Bodrum Castle was built between two ports on a rocky peninsula surrounded by the sea on three sides. You fell the smell of the history in your soul and you would be fascinated with the mysterious air coming from its walls even when you just enter Bodrum Castle. Its magnificent architecture away from classical Castle architecture evokes you admiration while you ascend stairs.

In every section of Bodrum Castle that you visit, you feel different excitements and you look envyingly to rich archeological artifacts with the sparkle of the jewels and glasses.

Bodrum Castle was built by Knights of Rhodes in 99 years, on A.D. 15th Century in honor of St. Peter. The first point where Halicarnassus was built were Zephyrion Island. During the construction of the Castle, the stones and reliefs of Mausolos Monument was used on the walls. At Ottomans period, it was converted into a mosque by integrating a minaret to the church. Besides, a small Turkish bath was also built. Used as prison in 1595, the Castle today is rearranged as museum.

Having an area of approximately 30.000 sqm, the Castle has 5 towers. They called French Tower, English Tower, Italian Tower, German Tower and Serpentine Tower. The sections stayed out of the East wall of the Castle are reinforced as double bearing wall. The access to the Citadel is by passing from 7 doors. There are blazonries on the doors. Blazonries are consisting from crosses, flat or horizontal bands, dragon and lion figures. In the Citadel there are 14 cisterns including the base of the chapel. The blockhouse of the Castle, the moat inter double bearing walls, the suspension bridge, the control tower, the tughra of Sultan Mahmut II are the prominent places of the Castle.

Bodrum Castle, won the gained the characteristics of Ottoman Empire with a Turkish bath structure in the period of 19th century while the castle were used as prison. Today, the Castle is used as Museum of Underwater Archeology. The artifacts that are available in museum collections are exhibited in Turkish bath, Amphora Park, Eastern Roman ship, Glass Hall, Glass Wreck, Coin and Jewelry Hall, Carian Princess Hall, English Tower, Torture and Massacre Rooms and German Tower. Besides, built on a 33.5 decares wide area, in the open spaces of the Castle there are also exhibition of the artifacts.

Footnote: Do not forget to watch the gorgeous view of Bodrum while visiting the Castle… Bodrum is more beautiful when looking from the Castle.

Mausoleum is the tomb of Carian Satrap Mausolos. Therefore, it named after him. It was built by both his wife and his sister Queen Artemisia II in the center of Halicarnassus for his husband Mausolos who died in 353 BC. This Mausoleum is an unprecedented structure in that period. It has stood for centuries but its major part was destroyed due to the Anatolian earthquake in 8 August 1304. Afterwards, its stones were used I the construction of Bodrum Castle. In addition, many of reliefs and sculptures of this mausoleum were taken to the British Museum by the British in 1857.

Regarded as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Mausoleum was a considerably large sized tomb combining Greek architecture with its columns and Egyptian architecture with its pyramid-shaped roof. Due to this significance, all the structures built in the same style after its construction has been called as mausoleum. This open-air museum is an important source to understand the culture and life of these days.

Address: 1618. Sk. Yeniköy Mahallesi, 48440 Bodrum Tepecik

The Museum is situated in Bodrum Castle and is regarded as one of the world’s most important underwater archeology museums. It is the one of the most popular places to visit in Bodrum. Bodrum Underwater Archaeology Museum contains 14 exhibition halls and has the richest East Mediterranean Amphora collection in the world. In the Museum, Yassıada, Şeytan Deresi and Serçe Lİmanı shipwrecks are also exhibited. The world’s oldest sunken ship wreckage exhibited in the Museum is also worth to visit. This shipwreck exhibited in Serçe Limanı Glass Wreck Hall is the sinking boat in 1025. 3 tons of broken and unbroken glasses were removed from this boat. Additionally the world’s largest Islamic Glass Collection is also exhibited here.

In touch with history and art…

This theater on the southern foothills of Göktepe Mountain, in the middle of Bodrum, is one of the oldest theatres of Anatolia. Renovated by a group of Turkish people in 1960, this theatre is hosting many festivals in Bodrum at the present time. Tourists who come to see the theatre just sit there and they do not perceive how the moments of pleasure passed while watching boats leaves and come into port.

Among the interesting characteristics of the theater we can collocate the altar where the victims were sacrificed for the sake of Dionysus before the games and the holes maybe used as canopy in between some seats. With a distance of 40 cm between each seat, the theatre has a person capacity of 13.000. You can see the tombstones carved out of stone during a short climb to Göktepe Mountain. This carved tombstones from the Roman and Hellenistic Period still bears ancient time’s death symbols and various sarcophaguses (some remains are still exhibited in the Castle Museum)

Myndos Gate is reputed to be built in 360 BC. It is the one of the entrance gates of the city in the west of Halicarnassus. Myndos Gate consists of two monumental towers and behind these an inner courtyard where the gates that allows to enter the city are located. The first part of the renovation of the city walls and the towers located in the north side of this gate was completed in 1999. You can see nearby the Turkish Cemetery and vaulted tombs of the Hellenistic and Roman Period.

It is thought that Bodrum shipyard was established in 1775. According to an archive document, the first ship in Bodrum has been putted on workbench in 1784. Its lumber was brought from the mountains of Bodrum. Together with the Ottoman tower erected as lookout tower against pirate’s attacks, the city walls of the shipyard has been expanded in 1882. The structure today serves as art gallery.

Today, behind the old shipyard, there is the Ottoman Cemetery where the tomb of Anonymous Horseman Rider and the Ottoman Sailor Cafer Paşa is also existing.

Nowadays, the wooden boats made in small shipyards in various regions of Bodrum Peninsula, has become a passion for local and foreign sea lovers.

Ottoman shipyard is situated in the northwest of Bodrum Port and west of Karada Marina.

In Bodrum, indigenous weavings, handcrafts and foods are producing to share with visitors.

In the town, nearly every visitor desires to buy from traditional sandals, simply known as “Bodrum Sandals”.

Glass beads are produced by a method unchanged over a thousand years. Production methods of Ancient Period is combined with Turkish traditional glass beads, becomes an “Evil Eye Bead” to protect from the evil eye.

The markets are full of artisans who reflects all colors of the Peninsula to their work such as carpets, textiles, wood engravings and potteries.

As is common all over Turkey, Bodrum also has local markets on particular days. You can shop both authentic gifts and seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables from these markets.



Monday – Türkbükü, Kumbahçe, Güvercinlik Markets

Tuesday – Bodrum Center (textile), Yalıkavak, Gölköy Markets

Wednesday – Gündoğan, Ortakent, Gümüşlük, Akçaalan Markets

Thursday – Yalıkavak (textile), Akyarlar and Bitez Markets

Friday – Bodrum Center, Konacık and Yalı Markets

Saturday – Turgutreis Market

Sunday – Gümbet, Kızılağaç and Mumcular Markets