Bodrum Guide & Info Center

Bodrum Dedeman Hotel

Resort: 40 kms from Bodrum-Milas Airport, 2.5 kms from the city centre, view over Bitez Bay, the resort has 108 rooms ( 95 standard rooms, 10 corner suites, 3 suites, Terrace, Mikado, Garden). (more…)

Aegean Dream Resort Hotel

Aegean Dream is located on the seaside in Turgutreis which is one of Bodrum’s most beautiful towns. (more…)

Bodrum: The Next St.-Tropez?

With its white-sand beaches and shop-lined streets, the city of Bodrum has long been the favorite seaside retreat in Turkey. But now this ancient fishing village, set against the blue waters of the Aegean Sea, has crashed the global party circuit.

A glance at the megayachts, some of them straight from the ports of Capri or Monaco, hint at its newfound fame. Paparazzi photos of Uma Thurman canoodling with the trendsetting hotelier André Balazs further confirms it. In summer, when the population of 50,000 swells tenfold, Bodrum feels a bit like St.-Tropez, except perhaps for the belly dancers.

What’s the draw? Gorgeous scenery for one. Situated on Turkey’s southwestern coast, the peninsula is a painterly tableau of white-washed stucco homes, purple bougainvilleas and olive-green hillsides. The city is also awash in historical attractions including the stumpy foundation of the Mausoleum, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

Bodrum’s night life beckons partiers like a siren’s song. Young well-dressed revelers converge onto Cumhuriyet Caddesi, which visitors call Bar Street, before heading to behemoth discos like Halikarnas, an open-air club that resembles a nearby amphitheater. On stage this summer: decadence.

St. Peter Castle: The Museum of Underwater Archaeology

The Museum of Underwater Archaeology is in the Castle of St Peter (Sen Piyer Kalesi) and has a fine collection of shipwrecks and items from their cargos. In the main courtyard there is an exhibition of amphorae from different periods and areas. In the chapel you can see artefacts from a 7th century Byzantine shipwreck found near Yassiada. There is also a reconstruction of half the ship, which you can climb. In the Uluburun Wreck Hall you can see one of the oldest shipwrecks of the world (14th century BC) and finds from several Bronze Age Ships. And then there is the exhibition of the Glass Wreck. Entrance fee to the castle is 10 YTL. To see the exhibition of the Glass Wreck you have to pay another 4 YTL.

Yalikavak Apartments 2

Yalikavak Real Estates

Title : Yalikavak Apartments 2
Completion Time : July 2006
Ref. No : GM5
Type : Apartment
Location : Yalikavak
Rooms : 2
Bathrooms : 1
Area : 65 m2
Swimming Pool : Yes
Distance from Sea : 300 m
Price : 68,000 GBP

NEW PROJECT: Two minutes to the sea and the new Marina – new development. Another development replicating the finished complex shown below. Located in an area very near to the town, bus station, restaurants , marina and beaches. This will be a small development of twelve apartments all sharing a large pool. These well respected developers have a reputation for design and high quality workmanship and their former developments have all sold off plan. Price 68,000 GBP

Facilities : The apartments will be built to a very high standard and offer two bedrooms, bathroom and large lounge with open kitchen. There will be terraces leading from the lounge and bedroom. Included in the price will be custom-built kitchens with cooker, hob and extractor, 2 air conditioning units (one in the lounge and one in the master bedroom) and a hot water boiler. All floors will be high quality ceramic, and all door and windows with be pvc wood double glazed. There will be a steel security door and wooden pergola over the terraces. Located in one of the prime areas of Yalikavak and due for completion in July 2006 these apartments make ideal holiday or investment homes. Both floors are £68,000.

Gumusluk Real Estates

Title : Yalikavak Apartments
Completion Time : May 2006
Ref. No : GM4
Type : Apartment
Location : Yalikavak
Rooms : 2
Bathrooms : 2
Area : 89 m2
Swimming Pool : Yes
Distance from Sea : 500 m
Price : 59,000 GBP

Description : NEW PROJECT. Great location, super views close to Yalikavak town and marina. Stylish design, off plan project consisting of 89 sqm, 2 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, large terrace and outstanding sea views. Price 59,000 GBP

Title : Gardenya Villas
Completion Time : December 2006
Ref. No : GM3
Type : Detached Villa
Location : Gumusluk
Rooms : 3
Bathrooms : 3
Area : 182 m2
Swimming Pool : Private (Optional)
Distance from Sea : 1 km
Price : 107,300 GBP

Gumusluk Real Estates

Description : NEW PROJECT. There are 10 beautifully designed 3 bedroom, 2 storey detached villas in this development, which is located in Gumusluk on the Bodrum Peninsula. Each villa has 3 bedrooms, (all on 1st floor), 2 bathrooms, (both on 1st floor and 1 en-suite), 2 with showers and 3 toilet , a living room with open plan kitchen, large patio , 2 balconis and 45 m2 roof terrace. In total, property measures 182.15 m2. All the villas come with a private garden. Construction is due to be completed for December 2006. Price 107,300 GBP

Facilities : Each villa has air conditioning in all bedrooms, a hot water boiler, PVC double glazing, coving on the ceilings, a top quality fitted kitchen, tiled floors throughout, a double locking external security door, a telephone and internet connection and a private garden.There is an optional swimming pool for each property of that 10 in the complex which measures 20 m2 and is close to all local amenities and the beach.

Cascade Villas 1 in Gumusluk

Title : Begonya Villas
Completion Time : December 2006
Ref. No : GM2
Type : Detached Villa
Location : Gumusluk
Rooms : 2
Bathrooms : 2
Area : 133 m2
Swimming Pool : Communal
Distance from Sea : 1 km
Price : 82,000 GBP

Gumusluk Real Estates

Description : NEW PROJECT. There are 37 beautifully designed 2 bedroom, 2 storey detached villas in this development, which is located in Gumusluk. Each villa has 2 bedrooms, (all on 1st floor), 2 bathrooms, (both on 1st floor and 1 en-suite), 2 with showers and 3 toilets, a living room with open plan kitchen, large patio, 1 balcony and 30 m2 roof terrace. In total, each property measures 133.47 m2. All the villas come with a private garden. Construction is due to be completed for December 2006. Price 82,000 GBP

Facilities : Each villa has air conditioning in all bedrooms, a hot water boiler, PVC double glazing, coving on the ceilings, a top quality fitted kitchen, tiled floors throughout, a double locking external security door, a telephone and internet connection and a private garden.There is a comunal swimming pool in the complex which measures 200 m2 and is close to all local amenities and the beach

Club Sunset

Title:Club Sunset
Completion Time:March 2006
Ref. No:GM1
Type:Semi Detached Houses
Location:Gumusluk
Rooms:3
Bathrooms:2
Area:120 m2
Swimming Pool:Yes
Distance from Sea:800 meters
Price:92,000 GBP

Description : NEW PROJECT. This 2 storey, semi-detached villa is located in a complex that has a total of 11 properties. The property has 3 bedrooms (2 on the ground floor and 1 on the 1st floor), 3 bathrooms (2 on the ground floor and 1 on the 1st floor), each with a shower cubicle and toilet, and a living room with open plan kitchen. The front of the villa faces the sea and there are sea views from all parts of the property. The property also has a 20 m2 balcony, a 25 m2 patio and a 75 m2 garden. The complex has a 180 m2 communal swimming pool, which is on the left side of the complex. The construction will be completed in March 2006 and the monthly maintenance fee will be set then. Price 92,000 GBP

Yet another plundered Wonder of the Ancient World, the mausoleum reveals only the foundations of the original masterpiece. King Mausolus of Caria ordered the construction of the 42m (140-ft.) ornate marble monument, and after his death, his wife (also his sister), Artemesia II, saw to the project’s continuation. After her death the architects and artisans paid for the project out of their own pockets; it was finally completed in 350 B.C. According to historical accounts, the magnificent tomb featured pillars supporting a pyramid-shaped roof that appeared to “float” above the structure. Atop the summit was a sculpture of the king and queen riding in a chariot. In 1522, after an earthquake caused the monument to collapse, the Hospitalers used the stones from the Mausoleum as building material for the reconstruction of the castle. (Look for the greenish stones on the exterior of the chapel just beyond the entrance to the main portion of the museum.) Because of the damage caused by earthquakes, plundering, and irresponsible excavations, present-day archaeologists can only guess at the building’s original appearance.

Bar street is a long stretch of bars and night clubs which starts from the back of the castle and along the sea front where the small town beach is located. Here you can get free drinks offers like buy 1 and get 1 free, its a noisy part of town which carrys on until the early hours of the morning. Halicarnas is the biggest of the discos. You can find different programs and shows almost everynight in the summer.

This is the biggest open air night club in Europe, and this world famous place packs in 5000 people a night, its now been going for 22 years and the laser shows and cabaret artists are the best you will see anywhere in the world.

By Plane — Visitors to Bodrum actually fly into Milas, about 32km (20 miles) away and reachable in under a half-hour by way of the coastal road. Turkish Airlines (tel. 0252/536-6597 at the Bodrum airport) has five daily direct flights from Istanbul, as well as one direct flight from Ankara, and connecting flights from other major domestic cities. With airfares on the rise in Turkey, a flight from Istanbul should run you around $150 in high season (slightly less in winter). There are also several charter companies arriving from Germany and England; check with your local travel agent for information on when these are operating.

Turkish Airlines provides transfer service by bus into Bodrum while a taxi from the airport to Bodrum city center costs around $16.

By Bus — Buses provide the cheapest and most comprehensive service into Bodrum, from pretty much everywhere in Turkey. The major bus companies serving Bodrum are Pamukkale (tel. 0252/315-1369), Varan (tel. 0252/316-7849), and Kamil Koç (tel. 0252/313-0468), but remember that rates vary widely from company to company. Aydin Turizm (tel. 0252/316-3250) runs service along the Mediterranean coast to Ortaca, Dalyan, Dalaman, Fethiye, Olüdeniz, and Kas.

By Ferry — Visitors traveling to Bodrum from the Greek island of Kos need only spend 50 minutes and about $23 for a one-way ticket (plus the $100 price of a Turkish visa and a Greek port tax of $14); $31 will get you a same-day excursion and $39 an open return. Ferries depart in either direction daily. (There is no visa required for entry into Greece or for excursions from Turkey with duration under 3 months.) The faster hydrofoils cost slightly more and make the trip in 20 minutes.

The narrow and one-way streets of Bodrum discourage the use of a car. Although the waterfront spreads out over two harbors, downtown Bodrum is easy to cover with a pair of comfortable shoes and a bit of stamina. A scooter is a good option, because aside from solving the parking problem, you can get away with tooling around aimlessly down side streets or weaving unexpectedly through the pedestrian traffic on the waterfront promenade. For those lodging outside the city center, dolmuses provide regular service along all of the major thoroughfares through the otogar to the city center, and from the otogar, you’re connected to all of the bays and villages of Bodrum’s scenic peninsula, all for about 40¢ per ride.

Bodrum Express Lines (tel. 0252/316-1087; www.bodrumexpresslines.com) runs a daily hydrofoil service to the Greek island of Kos (15 min.) for $29 one-way, $35 same-day return. Hydrofoil service to Rhodes is twice weekly (Mon and Sat; 2 hr. 10 min.) for $58 one-way; $81 return with an open ticket. Daily hydrofoils run to Körmen on the Datça Peninsula (50 min.) for $9.20 one-way; $14 same-day return; $16 with an open ticket. Bodrum Express Lines also runs hydrofoils between Bodrum and Marmaris (1 hr. 50 min.; $29 one-way), departing on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday.

The Bodrum Ferryboat Association (tel. 0252/316-0882) runs hydrofoil service (20 min.) to Kos, with service running once daily in July and August, and departing on an alternating schedule of 8 and 9:30am. By ferry the same journey takes 1 hour, also with a 9am departure; the fare on either boat is $21 one-way; $28 round-trip.

BFA also runs passenger and car ferry service to Datça (2 hr.) for $15 with a bus transfer from Korman landing to Datça town; the ferry departs in summer daily at 9am, and less frequently in winter, possibly twice a week. All tickets for ferries and hydrofoils can be purchased either at the dock, or through any travel agent in town.

There’s nothing like a walk through the Underwater Archaeology Museum to inspire the diver in you. The waters off Bodrum are full of caverns, caves, and reefs. Aegean Pro Dive Center, Neyzen Tevfik Cad. 212 (tel. 0252/316-0737; fax 0252/313-1296; http://aegeanprodive.com; open Apr-Oct), provides a safe and easy way to get you there. Dives with your own equipment run around $40 ($50 without), including lunch. They also offer 3- and 5-day packages, group rates, snorkeling for nondiving tagalongs, and PADI certification ($245). Because Turkish law requires that all foreigners be accompanied by a certified Turkish diver, those wishing to go on their own dives can contact Poseidon Diving Systems, Neyzen Tevfik Cad. 80/A (tel. 0252/313-8727; fax 0252/313-1480), which provides a diving companion, equipment, and private transportation for about $55 per day. Lunch is not included.

It’s also possible to join one of the scores of diving boats crowding the harbor just past the entrance to the castle, all of which hawk dive tours with certified divers.

If you’ve thrown caution to the wind and decided to take a last-minute Blue Cruise, contact Aegean Yachting (tel. 0252/316-1517; fax 0252/316-5749; www.aegeanyacht.com) or Gino Group (tel. 0252/316-2166; fax 0252/316-5026; www.ginoyacht.com). As the main yacht agents along the Aegean and Mediterranean, both have multiple locations along the coast, hiring out their own fleet of yachts or booking gulet cabin charters. Tour boats also line the harbor for sun-and-fun day trips to nearby beaches. Day tours cost about $12, leave around 11am, and return by 6pm.