Things to do in Bodrum

The main attractions of Bodrum are in its rich historical treasures, or just losing yourself in the mysterious alleys and streets, which all tell a tale of their own. The Bodrum Peninsula is also overflowing with culture and history.

Mausoleum of Halicarnassus

One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the mausoleum was completed in 350 BC. Now an open-air museum, it was built by Artemisia II in honour of her husband and brother Mausolus, the King of Caria. The mausoleum exposes only the foundations of the original masterpiece. According to historical accounts, the splendid tomb had pillars supporting a pyramid-shaped roof that appeared to float above the structure. On the top was a statue of the king and queen riding in a chariot.

Following its destruction by an earthquake in 1522, the Hospitalers used the stones from the mausoleum as building material for the reconstruction of the castle. As a result of the damage caused by earthquakes, plundering and careless excavations, present-day archaeologists can only guess at the buildings original appearance. Phone: +90 252 316 1219.

St Peters Castle

The castle protrudes out into the centre of Bodrums two harbours. During the reign of Mausolos, there was most likely a temple in honour of Apollo on the site, in addition to a palace fortress. The kingdom of Pergamum inherited the land structure before it passed to Rome and wound up in the hands of the Turks. Western sources say that the Knights Hospitalers of St John seized the settlement Seluk from Turkish hands to give refuge to Christians and increase their power over the west coast of Asia during the Crusades.

Turkish references state that Sultan Celebi Mehmet gave permission to the Knights Hospitalers to construct an outpost. Construction of the castle began in 1402 and once finished, it turned into a symbol of the unity of Christian Europe against the Ottoman infidels. The naming of the castle towers represents the participation of the different European nations, as do the plaques, inscriptions, armour and other artefacts.

Bodrum Underwater Archaeology Museum

The museum is housed in St Peters Castle. Here you can see artefacts taken from sunken ships dating back as far as 16th century BC. In the chapel, the East Roman ship dates from the 7th century AD. Visitors are allowed to walk onto a full-scale reconstruction of part of the ship and the excavation site. The Bronze Age shipwrecks exhibit shows treasures found on sunken trading ships discovered by local sponge divers. The artefacts, dating to the 13th and 16th century BC, give a good insight into the late Bronze Age. In the Glass Wreck Hall, there are piles of shattered glass recovered from a sunken vessel. Archaeologists think that the relevant ship was in fact transporting broken glass as cargo for recycling. Phone: +90 252 316 2516.

Amphitheatre

This attraction must have one of the best views of Bodrum. It can be found on the main highway and was built 2,000 years ago. It is currently undergoing restoration. It is well worth a visit simply to sit and admire the splendid beauty of Bodrum Harbour and the outstanding architecture of the theatre.

Windmills

Atop a hill between Bodrum and Gumbet, there are seven windmills, abandoned since 1970. Unfortunately, the people of Bodrum dont seem to take care of these wonderful windmills. What should be serving as splendid landmarks are now disappearing little by little. From the hill top, there are wonderful views of the city of Bodrum and the Bay of Gumbet.