View Holiday Homes Bodrum

Bodrum on the Aegean coast of Turkey enjoys a prestigious location It is surrounded by vast, largely unspoilt beaches, beautiful inland landscape and a fascinating mix of idyllic fishing villages and livelier holiday resorts. The maritime history of the town and port is very much in evidence with a large marina and ferry port. The Greek islands of Kos and Rhodes can be reached by ferry or hydrofoil. Bodrum's history as a cultural and religious centre is equally in evidence, the town being dominated by the Castle of St. Peter The Liberator.

Bodrum Town & Attractions The most obvious and indeed most popular attraction of Bodrum itself is the Castle of St. Peter. This was built in the early 14th century and reputedly incorporates stone taken from the remains of the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus by the Knights of St. John of Rhodes. The five main towers of the castle include the “English” or “Lion” Tower. This was financed by contributions solicited in England and is considered to be one of the important monuments built by the English, outside of England itself. The castle also houses the excellent Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology. Perhaps understandably as a seaside resort, much of the activity around Bodrum centres on the sea. There are ample opportunities for water sports of all kinds including sailing, snorkelling and SCUBA diving, complete with expert tuition for inexperienced participants. The beautiful natural bay at Bitez, for example, is less than five miles from the centre of Bodrum. Bitez features a gently sloping beach and shallow waters, making it ideal for younger visitors. Bitez is also a major centre for windsurfing to international competition standard. Sailing dinghies and catamarans are also available for hire.

The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, Bodrum

Elsewhere, the seaside village of Yalikavak, some 11 miles from Bodrum, was traditionally one of the region's major fishing centres not least for sponges. Today, it is still a working fishing port but also reflects the growth of tourism on the Bodrum Peninsula, with cafes, bars and restaurants aplenty. The popular Aqua Park Dedeman Bodrum is nearby, including a wave machine and water slides.

Nightlife in Bodrum is arguably second only to Istanbul, in the whole of Turkey in both its variety and vibrancy. There are many seaside cafes, offering night time views of the illuminated castle, together with a variety of discotheques in the vicinity of the castle itself. Live music of various genres is on offer at “Hadigari” – for jazz – and at the “Halicarnos” discotheque – which features live shows from local and international artistes.

Accommodation

The town of Bodrum and the surrounding area has become a truly eclectic and cosmopolitan tourist destination. The choice of holiday rentals in Bodrum is now very broad indeed. Single travellers or couples may prefer a one or two bedroom, fully air conditioned apartment in a modern complex. Almost all accommodation of this type will include a communal swimming pool and is likely to be no more than 10 minutes' walk from the centre of Bodrum itself. Families or groups, in contrast, may prefer a three or four bedroom villa in a slightly more rural setting such as those to be found in Yalikavak. This is a peaceful village but is still only 20 minutes’ drive from Bodrum.