Bodrum Turkey - property and information
Bodrum,
originally known as Halikarnassos, is one of the longest-established
Turkish resorts and has been popular with British vistors for decades.
It attracts both package holiday visitors and well-heeled yachties
who are both enamoured of its watersports facilities and lively
nightlife. In common with much of the Aegean region, steep pine-studded
hills and turquoise coves abound.
The town’s property market, unlike those of the rapidly developing resorts which have sprung up around it on the Bodrum Peninsula, has the advantage of some fairly strict building laws, limiting the height of new development and encouraging preservation of historic buildings.
Prices range from £70,000 for a two-bedroom apartment close to the town centre to £130,000 for a four-bedroom villa with a garden and its own pool.
Heading
out to the penisula resorts, prices range from £55,000 for a basic two-bedroom
apartment to around £90,000 for a three-bedroom, three-bathroom
house with garden. Prices are on the up here though, as the area
is becoming popular with second-home owners from Istanbul. The
geography of the area means that nearly all properties have
great sea views, most have balconies/terraces and communal pools.
Bodrum has a fascinating history. Its main landmark is the castle, standing guard over the harbour, which was built by the Knights of St John when they arrived from Rhodes in the 15th century. The name Bodrum means ‘cellar’ or ‘dungeon’ and it is thought the town takes its name from the castle’s underground defences. The first known inhabitants were the Dorians who settled here from the Peloponnese in the 11th century BC.
As well as its nightlife, Bodrum is a hub for all things aquatic – diving trips and pleasure boats leave from the harbour, there is a well-equipped yacht marina, and, for the less adventurous, a water park.
Tourism
Bodrum’s climate means that the main tourist season runs from April until October, with July and August the peak months for rentals. Holiday home owners can expect 20 to 30 weeks rental per year.
Transport
Milas-Bodrum airport is 35 kilometres north-east of the town and is served by scheduled flights from London Heathrow and Manchester with Turkish Airways. There are also hundreds of charter flights during the tourist season from airlines such as Air 2000, JMC, Monarch and Avro. A taxi into town costs around £20. Ferries from Marmaris, Altinkum, Kos and Rhodes dock near the castle.
A warning: driving and parking in Bodrum town can be a nightmare. The town is a labyrinth of one-way streets.
Facilities/Amenities
The
Castle of St Peter:An interesting array of halls, towers, dungeons
and displays of treasure from shipwrecks. Boat trips, snorkelling,
island picnics, camel rides, sailing and water park.
Nightlife:
Plenty
of choice ranging from local bars with small dancefloors to the
impressive Disco Halikarnas (capacity 5,000). Most venues are on
Uzunyol in the Kumbahçc district. Bodrum has two cinemas and a
music and arts festival in September.
Restaurants:
The bazaar is the place to head for good value Turkish cuisine (mezes, kebabs, fish etc). Waterside venues tend to be expensive, and there is a large number of establishments serving British fare and fast food.
Travel Guide:
Buy a travel guide to Bodrum from Heart Beat Guides
