Things To Do
The Bodrum Castle (St. Peter) & The Museum of Underwater Archaeology
Bodrum Castle, also known as the Castle of St. Peter is the most popular sight of the Bodrum peninsula. The Museum of Underwater Archaeology is also located inside the Bodrum Castle and it is a must see in Bodrum. Bodrum Castle, the medieval castle of St. Peter is a great example of 15th century Crusader architecture and has been converted into the Museum of Underwater Archaeology with remains dating back to the Bronze age such as collection of great relics from the lives of ancient shipwrecked mariners, with glassware, copper-ware and gold items. The collections are exhibited on the 14 galleries in the museum.
Boat Trips & Things to Do on the Water
Bodrum is all about the sea. The vast amount of visitors that arrive are here for a lazy holiday of sun, sea, and sand. Boat trips are the most popular way to get out on the water, with hundreds of tours on offer during the summer months, ranging from a couple of hours to multi-day yacht trips down the coast. Many resorts also offer kayaking, fishing, and jet-skiing as well. Bodrum harbor is home to plenty of yachts ready to whisk you out onto the Aegean Sea for a boat trip. There are both half- and full-day trips on offer that promise hours of sunbathing on board, simply soaking up the scenery of the turquoise sea, the rocky coast of the Bodrum Peninsula, and the tiny islets offshore with lots of swimming stops included. A great option is the full-day Bodrum Peninsula Cruise with lunch, which includes a chance to swim, snorkel, and sunbathe, as well as explore the island of Kara Ada.
Bodrum Antique Theatre
Bodrum's ancient theater may be small by Roman standards but it has been beautifully restored, and the views from the upper tiers, out towards the mountains, are superb. In its heyday during the 4th century, it would have held 13,000 spectators. If you're here in summer, Bodrum uses the theater for a program of events and concerts. Check out if there's anything on while you're in town, as seeing a performance within the theater is the best way of imagining how it would have been used in the grand era of Halicarnassus.
Bodrum Marina
It's the crystal blue Mediterranean that calls most visitors to Bodrum, and yachting is big business here. The marina is a sailor's and sea-lover's paradise, crammed with bobbing yachts of all shapes and sizes. There are dozens of options to get out onto the water, with excursion vessels offering day trips (or longer) around the coast, visiting islands and hidden coves for sunbathing and swimming. If you follow the marina road farther west, you'll come to the Ottoman shipyard, which has some interesting tombstones and great marina views.