassus.
This site has no charge to access it and has been the centre of a hugely expensive restoration by Turkish businesses. It is a fair walk to reach the gate and again in the heat you may opt for a taxi ride there, we did. Once there it is well worth it and we were especially pleased to see how much is actually in tact compared with guidebook suggestions.

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Address: Cafer Pasa Caddessi

A trip to Dalyan to see the ancient tombs high in the hills at Kaunos and to look for the evidence of turtles laying on the beach is billed as a great day out from Bodrum.
It is a trek to get there and if you do not have any sea legs the boat part of the trip, along the Dalyan River, will be a trial but there is a fantastic 4km long beach at the end of the journey with the cleanest unspoilt sand and views you could hope to find in this region of Turkey.
However, it is highly unlikely that you will see the wondrous turtles as they lay and move about at night and not in the daytime, and also it is probably highly inappropriate to disturb their laying/hatching areas! Lunch is usually included in the excursions from Bodrum. I'm unsure how entertaining children will find this particular trip as it has limited stimulus for little ones.
Warning: Don't do this with a hangover, it's a LONG day.

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Directions: South West coast of Turkey - approx 4 hours from Bodrum