Bodrum Travel Information

Bodrum Travel Information

Sunny and warm? Yes. With beaches and water sports? Definitely. Just another ordinary beach holidaydestination inTurkey? Not quite. Bodrum has all the before mentioned qualifications, but as an addition to them, this coastal town is also the home of the ancient mausoleum of Halikarnassus, a sight considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

Bodrum, Turkish beach city with water sports and historical sights

Bodrum is the home of the ancient mausoleum of Halikarnassus, which is known as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Unfortunately, most of the mausoleum that was built before Christ was destroyed in an earthquake. On the stand of the remains you can find the Halikarnassus Castle, which today is the most famous sight of the city. The castle stands in spectacular settings by the Mediterranean Sea and is considered the symbol of Bodrum. The special sight of the area is the Museum of Underwater Archaeology. Boat tours in Bodrum are offered for sightseeing in the coastal waters of the town, also famous for its nice beaches.

Sea view from St. Peter Castle in Bordum

Recreation and sports. After a day on the beach, how about a relaxing Turkish bath or a health treatment with mud? You might also like to take a walk in the Marina of Bodrum, admiring the luxury yachts waiting to be sailed to the waves of the Aegean Sea. If you are more active, try one of the many water sports offered in the area. Windsurfing in Bodrum is available for the wind-loving, and diving in Bodrum awaits those who are interested in the treasures of the underwater world. In case you want to try your bargaining skills, there are colorful bazaars available for shopping in Bodrum. You can also enjoy the lively nightlife in Bodrum, offering a variety of bars and nightclubs. Special entertainment for culture lovers is offered in April when the city hosts a popular ballet festival.

Beach chairs and boats in Bodrum, Turkey

Practical information for your trip to Bodrum

Bordum is located along the Turkish Aegean Sea coast approximately halfway between Alanya and Izmir. The closest airport and the most important connection for flights and travelling to Bodrum is found half an hour away from the city and has shuttle buses waiting for visitors to be transported to the city.

You can easily walk around in Bodrum, but taxis and car rental in Bodrum are available for more efficient touring.

Sailboat in Bodrum harbour

Weather. The ancient city of Bodrum enjoys a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. During the summer average monthly high temperatures in the region climb over 30°C (June-August). During the winter, temperatures in Bodrum drop to 10-15 °C, which means sunbathing season and the most popular time to visit Bodrum is from April to October. Outside that period the city is much more silent.

Gate of the ancient city of Halikarnassus near Bodrum

Visitor services. Historically interesting but yet modern enough to draw a wide spectrum of travelers, Bodrum lives on tourism. The town has a good amount of hotels in Bodrum to choose from, and if you get hungry, restaurants in Bodrum are ready to feed and entertain you. As for nightlife and shopping in Bodrum, you will find plenty of choices and if you remember to bargain hard, prices can get very comfortable. As most Turkish beach destinations, Bodrum is quite safe, and you will get by in English. However, be aware of pickpockets and keep an eye on your belongings.

Fethiye Travel Information

Fethiye Travel Information

Lively city along the Aegean Sea coast of Turkey, Fethiye offers you anything from beach life and water sports to ancient Roman sarcophagus and cave tombs. Apart from that, Fethiye is the beginning of a popular trekking route and creates a good center for touring in the lovely countryside of Turkey. If you want to try some more adventurous sports, paragliding and sea kayaking in Fethiye are available.

Fethiye, Turkish city along the Aegean coast with beaches and adventure sports

Sunny and warm coastal town in Turkey, Fethiye attracts with its beaches and history. It is located on the place of the ancient city of Telmessos, remains of which you can still see in the area. Interesting enough, Telmessos left the area also Lycian sarcophagus, today a popular tourist sight. Many visitors go to see also the famous cave tombs located on a hillside close to Fethiye. The best known of them is the tomb of King Amynthas, once a commander of famous Macedonian King Alexander the Great.

Beach scenery in Fethiye

Nature and sports. Besides history, the other part of the draw of Fethiye comes from its natural surroundings. The Turkish Aegean coast offers you sandy beaches to be enjoyed and water sports such as diving in Fethiye to be attended. The region around the town is mountainous, creating exciting possibilities for adventure sports such as paragliding in Fethiye. The city is also the starting place of a popular long distance walking route, and shorter trails for trekking in Fethiye are available. Sports enthusiasts are also known to be part of the active nightlife in Fethiye.

Beach in Fethiye, Turkey

Practical information for your trip to Fethiye

Fethiye is located at the southern part of the Turkish coast of the Aegean Sea between Antalya and Marmaris. The nearest airports offering connections for flights and travelling to Fethiye are Antalya and Dalaman, both of which offer you bus connections to Fethiye. Once you have made it here, walking is the easiest way to get around, but also taxis and car rental in Fethiye are available.

Ancient Greek ruins of Telmessos near Fethiye

Weather. Just like the rest of the Turkish Aegean Sea coast, also Fethiye enjoys hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters.

During the summer average monthly high temperatures in the region climb over 30°C (June-August). During the winter, temperatures drop to 10-15°C, which means sunbathing season and the most popular time to visit Fethiye is from April to October. Outside that period the resort town is much quieter.

Boats at a tranquil bay, Fethiye

Visitor services. Active and enjoyable coastal town, Fethiye lives on tourism. There is a good amount of hotels in Fethiye to choose from, and restaurants in Fethiye are more than happy to feed the hungry holidaymakers. As for nightlife and shopping in Fethiye, you will find plenty of choices and if you remember to bargain hard, prices can get very comfortable. As most Turkish beach destinations, Fethiye is a quite safe place. However, it is recommended to watch out for pickpockets and keep an eye on your belongings.

Istanbul Travel Information

Istanbul Travel Information

Known as Constantinople during the times of the Byzantine rule, Istanbul in Turkey hosts several amazing historical and religious sights. This historical Turkish metropolis standing at the border of Europe and Asia is also home to fascinating bazaars and enjoyable Turkish baths, offering a wide variety of cultural attractions and city entertainment.

From Hagia Sophia to the Grand Bazaar: Attractions of Istanbul

Standing on a strategic location on the border of Europe and Asia between the Black and the Mediterranean Seas, Istanbul is a scenic city with amazing historical and religious sights. The most famous landmark of the city is the former basilica and mosque of Hagia Sophia, which today acts as a museum. This famous building dates back to 6th century and is particularly famous for its massive dome. Other popular historical sites in Istanbul, Hippodrome of Constantine and Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque) accompany Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofya) in forming the Historical Center of Istanbul, which has been nominated a cultural UNESCO World Heritage Site. Complementing the historical attraction of Istanbul, the city hosts also some astonishing palaces such as Topkapi, and interesting museums.

Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul

City activities. Apart from its world famous historical and religious sights, Istanbul attracts many also with its bazaars, the most famous of which is the Grand Bazaar. This huge bazaar that was built in 1464 is said to be the oldest bazaar in the world. One thing it sure is is an interesting place for shopping in Istanbul. If you want to enjoy a scenic experience, you can also visit Galata Tower, a lookout place offering you 360 degree view over the city of Istanbul. Short cruises in Istanbul are also a popular way of seeing the city, and in case you want to enjoy Turkish bathing tradition, traditional and modern spas in Istanbul are available.

Istanbul city lights at night

At the border of Europe and Asia: Practical information for your trip to Istanbul

Istanbul enjoys a Mediterranean-type climate with hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. Summer temperatures in Istanbul are around 30°C (June-August). During the winter, temperatures in Istanbul drop to near zero, but snowfall in the city is unexceptional. Istanbul is at its best between April and October, but if you come in July or August, be prepared for hot conditions.

Busy market street in Istanbul

How to get there. Istanbul has a busy international airport that offers flights to Istanbul from all over the world. If you want to follow the old-time traditions of the Orient Express and travel to Istanbul by train, journeys are available from Hungary, Romania, Greece and Bulgaria. There is a varied system of trams, buses, taxis and subway available for moving around in the city. Car rental in Istanbul is also easy to find, although traffic inside the city is often characterized as maniac, making driving in Istanbul difficult with common traffic jams, harsh over-speeding and general neglecting of traffic rules.

Sailing in Bosphorus strait, Istanbul

Tourist services in the former Constantinople are good with a wide variety of hotels in Istanbul available, suiting many tastes and budgets. The many restaurants in Istanbul offer varied possibilities for culinary experiences with famous Turkish cuisine or with international menus. Also pleasing many tourists, nightlife in Istanbul is quite lively. English is understood by many educated people in the city. As it has witnessed some terrorist bombings recently, Istanbul is not free from safety problems, and especially pick-pocketing, cheating taxi drivers and sexual crimes are common in the city. However, if you follow safety instructions and common sense, your visit to Istanbul will probably be trouble-free.