Bodrum Travel Guide- The Best Things to Do in Bodrum, Turkey

If you’re looking for a beautiful seaside resort in Turkey, offering great dining, brilliant hotels and a great selection of things to do, Bodrum is a great place to go in Turkey. I spent a weekend here at the start of a two week Turkey itinerary, and it was the most perfect place to start a trip around the country.

Bodrum is a gorgeous coastal town, with charming streets lined with colourful bougainvillea, as well as gorgeous marinas and lovely markets. Once dominated by package holidays, Bodrum has completely changed its reputation and now draws a discerning crowd. Not only are foodies well catered for here, with world-class dining offerings, but those seeking a feel for traditional life can still find it in the town’s colourful laneways.

If you plan to spend a week in Bodrum – you will find plenty of activities to do and attractions to see. But if you only have a weekend in Bodrum, or maybe even just a day, you’ll still get a real feel for the place as it’s pretty small. Overall, I would recommend including Bodrum on any itinerary around Turkey.

So here’s my guide to some of the best things to do in Bodrum, as well as some other essential information such as where to stay in Bodrum and how to get around. Hopefully you will find this blog post useful in planning your own trip to this beautiful corner of Turkey!

Bodrum Travel Guide: Essential things to know

When is the best time to go to Bodrum?

Peak season in Turkey stretches from around May to September, similar to other European beach destinations. I visited in the high season in Bodrum and didn’t find it to be too busy or hectic – although every year I hear it is getting busier. The daytime temperature was hot, around 33°C or so and it was blue skies and sunny. In the evening in Bodrum, it was still very warm.

Getting around Bodrum

The old town, including the marina of Bodrum, is small enough to walk around on foot easily. In fact, much of it is pedestrianised. Even the bus station is walking distance (10 minutes) from the town centre. If your hotel is just out of town, it is highly likely it will have a shuttle to the centre of Bodrum.

Arriving in Bodrum airport (Milas Mugla airport) is fairly simple, although the drive from Bodrum airport to the centre of town is around 40 minutes.

The Havas Bus service offers frequent and straight-forward transfer buses between the two (costing 10 Turkish Lira (20p)), or another option is to use a taxi, this is likely to cost about 130 TL (£2.30). I actually pre-booked my transfer with GetYourGuide, which was efficient as I arrived quite late, and it dropped me at my accommodation in Bodrum. Book your airport transfer here.

Where to stay in Bodrum?

There are so many hotel options in and around Bodrum, it can be quite hard to decide where to stay. I did a few nights in the Holiday Inn, as I was travelling solo. It was a bit of a walk to the main waterfront and marina area in Bodrum, but that was fine for me and I’d recommend the hotel as a great budget hotel in Bodrum.

Budget options in Bodrum:

• Holiday Inn Resort Bodrum (from £85/USD116 per night)
• Bodrum Vera (from £71/USD97 per night)
• Su Hotel Bodrum (from £98/USD134 per night)
• Gözegir Hotel (from £99/USD135 per night)

Other affordable options in Bodrum include:

• Rammos (by Dedeman) (from £121/USD165 per night)
• The Lume Boutique Hotel (from £127/USD173 per night)
• Amilla Beach Resort (from £151/USD206 per night)
• Costa Maya Bodrum (from £173/SUD236 per night)

Mid-range options:

• The Marmara Bodrum – Adults Only (from £232/USD316 per night)
• Arts Hotel Bodrum Yalikavak (from £354/USD482 per night)
• Le Meridien Bodrum (from £354/USD482 per night)
• OKU Bodrum (from £437/USD596 per night)

Luxury hotels in Bodrum:

• Six Senses Kaplankaya (from £502/USD684 per night)
• Caresse Resort & Spa (from £533/USD727 per night)
• The Bodrum EDITION (from around £864/USD1,178 per night)
• Maxx Royal Bodrum (from £1,023/USD1,395 per night)
• Mandarin Oriental (from £1,642/USD2,214 per night)

Bodrum Travel Guide: Things to do in Bodrum

Wander its charming streets

Bodrum’s town centre consists of many little laneways, all offering charming experiences and unusual street art. Wandering around the quaint town centre of Bodrum, I’d keep coming across corners of tumbling bougainvillea and gorgeous wall climbers, tucked away from main paths.

The Turkish people are hugely passionate and patriotic, and the Turkish flag is everywhere, adorning many buildings’ walls. You will also see the ‘evil eye’, meant to ward off evil spirits in many places too. You could say it is kind of like Turkey’s national symbol.

A very pleasant afternoon or longer can be spent exploring the streets of Bodrum. There are many Instagram-worthy photo stops in Bodrum, but thankfully, not too many photoshoots happening at once!

Sample Turkish cuisine at one of Bodrum’s best restaurants or cafes

Like many European seaside towns, the waterfront and the marina area in Bodrum is lined with great restaurants, bars and cafes. Some are really quaint and romantic, and some more lively. But on the whole, I was really amazed with how beautiful they were. You feel charmed to enter!

I really enjoyed sampling different restaurants along Bodrum’s waterfront. Some of the buildings date back over 450 years, and most offer stunning scenic terraces for outside dining.

Turkish cuisine is one of my favourites. I highly recommend börek, which is white cheese in pastry and aubergine salad topped with yoghurt.

I also tried a Turkish coffee with keen anticipation, but realised it’s not for me.

Some brilliant places to eat in Bodrum’s centre include:

• Annalivia a popular Turkish restaurant offering fantastic views over the bay. It is open daily from 5.30pm to midnight.
• Ayana is a short taxi ride away from the heart of Bodrum but well worth it for its beachside setting and Aegean inspired cuisine
• Marina Yacht Club Bodrum is located within the Yalikavak Marina, and offers jazz music, views and excellent cocktails

The Michelin Guide came to Bodrum in 2023, which has only served to further elevate the seaside town’s foodie credentials. The first spot to receive a Michelin star was Maçakizi, and following this, Ayla.

Along the coast, and near The Bodrum EDITION is Limon. Located on a hillside above the coastline, this family-run restaurant is a charming spot, adorned in fairy lights.

Within the Mandarian Oriental is Lucca, one of the most glamorous spots in Bodrum. There are also outposts for Zuma, Novikov and the famed Mykonos beach club, Scorpio’s.

Another local spot that I personally loved was Otantik Ocakbaşı, a low key Turkish kebab spot that also delivers some of the best mezze around. Despite its relaxed exterior and excellent prices, it is actually a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant and included in the Michelin Guide.

Visit Bodrum Castle and learn about the area’s history

The castle in Bodrum dates back to 1402 and is one of the town’s main tourist attractions. Bodrum Castle offers amazing views over the town and the turquoise Aegean Sea. It is also home to the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, housing one of the most important collections in the world. The castle re-opened a few years ago following a €25 million restoration project. You can also see the ruins of Halicarnassus, dating back to the 4th century BC. Book your city sightseeing tour here.

Join a boat trip in Bodrum

Some of Bodrum’s best beaches are further out in the bay and can be reached by boat, including the stunning Orak Island.

Gulets, the traditional Turkish style of boats, line the harbour. You can also sail to the Greek Islands of Kos or Rhodes easily from Bodrum, which is a cool day trip.

GetYourGuide offers dozens of day trips from Bodrum and excursions by land or sea to exciting attractions nearby. I’ve selected a couple of great tours here:

• Full Day Orak Island Boat Trip (around £23/USD31 per person)
• Pirate Boat Trip from Bodrum (around £30/USD41 per person)
• Bodrum to Kos Day Trip by Ferry with Transfer (around £17/USD23 per person)

Another excursion worth considering is a cruise down the Dalyan River. This emerald green waterway meanders from the Koycegiz Lake, all the way to the sea and can be a great vantage point to see turtles too. The start point is a few hours’ drive away from Bodrum, but the cruise allows for stops at ancient ruins and mud baths. Book your tour to the Dalyan River here.

Wander the artisan shops

The shopping in Bodrum is really good – covering everything from locally made items, to expensive designer stores. Bodrum is also famous for its excellent quality leather sandals! I thought the beautiful shell and jewellery stands at the marina were particularly eye-catching – I wanted to buy everything!

Make sure to also drop into the Bodrum Bazaar. This buzzy market has plenty of handcrafted goods, as well as spices and gold.

Soak up the fun nightlife

Bodrum has long been known for its vibrant nightlife, and over the past few years, its party scene has seen a huge elevation. There are some seriously fancy places to go to now, such The Maine at Maxx Royal, serving up both delicious food and an excellent atmosphere.

Experience a hammam

Doing a traditional Turkish hammam is a must-do at some point during your Turkey holiday, and where better than Bodrum! There’s several hammams in town, but why not go with a local guide who’ll take you to the baths, and talk you through the experience! Book a tour to a traditional local hammam here.

Bodrum Travel Guide

Have you been to Bodrum before? How did you find it? I’d love to hear, so do let me know in the comments below. Visiting Bodrum was a really pleasant surprise, and the perfect first place to visit on my two week Turkey itinerary. I found a weekend to be a perfect time to explore Bodrum, but I could have easily spent a week enjoying the beaches and foodie offering in Bodrum.

I hope this guide to Bodrum has been useful in planning your own trip to Turkey!

If you’re considering a longer Turkey adventure, you might find these additional guides useful:

• Pamukkale Travel Guide – Planning Your Visit to Pamukkale, Turkey
• Visiting Ephesus in Turkey – Top Tips and Essential Information To Know
• Sailing in Turkey: A Guide to a Gulet Cruise Along the Turquoise Coast
• Istanbul Travel Guide: Best Things to Do & Places to See in One Day
• Cappadocia Travel Guide
• Staying at Sultan Cave Suites: The Best Cave Hotel in Cappadocia
• Capturing a Cappadocia Sunrise: Sultan Cave Suites
• Guide to Getting Around Turkey Using Public Transport

Disclaimer: This visit to Bodrum, Turkey was entirely paid for by myself. There was no involvement from the tourism board or a hotel. This is an independent guide