Bodrum, Turkey, a fun seaside town, is easy to walk on this free walking tour around the bay from the flamboyant home of Zeki Müren to the Bodrum Castle, an Ancient Wonder of the World, an historic gate, moat and wall, and finally ending at the famous Bodrum windmills. We’ll take you on this walk, pointing out everything you’ll want to see in Bodrum in a day, and also suggest not only a great place to eat in Bodrum, but one of Bodrum’s best boutique hotels for a romantic weekend in Bodrum.
Turkey’s Liberace Lives On
The walk starts at the historic home of Zeki Müren. Zeki, a flamboyant Turkish singer, entertained his beloved country for decades. His crooning voice soothed and enchanted men and women alike. His flashy costumes challenged the best bedazzlers of the time. After he dramatically died on stage, the Turkish government turned his home into a cultural museum.
Now, you can tour it, see his many awards, the lovely furnishings, his art collection, and gasp! several of his thrilling shoes. Even Elton John would be envious. Ticket prices are less than $5 and well worth the chance to see his rolling Buick Regal from the 1970s.
Map of Free Walking Tour Bodrum (click)
An interactive version of this map is available at GPSMyCity.
After 30 minutes at Zevi’s, you’ll continue along the marina through the shopping district, making your way to the historic Bodrum Castle.
The Bodrum Castle
You can enter the Bodrum Castle for about $25 (or $.50 if you’re Turkish). Inside you’ll also find the Underwater Archaeological Museum, showcasing the treasures found in nearby ship wrecks.
The gothic Bodrum Castle was built by the Order of St. John of Jerusalem at the beginning of 15th century A.D. During the Ottoman Period, the Bodrum Castle was used as a small garrison base and in 1895 it was transformed into a prison. During the World War I, the Castle was bombed by the French, the prisoners were moved inland and the castle was evacuated.
The Italians invaded Bodrum next, and they posted their soldiers at the Castle and used it as their headquarters. Following the success of the Turkish War of Independence under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal in 1921, the Italian military forces were dispersed. During World War II, the Castle was yet again used as a military base but was evacuated at the end of the war.
Since The Order of the Knights of St. John was a multinational organization with members from several countries of Europe, each Order had its own tower, each in its own style, including French, Spanish, German, Italian and English. The Knights placed hundreds of painted coats of arms and carved reliefs on the walls above the gates. Two hundred and forty-nine separate designs still remain, including those of grand masters, castle commandants, countries, and personal coat of arms of knights and religious figures. Among those the most noticeable one is the coat of arms of King Henry IV of England on the English Tower.
Selfie with the Bodrum Sign
Meander along the waterfront, admiring the many yachts and gullets parked, wooing you out for a daily tour on the water. Stop and take a quick picture of yourself in front of the Bodrum sign. Next to the sign are public bathrooms; look for the “WC” sign to the left of the Bodrum sign.
Buy Some Trinkets at the Bodrum Bazaar
The Bodrum Bazaar beckons you up the street. On the way, you might stop at one of the many leather shops and get your own custom-made sandals. Much different than the high-end, high-dollar shops along the marina, the bazaar is a flea market at its best. You’ll find jewelry, clothing, brass lamps, and maybe even a genie bottle! On Tuesdays, the bazaar specializes in textiles and locally made fabrics. On Fridays, it’s produce day! Find a fresh pomegranate juice or try a fresh persimmon right from the tree.
Bodrum’s Ancient Wonder of the World
From the Bazaar, you’ll walk along the white-washed buildings of old town on they way to the an Ancient Wonder of the World, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. Built in 352 BC and destroyed by an earthquake in 1404 AD, sadly, not much remains of the tomb for Mausolus, a governor in the Persian Empire. His widowed wife, Artemisia, spared no expense and commissioned well-known Greek architects and artists to design the tomb and sculptural reliefs for each of the four sides of the building.
Inside the display area, you can find a replica of the monument. Square and nearly 14 stories tall, its base was more than 10,000 square feet. Each side of the tomb had nine massive columns, and the top was a stepped pyramid stood a four-horse marble chariot in which there were images of Mausolus and Artemisia. It’s worth the $3 to go see. The word “mausoleum” originates here.
Enter the Gate of Mydnos
Not from from this Wonder, you’ll walk toward the next site, the Myndos Gate. Soaring, the gate denotes one of the entries into the walled city of Halicarnassus. Built by Mausolus, the gate, wall, and moat neutralized attacks by Alexander the Great. Meander through the ruins, and notice where several soldiers died in the moat while attacking the city.
Walk the Ancient Wall of the Walled City of Halicarnassus
When you’ve finished enjoying the ruins, grab yourself a drink. The next part of the walk goes along the wall up the hill toward the windmills. If it’s hot, you’ll want some water. The walk can be quite warm, and it is steep. But it’s not as steep to approach the windmills from this way rather than from the road that leads to the windmills from the marina.
Follow the wall to the road. You’ll walk the road for just a few yards, then take a left to go up the hill to the windmills. Stay the course! You won’t want to miss the fantastic views of the windmills or the chance to go up inside one of the antique windmills. When you arrive at the windmills, cool off at the refreshment cafe before continuing on.
The Bodrum Windmills Are Worth the Climb
Once you’re ready, approach the Bodrum Windmills. You might even see goats on the way. The middle windmill is open for entry. Be sure to go! It’s a bit treacherous to climb up the tiny, narrow stairs. When you reach the top, you can see the inner workings of the windmill. The machinery has been restored. You can see how the windmill would turn the stone that ground the grain to turn it into flour.
The seven windmills were built in the 18th century to grind grains into flour while overlooking Bodrum Bay and Gumbet Bay. Locals used the windmills up until the 1970s. The windmills feature a distinctive cylindrical shape, with conical roofs that gracefully crown their tops.
Grab a Bite at the Bodrum Marina
For your last stop, make your way down the hill past the military base. Your legs will thank you that you’re going downhill here! At the bottom of the hill, enjoy the Bodrum Marina. There are many places to eat, serving traditional Turkish food and locally caught fish. It’s a busy area worthy of the best people watching.
On the other hand, if you want something a little different, head a bit further toward town and eat at Frenk. We loved this off-the-beaten path place just up the alley. Quiet and away from the buzz of the local motorcycles, we enjoyed a lovely pesto pasta and homemade lemonade.
Where to Stay Bodrum
With full bellies, we meandered back up to our hotel, the lovely Hotel de Vino, and enjoyed a rest in the hot tub while petting the local pup. This wonderful boutique hotel offered a comfortable king bed with a Juliet balcony. They decorated the bed with a lovely romantic heart made from bougainvillea leaves. In the morning, the breakfast buffet, included, featured traditional Turkish cheeses, olives, meats, and sweets. In the afternoon, they served Turkish tea and treats for an afternoon retreat.
Bodrum is a fun, romantic getaway that has a super free walking tour you can enjoy over one day or two. Be sure to grab a pair of handmade sandals, a cup of Turkish tea, and a piece of Turkish delight on your holiday in Bodrum.
Chris Englert, the Walking Traveler, believes walking is the platform for life. Wanderlusting since the age of 5, she’s since traveled all 50 US states and 62 countries. Chris shares her love of walking while traveling via blogs, books, and presentations. A natural storyteller, she invites you along as she explores the world, one walk at a time.
Currently, Chris and her husband, Steve, travel the world, full-time as nomads, with just their two carry-ons. They’ve been traveling since May, 2021.