A guide to things to do in Bodrum
The Bodrum area is a vibrant holiday destination with unending sandy beaches, numerous resorts and some incredible historical attractions. The towns located along the coast have tons to offer, and with all the activities available there’s no end to fun trips out for those who like to keep busy and see all the sights. You can spend your days perusing the Turkish bazaars or markets, heading out across the sea on boat trips or pampering yourself in the resort’s spa facilities. Here are a few excellent day trip ideas to get you started when you take advantage of our Turkey holiday deals.
Local village markets
All around the Bodrum region are village markets that are fantastic spots to pick up authentic Turkish souvenirs and gifts for friends back home. These markets can be found on different days throughout the week and are usually free to enter, so you’ll easily be able to visit more than one during cheap Bodrum holidays.
Starting on Tuesday is the textile market in Bodrum City – traders from all over the region come here to sell intricate and colourful Turkish fabrics. Thursday’s market in Yalikavak is the largest in Bodrum and sells spices and local produce. You can also barter for kilims – Turkish rugs – as well as vintage silverware.
Then there’s a weekly Saturday market in Turgutreis and a Sunday market in Mumcular, both selling a variety of local handmade goods, making them popular spots for locals and tourists.
Castle of St. Peter
Arguably the most visited site in Bodrum, the Castle of St. Peter sits overlooking Bodrum City’s seafront and the ships docked in the water. This massive structure was built by the Knights Hospitallers of St. John between 1402 and 1437. It’s famous for having different nationalities defend certain sections of the castle. Today there is both a French and English tower. Years after the castle was built it was passed into Turkish hands and a mosque was built inside.
After wandering around the castle you can venture into the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, which is located inside the grounds. This is a top spot to bring children as they’ll have a front row seat for a glass-blowing workshop.
Marina strolls
For a lovely leisurely stroll in the sunshine head to Yalikavak’s Palmarina. This massive marina and promenade is packed with upscale restaurants, luxury stores and mega-yachts. A lovely way to spend the morning is doing a bit of window shopping as you walk around the palm tree-lined paths. It can be an expensive place to shop and sit down for a meal, but there are cheaper ice cream parlours located in the marina. Keep a look out as you might also spot some famous faces climbing aboard their personal yachts.
Waterpark adventures
If you have any children they’ll love a day out at Aquapark Dedeman Bodrum in Ortakent. This fun, larger-than-life splash zone has everything going for it, from wave pools and tube rides, to river rapids and steep dropping slides. There are also lots of sunbeds around the park so you can tan or find a shady spot to relax. Feel free to bring a picnic along with you, or you can buy some classic waterpark food at the stalls, including hotdogs and fizzy drinks.
Boat racing
The Bodrum Cup is a yearly boat race based in Bodrum City. This traditional wooden yacht race has been going since 1989 and is held every third week of October. The majestic wooden fleets are a sight to behold, and as the race comes to a close you can stick around for the Bodrum after-party, consisting of live music and dance groups preforming in Iskele Square.