Bodrum (formerly Halicarnassus -in Greek Αλικαρνασσός-, and also, during the Middle Ages Petronium) is a Turkish port in Muğla Province. It is on the Bodrum Peninsula, near the northwest entrance to the Gulf of Gökova, and faces the Greek island of Kos. Today, it is a center of tourism and yachting. It is the ancient Halicarnassus of Caria, renowned for the Mausoleum.
The town is very popular tourist resort for northern Europeans due to its attractive coastline and active night-life (Bodrum has been humorously referred to as the “Bedroom of Europe”)., Bodrum is a major tourist attraction due to its excellent climate, beautiful coastline and a plethora of proximate sites of historical importance and natural beauty. It can safely be said that every year at least a few hundreds of thousands of tourists visit Bodrum. The current population is 32,227 (2000 census).
Even if you are not staying in Bodrum a visit to this busy resort is a wonderful day out. The Castle of St Peter with its amazing maritime museum is fascinating; alternatively stroll through the marina with its charming boutiques and elegant yachts. There is a fantastic selection of waterfront shops, and Bodrum’s pedestrian shopping lanes will keep you busy during the day. All around the Bodrum peninsular there are wonderful opportunities for watersports. You can try your hand at water skiing, parasailing, dinghy sailing, windsurfing or perhaps the more sedate pastimes of canoeing or pedaloes. For more organised excursions experience a day out to Ephesus, one of the best-preserved archaeological sites in the world. Also worth a visit is Pamukkale, one of nature’s phenomena where hot mineral waters flow down the mountain and have solidified to form snowy white pools. As you might expect, boat trips are widely available and you can even take your passport and take a trip to the nearby Greek island of Kos.
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