The Underwater Archeological Museum of Bodrum

It is one of the most important and biggest museums of its kind in the world. The relics recovered from excavation which started in the 1960's are on display in this museum located in the Bodrum Castle. The Eastern Mediterranean amphora collection as well as findings resulting from research on sunken ships in the immediate vicinity are on display. The significant of this sunken ships are those at Yassiada, Seytan Brook and Serce Harbour. The remains of the oldest known sunken ship in the world are also here and well-worth seeing.

Open days to visit: Everyday except Monday.

Maussolleion

It gets its name from the fact that the tomb of Mausolos, the King of Caria, is located here. Known as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The construction was started in 350 BC by Mausolus and after his death completed by Artemisia. The whole monument was built with green stone blocks and the outer face was lined with white marble and bluish limestone with an approximate height of 50 m. The monument consists four main sections; the pedestal and the main tomb, the temple in the Ionian style, the pyramid of 24 layers standing on columns, statues of King Mausolus and Artemisia standing standing side by side in the chart pulled by four horses at the top. His wife, also his sister, had the most famous architects of the day design the structure. It was almost completely destroyed in the Great Anatolian earthquake. There is a small museum here at the site of this tomb which was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The word "maussolleion" is taken from King Mausolos name. Many of the stones of this Mausoleum were used in the construction of Bodrum Castle. The beautiful relief's on the grave, however, were taken to the British Museum during the excavations in the 19th century.

Ancient Theater: The theatre is located on the Bodrum - Turgutreis road standing on the slope of Göktepe, is splendid construction. The theater has been constructed during the period of Mausolus. It has an audience capacity of 13,000 seats. Used as a necropolis for some time.  It consists of a stage - building, orchestra pit and cavea. The stage area has been uncovered and the seats have been restored.

Rock Tombs: Above the theater on the slope are rock tombs that belong to the Hellenistic and Roman periods.

Myndos Door : Is one of the two entrances to Halicarnassos, Located west of the city,  The Myndos Door consisted of two monumental towers and an inner courtyard at the gate that lead to the city  and was the most important entrance to the city built by Maousolus. Alexander the great had attempt to enter into the town through Milas Gate and left from Myndos Gate.

Çifit Castle (Aspat) : Built on a rocky outcrop in the south western portion of the peninsula close to Bagla cove, it contains artefacts from several civilizations.

Stratonikeia : Located on the Yatagan - Milas highway, the ruins in the village of Eskihisar contains a very rich collection of artefacts from the Caria, Roman and Byzantine eras.

Lagina : The temple of Hecate can be reached by following the dirt road (9 km) leading to Turgut. Excavations have shown that this city, once an important center of the Caria Civilization, has been inhabited since the Early Bronze Age.

Cedrai Island: One of the most eminent ruins of the region with its rich history and natural beauty, Sedir Island can be reached by boat either from Gökova - Akyaka or Çamlikoy. The ruins which one would want to see first are the Temple of Apollo, the theatre and the ancient harbor. The famous Cleopatra beach is here as well.

Cisterns: Cisterns built by the Ottomans and known as "Gumbet" can be seen all over the peninsula. They were built by the wealthy citizens who named the cisterns after themselves.  

MOSQUES

Mustafa Pasa Mosque : Upon his arrival to Bodrum to construct a dockyard, Mustafa Pasha from Kizilhisar made this mosque built. (1723).

Tepecik Mosque : It was constructed by Hamam Aga, the steward of Mustafa Pasha.

Adliye Mosque: It was built in 1901 through the means of the monastery fund provided by the amount gathered among the public and given by Abdulhamit II.

Saldırsah Horasani Tomb, Kubbeli Tomb, Mustafa Pasha Tomb including the grave of Kaptan-i Derya  Cafer Pasha and Koyunbaba Tomb are worth to see.

TRADITIONAL BODRUM HOUSES

The common features of the traditional architecture used in Bodrum are windowless first floors and doors on the second storey with access by way of ladders that can be drawn up into the house. These houses, which are now protected by the government, are located mostly in the villages of Ortakent and Kocakaya above Gümüşlük.  Individuals,such as artists and writers who have settled in Bodrum have done a great service to the area by restoring older houses and this has made it an even more interesting place to visit.

Didyma - Miletos - Priene

Priene: This is one of the most beautiful ancient cities in the area, located five kilometres along the Söke-Bodrum highway near the village of Güllübahçe. At the entrance to the ancient city there is a map that can be used on your tour of the city. Priene is a masterpiece of architecture, designed by the most famous architect of the era, Hippodamos. The theatre is in good condition, with a Byzantine church at its side, a gymnasium to the south, the Temple of Demeter on the slopes of the acropolis, the Temple of Athena with some of its columns upright and the bouleuterion where the city officials used to meet.

Miletos: Miletos was a major port city of its time. When the Menderes River silted up the bay it lost its significance, just like Priene. It has a magnificent 15,000 seat theatre, the Faustina Baths spread over a large area nearby, a palaestra, and the Temple of Serapis behind the city walls. There is also the foundation structure of the agora of which the main parts are in the Berlin Pergamon Museum, the church of the archbishop near the northern gate of the agora, a 100 metre protocol path, shops along the path, the harbour avenue and two temples dedicated to the gods of prosperity Demeter and Kore.

Didyma: with the spectacular Didymaion Apollon temple at the entrance to Didim-Yenihisar. The sacred area of the ancient city of Miletos, this is the most sacred structure in the region after Ephesus and the island of Samos.

Köyceğiz - Dalyan

Kaunos Ruins : It is accepted that first settlement is till to the 1000 B. C. Lycia, Caria and Romans are the ones who settled here. Acropolis and ramparts, theater, Roman bath, round fountain revealed during excavations, temple and agora are the visible ruins here.

Rock Graves : Rock graves near to the Dalyan channel which connects Köyceğiz lake and Mediterranean are dated as 4th century B. C.

Dalyan Strait : People who have participated to a ship tour from the strait which connects Köyceğiz lake to Mediterranean are stroll between narrow corridors, which are not known where to enter and where to leave. Peninsula is just like a haven with at the left side, a 80 - 100 m. wide, kilometers long, forest entering sand sea, at the right side, bays within pine forests.

İztuzu Beach : It is a unique beautiful beach on which Caretta - Carettas are lying their eggs.

Traditional Milas Houses : Most of the Milas houses are from 19th century. All houses generally have an irregular big or small courtyard. Upper floors of two floor houses are exceeds to street like balconies. There is absolutely a floor furnace within each Milas houses. Shafts are also an exceptional architectural samples. External walls and garden walls of the houses are painted with whitewash. On the İzmir exit of province at Burgaz District, Abdülaziz Ağalar Villa is still standing and its masonry sample composing consoles are attractive.

Iassos : It is on a peninsula against Güllük in Mandalya Bay.There are big rampart, aqueducts, theater within the city, extending till 3000s B. C. 18 km. after Köşk village junction of Milas - Söke road, you will reach to city and sea. Also it is advantageous to remember that a visit to be made via sea transport from Güllük, will be unforgettable. Antic harbor of the city is the resort place of yachting persons today.

Labranda (Koca Plateau) : You can reach to Labranda, founded on a terrace on Mount Çomak, at 18 km. north - east of Milas, with a stabilized road from Milas. Wanderers can see upholstery signs from place to place on the 8 m. wide road, beginning from Mylasa during antic era, today. First excavations in Labranda, whose ruins are largely preserved, are commenced on 1940. It is famous with Zeus Labrandus temple, constructed during Satraplas period in Karya on 4th century B. C.

Keramos : It is at the today's Ören borough, North coast of Gökova bay, and it is 50 km. away from Milas. Defense walls, rock graves at feet of mountain, tombs at necropolis from the city, which took its name Keramos, which means "Pot" or "Ceramic" in Greek language are the important ruins which reached till today. It is one of the most attractive ruin places of tourists, participated to Blue Voyage, made in Gökova bay, begun from Bodrum.

Herakleia : City is founded at the coast of Bafa Lake at the south feet of Beşparmak Mountains. It has supported 6,5 km. long rampart walls with 65 towers on a very rough grounds and rocks. There are Athena Temple, Agora, City Assembly Building, Theater and a hamam in the city, constructed during Hellenistic Era.

Bargylia : It is founded within a bay, extended through land at south of Güllük Harbor within Mandalya Bay. Bargylia, at the 30th km. of Milas - Bodrum road, is founded by Bellere Phon, one of the Greek Myth heroes. At the twin peeks of this hill, Roman and Greek at north and at the other areas Byzantium Era pieces of arts are present.

Beçin : It is founded on a steep rock at 200 m. height at approximately 5 km. south of Milas. Name of the city is passed as "Pezona" in Medieval Italian sources, and "Berçin", "Peçin" and "Beçin" in Turk - Islam sources. Structure ruins, reached today from city are dense at Kenez and Sığmen, ramparts and external castle surrounded by ramparts, internal castle looking to Milas plains.

Zeus Karios Temple : It is in the Hisarbaşı District. It is constructed on a 3.5 m. high podium at east of Hisarbaşı hill. Only a column at corinth order, named as Yuva today is standing.

Gümüş Kesen Monument : Probably IInd century A. D. dated this monument is composed of a cover gradually narrowed like pyramid, supported by columns and grades on this chamber and a rectangular grave chamber.

Sinuri Temple: There is a temple ruins, which belongs to god Sinuri, preserving an old Kar name on a hill over today's Kalınağıl village at 14 km. east of Milas.

Sinuri priest had remained within a family passing from father to son after 4th century B. C. A great bairam is made Per year, and cows are sacrificed. As well as it is not known that how god is described, but it is understood that it holds a double faced axe in his hands. Sinuri Temple is turned into church during Christianity period.

Lake Bafa: There is Lake Bafa, which is the mirror of Lunar Goddess Athena between oil groves, on Söke - Milas road. Lake is just like a mirror including moon within summer nights with its small white beaches and small resort places at the coast. It is recommended to eat the grey mullet and yılan balığı.

Güllük : This bay, famous with its fish egg and natural beaches within olive grove 25 km. away from Milas is also appropriate for yachting.

Ören:  It is 49 km. away from Milas, and can be reached with passing within high pine forests. Gökova bay, is an ancient settlement center and decorated with citrus gardens at the place where sea descended of bay north high mountains.

Beypınarı : It is at the place, where passenger coffeehouses are present within high pine forests on Milas - Yatağan road. It is famous with its chicken roast and ice like water fountain under cool trees. Akbük (Güllük Bay) and Kazıklı Bay are the places to mention within the Bay coastal line.