Bodrum today begins an hour before dawn, as the night time silence is broken, from the minaret’s heights by the rhythmical wailing of the muezzin summoning the faithful to the first of the day’s five calls to pray.

With the muezzin’s call to prayer as a metaphor for daytime and night time pursuits. For many it is a wakeup call, the start of the day’s activities. For many others it is a call to bed, as they wend their way home at the close of Bodrum’s active Nightlife. This contrast perhaps signifies Bodrum’s uniqueness and diversity as a holiday resort, offering on the one hand watersports, excellent shopping, dining and Nightlife, while at the same time fervently maintaining its cultural and historical heritage. Day or night, Bodrum has it all.

Bodrum occupies a special place in many people’s hearts. A popular home and resort for Turkish artists and intellectuals, Bodrum’s first remembered literary character was known as the “Halicarnassus Fisherman”. After the formation of the Turkish Republic in 1923 Cevat Sakir Kabaagacli was exiled to Bodrum due to his unpopular political expressions. His subsequent books and stories about life in Bodrum attracted like minded romantics to the town and were largely responsible for creating the Bohemian atmosphere Bodrum enjoys today. In fact although mostly unknown outside Turkey, Cevat Sakir Kabaagacli ranks with King Mausolus as one of Bodrum’s most famous residents.

You are never far from the sea anywhere on the Bodrum Peninsula, making Bodrum itself an ideal starting point from which to visit the many peaceful havens along its beautiful coastline. In August the average daily air temperature is 33 C with warm seas of 25 C, perfect for any aquatic activity.

Birth place of Heredotus (the “Father of History”); home of Mausolus, entombed in one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World; and visited by Alexander The Great (who enjoyed a lengthy stay), Bodrum is a unique combination of Ancient and modern. Sites not to be missed in Bodrum itself include the Mausoleum, the amphitheater on the hill above town and the early fifteenth century Castle of St. Peter. Spectacular in its own right with its lush gardens, massive stone works and diverse towers, the Castle also houses a world famous museum of underwater archaeology.

If you like to shop then Bodrum is for you. Leather is abundant, in the latest fashions and at excellent prices. Turkey is one of the world’s largest carpet producers and traditional hand made carpets are priced considerably less than abroad. Hand made jewelry, brass, copper, woodcrafts and gifts are plentiful and sales are usually conducted over a friendly glass of tea and a serious discussion about price. Turkey is also a large textile producer and modern sportswear can be had at significant savings.