Bodrum: Days 6 & 7

Drive from Pamukkale to Bodrum on the coast of the Aegean Sea (approx. 2 1/2 hours).

• If you wish, stop at Aphrodisias en route (approx. 45 minutes from Hierapolis). Used as a shrine as early as 5800 BC, the site is dedicated to the goddess of love, Aphrodite.

• Highlights are a well-preserved theatre and stadium and the 2^nd century Tetrapylon gateway with Corinthian columns.

This harbor hamlet is a top European holiday hot spot, with chic hotels, trendy restaurants, nightclubs and boutiques...

The fashionable resort town of Bodrum was originally a 4^th century BC Dorian city called Halicarnassus. Now this harbor hamlet is a top European holiday hot spot, with chic hotels, trendy restaurants, nightclubs and boutiques.

Where to stay in Bodrum

Near Bodrum City

If you want to be near the town for nightlife, restaurants and shopping, the Marmara Hotel is lovely. 1 km from the town up a gentle hill, the property offers panoramic vistas, a superb pool and spa and boutique-style rooms.

Outside of Bodrum City

Housed in a series of stone edifices, the Ada Hotel, a Relais & Chateaux property, is dazzling, with beautifully-appointed rooms, stunning grounds and every amenity imaginable (private cinema, anyone?). Situated in the historic village of Golturkbuku, the hotel offers extraordinary views of Bodrum town, mountains and the Aegean.

If minimal and white is your style, the Ev Hotel is for you. On a hillside overlooking Turkbuku Bay, eight identical white buildings, each with its own pool, cascade down the slope for a dramatic effect.

To Do in Bodrum

Originally inhabited by Greeks as early as the 5^th century BC, the Bodrum Peninsula can be explored on a scooter, by car, on foot or by boat to witness panoramic vistas, quaint medieval towns and serene fishing villages.

• Castle of St Peter – This imposing medieval crusader castle now houses a collection of shipwreck artifacts, earthenware amphorae and the Museum of Underwater Archeology

• Snorkeling and Diving – These are two main draws of Bodrum and are fantastic in the Aegean.

• Halikarnas Disco – The most famous nightclub in Turkey, this open-air party can accommodate up to 5,000 revelers, features a laser light show and hosts world renowned DJs.

• Bodrum Hamam – A sister bathhouse to the Cemberlitas in Istanbul, these baths are housed in a charming stone building and are recommended for first-timers.

• Goktepe – Walk to this nearby village to take in the fairly decent theatre ruins and admire the stunning panoramic view.

• Gulet – Charter a traditional wooden ship for a few hours and sail on the Aegean, mooring at hidden bays and looking back at the city.