Bodrum travel guide with information on hotels, restaurants and much more

Situated on a peninsula, on the south side of Turkey, the Bodrum resort is one of the wonderful paradoxes of the world. This little Paradise of contrasts, in which the quiet day life entwines in total harmony with the effervescence of the summer evenings, tells a story which starts 5000 years ago. And what better place can be more appropriate for meditating at the wonders of the past times than the place where Herodotus himself, the father of history, was born.

The little harbor situated on the coast of the Aegean Sea seems to be a place where time never sits still. The small pleasures of life, whatever your tastes are, can be felt in a summer that lasts from April to October. However, just sitting all day long on the beaches close to Bodrum would mean to experience just a tiny part of what this little corner of Heaven has to offer. You can’t pass through Bodrum without visiting one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Mausoleum, which was built by Artemisia as an homage to her husband - king Mausolos. Even the word mausoleum with its whole semantic connotation derives from these times of old. But the most spectacular piece of architecture in Bodrum remains St. Peter castle, with its grandiose walls which even today awake the feeling of safety and tranquility and look like they stand over the ancient port. This majestic building served as the single place of refuge for the Christian knights in the times of the Crusades; then it became a military base, prison, public bath and eventually retrieved its glorious history as a museum. The Bodrum amphitheatre (built somewhere between 330-30 BC) had the same fate and in 1973 has become an open-air museum.

But don’t be fooled by the apparent tranquility created by these historical places because the trendy life insinuates itself in the evening, in a city which is considered to be on the second place (after Istanbul) when we talk about the night life in Turkey. After sunset you cannot resist the temptations offered by bars, restaurants and discos situated along the coast, in which the traditional food and drinks can be tasted alongside a show of light and music, accompanied by the folklore represented by the “belly dance” which these locations has to offer.

And if after the tumultuous summer nights you still have some energy left you can make use of it the next day on the beaches close to the city, which offer tourists a real active holiday. You can surf and practice water-skiing on the ever clear water of the Aegean Sea and when floating becomes tiring you can always try diving with professional instructors. But probably the most unique experience on the sea is taking part at the Bodrum Cup – an annual race of wooden boats. The originality of this competition consists in the fact that anyone can participate actively by helping the crew in the race. And if adrenaline is not your strong point you can choose a peaceful cruise and admire the unspoiled beauties of the nature.

When you put your feet on the ground again don’t forget traveler to scour the shops and markets in Bodrum, because here it’s impossible not to buy yourself a souvenir after an unforgettable holiday. This area is well-known for the weavers living here, the Turkish carpets being on very high demand. And if you consider that such a carpet is too heavy for you to take home you can always settle for a pair of hand made sandals, a piece of embroidery, or a waterpipe–nargile, aside from the semiprecious stones called onyx which nobody can resist.

This continuous entwining of history with the modern trend, of traditionalism with originality make from Bodrum one of the few places which can satisfy any tourist no matter if he seeks tranquility or pure adrenaline.