Bodrum town, previously known as Halikarnasos, holds on of the 7 wonders of the ancient world, the Mausoleum of Halikarnasos. This building was the burial chamber of King Mausolus. Nowadays very little is left of this sight however, many of the stones from the Mausoleum were used to build the 16th century crusader castle which stands right in the centre of the harbour. The castle gives Bodrum its unique picturesque quality and is visited by thousands of tourist every year.
Bodrum peninsular has many other historical monuments and sights, such as the amphitheatre which now hosts a variety of concerts and plays.
Tourists have flicked to this part of Turkey for many years as it offers a true rustic atmosphere with taverns and restaurants, plus more modern conveniences, hotels, bars, shops, cinemas, theatres and night life.
The Bodrum peninsular skyline is very picturesque, due to the fact that the buildings are restricted to a very low level. The houses are all painted white or left in original stone colour. Many of the houses are decorated with the purple bougainvillea climbing plant. There are no high rise buildings, apartments or office blocks to disturb the magnificent views of the bays, castle and Greek island of Kos.
People enjoy the relaxed atmosphere, the pleasant climate and the clean air of the Bodrum peninsular, it boasts 300 days of sunshine a year. Recently European companies have opened branches on the Bodrum peninsular eg. B&Q, Tesco and Marks and Spencer.
Gumbet is the next bay west of Bodrum town, it has a 2km beach of shingle sand, calm shallow waters and plenty of sunbathing areas, boat trips and water sports. This bay is very popular with the foreign tourists and hosts unlimited shops restaurants and nightlife.
North of Bodrum town on the Bodrum peninsular are the bays of Torba, Golkoy, Turkbuku and Gundogan, each with its own unique atmosphere and beach. The sea, in these bays is crystal clear and ideal for bathing. The villages host varieties of relaxing taverns on the sea front.
On the western side of the Bodrum peninsular are the bays of Yalikavak, Gumusluk, kadikalesi and Turgut Reis. These have spectacular panoramic sunsets. Yalikavak is famous for its spongue diving. Gumusluk was the ancient town of Myndos, which has partly sunken into the sea, this attract snokellers. Turgut Reis is a busy market town, it is the 2nd largest town on the peninsular and has recently built a new yatch marina.
Around the southern parts of the Bodrum peninsular lies Akyarlar, Karaincir, Ortakent and Bitez bays, each with their own unique atmosphere and beach area.
All the bays of the Bodrum peninsular are easily accessible by the local minibus (dolmus) at very reasonable fares. Alternatively more remote bays and islands can be visited on a daily boat trip. |
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