History & Culture
Bodrum Castle & the old town
The Knights’ castle on the harbour, and the streets behind it.
Why do it?
The Castle of St Peter has stood over the harbour since the fifteenth century, built by the Knights Hospitaller partly from the stones of the Mausoleum up the hill. It is the one building that explains the shape of the town around it.
The Smileys Take
Go early — before the cruise groups and before the stone starts throwing heat back at you. The castle is why the town looks the way it does: the Knights quarried the Mausoleum up the hill to build it, so you're walking around the tomb's afterlife. Leave time for the streets behind the harbour afterwards. That's where the town stops performing.
Good to know
- Closed one day a week — check before you go.
- Stone ramps and steps throughout; the harbour views are worth the climb.
Explore nearby
Do it with people
The Smileys community does things like this every week — organized events, spontaneous hangouts, and visitors looking for company.
Tips from Smileys
More like this
There's always more Bodrum.