Bodrum

Bodrum Harbor:

Western Breakwater head: Fl R 5s 8m 8M

Eastern Breakwater head: Fl G 5s 8m 8M

It was built on the ruins of Halicarnassus, the capital city of ancient Caria.

Throughout history, it has been a place for sailors. Bodrum center has two bays. Between these bays, there is a castle built by the Knights of Saint John of Rhodes in the 15th century. 

This castle has been restored and is currently used as the Bodrum Underwater Archaeology Museum.

When approaching Bodrum, the castle is the landmark. Anyway, whether night or day, summer or winter, the traffic at sea indicates Bodrum. 

East and west of the castle, there are two bays where boats can shelter. In the past, Cretan immigrants settled in the bay on the east side and it was called the Greek Quarter. 

The bay on the west side is called the Turkish Quarter, generally with houses with gardens. Bodrum houses are generally painted white and have a similar architectural appearance. This type of construction in Bodrum and the bays of the peninsula is noticeable from a distance.

To the east of the castle is Kumbahçe (Castle) Bay. On this side, one can anchor at 6-10 meters paying attention to the beach swimming area buoys. The bottom is weedy and the anchor holds with difficulty.  

One can also stay by taking a stern line to the castle side. The bay is open to the south and sheltered from the meltemi. Since it is in Bodrum center, especially in the town where nightlife is lived wildly, sounds coming from nighttime entertainment centers can be disturbing. To the east of the bay, there is a very famous open-air discotheque. In this area, sounds aside, the lights of the castle and the competing entertainment centers create a different atmosphere. If you want to be right in the middle of the entertainment, you have come to the right place.

At night, a very large party boat moves from this cove towards Kara Ada, and the wild entertainment continues until morning. We also recommend that you do not anchor in the path of this vessel. Otherwise, hundreds of people may come to your boat for coffee at four in the morning.

Right below the discotheque, there is the municipality's "Kumbahçe Port Operation"(Municipality Port Operations Contact: 0252-313 67 69). Electricity and water are connected. Fuel supply is provided by tankers. However, this pier is generally a mooring and service area for daily tour and diving boats. Just east of this pier is Bodrum Harbor. It is a berthing and transfer port for large passenger ships. There is customs here.

The western side of the castle is protected by a breakwater. There are lights at the breakwater entrance(Fl G 5s 8M and Fl R 5s 8M). Since the breakwater is high, visibility from inside to outside and outside to inside is blocked. Therefore, it is necessary to navigate at slow speed. There is an entry and exit buoy line at the harbor mouth outside.

Upon entering the harbor, on the starboard side where the breakwater is located; there is the Coast Guard center, ferry pier, and customs. Services to domestic routes and Aegean Islands are operated from this quay.

In front of the castle and up to the Tepecik Mosque across, it is a mooring port under the control of the municipality. Yachts can berth at the pier in front of the castle(Municipality Port Operations Contact: 0252-313 67 69). Electricity and water are connected. Fuel supply is provided by tankers. Additionally, there is a fixed fuel station in front of the castle.

This section is the busiest area of Bodrum. Since we are now inside Bodrum, all needs can be easily met. Körmen-Bodrum ferries berth on the eastern side of Tepecik Mosque. They operate regular services during summer months.

The harbor depth is 6 meters. The water is not clear. Depth decreases to 3 meters at the shores. Due to Bodrum being a yacht tourism center, there is heavy yacht traffic. From time to time, boats moor 3 rows deep at the quay. The most valuable thing in Bodrum is boat space.

In the western part of this harbor is one of Turkey's finest marinas, "Milta Bodrum Marina". You can access all information about the marina, which has an "Ambulance Boat" and "Marine Emergency Response Team", from the relevant page.

In Bodrum, the town of sailors, almost every family has a sailor or sailors. The town's waterfront is full of beautiful cafes and restaurants. Fresh fish can be found at the waterside and market. Fresh vegetables and fruits are also sold at the market. In Bodrum, where there are also large shopping centers, "there is nothing that doesn't exist."

Clothing markets are set up on Tuesdays, and food markets on Fridays.

Bodrum's land and air transportation facilities are also very good. There are regular bus services to almost everywhere in Turkey. Milas Airport is 30 kilometers from Bodrum, Dalaman Airport 210, and Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport 230 kilometers away. There are also regular minibus services to every part of the Bodrum peninsula.

Branches and ATMs of all banks are located in Bodrum.

Bodrum is also the center of diving tours. It offers divers unique options with ancient shipwrecks and natural beauties. There are more than 15 diving spots around Bodrum. In Bodrum waters, in addition to many tropical fish, many fish species and octopus nests can also be encountered. In addition to the typical Flora and Fauna of the Aegean and Mediterranean, there are caves, tunnels, walls, and even meteor craters. During these dives, you are very likely to see ancient amphora fragments. Two shoals near Bodrum particularly attract the attention of underwater photographers with their interesting fish species and natural beauties. The depth at diving spots varies between 5-40 meters and visibility is approximately 20 meters. From April to October, water temperature varies between 17 C and 22 C.  

There are many stores selling diving equipment and diving schools in Bodrum.

Within the Castle, which is the symbol of Bodrum, is the world-famous "Underwater Archaeology Museum". In the museum galleries spread over a wide area, there are many historical wrecks and ships recovered from Turkish territorial waters. The museum, which has a magnificent atmosphere and decoration, is open to visitors every day except Monday, in winter from 08.00-17.00, in summer from 09.00-19.00 (Contact: 0252 316 25 16).

Inside the castle there is also an ancient theatre. The monumental work of Classical Age Bodrum that has survived to the present day is the Bodrum theatre. The theatre leans against the southern slope of Göktepe in accordance with ancient tradition. This theatre is one of the oldest theatres in Anatolia. It belongs to the Mausolus Period. Most of the seating rows have been lost. In this section there are probably 25 seating rows. If each person is given 40 cm of space, this theatre has a capacity of 13 thousand people.

Due to Bodrum being a maritime center throughout history and today, boat production has become highly developed. Particularly in the shipyards located in the İçmeler district, countless yachts are produced for the world's seas. Bodrum-style gulets are produced in these areas and launched into the seas.

The traditional Bodrum Wooden Boats Yacht Races, where these wooden gulets compete fiercely, where crews and their boats are tested, and where they shake off the fatigue of the season, have been held in Bodrum waters since 1989. This event, which initially started with the participation of a few boats at the end of the season, has now taken on the atmosphere of an international carnival. The races, initiated by Bodrum sailor Erman Aras and continuing with the participation and support of Bodrum locals, take place at the end of each season. Over 100 boats and their crews compete fiercely. Customers, crew families shed the stress of the season among Bodrum's unique coves. An important contribution of these races is that both the boats and crews are prepared for sailing, they learn, and the cruises done under sail during the seasonrlerini arttırmalarıdır. Around Bodrum, we can see many huge  wooden boats sailing. Their numbers have increased considerably.

Bodrum has extensive facilities in terms of boatyards. It hosts many boatyards. Winter storage, maintenance and repair facilities are quite abundant.

In Bodrum, it is possible to find all kinds of marine equipment and craftsmen. It is also advanced in terms of boat furnishing and decoration.

A unique living center where those who want to live intertwined with the seas, whether peaceful or lively, settle, and its white houses multiply day by day: Bodrum.

Bodrum is Bodrum and there is no other Bodrum..