Bodrum Holiday Guide

The resort is about a 35 minute drive from Bodrum Airport. Once you're there, aside from walking, the best way to get around is on a dolmus (minibus). There are services to most villages and beaches in the area and they all start their journeys from the central bus station on Cevat Sakir Street. Alternatively, you can flag one down at any point on your route.

The Bodrum Peninsula is dotted with beaches and you could chill out on a different one every day of your holiday. Gumbet is just three kilometres away and is great if you're into water sports. Bitez is a popular windsurfing spot and home to a Turkish Delight factory.

Turgutreis, 18 kilometres away, is a top surfing beach and neighbouring Yalikavak has lots of seaside bars and cafes, as well as an old olive-pressing factory that has been turned into a rug and jewellery shop.

The one sight you can't miss is the stunning Castle of St Peter in the middle of the town. It dates from the 15th century and is home to the excellent Museum of Underwater Archaeology, which the kids will love.

Bodrum was home to the Tomb of Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Most of the huge marble structure has been destroyed but the site's still fairly interesting and there are nice gardens to stroll through. There's also an ancient amphitheatre sitting on the hill above the town that offers great views of the area.

Many waterfront cafes in Bodrum serve all-day English breakfasts and fish and chips if you're missing your British grub, and several of the bigger hotels cater for international tastes.

If you fancy getting stuck into some Turkish food while on holiday here, try vine leaves stuffed with vegetables, roast meat kebabs and tasty kofte, meatballs of minced lamb seasoned with spices, served with rice and salad. If you're on a budget, Turkish pizza (pideci) is very cheap and very tasty.

Bodrum is one of the top destinations for holiday makers in Turkey for nightlife. Nearby Gumbet is also a fantastic option for a good disco and the partying often continues until dawn. The club with undoubtedly the biggest and noisiest reputation is Halikarnas Disco, perched on the edge of the bay.

The town's main street is lined with bars, English-style pubs and sports bars so you could even indulge in a good old-fashioned pub crawl. There are good Latin American-themed bars too, if you fancy a bit of a salsa.

Turkish shopkeepers will regularly invite you inside for a cup of cay (tea), as it's their way of getting you to come and check out their wares. If you do fancy shopping, alabaster, rugs, gold and costume jewellery and ceramics are all good buys - but remember to haggle.If you're not in the mood, a polite refusal normally does the trick.

Family’s holiday activities in Bodrum tend to centre around the beach, but if the kids get fed up of banana-boat rides and boogie boarding, they'll love a trip to Dedeman Aquapark to enjoy the slides.

Many hotels also have kids' clubs which will keep them occupied for half a day, and there's horse riding and tennis too.

The Greek island of Kos is only a 20 minute hydrofoil trip from Bodrum, so you could take in two countries in one holiday. It's similar to Bodrum, with archaeological sites, pretty villages and lots of lovely beaches, but it's great for a change of scenery and you could try some Greek specialities at lunchtime.