Route from Bodrum Milta Marina – 1 week (full text)

Bodrum: The Crusader Castle looking out to Kos

Bodrum is a popular tourist destination, though many visitors will rarely leave their resorts scattered around the peninsula.

In the town itself, there’s plenty to see from cultural attractions such as the Castle, Mausoleum and Amphitheatre, to the many shopping opportunities in the bazaar and elsewhere.

The place heaves with restaurants and bars though as is often the case, most near the centre are unremarkable with more interesting options out towards the marina, or up the main street towards the bus station.

Bodrum: View from the top of the Roman Amphitheatre

The bazaar is a maze of open air pedestrianised streets and alleys offering everything from clothing to jewellery, and souvenirs to tattoo parlours. As with Marmaris, there are bargains to be had, but plenty of fakes to catch out the unwary.

There are also more traditional markets twice a week, focusing on clothing on Tuesdays and a fruit and veg on Fridays.

Bodrum has all the facilities you would expect of a fair sized town. There are several large supermarkets just outside town, with a smaller one on the main street, which will probably suffice for most yacht provisioning. There are also plenty of mini markets, bakers, butchers, chemists, banks, ATM’s, money changers, and a post office.

Bodrum: The Castle and harbour by night

Bodrum is a large charter base and many people will start or finish their charter there. For those stopping on the way through the high marina fees can be a deterrent but it’s an excellent place to take a break from the sailing and either head over to Kos for the day or spend a day sightseeing.

Loryma: Ruins of the Citadel at the mouth of the bay

The barren bay of Loryma is a fantastic natural harbour. The ruins of the Citadel that look out across the harbour attest to it’s naval past and there is documentation of settlements here going back to Roman times. In fact recent excavations suggest that there was habitation here 3000 years ago.

The bay is sufficiently large to support not one but three restaurants (and a fourth that occasionally emerges). That’s about it though! With no road access and no main electricity or water, everything has to be brought in or taken away by boat.  There are toilets ashore but don’t expect showers. Provisions are limited  to local bread cooked daily in stone ovens.

For those with the energy, a walk up to the Citadel is rewarded with some great views. There are also some ruins along the shoreline and if you’re moored at the far end of the bay (from where it’s a fair hike to the Citadel), there are the remains of a village behind the restaurant.

Where ever you’re walking wear some good shoes and I suggest you leave it until later in the day when the sun is less fearsome.

Symi Town: Yachts on the north quay of the inner harbour

Once a major shipbuilding and sponge fishing centre, Symi is now primarily a tourist destination. The island has had a chequered history but after much restoration (heavily controlled by the authorities) its multi coloured buildings now make a spectacular sight.

The harbour of Symi town (also called Yialos) includes a small nautical museum and is connected to the main town (Chorio) by steps; about 350 of them! It’s worth the walk up for the views at the top, not to mention the superb 19th century buildings you will pass on the way up.

Symi Town: The north side of the harbour with local boats on the quay

The locals are evidently a religious lot; there are over a dozen churches and a number of smaller chapels. The castle was sadly destroyed in the second world war but as you wander the narrow streets you can visit The Museum, a restored Pharmacy and an 18th century mansion.

If you fancy going further afield, there are plenty of other sites to see around the island, including the impressive Panormitis.  you can take a taxi or hire a car from the harbour.

If that’s all too much, take a seat in one of the many cafe’s and restaurants and watch the world go by. It gets even better once the day trippers from Rhodes depart and an air of calm descends.

There are all the facilities you’d expect from a small town, including provisions, souvenirs and banks with ATM’s. If only all small town were as impressive.

Bodrum: The Crusader Castle looking out to Kos

Bodrum is a popular tourist destination, though many visitors will rarely leave their resorts scattered around the peninsula.

In the town itself, there’s plenty to see from cultural attractions such as the Castle, Mausoleum and Amphitheatre, to the many shopping opportunities in the bazaar and elsewhere.

The place heaves with restaurants and bars though as is often the case, most near the centre are unremarkable with more interesting options out towards the marina, or up the main street towards the bus station.

Bodrum: View from the top of the Roman Amphitheatre

The bazaar is a maze of open air pedestrianised streets and alleys offering everything from clothing to jewellery, and souvenirs to tattoo parlours. As with Marmaris, there are bargains to be had, but plenty of fakes to catch out the unwary.

There are also more traditional markets twice a week, focusing on clothing on Tuesdays and a fruit and veg on Fridays.

Bodrum has all the facilities you would expect of a fair sized town. There are several large supermarkets just outside town, with a smaller one on the main street, which will probably suffice for most yacht provisioning. There are also plenty of mini markets, bakers, butchers, chemists, banks, ATM’s, money changers, and a post office.

Bodrum: The Castle and harbour by night

Bodrum is a large charter base and many people will start or finish their charter there. For those stopping on the way through the high marina fees can be a deterrent but it’s an excellent place to take a break from the sailing and either head over to Kos for the day or spend a day sightseeing.