Bodrum, Turkey - things to do?

beluga

Hello!
I've just booked at two week trip to Bodrum in Turkey for September 2014. There will be four of use going, two couples (in separate rooms!), all aged 30ish. DH and I have never been to Turkey, so any advice or suggestions on things to do in this area would be gratefully received!
DH is a certified diver, and we both love water based activities (snorkelling, boat trips etc). We're also interested in historical sites, or anything unusual / unique to this area.
We're staying All Inclusive, so I'm sure we'll have a beer or two, but we don't really like "party/ booze cruises" and things like that.

Thanks in advance for any comments! x:beer:

PompeyPete

Things to do...

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attractions-g298020-Activities-Bodrum_Mugla_Province_Turkish_Aegean_Coast.html

Here's the Trip Advisor discussion forum for a whole lot more good [and not so good] stuff...

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowForum-g298020-i764-Bodrum_Mugla_Province_Turkish_Aegean_Coast.html

And here's plenty more from Wikitravel...

http://wikitravel.org/en/Bodrum

lea2012

There's plenty to do in Bodrum and the surrounding area. Once you get there you'll find plenty of travel agents that sell day trips etc.

The biggies are:
* Ephesus - an ancient Greek city that is now mainly ruins but pretty outstanding ones at that. It's around 2.5hrs away if you drive, or 3hrs via coach depending on pick ups etc. A long day but well worth it.
*Pamukkale - an area of thermal pools basically. It's at least 4 hours on a coach from Bodrum and to be honest not really worth it. I found it an interesting day out and have been a couple of times but from Marmaris and even then it's a long day.
* Day trip to Kos, Greece- highly recommend this trip. Kos is a beautiful island and there's plenty to see and do in Kos Town. Again lots of historical ruins, a great castle / fortress and lots of interesting shops and tavernas.

Then other trips that you will find are boat trips, Jeep Safaris, Aqua Park, Turkish baths, Village Tour, Dalyan Mud Baths, Market trips etc.

If you get chance I would use the local bus service and head off and explore some of the other tourist resorts: Turgutreis, Torba, Gumbet, Yalikavak etc and perhaps even get the bus in to Izmir which is a great city to explore and you'll get more of a feel for Turkish life here.

samsmoot

Castle, Rhodes and a massage in Gumbet.

Saint_Chris

Hi
We go to gumbet every sept, as we meet with a large group of friend over there.


But we do venture out, and I would highly recommend, like lea2012 said getting on a dolmus and going to Gumbet, Turgutreis, Torba,, Yalikavak and a deffo for us is Bietez.


I wouldn't recommend going to koz for the day we did it, it's a long day and we qued for ages to go through passport control when we got there, your in turkey, there's enough to do on the peninsular without going over to koz, just my opinion.


Other things are


1 - Bodrum castle and the museum of underwater archaeology


2 - take a boat tour, loads to choose from at the harbour at bodrum


3 - gumusluk is a lovely little resort and if you like fish you'll love it here.


4 - water park, but it's not the best but fun for a day out.


5 - there's a small ampitheater, just outside of gumbet, if you get the dolmus from bodrum to gumbet ask to be dropped off at it, only small but the view of bodrum is excellent, and it's near the oasis shopping centre.


6 - one of the 7 wonders of the world is just outside of bodrum, it's called the mausoleum of Halicarnassus, it's a 10 min walk from the harbour, it's just a pile of rubble now, but worth going to say at least that you have been and seen it .


Now I'm not into diving, but I do know that at the harbour or around the resort you will see people selling trips diving is advertised, the only one I know is happy bubbles.
http://happybubbles.com/


Oh and one more thing I will say is spend a evening at the moonlight bar in bodrum, it's on the beach at the side of the castle, and it's lovely sitting there with the water lapping at your feet.
I've not got a link to their webpage, but if you google it loads of pages come up, and one with a map, as it's off the shopping street down a small alley..........but well well worth a night here. I will be there in sept with my friends.


hth if you need anymore help feel free to ask.


Also dont' forget to aply for your visa on line before you go, you can still pay for it when you arrive but it will cost you double.
http://www.mfa.gov.tr/visa-applications-at-points-of-entry-to-the-republic-of-turkey-as-of-11-april-2014-and-measures-to-be-taken-during-the-transit.en.mfa

Pollycat

lea2012 wrote: »

The biggies are:
* Ephesus - an ancient Greek city that is now mainly ruins but pretty outstanding ones at that. It's around 2.5hrs away if you drive, or 3hrs via coach depending on pick ups etc. A long day but well worth it.
*Pamukkale - an area of thermal pools basically. It's at least 4 hours on a coach from Bodrum and to be honest not really worth it. I found it an interesting day out and have been a couple of times but from Marmaris and even then it's a long day.

Most travel shops will offer a 2 day trip to both Ephesus and Pamukkale which (imho) is better than doing 2 separate trips.

Google Pamukkale and see if you think it's worth it.

Turgutreis has a very busy market on Saturdays, selling tourist stuff and also spices, fruit & veg.