2 Days in Bodrum: Day-by-Day Itinerary

Historic & Cultural

Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus or Tomb of Mausolus was a tomb built between 353 and 351 BC in Halicarnassus for Mausolus, an Anatolian from Caria and a satrap in the Achaemenid Persian Empire, and his sister-wife Artemisia II. The structure was designed by the Greek architects Satyros of Paros and Pythius of Priene. Its elevated tomb structure is derived from the tombs of neighbouring Lycia, a territory Mausolus had invaded and annexed c. 360 BC, such as the Nereid Monument.

Closed every Monday

Historic & Cultural

Bodrum Castle

Bodrum Castle is a historical fortification located in southwest Turkey in the port city of Bodrum, built from 1402 onwards, by the Knights of St John as the Castle of St. Peter or Petronium. A transnational effort, it has four towers known as the English, French, German, and Italian towers, bearing the names of the nations responsible for their construction.

Plan 2 hours

Religious Sites

Saint Nicholas Church, Bodrum

Aya Nikola Church is a Greek Orthodox church built in 1780 or 1873 and dedicated to Saint Nicholas, and was controllably demolished in 1969 as a result of a dilapidation report issued by Pamukkale University. The remains of the church are located in Hilmi Uran Square on Cumhuriyet Street. After the Turkey-Greece population exchange, the church was used as a sponge warehouse, cinema, and public education center.

Museums

Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology

The Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology is located within Bodrum Castle and opened to visitors in 1964. It is the only underwater archaeology museum in Turkey and one of the most important in the world. The museum houses a rich collection of underwater artifacts dating from the 16th century BC to the 16th century AD. In 1995, the museum received a Special Commendation in the European Museum of the Year Awards. Notable exhibits include the Serçe Limanı Glass Wreck, the Uluburun Shipwreck, and the Yassıada Shipwrecks. It is within walking distance of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus (768 m), Bodrum Castle (234 m), and St. Nicholas Church (239 m). The nearest public transport, the Kos - Santorini - Symi ferry stop, is 254 m away.

Historic & Cultural

Ancient Theatre of Halicarnassus

The Theatre at Halicarnassus, also known as Bodrum Antique Theatre, is a 4th-century BC Greco-Roman theatre located in Bodrum, Turkey. The theatre is considered to be built in a similar style to Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus.

Historic & Cultural

Myndos Gate

Myndos Gate is a historical site located near Bodrum. Myndos Gate, which formed an important point of the city walls of Halicarnassus, is located west of Bodrum city center today. Since the city's western walls passed through the plain, they were reinforced with towers. The dimensions of the towers are approximately 7x8.5 meters. One of the two towers of Myndos Gate has reached today almost with its original height. This gate is known as Myndos Gate because it is in the direction of the ancient city of Myndos, located at the tip of the peninsula. Its local name is Diktiri.

Historic & Cultural

Milas

Milas is a municipality and district of Muğla Province, Turkey. Its area is 2,067 km2, and its population is 147,416 (2022). The city commands a region with an active economy and is very rich in history and ancient remains, the territory of Milas containing a remarkable twenty-seven archaeological sites of note. The city was the first capital of ancient Caria and of the Anatolian beylik of Menteşe in mediaeval times. The nearby Mausoleum of Hecatomnus is classified as a tentative UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Museums

Milas Museum

Milas Museum is a museum of archaeology and ethnography in Muğla Province of Turkey.

Historic & Cultural

Hekatomnos Anıt Mezarı ve Kutsal Alanı

The Hekatomnos Monumental Tomb and Sacred Area, located in Milas, Muğla, is an important historical structure dating back to the 4th century BC. Built for Hekatomnos, the Satrap of Caria, this monumental tomb predates the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus and is notable for its architectural design. The complex includes the Temenos Wall, the Menandros Honorific Column, the Podium, and the Tomb (comprising the Supporting Chamber, Burial Chamber, Sarcophagus, and Dromos). The Hekatomnos Friezed Sarcophagus, in particular, is considered unique in Classical and Hellenistic Anatolia due to its size and quality. The site is within walking distance of Milas (708 m) and Milas Museum (247 m).

Historic & Cultural

Gümüşkesen Anıtı

The Gümüşkesen Monument, located in the Gümüşkesen neighborhood of Milas, is a Roman-era tomb monument. This structure, one of Milas's symbols, was built in the mid-2nd century AD and is thought to have been constructed for a high-ranking official or commander of Milas and their family. It is considered a small replica of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus due to its architectural features and consists of three sections: the burial chamber, the colonnaded middle floor for religious ceremonies, and the pyramidal roof. The monument was temporarily closed to visitors due to landscaping and museum construction that began in 2017.