Bodrum's name is derived from the castle of Saint Peter which holds the first underwater archaeology museum of the Republic of Turkey. Halicarnassus's name was changed to Petrium when the city was devoted to Saint Peter. Petrium evolved to Petrum, Potrum, and Bodrum eventually. Bodrum was established by the Dorian Greeks and was an important port of the Carian states of western Anatolia. The city became the capital of Caria during the Persian Rule. Alexander the Great invaded the city in 334 BCE and Hellen rule continues until 129 BCE when the area was conquered by the Romans. In 1404, the Christian Knights of Saint John built the Castle of Bodrum, and thanks to the strategic location of the castle, it was the last conquered land by the Ottomans on the west coast of Anatolia. In 1522, Rhodes Island was conquered by Soliman the Magnificent leaving the castle to the Ottomans and forcing the Knights of Saint John to move to Sicily and Malta. Bodrum remained a peaceful fishing town by then and became an important tourist destination looking for entertainment, seaside resorts, and boat trips. The crystal clear turquoise coastline of Bodrum surrounded by International luxurious hotel brands and gulets with exquisite craftsmanship attracts tourists from all over the world. Besides the resorts and leisure alternatives, Bodrum sits on a very rich historical background for travelers looking for history and culture.

Where is Bodrum?

Bodrum is a district of Mugla province which is located in the west coast of the Republic of Turkey. Bodrum is accessible by three international airports and one seaport. Milas Airport is the closest one which is located 35 kilometers north of Bodrum. Izmir and Dalaman airports are also used by travelers to reach Bodrum which are both three hours away from Bodrum. The port of Bodrum is busy in summer with ferries arriving from Kos Island of Greece. Bodrum is only 2,5 hours away from Ephesus ancient city as well as Marmaris. Pamukkale - Hierapolis ancient city is only four hours away from Bodrum making it possible to reach after a comprehensive half-day tour around the ruins and the white travertines.

What to do in Bodrum?

The majority of the tourists of Bodrum prefer the city and neighboring towns for leisure. They come to Bodrum in summer for peace, tranquility, and fresh up after a tiring year of work. Bodrum is the capital of the wooden gulets which have alternatives to almost all travel budgets. From a daily cruise departing from Bodrum port, you can hire the gulet with staff and set sail to the Turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea or even the Greek Islands. Most of our guests are exploring many ancient cities before coming to Bodrum and mainly relax at their hotels. However, Bodrum's center has very important historical structures which are musts to see when you are in Bodrum. One of these monuments is the Castle of Saint Peter which was built by the Knights of Saint John in 1404. The castle was so important to the Christian World that Pope granted a pass to heavens to anyone working in the construction as it ran slower than it was expected. The marbles of the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus were used for the castle project by the Knights which resulted in the destruction of one of the Seven Wonder of the World. Along with the Temple of Artemis nearby Ephesus, Turkey hosts two of the seven wonders of the world. The Castle of Peter has the only underwater archaeology museum in Turkey which is a very special experience for any type of traveler. Myndos Gate and the citadels are worth seeing while you are touring in Bodrum city and you can easily start a walking tour from the Myndos Gate to the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus and then to the Castle of Saint Peter by the port. After sightseeing in the narrow back streets of the port to the south of the Castle, we highly recommend the seaside fish restaurants which will have delicious fish and fresh appetizers made from the local herbs of Bodrum. The Navy Museum of Bodrum has broad information on the naval history of Bodrum city. Most of the Greek and Turkish citizens of Bodrum dived for sponges to the Aegean Sea for a very long time in history and traded their sponges to the Mediterranean cities. A nice hand-processed sponge will be a very memorable gift to your loved ones from Bodrum.

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