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Most people go to Bodrum to relax, enjoy the sun and sea, and party. While all of those are great reasons to visit, Bodrum’s city center has a long and colorful history with some decent archaeological sites, a Crusader castle, and a bazaar to keep you busy for a day.
Cumhuriyet Street
The area people spend most of their time in is the street that runs parallel to the beach, Cumhuriyet Street (Cumhuriyet Caddesi). It’s a long stretch of road lined with restaurants and a bazaar, taking you from a small harbor all the way to Bodrum Castle. There’s action both day and night, and part of the road is covered to protect visitors from the rain and sun.
On the beach end of Cumhuriyet Street, there are several restaurants and cafés with outdoor seating in a lovely atmosphere. Many of the restaurants have seating right on the beach, but beware many are terribly overpriced.
Near the end of the street towards the harbor, several alleys lead to more open sections of the bazaar. There, you’ll find even more shops as well as restaurants.
Harbor
Just outside the castle is the main harbor. It’s lined with beautiful sailboats and luxury vessels, some for hire for a day or by the week. I really enjoyed walking the perimeter of the marina and looking at all the boats. Click here for a virtual tour.
Small Square
On the eastern corner of the harbor is a small square where Bodrum’s city hall is located. There are a few busts of important women in the city’s history as well as one of those annoying hashtag signs.
Aegean Vibes
Going further inland, especially while walking towards the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus and the Halicarnassus Theatre, the city seems to feel more and more like an Aegean island.
Gümbet
You might come across a small white domed structure while walking through Bodrum. This is called a gümbet (cistern). They supplied water to the city before modern plumbing was installed.
Zeki Müren Art Museum
Popular with mostly Turkish tourists is the Zeki Müren Art Museum (Zeki Müren Sanat Müzesi). It was the home of the famous Turkish singer Zeki Müren, who died in 1996. The museum showcases his personal effects including flashy outfits and his car. It’s open daily except Mondays and admission for foreigners is €4 (as of May 2024).
Tiger Tower
On a hill on the outskirts of town and easily visible from the castle is the Tiger Tower. This ancient structure was probably built during the reign of King Mausolus in the 4th century BC.
Sunsets
Finally, I will tell you about my favorite sunset in Bodrum. You can catch it in the small harbor on the east side of town near the cruise ship terminal. The view of the harbor below is from the rooftop of my hotel.
I was walking back from the terminal during the sunset and was able to capture the gorgeous scene for myself.
