Bodrum: A Day Trip to the Turkish Riviera

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

I booked a day trip to Bodrum, Turkey, on a whim. That was the best decision ever. Sailing from Greece’s ancient shores into Turkey felt both unfamiliar and familiar, like stepping into a scene from a history book or a film. The air was thick with the scent of the sea and something more—spices, mystery, and history. As the call to prayer echoed over the blue-green water, I felt drawn in, like I was answering an ancient call myself. My kids and I still talk about that day—the sights, the sounds, and the magic of walking into a world we’d only imagined.

Table of Contents

• Bodrum: A Day Trip to the Turkish Riviera
• Five Things to Do in Bodrum on a Day Trip
• Lively Negotiation
• Haggling Through the Years
• Final Thoughts

Bodrum: A Day Trip to the Turkish Riviera

Maria Star Cruises

I had no idea what to expect but was awarded an experience my kids and I look back on with great fondness and a little bit of laughter. You’ll need your passports to book the trip and receive the 24-hr visa which the tour operator will handle for you. The round trip ticket cost about 20 Euro each, with a 4 Euro port fee. Show up early for the 45-minute crossing to Turkey. I chose Maria Star Cruises which had a lovely boat. I’ve read a lot of accounts of people being left out in the baking sun for an hour to process passports. I didn’t have that experience. Everything was done swiftly and with precision.

Travel Doesn’t Change You, But it Should—my Observations from Years of Travel.

A Seat With a View

My kids and I chose seats on the top deck and enjoyed the ocean spray as we blasted across the top of the water. The sun was fierce, but the cool water and the exhilaration of checking another country off the block were enough to negate the blistering sun overhead.

The Bodrum Harbor

The harbor of Bodrum is gorgeous. It’s considered the Riviera of Turkey and one of the prettiest resort towns on the Eastern part of the Aegean. You pass into the harbor, passing windmills and expensive whitewashed vacation homes on one side and personal yachts in varying sizes on the other. The captain idles down and you begin the slow procession into the harbor. We were let out in the heart of the harbor, near a museum. None of us wanted to visit a museum on a day like today, so that was easily skipped. There is also no need to exchange money even though the Turkish currency is the Euro Lira. All the vendors and shops take the Euro as well as USD.

The Rumors Aren’t True

Forced Shopping and High-Pressure Sales Tactics

I’ll pause here for a moment. I’d heard plenty of horror stories about day-trippers being bused to gold shops and other high-pressure sales tours. Avoid booking one of these if you can. But if you find yourself in one, just politely say no if you’re not interested. Be prepared to say it more than once. Like in many places, the locals are simply trying to make a living, and tourism is often their main source of income. Stay firm, but friendly, and you’ll be just fine.

Shopping

We walked in and out of little shops along the long footpath near the water until we reached the inner part of the town. Glad to be shaded from the sun by a large undulated tarp of living plants above our heads. We found a little cafe and decided to have a snack which was delicious. The boys got henna tattoos and I bought a few pieces of jewelry. I bought a pendant with a Turkish eye to ward off the evil eye. I love that pendant and I think it worked to keep negativity as well as negative people out of my life.

Five Things to Do in Bodrum on a Day Trip

There aren’t a lot of things to do besides soak up the ambiance on a day trip to Bodrum. As we sailed into Bodrum Harbor, the scent of the sea mixed with the faint aroma of grilled fish from the bustling shoreline restaurants. So make sure you try something to eat, shop, and take some beautiful photographs.

1. Visit Bodrum Castle (Castle of St. Peter) – Explore this stunning medieval fortress that overlooks the harbor and houses the Museum of Underwater Archaeology. It’s a great way to dive into the history of the region while enjoying spectacular views.
2. Stroll Through Bodrum Marina – Take a leisurely walk along the marina, lined with luxury yachts, charming cafes, and shops. It’s the perfect spot to relax, people-watch, and enjoy the coastal atmosphere.
3. Explore the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus – Visit the ruins of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Though only fragments remain, it’s an iconic stop for history lovers and a fascinating glimpse into Bodrum’s ancient past.
4. Indulge in Lokma – Treat yourself to lokma, a delicious Turkish donut soaked in honey. Grab some from the market to enjoy as you explore the town.
5. Get a Henna Tattoo – Visit one of the local artisans for a beautiful, traditional henna tattoo to take home a lasting, cultural memento of your trip.

Lively Negotiation

You’ll see every designer brand in the shops—though most are likely knock-offs. Still, the shopkeepers seem to enjoy the lively back-and-forth of haggling. My son had studied a cheat sheet of Turkish during the boat ride, and to his delight, the locals welcomed him like one of their own. They called him “my friend” at every shop, laughing and chatting as if he’d lived there all his life. He took pride in blending in, while I—mistaken for French—stood by, feeling both amused and proud of how quickly he connected with them. The warmth of their hospitality was as unforgettable as the sights around us.

_{This post is sponsored and/or contains affiliate links, from which I earn a commission at no extra cost to the reader. I appreciate your support and know that all the views expressed are my own.}

Haggling Over Hookahs

The whole reason I travel with my kids is to expose them to different people, cultures, foods, and languages—everything that makes the world both big and small. Watching them engage with the world has always been the reward for the time and money spent. I saw the fruits of those efforts in Bodrum, especially with my son. We sat at a little café for lunch, enjoying the warmth of Turkish hospitality while the call to prayer rang out from the loudspeakers. For a moment, everything stilled. The usual hustle of the streets paused in reverence, and an eerie silence settled over us. But soon, the chatter resumed—just like that, the city came alive again.

After lunch, we wandered through the bustling bazaar. The smell of grilled meats and spices filled the air, mixing with the rich scent of hookahs puffing nearby. My son, with his practiced Turkish phrases, dove right into the haggling over a beautiful brass hookah. The shopkeeper was playful, complimenting his efforts and treating him like an old friend. They went back and forth, negotiating with smiles, until my son walked away with my prized hookah for much less than the starting price. I watched with a mix of pride and amusement as he embraced the culture of bargaining so naturally. I still do. Every time I walk by it, I’m reminded of him.

Haggling Through the Years

It reminded me of an earlier trip, in another corner of the world, where we haggled over colorful scarves on a backstreet in Paris. Back then, it was more chaotic—my son was younger and still learning, but even then, he loved the challenge. The lively exchange was a game, and he reveled in it. Here in Bodrum, though, he was no longer just a wide-eyed tourist; he was blending in, absorbing the language and culture with ease.

As we continued to explore Bodrum, from fake Gucci stalls to ornate hookahs, I realized that these moments, when my kids engage with the world in ways that go beyond sightseeing, are the real treasures of our travels.

This is my Wake-up Call: Singapore is calling. Check out our trip to Singapore.

Final Thoughts

As we returned to the boat, a little darker from the sun and our fingers sticky from the honey-covered lokma we bought at the market, I couldn’t help but smile. The day had been full of adventure, laughter, and those little moments that stay with you long after the trip ends. I wrote this article a few years after the fact, at the request of a friend curious about our adventure in Turkey. Some of the finer details may have blurred over time, but the essence of the experience remains crystal clear. I do remember Bodrum has a rich history, known for being the site of the ancient city of Halicarnassus, home to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

We did make it back to Bodrum, this time with my daughter, Ashley, when her ship was anchored in the Mediterranean. It felt like coming full circle—returning to a place that had given us so many beautiful memories, now creating new ones with her. Bodrum still held that same magic, and we left with even more stories to tell. If you ever have the chance to go, don’t hesitate. Bodrum will always be worth the trip, no matter how many times you visit.

Like it. Pin it.

Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!