The Castle of St. Peter was constructed by the Knights of St. John in the 15th century using rubble they collected from the destroyed mausoleum. The castle was designed in the Franconian-Byzantine style, with five towers named after the countries of origin of its early inhabitants. After the crusaders abandoned the castle, it was used to store underwater treasures discovered by divers. That tradition continues today: The castle is now home to the Museum of Underwater Archaeology.

The Museum of Underwater Archaeology has been open to the public since 1961. Countless finds from shipwrecks are on display here in Bodrum Kalesi, alongside reconstructions of famous ships, an extensive collection of amphoras, and many other fascinating archaeological items. The museum is considered one of the world’s finest in the field of underwater archaeology.

The mausoleum, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was originally constructed as the tomb of Mausolus in Halicarnassus (today known as Bodrum) in circa 350 B.C. The structure was approximately 50 meters tall when it was first built. It was badly damaged in the 12th century, but its foundation remained largely intact. In the 15th and early 16th centuries, the Knights Templar of the Order of St. John dismantled large sections of the ruins and used the stones to construct the Castle of St. Peter. Today, similar tombs are still referred to as mausoleums.

The Hellenistic theater in Halicarnassus was built some time between the 4th and 3rd centuries B.C. Halicarnassus came to prominence with the construction Mausolus’ tomb, at which point the city’s ancient Greek theater also became a popular attraction. The theater has been open to the general public since 2003, and it hosts numerous concerts.

The island of Kara Ada (“Black Island”) is across from Bodrum and is famous for its clean pebble beaches and healing mud. The dark pines lend the island its name as well as its particularly good air quality.

A “Blue Cruise” is a boat tour that follows in the footsteps of Cevat Şakir. The poet and painter came up with the term during his exile in Bodrum. In his works, he often described the trips of exploration he took along the coast in little fishing boats. Today, you can still take the same tours as the poet took back then. A wide range of tour operators offer tours to many different destinations.

The hill over Bodrum is the perfect spot to get a bird’s-eye view of the city and the Bodrum Peninsula. Old windmills are dotted across the landscape – charming relics of the city’s past.

The Myndos Gate was the western entrance to the historic city of Halicarnassus (today known as Bodrum). The gate was built in 360 B.C. and protected the city from enemy invaders. It even initially repelled Alexander the Great, who could not get past the moat in front of the gate. Tombs dating from Hellenistic and Roman times can also be found near the gate.

Bodrum’s harbor has earned the city comparisons to Saint Tropez. The many cafés, bars, and restaurants along the beach offer a beautiful view of the exclusive yachts and sailboats, as well as of the Castle of St. Peter, which lies directly across from the harbor.

A day trip to the Carian city of Milas (ancient name: Mylasa) is well worth it for the city’s historic district alone. The Firuz Ağa Mosque is also located here – a 14th-century structure from the era of the Menteshe principality. Beçin Castle, also constructed in the 14th century, is another fascinating sight, as is the Gümüşkesen Monument, a smaller version of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus.

One of the city’s oldest fish restaurants impresses its guests with delicious seafood dishes and a heavenly view of the castle – enjoy a sunset dinner! Reservations are recommended.

This restaurant serves superb cuisine, and the location regularly hosts live music performances by famous musicians.

At this establishment, guests can enjoy typical Mediterranean cuisine with a stunning panorama view of the harbor and the ocean. The menu also caters to vegetarians, vegans, and people with food allergies.

Tucked away on a side street, this place is a hidden gem for those in the know: fine French cuisine in a beautiful courtyard.

Despite its name, this beautiful, lush garden restaurant also caters to vegetarians.

One of the finest bars in Bodrum, with an attached restaurant. The atmosphere tends to be relaxed and peaceful in the evenings. But as the night wears on, the soul and jazz music only gets louder!

It looks like a little café by day, but from 11:00 p.m. on, it transforms into a bar with live music. The balcony gets you close to the stage and also gives you a great view of the water.

This bar behind the castle opened in 1989 and offers seating directly at the seaside.

Every year, the large historic theater hosts countless concerts, festivals, and other events. The open-air Hellenistic theater in Halicarnassus was constructed some time between the 4th and 3rd centuries B.C. and has been open to the public since 2003.

Fora is a Turkish pub, the perfect place for an evening by the sea. The beautiful wooden terrace offers a stunning panorama view of the beach promenade.