BODRUM RESORT
Bodrum - Ancient Halikarnassus
Welcome to the unparalleled
holiday destination, a former
fishing village known as the
"new St. Tropez" with its dusk
to dawn nightlife, and at the
same time a treasure trove of
archeological Greek and Roman
treasures, including the world
famous St. Peter's Castle Museum
of Underwater Archaeology,
housed in the labyrinth of a
Crusader castle that for
centuries has stood guard to
protect the entrance of Bodrum's
dazzling blue harbor.
Although Bodrum now welcomes
throngs of socialites from all
over the world, it manages to
stay true to its fishing village
origins, with its fleet of
colorful fishing boats and a
seaside boardwalk crowded as
much with bronzed young men
seeking pleasure as with
fishermen seeking buyers for
their day's catch of fish.
So Bodrum is not only a
playground for Istanbul's and
Europe's bejeweled rich, but
also a refuge for sea lovers,
yachting devotees, students of
underwater archaeology, and
devotees of history, art,
architecture and heritage.
We would like to lead you along
the colorful alleys, the
bazaar-like market area nestled
nearby the port, where you will
have the opportunity to treasure
hunt for local products, crafts,
herbs, raw cotton fabrics
bedecked with wooden beads,
spices, dried fruits and more,
all of which are part of the
legend of the town.
Open your eyes, heart, senses
and feelings to a city with an
atmosphere of vibrancy and
cultural richness, fortified by
its ancient and proud heritage.
Bodrum - the destination that is
both a wonderful and
overwhelming dream...
History
Bodrum is the site of the
ancient city of Halicarnassus,
capital of an ancient
civilization known as Caria.
Halicarnassus had been a Dorian
foundation in the first
millennium BC. The Carians were
known as early as Hittite times.
The most celebrated king of
Caria was Mausolus, who had
married his sister, Artemisia,
in 377 BC. When Mausolus died
three years later, his grieving
queen, whose devotion to him had
become proverbial (she is said
to have mixed a pinch of his
ashes with her daily glass of
wine), commissioned in his
memory the magnificent monument,
the Mausoleum, which afterwards
became known as of the Seven
Wonders of the Ancient World.
The Mausoleum was said to have
been 45 meters (148 feet) high,
covered with elaborate white
marble reliefs. Standing at the
highest spot of Halicarnassus,
visitors could see the great
structure for miles around when
they approached the ancient town
with their boats.
Halicarnassus or with its modern
name, Bodrum, is also famous as
the birthplace of Herodotus, who
is regarded as the "Father of
History:"
Traveler's Guide to Bodrum's
Nightlife
When darkness falls, Bodrum
adorns with her nightgowns: the
narrow roads are illuminated,
the blaze of sidewalk-cafe
windows, and the glare of neon
signs flood the streets. Once
the workday is over, most people
go to a cafe to meet with
friends over a drink and perhaps
a meal; then, they may head home
or proceed to a restaurant; and
much later, they may show up at
a bar or a dance club of Bodrum.
Get to know the other facet of
Bodrum by discovering her
vibrant and exciting nightlife
from the central old town with "Barlar
Sokağı" (Bar Street) and fish
restaurants scattered throughout
the old market place.
You can also dine and party in
Türkbükü, located to the north
of the main town and
approximately a 25-minute taxi
drive from town.
Türkbükü is the favorite haunt
of Istanbul's social elite, and
it is a spectacular location for
dining out, with pier after pier
set with candle lit tables and
spectacular fish based cuisine.
If you do venture to Türkbükü,
ladies should be armored with
their best jewelery and men
should be prepared to sign the
dinner bill without looking at
the bill! You may dine at
superior restaurants such as
Maki, Mey and Maça Kizi. Please
don't go without making
reservations first.
Traveler's Guide to Leisure
Wandering on Bodrum Streets
Anybody who has visited Bodrum
before will tell you that apart
from the fantastic lagoon blue
bays, nothing compares to the
early-evening stroll on the
streets of Bodrum. The light of
the late hour, the pleasant
buzz, the narrow streets filled
with locals and tourists alike,
and the romantic ambience in the
air as you stroll along can lead
you to a modern restaurant,
boutiques, a lovely café
overlooking Turkish gulets lined
up along the bay, the fortress,
or an ancient, unassuming site.
You can also dine and party in
Türkbükü, located to the north
of the main town and
approximately a 25-minute taxi
drive from town.
Blue Voyages on a Turkish Gulet
The south western coast of
Turkey is one of the best
yachting and sailing areas in
the world.
The wonderful climate, unrivaled
ancient cities, superb cuisine
and friendly people all welcome
you for a perfect holiday - the
famous Blue Voyage is
unforgettable, even if you can
enjoy it only for a single day.
Bodrum is the place of origin
for Blue Voyages in Turkey. Read
more on http://www.blueguide.com
St. Peter's Castle
The organization of the Knights
of John started as a simple body
during the 11th century.
Merchants from Amalfi obtained
permission from the Caliph of
Egypt to build a hospital in
Jerusalem. At the beginning, it
consisted of a church and a
hospital and the organization
was purely religious in
character. During the following
centuries, particularly because
of the Crusades and the
political events of the period,
the Order gradually grew into a
very powerful military
organization. The Knights of
John supplied food, medical help
and security to those traveling
to Christian Holy lands to carry
out the crusades against those
they considered infidels. Since,
for the Knights hospitality was
always their main concern, the
Knights were also called the
Hospitaliers. However, at the
same time, they always
identified themselves as
soldiers of Christ and the
defenders of Holy Christian
places in Jerusalem. The Knights
of John built this impressive
castle from Rhodes, after their
capture of Bodrum in 1402 AD.
Nearly 250 coats of arms bear
witness of the Christian
occupation of the castle.
Bodrum Museum of Underwater
Archaeology
The transformation of the
ruined, dilapidated castle of
St. Peter's into a great museum
of world importance was the work
of vision and perseverance of
different lovers of history and
nautical archaeology such as
Peter Throckmorton, an American
journalist-diver, Prof. George
F. Bass, a professor of
scientific nautical archaeology
and also the founder of the
Institute of Nautical
Archaeology (Texas A&M), and
Hakki Gultekin, the director of
the Izmir Museum. Azra Erhad, a
respected academic, also
supported the cause in the
national press. These early
initiatives and continued
insistence were rewarded in 1961
when the Turkish government, by
official decree, created Bodrum
Museum in the castle under the
jurisdiction of the Ministry of
Culture. Since the 1960's one
section after another opened
within this impressive and
magnificent castle. Today
visitors discover a
comprehensive and appealing
open-air museum with a whimsical
mix of museum buildings, a
dungeon, a menagerie of winged
and other animals and
glass-blowers and other
artisans. The ancient artifacts
are displayed in a relevant
context, supported by graphics
or paintings. The ambiance
within the Castle is also
another asset of a visit, as the
flowers and even birds living
here are reflecting the species
found in the Medieval time.
Thus, all these elements and
many other waiting to be
discovered make the Museum of
Underwater Archaeology an
important stop for anyone
visiting Bodrum.
The Mausoleum
This great monument was one of
the Seven Wonders of the World
and built for the King Mausolos
in the 4th century by Artemisia,
his sister and his wife. The
monument had three major parts
with a height of 45 meters (135
feet). First, it had a podium.
Above the solid podium, a
colonnade of 24 columns, eleven
columns on the flanks and 9
columns on the short sides
surrounded a rectangular room.
At the very top, a pyramid of 24
steps carried four-horsed
chariot with the figures of
Mausoleum and Artemisia. The
four sides of the structure was
adorned with sculptural reliefs
created by each one of four
Greek sculptors - Leochares,
Bryaxis, Scopas of Paros and
Timotheus. This marvelous
monumental tomb stood for 1500
years. According to 12th century
eyewitnesses, the monument was
in excellent shape of
preservation. When the Knights
of John arrived to Bodrum, they
used the ruins or "spolia" of
the monument for the
construction of the current
Castle.
The Ancient Theater
The theatre of Halicarnassus is
today situated high above Bodrum
just along Bodrum's main
thoroughfare. This theater is a
comfortable place to sit and
contemplate Bodrum and take in
the vista below with the city
harbor, the castle and the
harbor with all of its gulets
and yachts. This Carian -
Hellenistic theatre of 13,000
seats is one of the oldest in
Anatolia. You may notice a stone
altar once used before the plays
for sacrifices to the god of
wine, Dionysus, and several
holes cut through some of the
seats, most likely used for
sunshades. Today, the ancient
theatre is used as a venue for
performances by some of Turkey's
best known performers, and you
may wish to spend a night being
entertained in this ancient
theatre by modern talent.
Remember to bring a shawl or a
sweater as the higher elevations
of Bodrum become quite cool once
the sun has sunk below the sea.
Myndos Gate
Located on the west side of
Bodrum, this is one of the two
former grand entrances to
ancient Halicarnassus. The
soldiers of Alexander the Great
struggled mightily to fight
their way into Halicarnassus by
way of the Myndos Gate in 333
BC. After his conquest of the
city, Alexander the Great
settled his headquarters nearby.
Knidos
Knidos was a Hellenic city.
Along with Halicarnassus
(present day Bodrum, Turkey),
Kos, and the Rhodian cities of
Lindos, Kamiros and Ialyssos it
formed the Dorian Hexapolis. The
Agora, the Theatre, the Odium,
the Temple of Dionysus, the
Temple of the Muses, the Temple
of Aphrodite and a great number
of minor buildings have been
identified. Today, the general
plan of the city has been very
clearly made out. The most
famous statue by Praxiteles, the
Aphrodite of Knidos, was made
for Cnidus. It has perished, but
late copies exist, of which the
most faithful is in Vatican
Museum.
Euromos
Standing majestically beside the
main road between Milas and Lake
Bafa is one of the
best-preserved temples in Asia
Minor. This is the Temple of
Euromos (meaning strong in
Greek). The temple was built in
the 2nd century AD, and sixteen
of its original seventeen
Corinthian order columns are
still standing, complete with
their architraves. It is
believed that the temple was
never completed, as evidenced by
three columns on the south and
southwest sides, which have no
fluting, but an archaeological
survey in 1969 found an
inscription from Hellenistic
times, which proved that the
present temple was built on the
site of an even earlier one. The
city of Euromos stood a short
walk from the temple, to the
north. There you will find the
remains of a round tower, dating
from 300 BC, which was once part
of the city wall and from which
it is possible to trace the
wall, which it is possible to
trace the wall, which once
enclosed a very large area. On
the hillside above the plain are
the remains of a badly
deteriorated west-facing
theatre, best preserved in its
northern corner.
From the extent of the ruins it
appears that Euromos was a city
of considerable wealth.
Contemporary writings show that
the citizens lived in some
disharmony, although in apparent
union with their more powerful
neighbors at Mylasa. This union
did not last, for when Mylasa
demanded recompense for some
infringement by Euromos, the
citizens turned to the Rhodian
and Romans for atonement and
hence regained their
independence.
Hiking in Yalıçiftlik
Renowned for its secluded and
untouched feel, the little-known
village of Yaliciftik, (meaning
'a mansion by the sea'), lies
among fragrant forests of pine
trees, which cover the hilly
landscape to provide beautiful
hiking opportunities. Although
only 20 minutes drive from the
vibrant and exciting Bodrum,
Yaliciftik makes you feel like
being in another world.
The small village in Yaliciftlik
is a fantastic starting point
for a special hiking experience;
where you will walk along the
old and winding paths through
the Aegean scenery before hiking
up Yali Mountain. From the
mountain's summit, you will be
able to watch an incredible
sunrise with a fabulous view
over the Aegean coast along with
surprising landscapes and
natural beauties.
Excursions to the Lelegian city
of Pedesa
The peninsula between
Halicarnassus and Myndus was in
early times occupied by the
Lelegians, who as we learn from
Strabo founded eight cities
here. Lately, two of the eight
towns died out and Mausolus
incorporated the last ones into
his new capital of Halicarnassus
and the ancient city of Pedasa
is one of them. It is situated
in Konacık village and lies some
ninety-minutes walk to the North
of Bodrum, at the head of a pass
overgrown by pine-trees. The
locals call this area Gökçeler
or Gökçeler Castle. Like the
other six cities' remains,
Pedasa is identifiable by its
hilltop position, its general
layout, and the characteristic
Lelegian masonry. The site is in
a remote area and can be reached
with great efforts on foot.
Thus, a fantastic place for
hikers. We know about the origin
of Pedasa thanks to Homer, who
placed the Lelegians far from
Miletus in the southern part of
the Troad, where their King
Altes held the city of Pedasus
on the Satnioeis. From here,
after the Trojan War, they moved
southward, till they settled
finally in the Carian country
around Halicarnassus and founded
eight cities, one of them bears
the name Pedasa, an obvious echo
of the city of King Altes.
In history Pedasa is known to be
a small but very strong and
resistant town against
invasions. Actually, Pedasa in
the ancient time was apparently
of more account than their
neighborhood Halicarnassus. In
this respect, it is recorded
that when the Persian King
Harpagus advanced into Caria in
the 6th BC, he met opposition
from the little Lelegian town of
Pedasa, whereas the Greek cities
gave no trouble. The ruins today
are quite considerable and show
a characteristic Lelegian town.
The main citadel is some 170
yards (155 m) long with a high
wall of irregular masonry; at
its upper (east) end is an inner
enclosure approached by a ramp
and gateway, with a staircase in
one corner.
The main entrance, 8 feet
(2,40m) wide, is at the western
end. In the interior are many
traces of buildings, especially
close up against the inner face
of the town wall. Below this
citadel on the south and east is
a larger outer enclosure with a
wall of dry rubble masonry
strengthened with towers. On the
ridges to the south and
southeast are a number of the
remarkable "chamber-tumuli"
which are characteristic of the
Lelegian country. These consist
of a vaulted circular chamber
approached by a passage and
enclosed by a ring wall heaped
over with loose stones. Some of
these tombs, judging from the
pottery found in them, must date
back to 700 B.C. or even
earlier. The best preserved of
these tumuli is at a site known
as Gebe Kilise, northeast of
Gökçeler.
Mydos: the Forgotten City under
the Aegean Water
This peaceful village is one of
the oldest settlements on the
peninsula. Most of the village
is designated an official
archeological sites so that no
landscaping alterations or new
groundbreakings are allowed. The
classical city of Myndus is
located with complete certainty
at Gümüşlük. The silver-mines
have given the name to the
village today, but are not
mentioned in any ancient source.
Indeed the only Myndian product
of which we know is the wine.
In the 4th century BC the King
Mausolus decided to build new
Myndos and transplanted the
entire population. One hundred
years ago there were ruins worth
seeing (including a Theatre and
a Stadium), but now these have
disappeared, being gradually
dismantled for the foundations
and walls of new buildings. If
you walk for ten minutes to the
bay north east of Gumusluk you
will see a buried wall jutting
from a hillside into the sea.
While the area's archaeological
status forbids diving with
tanks, snorkelers will find more
walls under water here, as well
as an ancient breakwater in the
harbor, Those visiting by boat
will want to stay close to the
island on the eastern side of
the entrance to avoid hitting
the underwater structures.
The island, known as Rabbit
Island among the locals,
separates the two well-sheltered
bays of Gumusluk. If you sit in
a shore side restaurant and look
closely for a while you will see
a few rabbits on the island. A
villager who sells them in
markets elsewhere raises them
there. It is possible to wade to
the island through knee-deep
water and sunbathe and dive from
many rock formations. Several
restaurants have a terraced
roof, perfect for enjoying the
tranquil scene or for watching
the sunset. The restaurants
supply food of surprisingly good
quality in an un-crowded
environment, and their rush
woven umbrellas typify the ones
by the harbor.
Time
Turkish standard time is 2 hours
ahead Greenwich Mean Time, 1
hour ahead of Central European
Time, and 7 hours ahead of
Eastern Standard Time.
Summer (Daylight-Saving) Time is
observed in Turkey, where the
time is shifted forward by 1
hour; 3 hours ahead of Greenwich
Mean Time (GMT+3).
After the Summer months the time
in Turkish Time is shifted back
by 1 hour to Eastern European
Time (EET) or (GMT+2)
Currency
Turkish Lira (TL)
Click on the link below to view
the current rates:
Exchange rates of Central Bank
of Turkey
Banks in Bodrum Resort
Most banks are located in the
central shopping area of Bodrum.
The
Banking hours are
09.00-12.00/13.00-17.00 Mon to
Fri.
Change offices are open 7 days a
week from 10:00 to 23:00.
Exchange rates change daily and
can be learned from newspapers,
banks, change offices and of
course internet.
Bodrum climate and
avarage weather (in C degrees)
Mediterranean climate in Bodrum
is characterized by warm rainy
winters and hot sunny summers.
Bodrum enjoys 300 days of
sunshine each year. Summers in
Bodrum are humid and the real
feel of temperatures is usually
above the displayed
temperatures. From April to
October rains are very rare, and
this period is considered to be
the driest in the region.
Needless to say the hottest and
the driest month is
|
Bodrum |
Air |
Sea |
|
January |
14°
C |
16°
C |
|
February |
14°
C |
16°
C |
|
March |
17°
C |
16°
C |
|
April |
20°
C |
17°
C |
|
May |
25°
C |
19°
C |
|
June |
30°
C |
22°
C |
|
July |
33°
C |
23°
C |
|
August |
33°
C |
24°
C |
|
September |
29°
C |
23°
C |
|
October |
24°
C |
21°
C |
|
November |
19°
C |
19°
C |
|
December |
15°
C |
17°
C |
Bodrum Geography and
Population
Bodrum is located in the
southwestern Aegean Region of
Turkey, on the southern coast of
Bodrum Peninsula, at the entry
into the Gulf of Gökova, and is
only 20 minutes to the nearest
Greek Island of Kos. The
city was called Halicarnassus of
Caria in ancient times and was
famous for housing the Mausoleum
of Mausolus, one of the Seven
Wonders of the Ancient World.
Bodrum Castle, built by the
Crusaders in the 15th century,
overlooks the harbour and the
marina. The castle grounds
include a Museum of Underwater
Archeology and hosts several
cultural festivals throughout
the year. The population of
Bodrum peninsula has reached
120,000 while there are about
32,000 in Bodrum town itself. In
the summer the population grows
up to 700,000.
Typical costs in Bodrum
Turkish breakfasts from 10
Turkish Lira (salty cheese and
olives, served with fresh and
ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, all
come with fresh village bread
and local honey and jams.
English breakfasts from 7
Turkish Lira.
Kebabs from 5 Turkish Lira.
Chicken wraps from 3,5 Turkish
Lira.
Five course meal from 15 Turkish
Lira.
Turkish tea and coffee are
cheaper at town's Belediye
(municipal) cafes. You would pay
2 Turkish lira for Turkish
coffee where the locals drink,
instead of pricey town's
patisseries where you would be
charged from 5 Turkish lira for
Turkish coffee.
Sunbeds on most Bodrum beaches
are FREE if you buy your drinks
and food from the bar running
the beach.
Travel around Bodrum
Local ‘Dolmuş’ minibus runs
around Bodrum, connecting to its
other areas like Bitez, Gumbet
and so on. Get on and off
anywhere along the route. The
fee is displayed above the
driver. You may pass the money
to other passengers who will
then pass your payment to the
driver, your change is sent in
the same manner.
Taxis are recognized by there
yellow colour. The fare shown on
the meter reads according to the
distance travelled.
Health and safety in
Bodrum
Inoculations - Please see your
local GP.
Drink only bottled water.
Ambulance number 112.
Private and State hospitals,
doctors surgeries and clinics
are available all over Bodrum.
Health insurance is highly
recommended.
Medical facilities in our town
are up-to-date and equipped to
cope with the majority of
medical problems. There are
multilingual doctors and
dentists all around the town
open during weekly business
hours.
For emergencies the town
hospitals are open 24 hours a
day and most of the duty doctors
are bilingual. An ambulance
service may be requested from
hospitals for emergencies.
Pharmacies
There is a large number of
pharmacies (Eczane) in Bodrum,
open during business hours. In
each area there is a pharmacy
open 24-hour for emergencies. To
learn which pharmacy is on duty,
check with your tour operator,
the notices posted on the
pharmacy windows or call
information on 118. All medicine
is available, yet strong
painkillers, tranquilizers, and
some other medicine require
prescription.
How much will a visit
to doctor cost me ?
In Turkey, like in most European
countries you will be charged
for your visits. Usually a
regular visit to a doctor would
cost about 50-80 TL. However,
the fee could change so it is
better to ask about approximate
price in advance. Most doctors
provide receipts for holiday
insurance claims.
Electrical Appliances
The voltage is 220 Volts AC in
all parts of the country.
LOCATION OF THE PORT IN
BODRUM RESORT
Bodrum Cruise Port
Situated on a beautiful
peninsula, Bodrum, in these days
is better known as the "New St.
Tropez" and is one of the most
attractive coastal cities of
Turkey both among Turkish and
foreign travelers. Bodrum
exceeds the expectations when
you face the world famous St.
Peter's Castle or when you
discover enchanting villages
with houses painted in white and
trimmed with purple
bougainvillea together with
miles of sandy beaches and ideal
locations for water sports. All
these assets are representing
just a small portrait of Bodrum.
In the past Bodrum lacked a
port, so only a few cruise lines
could enjoy the natural and
archaeological sources of Bodrum
by staying at anchorage and in
the place where now the great
port complex stands only a
deserted small hill was facing
the blue water of Bodrum. In
March 2008 the Cruise Port
launched its operations, and
cruise vessels are now welcomed
by a full ISPS-certified port in
Bodrum Cruise Port and have the
possibility to enjoy the
treasures of the region in a
safe and secure environment.
Bodrum Cruise Port is located 36
km from Milas International
Airport and a few minute walk to
the city center. The Port has
the capacity to serve at least
two large cruise vessels at a
time together with three
motorboats. The newly built pier
has a length of 240 meters
(787.4ft) on the longer side and
220 meters (721.8ft) on the
inside, with a width of 15
meters (49.2ft). The draft of is
-9 meters in the shallow part of
the pier and -22 (72.2ft) meters
at the end of the pier.
Other than the cruise pier, the
Port has various quays ranging
from 3m (9.8ft) to 6m (19.7ft),
totaling to 300m (984ft). In
addition to the quays, the Port
harbors three ferryboat ramps.
The Port has a total area of
22,000 m² (236,800ft²) with a
beautiful terminal building in
total harmony with the pure blue
Mediterranean and Aegean blue
waters meeting and mixing here
in the city of Bodrum but also
the whitewashed houses, which
look like a dusting of new snow
on the mountaintop.
The terminal building is housing
all the customs offices,
duty-free area, restaurant and
cafeteria. Other buildings will
comprise in the near future
other restaurants, cafes and
brand new shops and boutiques.
GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES OF
BODRUM PORT
37°02′00″N 27°26′00″E
BODRUM RESORT USEFUL TELEPHONES
Bodrum Cruise Port tel. +90 252
316 48 72
Our Office tel. +90 252 417 11 28
Bodrum Harbour Master tel. +90
252 316 25 31
Bodrum Customs tel. +90 252 313
86 66
Bodrum Coastguard tel. 158
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