Commercially owned boats line the marina's boardwalk, enticing tourists to book trips ranging from harbor cruises, scuba and snorkeling adventures, to week-long gullet trips. Like Bozburun, gullets are produced in local boatyards, and Bodrum is one of the most popular ports on the gulets’…Read More

Commercially owned boats line the marina's boardwalk, enticing tourists to book trips ranging from harbor cruises, scuba and snorkeling adventures, to week-long gullet trips. Like Bozburun, gullets are produced in local boatyards, and Bodrum is one of the most popular ports on the gulets’ itineraries. The Yunu Scuba School looked interesting and takes scuba students to the beautiful coral reef coves for lessons. Their website is www.yunusscuba.com.

Although Bodrum is popular for its variety of water sports, there aren’t many beaches in the center of town. Besides the narrow strip of sand along the bay, there’s a great beach located about a mile from the heart of town in a place called Gumbet. The pristine water is shallow and quite nice for swimming, and the long stretch of beach is a sunbathers’ delight. Gumbet is also known for its wind-surfing school. There’s a campground nearby, or for those who prefer sleeping in a bed, the local pansiyons are extremely cheap.

From the exclusive clothing shops at the entrance to the marina, and the souvenir stores that line both sides of the streets in the "downtown" area, Bodrum has just about anything you'd need or want to find in Turkey. I roamed the streets in…Read More

From the exclusive clothing shops at the entrance to the marina, and the souvenir stores that line both sides of the streets in the "downtown" area, Bodrum has just about anything you'd need or want to find in Turkey. I roamed the streets in search of unusual items and found several gifts that I didn't see anywhere else in Turkey. Several art galleries catered to the rich Europeans that come ashore from the expensive yachts. The gift shop just inside the entrance to Bodrum castle has quite a few handcrafted items that were both affordable and unusual. For instance, they had several mobils that were tied with tiny fragments of colorful cloth. I was told that they were hung in rooms to ward off evil spirits and were especially popular in babys' rooms.

Heading away from the touristy parts of town, I wound through the backstreets where the residents shop. I ran across Babil Shopping Center on "Kumbahce Camil alti", which is just off of Ataturk Street. They had the best deals in town on Turkish Delight, spices, apple tea, honey, nuts, chocolates, and "healing medical herb & aphrodisiacs." As a matter of fact, you'll find quite a few products throughout Turkey which boast of being aphrodisiacs, like several delicious sesame candies. However, I'm sorry to have to say that when I ran my "scientific" tests on these products when I got home (on my husband, so don't be shocked), I didn't find any noticeable results!

In case any of you are thinking of charting a boat and sailing to Bodrum, here's some information about Bodrum Karada Marina. Firstly, you should radio ahead and let the marina personnel know the name of your boat, country where it's registered, and the…Read More

In case any of you are thinking of charting a boat and sailing to Bodrum, here's some information about Bodrum Karada Marina. Firstly, you should radio ahead and let the marina personnel know the name of your boat, country where it's registered, and the size slip you'll need. After spending so many nights in quiet, almost private bays, threading the Anna Maria into the tiny space between two large boats was nothing less than a miracle.

First of all, when you enter the harbor, you're "greeted" by a man in a speedboat who checks you out--both with an eyeball scan of the crew, and your legal documents. Then he'll guide you to your slip (which is the perfect name for the openings, as you must literally slip your boat in). Maneuvering is difficult in the narrow center channels, and there are always winds and currents to contend with. Even worse, you have to turn your large vessel around, a inch forward, then back, then forward, like parallel parking, then quickly BACK into the small opening. Oh, did I mention that you have to throw out your front anchor while all of this is going on? Frankly, I was glad to leave this challenge to Matthew, the professional. We were so close to our neighbors that we could have reached out of our bedroom portholes and shaken hands with them in their bedrooms! Only the bumpers prevented the boats from crushing each other in the current.

The ruler Maussollos of Halicarnassus died in 353 B.C. after reigning for 24 years. Back then, the area was known as Caria, and it was famous throughout the ancient world as a trading port. Like the pharaohs of Egypt, King Maussollos began work…Read More

The ruler Maussollos of Halicarnassus died in 353 B.C. after reigning for 24 years. Back then, the area was known as Caria, and it was famous throughout the ancient world as a trading port. Like the pharaohs of Egypt, King Maussollos began work on his final resting place before his death. Unfortunately, he didn’t live long enough to see it completed. As the story goes, loyal workman and his wife/sister carried on the work. The result was one of the largest, most magnificent burial tombs ever built. It was so beautiful in its design, and so impressive in its size, that it was named one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Yep, it's worth the effort to get up there!

Bodrum is great for shopping, though many of the more exclusive shops are very expensive, even by American standards. Besides the usual Turkish products, high-end stores, like Gucci, are grouped near the entrance to the Marina. Exclusive antique, gold and art stores can…Read More

Bodrum is great for shopping, though many of the more exclusive shops are very expensive, even by American standards. Besides the usual Turkish products, high-end stores, like Gucci, are grouped near the entrance to the Marina. Exclusive antique, gold and art stores can be found throughout town, but unless you’re a Rockefeller, you might want to save these types of purchases for Istanbul. Apparently, Bodrum is considered an “artsy” community, and local sculptures, glass blowers, and painters display their masterpieces in the local art galleries. Close

Okay, so some of them really try hard to get you to buy their products, but they are friendly about it. We had a good laugh with most of the people, and if we said we'd buy off them towards the end of our…Read More

Okay, so some of them really try hard to get you to buy their products, but they are friendly about it. We had a good laugh with most of the people, and if we said we'd buy off them towards the end of our holiday, they made sure we remembered almost every time we saw them. The boat crews were friendly and appreciated it if you tried to talk to them in Turkish, and they remained professional at all times and made us all feel welcome throughout the whole day we were out with them. Give them a break; they are just trying to earn a living!Close

In Bodrum and environs, there are plenty of great experiences in and around the high mountains, as seen in the distance from the hotels' balconies. Things that you do not have a chance to get near unless you are "off road" and on foot.Here are…Read More

In Bodrum and environs, there are plenty of great experiences in and around the high mountains, as seen in the distance from the hotels' balconies. Things that you do not have a chance to get near unless you are "off road" and on foot.
Here are hiking trails for most levels. Walking terrain is a mixture of gravel paths, forest trails and rocky trails. You will experience traditional village life, historic rock landscapes, carpet villages, see Bodrum from the top or climbing the mountain "Rock Cheese", which is shaped like a hole cheese.
In the village Dagbelen you can see house ruins and stone fences from the Greeks, on gravel paths you encounter flocks of sheep and shepherds and among forest trees hiding in ruins from a past marked by churches and monasteries. By Bufa Lake in Herarclia folds a 11 km long and 8 km wide rock landscape beyond the Besparmak mountains. Here you can explore in late antiquity and the Byzantine Empire and see the rock tombs, cave paintings, Zeus shrines and enjoy a magnificent view from the top of the mountain. Forest trails along the mountain range Karacam is surrounded by vistas of mountains, towns and minarets, accompanied by the scent of wild herbs and pine trees leads past small villages musty and ends in a path to the cozy blanket village Etrim. Or experience Pedesa fort and a 360 degree panoramic view of Bodrum, before visiting St. Peter's castle in the city center. End your hiking trip with a view over the town in ruins Sandima, a climb to the top of Cheese Rock (Partipanaz Rock) and a dip in the sea at Yalikavak Beach while walking boots pausing. Be aware that there are few marked trails in Turkey. It is best to contact a local guide, which ensures that you can wander from the different starting points and can equip you with information and a walkie-talkie.
You can see more on www.jeeptrophy.comClose

We spent 2 weeks in Torba ( just outside Bodrum ) and visited this wonderful town almost every day. We enjoyed the shopping...the Market near the bus station is good and cheap. Also..and maybe most of all, we enjoyed the turkish people...they are friendly and…Read More

We spent 2 weeks in Torba ( just outside Bodrum ) and visited this wonderful town almost every day. We enjoyed the shopping...the Market near the bus station is good and cheap. Also..and maybe most of all, we enjoyed the turkish people...they are friendly and cheerful and most helpful..they helped to make our stay there memorable. If you want to get away from the bustle of Bodrum for a day..use the bus. The buses are cheap and run very often. I can recommend...Gumbet..Bitez...and Turgutreis, which has a fantastic market on saturdays. All these places are but a very short bus ride away and Gumbet and Bitez are small and fairly quiet compared with Bodrum. For real peace and tranquility go to Torba. Get off the bus when it stops..walk back along the road and bear left...this takes you into the rear entrance of the Sunset Club and beach area. The proprietor of the Sunset Club speaks no English at all, nether do his staff, yet you will go far to get better hospitality and good food. The restaurant where you get off the bus is pretty good also. Apert from fishing, eating or drinking...and of course sunbathing, there is not much more to do in Torba...but visit it anyway and have a chill out day.Close