Bodrum

Bodrum ranks 2nd in the list of the most beautiful seaside towns in Turkey. It is a medium-sized city that, however, attracts thousands of tourists every year willing to be flooded by the light of the Mediterranean. The town is dominated by its magnificent San Pedro castle, which dominates the entire bay in which the town is located. The castle is a reminder of the strategic position of the Aegean Sea during the Crusades (it was built by order of Saint John of Jerusalem).

Bodrum Castle is located on a peninsula south of the city and is built with the stone of a ruined mausoleum. There is a fee to visit this 15th-century structure built by the Christian Crusaders. Today, inside the castle is the Ocean World Archaeological Museum, which displays preserved relics from excavations and shipwrecks around the area.

Visitors can also find other ancient artifacts in the hills north of the city. Catch a concert at the 4th-century BC Open Air Theater or climb the only remaining section of Halicarnassus at the Gate of Myndos. Spend a day of adventure in the Aegean Sea. Walk on the stretch of beach that connects to Gumbet Bay. Guests can swim safely at Bardakci Beach, a small beach resort with umbrellas and sun loungers nearby. Book snorkeling tickets to explore the sea here. Visitors can spot colorful fish nearby, shipwrecks and even plane wrecks in the ocean.

Google rating: 4.8/5.0

Location: Muğla Province, southwestern Turkey