Top Things to do in Bodrum

Sailing around Bodrum, it feels like there is never enough time to catch up with all the stunning locations, exciting history, and beautiful places to chill out and relax. The top things to do in Bodrum include:

The Gulf of Gokova. An area of stunning natural beauty with many interesting inlets and anchoring points and plenty of restaurants serving delicious food. On the gulf's southern side, there are many beautiful islands to explore, while the northern side has plenty of restaurants. The bay is the perfect location to explore the natural beauty of Bodrum, swim, eat, and generally relax.

No trip to the city of Bodrum would be complete without a visit to explore the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus or its ruins. The former wonder of the ancient world lies in the middle of the city, close to its marina. While the site has lost some of its glory since its heyday in around 350 BC. There is still enough left for you to appreciate the grandeur of the mausoleum, which reached a height of 45 m (148 ft) and had carved pillars on all 4 sides.

Bodrum Castle presents a dive into medieval European history. The castle lay in Bodrum city and was built by the Knights of St. John starting from 1402 onwards. The knights did not get to hold on to it for very long, and shortly after its completion in the late 15th century, it was conquered by the Ottoman Turks. Aside from exploring history, the castle is also home to the famous Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology.

Cleopatra Island, whose proper name is Sedir Adasi is well worth a day trip. The island is littered with Roman ruins, including a Roman amphitheater with a capacity for 1,500 spectators. In addition, there are lots of historical builds and little snippets of history to explore, including lots of pillars with ancient writings on them and more. The stunning gorgeous white sandy beach (featuring a type of sand generally only found in North African deserts) legend has it that it was imported from Egypt for Anthony and Cleopatra's honeymoon.

Top Tips for visiting Bodrum (where applicable)

With so many things to do on land when visiting Bodrum, you are best benign prepared for lots of walking, especially in the height of summer. Sandals and thongs are great for chilling, but if you are going to be walking around exploring ruins and lots of historical sites in the sun, you should bring a good pair of walking shoes.

Remember, the area can be scorching in the height of summer, so remember to bring sunscreen. More importantly, if you are going to be outdoors exploring in the sun, it is best to have a good hat to keep the sun off your head.

Again with lots of opportunities to spend hours outdoors in the sun, having a portable insulated bottle of water is a great idea, especially if it is an environmentally one where you can keep refiling it.

Best time to cruise Bodrum

Blessed with a Mediterranean climate, you can visit and sail in Bodrum from March to October every year. The height of the season and when the cruising conditions are at their best is from June to August. However, this is the busiest tourist season when prices are at their highest, and the weather is hottest, with average temperatures during July and August around 34C/93.2F.

If you prefer to be away from the crowds, visiting during the shoulder season from March to May or September and October is a great option. While the sites are not as busy, and the weather is cooler, it can get a little chilly at night, especially at sea.

Where do Bodrum cruises depart from?

The vast majority of multi-day or one-week cruises to Bodrum depart from Bodrum itself. However, there are also a significant number of weekly itineraries that depart from Marmaris and take in Bodrum. If you want to take in a longer 2 or 3-week itinerary, then some itineraries depart from more distant locations.

Getting to Bodrum is relatively simple from around the world. The city is served by the Milas-Bodrum international airport (BJV). The airport is located 36 km north of Bodrum (about 45 minutes drive) and is served by a host of international airlines. Flying from Europe, there are many options to fly directly to Bodrum. If you are flying from further afield, you will need to connect in Europe, the Middle East, or Istanbul before heading to Bodrum.