Bodrum was once Turkey's San Francisco, if the Grateful Dead were Turkish they would have met each other in a bar in Bodrum. Things have changed a little since the 'beatnik' days and now you'll find a slick machine, dedicated to the extraction of the tourist dollar. This doesn't mean you won't have a good time but you can expect to pay for the level of sophistication that the night life here offers. Throughout the season the pedestrian streets of the bazaar area throng with tourists and it can all be a little too much if you're after a little peace and quiet. The ancient name of the town, Halicarnassus, is the same as that of 'Europe's largest disco' which sums up what's going on here quite well.

Probably the prettiest resort in the southern Aegean, you'll find Bodrum nestling amongst pine clad hills dominated by the massive crusader castle of St. Peter built by the rather shady Knights Hospitalier who lost it soon afterwards to the all conquering Suleyman. Some nasty things went on in the dungeons (Bodrum in Turkish) and there you go.

The usual boat trips to secluded beaches and villages are available as are scuba, snorkeling, yachting, and boating, there's even the possibility of a trip to the Greek island of Kos, but the heart and soul of the place now revolves around the bars and clubs for which it is famous throughout Turkey.

Funnily enough, the visual aspect of Bodrum which most people, including Turks, find so appealing is, basically, it's similarity to postcard perfect Greek fishing villages. The white washed walls and Bougainvillea, the painted wooden windows and doors, you get the picture.

In the final analysis, the town itself is rapidly losing it's soul as a direct result of the attempt to Ibiza it up. It's a good place to have a good time if you're after bars and clubs. On the plus side it can be a good base to explore the peninsula, which has some nice beaches, and it's an excellent place from which to embark on a blue boat voyage.

History | Getting There