Bodrum’s Maritime History
Bodrum is far from just a holiday resort; it is a cosmopolitan town, it has history, culture, shopping, a pavement cafe vibe, and plenty to see and do, both centrally and in the surrounding area. Of course, Bodrum sits on the sea, and despite the fact it doesn’t have any huge beaches (you need to travel a short distance by bus to neighbouring Gumbet to find the big beaches), it does have plenty to keep visitors occupied. For that reason, Bodrum is the region’s grown up brother or sister, the one that takes life a little more seriously.
Bodrum has a huge amount of history, but most of it is routed around the sea and the maritime industry. For this reason, the Bodrum Maritime Museum is a must visit when you head to this town.
The Bodrum Maritime Museum
The museum is a great place to spend a few hours, and with a low entrance fee (just 5TL) you can easily use it to shelter from the sun for a while, whilst you explore the rich history the area is famous for. Inside the museum you will find artefacts and life-like models of boats that were used during history of fishing, transportation, and even for sponge diving.
The upper floor of the museum features a huge amount of seashells, which have been collected over around 40 years from different locations around the world; that makes a collection of around 4000 different shells! Another section is where you can learn all about Cevat Sakir Kabaagacli. Kabaagacli is an important figure in Bodrum’s maritime history, and he was also known as the Fisherman of Halicarnassus. Here you’ll find diaries, photos and objects he collected during his time in the area.
Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology
This is probably the most famous spot in Bodrum for tourists to visit, and is actually a museum situated inside Bodrum Castle. This museum showcases the town’s special relationship with the sea and you’ll find artefacts and stories about the various shipwrecks that have occurred over the decades.
Kids will love the fact they’re inside a castle and learning about shipwrecks, and adults will find the stories behind the artefacts fascinating.
Travel Over to Kos
Because of Bodrum’s close proximity to many Greek islands which lie nearby, it’s possible to board a hydrofoil or ferry and venture over to Kos for the day. This has long been a favourite day trip for visitors to the town and nearby area, and all you need is your passport, and to find an excursion office who’ll organise everything for you. It’s possible to go to the port and pay for a ferry ticket yourself, but you’ll find it easier to arrange an excursion if you’re on holiday, as you’ll be picked up at your hotel, and you’ll find all port taxes are usually included in the cost of your ticket, with nothing else to worry about.
Bodrum sometimes gets overlooked in favour of some of the larger, more livelier resorts that are within close proximity, such as Kusadasi, Gumbet, and Marmaris, but that is a mistake for those who don’t venture to this historic town. Bodrum sits on the site of the ancient city of Halikarnassus, and you’ll find many ruins around the town which will help you learn more about its history. You can also scuba dive in the region, and you’ll find many colourful species of marine life to visit.
Put simply, Bodrum’s special relationship with the sea is really what helps it stand out from the rest of the resorts in this sun-drenched part of Turkey.
