Bodrum

Once known as Halicarnassus, the popular resort and yachting port of Bodrum, on the Bodrum peninsula at the southern end of Turkey's Aegean coast (map), boasts the ruins of the original Mausoleum, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, as well as the lofty Castle of St Peter, a Crusader fortress which now serves as the world's foremost Museum of Underwater Archaeology. 

Bodrum is also known for its enthusiastic nightlife. If you like staying up late at loud discos and clubs, you'll love Bodrum. If you go to bed early and sleep lightly, you may suffer. As the provincial governor once said, "If you want quiet, go somewhere else." 

Two small picture-perfect bays frame the castle, making it particularly attractive to yachters.

The beaches right in town are small and the water not particularly appealing, but there are other beaches and towns nearby. In fact, many people choose to make their base in other towns around the Bodrum peninsula, coming to Bodrum itself for visits. 

To get away to a secluded hotel, or rental villa or cottage in Bodrum or one of the other towns on theBodrum peninsula for a week or a fortnight is really a dream-come-true. More...

Bodrum's beauty, mild climate and access to the sea have drawn so many Turkish and foreign visitors and part-year residents that population growth and construction are changing the character of the peninsula dramatically. Traffic is now a major concern, with roadways unable to keep up with the explosive growth in the number of vehicles. Allow plenty of time for slow going as you move about the peninsula.