Bodrum A land of endless sea

Bodrum combines the best of Turkey and Greece for an unforgettable vacation.

Bodrum is a resort surrounded by the Aegean Sea and hills. It is chosen by the Turkish elite and European tourists, so the atmosphere of a western resort is felt here and it seems that you are somewhere in Italy or Greece. Rest in Bodrum is not limited to the hotel: the resort has so many interesting things and such a wonderful atmosphere day and night that you will not waste time in four walls, no matter how comfortable they are.

Historically, the Bodrum Peninsula has always been dominated by the Greek population, even during the Ottoman Empire. But even after the forced eviction of the Greeks, which took place exactly one hundred years ago, Bodrum retained the atmosphere of the Greek islands. The architecture of the peninsula is made up of low white houses rising up the hills in tiers. High-rise buildings are prohibited here, and new buildings are built in a traditional style. And only in the areas adjacent to the peninsula, you can already see a departure from the rules. In Bodrum, windows and doors are traditionally painted bright blue, facades are decorated with abundant white and pink bougainvillea. Narrow streets, open-air cafes, even the kitchen - everything reminds of Greece.

The flora also resonates with the Greek: the peninsula is covered with olive, lemon and tangerine groves. A lot of sweets and drinks are made from citrus fruits, which have been loved since childhood. Coniferous forests give the air medicinal properties. Horseback riding is organized in these same forests, so if you love horses, take advantage of the opportunity. 

In some fifty years, Bodrum has gone from a fishing village to a fashionable resort. The wider world learned about it in the 60s of the last century, when the creative elite from Istanbul began to come here. The resort is still called "little Istanbul". Majestic palm trees, luxurious yachts, fashionable hotels, restaurants and nightclubs attract a public accustomed to good rest and maintain the status of a premium resort.

In Bodrum, music is heard everywhere: on the promenade next to the yachts, on the streets that run from the center to the beach, and in the Old Town. In the historical center, among the labyrinths of streets, artists sell unique things, souvenir benches invite you into the world of beauty, and cozy fish restaurants remind you that you are at the sea.

Beaches of the resort for every taste: sandy with a gentle entry into the water, sandy-pebble and stony, pontoon. The sea is surprisingly clean, transparent and of incredible color. Some beaches are awarded the "Blue Flag". Here you can choose a beach with excellent infrastructure and a large number of tourists, but you should move away from the center, and it will be much calmer.

If you prefer active recreation, sailing and regattas, water skiing, canoeing, diving to bright reefs, underwater caves, sunken ships and airplanes are for you.

And here, sea trips are quite popular, in particular on gulets - traditional wooden sailboats that are still built in Bodrum today, and you can watch the craftsmen at work. It is worth going around the peninsula with its 14 bays or reach the island of Kos just opposite Bodrum and thus visit neighboring Greece.

A one-day cruise or a multi-day cruise of the Aegean islands is a great opportunity to stop in deserted bays, explore ancient cities, swim in azure lagoons and relax on beaches that can only be reached by water.

Returning to the resort itself. On the cape, which seems to divide the coast in half, is the main tourist attraction - St. Peter's Castle. It was founded by the Knights Hospitallers from the island of Rhodes at the beginning of the 15th century. The fortress is very green, with a well-kept park where peacocks live: common and white. The towers of the fortress serve as observation decks, and there are wonderful views of the sunset. Today, the fortress houses the Museum of Underwater Archeology with artifacts brought to the surface from all the seas that wash Turkey. These are the frames of ancient ships, in particular, a Phoenician ship that sank near the city of Kash in the 14th century BC, and gold jewelry of a Carian princess, and a collection of amphorae.

The castle, like Bodrum itself, has quite a history. The modern resort is located on the site of the ancient Greek city of Halicarnassus, which Herodotus himself wrote about, and Alexander the Great besieged this city. One of the seven ancient wonders of the world was located here - the Halicarnassus Mausoleum, which was badly damaged by an earthquake in the 14th century. When the Knights Hospitaller settled here, the remains of the mausoleum were dismantled for the construction of St. Peter's Castle. Ancient columns still decorate the park on the territory of the castle. In the 16th century, the knights were forced to leave this house, and the Ottomans ruled the fortress. They built a mosque and a minaret here, which are still part of the complex today.

Windmills of the 18th century rise on the hill above the city. Although only one is preserved in almost original condition, the windmills are popular with tourists due to their fantastic views. Especially many people gather here at sunset.

Another attraction is the ancient amphitheater, located on a hill, again with incredible panoramas of the city. From here you can see fortresses, windmills and modern marinas. Nowadays, the amphitheater is used for open-air concerts against the backdrop of the sea.