Top things to do in Bodrum

Looming large over Bodrum seafront the impressive Castle of St. Peter grabs every visitor’s attention and soon becomes a ‘must see’ part of their holiday itinerary. Built by the Knights Hospitallers of St John between 1402 and 1437, who were entrusted with defending this part of Turkey, the castle is dominated by a number of towers. Most notable are the French Tower, English Tower, with a lion crest sculpture forming part of the west wall, and Gatineau Tower, which provides the entrance to the castle dungeons. The castle is open to the public most days and inside its vast halls are exhibits from Bodrum’s Museum of Underwater Archaeology.

Situated throughout various halls on the upper levels of the Castle of St. Peter in Bodrum is the very impressive Museum of Underwater Archaeology. Recently modernised, this amazing museum utilises state-of-the-art multimedia displays to tell the story of its many wonderful exhibits in a truly engaging way. On display are underwater artefacts found around the region's coast as well as discoveries excavated from the Bodrum Peninsula. The highlight is the Serce Limani Glass Ship Wreck room which showcases a 16-metre Byzantine ship from 1026, complete with glass and pottery objects found on board.

Dating from 376 BC the Mausoleum of Mausolus was built in Bodrum as the final resting place of King Mausolus. Originally consisting of a 46-metre-high tower and decorated by the most famous Greek sculptors of the age, the mausoleum has been designated as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Unfortunately, several earthquakes and time have reduced the site to a pile of marble rubble, additionally, many stones were removed by the Knights Hospitallers to build the Castle of St. Peter. Even though it's damaged, it's still worth visiting just to say you've stood next to an Ancient Wonder. Plus, there's a helpful model of the original structure to aid your imagination.

Step back in time and take a leisurely ramble through the backstreets of Bodrum to enjoy an aspect of Turkey that seems a world away from the nearby resort complex. The shaded lanes that meander behind the beach, bazaar and marina areas are lined with classic whitewashed cottages, covered in colourful bougainvillea and vines. These rambling thoroughfares provide excellent photo opportunities that accurately portray how this fishing village originally would have looked. As you get lost amongst the numerous alleyways take time to stop and enjoy some local food and drink at one of the many cafes and restaurants that add to the overall old-world charm.

An easy day trip from Bodrum is Stratonikeia, a real gem of an ancient, historical site. Dating from the Bronze Age the site is unusual in that it has been continuously settled right up until the early years of the modern Turkish Republic when the village of Eskihisar, as it had become known, was moved a couple of kilometres away. Stratonikeia is less popular than some of the more well-known locations such as Ephesus, so it is a joy to be able to stroll around the Ottoman-era monuments and houses in relative solitude. Highlights include the Hellenistic theatre carved into a hillside, lanes lined with the remains of ancient stone houses and a double-arched entrance gate.