Bodrum walking tour & city guide

The castle and the harbor

The Castle of St. Peter was built by the Knights Hospitaller in the 15th century, partly using stones from the ruined Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Today it houses the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, with finds from ancient shipwrecks.

The castle divides the town's two bays. The seafront promenade is lined with cafés, shops and restaurants, and wooden gulets moored in the marina offer daily boat trips to coves and islands. Bar Street, along the eastern bay, comes alive on summer nights.

Around the peninsula

The Bodrum Peninsula is dotted with distinct towns. Yalıkavak has an upscale marina filled with superyachts and restaurants, Turgutreis is known for its sunsets, and Gümüşlük, a fishing village built over the ruins of ancient Myndos, has seafood restaurants right at the water's edge.

In town, the remains of the Mausoleum and a well-preserved ancient theater with views over the bay are worth visiting, as is the row of old windmills on the hill between Bodrum and Gümbet.

When to visit

July and August are hot and very busy. June and September offer warm seas with fewer crowds, and spring is pleasant for exploring. Bodrum-Milas Airport is about 40 minutes away.