My route
Sign in
WorldTurkeyBodrumBodrum CastleMy routeRoute

Bodrum Castle

Bodrum Castle on its rocky headland across the harbour, with wooden gulets in front and white houses behind
Photo: Serhio Magpie, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Ticket (foreign visitors)
€20, age 8+
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Hours
Daily. 1 October – 1 June: 8:30–17:30, last tickets 17:00; 1 June – 1 October: 8:30–22:00, last tickets 21:30
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
2 h
With kids
Fine with kids
Under 8
Free
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
1 October – 1 June
8:30–17:30, last tickets 17:00
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
1 June – 1 October
8:30–22:00, last tickets 21:30
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Closed
Never — open every day
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Museum pass
Museum Pass The Aegean — €95 for 7 days, listed on the museum page
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Where to buy
At the gate, or an e-ticket from Türkiye's official museums website
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Address
Çarşı Mah., Kale Cad. No: 36, Bodrum
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Coordinates
37.03167, 27.42944YesGo MapGoogleApple
Halls open
No closures reported; a single hall may shut for works
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
From the airport
Havaş and Muttaş buses to the town dolmuş station by the bazaar, ≈ 35–40 min, a few runs a day
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.

Key facts

1402the Knights Hospitaller of Rhodes began building the castle
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia (“Bodrum Castle”, “Замок Святого Петра”)
Mausoleum stoneblocks and reliefs of the ruined Wonder of the World went into the walls
2 sourcesTurkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism (muze.gov.tr)English and Russian Wikipedia
14th century BCthe date of the Uluburun wreck, the museum’s star exhibit
2 sourcesTurkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism (muze.gov.tr)English Wikipedia (“Uluburun shipwreck”)
1962the Museum of Underwater Archaeology opened in the castle
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
1522–1523the knights surrendered the castle to Suleiman after the fall of Rhodes
2 sourcesRussian Wikipedia (December 1522)muze.gov.tr and English Wikipedia (1523)
4 towersEnglish, French, Italian and German — one for each “tongue” of the Order
2 sourcesEnglish Wikipediamuze.gov.tr (English Tower)
1437the castle walls were completed
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
1982a sponge diver from Yalıkavak found the Uluburun wreck
2 sourcesEnglish Wikipedia (“Uluburun shipwreck”)muze.gov.tr (on Bodrum’s sponge divers)
11th centurythe Serçe Limanı “Glass Wreck”, carrying scrap glass for recycling
2 sourcesTurkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism (muze.gov.tr)English Wikipedia
2016added to UNESCO’s World Heritage Tentative List
2 sourcesTurkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism (muze.gov.tr)English Wikipedia

Bodrum Castle tickets and opening hours

Foreign visitors pay €20 from age 8; younger children are free. One ticket covers the castle and the Museum of Underwater Archaeology inside it — there is no separate museum ticket. Buy at the gate or as an e-ticket on Türkiye's official museums website.

The castle is open every day. From 1 October to 1 June it runs 8:30–17:30 with last tickets at 17:00; from 1 June to 1 October it stays open until 22:00, last tickets 21:30.

Touring the Aegean? The Museum Pass The Aegean (€95, 7 days) is listed on the museum's official page and covers 40+ museums and sites in İzmir, Aydın, Muğla and Denizli — worth pricing up if you are visiting several.

Is Bodrum Castle worth visiting?

Yes — it is the one paid sight in Bodrum we would not skip. The Uluburun wreck, a 14th-century BC trading ship loaded with copper and tin ingots, is one of the great finds of underwater archaeology, and the castle itself gives you the best views over both bays.

It is less worth it if you only want the photo: the castle looks best from outside, from the marina promenade or the windmills ridge, and that costs nothing. Expect plenty of steps, uneven cobbles and little shade.

How long do you need?

Allow about two hours for the museum halls, the walls and the towers. In a hurry, one hour covers the essentials: the Bronze Age wreck hall, the Glass Wreck hall and the view from the English Tower.

The quietest time is the first hour after opening. Coach and boat groups arrive towards midday, and the narrow tower staircases fill up fast. On summer evenings the castle stays open long after the Mausoleum has closed.

What to see inside the Museum of Underwater Archaeology

  • Late Bronze Age Shipwrecks Hall — the Uluburun wreck with its copper and tin ingots, plus a reconstruction of the ship.
  • Glass Wreck Hall — an 11th-century ship from Serçe Limanı that sank carrying broken glass for recycling, one of the museum's great glass collections.
  • Amphorae — one of the world's largest collections, from the 16th century BC to the 12th century AD.
  • Carian Princess Hall — the 4th-century BC tomb of a high-born Carian woman.
  • English Tower — the knights' story and their coats of arms, and the best view of both bays from the roof.
  • The chapel that became a mosque, the bathhouse, the cannon display, and altars and carved stones in the courtyards.
  • Necropolis halls with finds from across the peninsula, including Pedasa.

How to get to Bodrum Castle

Tap a route to highlight it on the map.

Loading the map…

on footdestinationStreet view

Where are you starting from?

We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.

On foot

  • Bodrum Old Town is about 8 min away on foot.
  • Mausoleum at Halicarnassus is about 19 min away on foot.

More tips

  1. From the town dolmuş station by the bazaar on Cevat Şakir Caddesi (the old bus station), walk straight downhill along the same street towards the sea — about 10 minutes.
  2. The street ends at the harbour square; the castle sits right in front of you on the headland between the two bays.
  3. The entrance and ticket office are off the harbour square. Inside, everything is on foot, over steps and cobbles.
  4. From Gümbet, Bitez or Turgutreis, take a dolmuş to the town station by the bazaar and walk the same 10 minutes.
  5. Long-distance coaches have used the new bus station (Yeni Otogar) at the Torba junction since 2022, about 5 km from the centre. Dolmuşes run from there into town; ask when you buy your ticket whether the transfer is included.
  6. From Milas–Bodrum airport (BJV), Havaş and Muttaş buses run via the new bus station to the town station by the bazaar in about 35–40 minutes. There are only a few departures a day, and Havaş has paused service in past seasons, so check the timetable before you fly or book a transfer.

A short history of the Castle of St Peter

The Knights Hospitaller of Rhodes started the castle in 1402 and dedicated it to St Peter; its Latin name, Petronium, is usually given as the origin of “Bodrum”. The walls were finished by 1437 and strengthened again on the landward side later in the century.

Their quarry was next door. An earthquake had already toppled the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders, and the knights carted away its blocks, columns and reliefs — you can still spot dressed blocks and marble from King Mausolus's tomb in the walls.

Each tower was built by one national “tongue” of the Order. After Rhodes fell, the castle passed to Suleiman the Magnificent in 1522–1523; the chapel became a mosque, and from 1895, according to the museum, the castle served as a prison before the museum moved in in 1962.

Before you go: checklist

Ready: 0 of 6

Tick what is ready — your ticks stay in this browser.

Bodrum Castle vs the Mausoleum and the Old Town

Bodrum Castleyou are here15th-century fortress and museum€20Never≈ 2 hUntil 22:00 in summer
MausoleumFoundations of a Wonder, with models€3Mondays≈ 45 minCloses 17:30
Old TownBazaar, waterfront, white housesFreeNever≈ 2 hOpen 24/7

One day in Bodrum? Do the castle and walk the Old Town around it. The Mausoleum is for ancient-history fans: little of the Wonder survives on site — its best stones are in the castle walls.

Bodrum's historic sights compared

Every historic sight in Bodrum rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

Mausoleum at Halicarnassus6445 min€3, under-8s free15 min walk
Bodrum Old Town562 hFree6 min walk
Ephesus453 h≈ €40, Terrace Houses ≈ €15101.4 km
Bodrum Ancient Theatre4430 minFree20 min walk
Bodrum Windmills4330 minFree27 min walk
Myndos Gate4330 minFree27 min walk
Pedasa401 hFree, no ticket office2.9 km
Bodrum Castleyou are here392 h€20, under 8 free—
Gümüşlük243 hFree17.3 km

Ancient Halicarnassus in a day

The castle in the morning, the Mausoleum and the hillside theatre after lunch, sunset at the windmills. Add them to your route and YesGo fits in the timing and walks.

  1. Bodrum Castleyou are here2 h · €20, under 8 free
  2. 15 min walk from the previous stopMausoleum at Halicarnassus45 min · €3, under-8s free
  3. 6 min walk from the previous stopBodrum Ancient Theatre30 min · Free
  4. 30 min walk from the previous stopBodrum Windmills30 min · Free

4 places · about 4 h 36 min with walks · 51 min on foot in total

Go · my route

Nearby — add to your day

Bodrum Old Town

Bodrum, Turkey

2 h · Free, open 24/7 · 6 min walk

Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

Bodrum, Turkey

45 min · €3, under-8s free · 15 min walk

Bodrum Ancient Theatre

Bodrum, Turkey

30 min · Free · 20 min walk

Bodrum Windmills

Bodrum, Turkey

30 min · Free · 27 min walk

How to do it right

  • In summer, arrive around 18:00–19:00: the heat has eased and you still have hours before closing.
  • Head for the Uluburun hall first — it's the highlight and the busiest room by midday.
  • Look for Mausoleum stones in the walls — finely cut blocks and marble among the rough masonry.
  • Walk out of the gate straight into the Old Town bazaar.
  • End the day with sunset at the windmills on the ridge above town.

Questions

How much is the Bodrum Castle ticket?

€20 for foreign visitors aged 8 and over; under-8s are free. It covers the Museum of Underwater Archaeology too.

What are Bodrum Castle opening hours?

Daily. 1 October – 1 June: 8:30–17:30, last tickets 17:00. 1 June – 1 October: 8:30–22:00, last tickets 21:30.

Is Bodrum Castle open on Mondays?

Yes — it is open every day of the week.

Is Bodrum Castle worth it?

Yes, for the Uluburun shipwreck and the views over both bays. If you only want photos, the outside view from the marina is free.

How long do you need at Bodrum Castle?

About two hours. One hour is enough for the wreck halls and the English Tower view.

How do I get to Bodrum Castle?

From the town dolmuş station by the bazaar, walk down Cevat Şakir Caddesi to the harbour square — about 10 minutes. Arriving by coach at the new bus station at Torba, take a dolmuş into the centre first.

Is the Museum of Underwater Archaeology inside the castle?

Yes. The museum fills the castle's towers and halls, and one ticket covers both.

Does the Museum Pass work at Bodrum Castle?

The Museum Pass The Aegean (€95, 7 days) is listed on the museum's official page.

Who built Bodrum Castle?

The Knights Hospitaller of Rhodes, from 1402, using stone from the ruined Mausoleum of Halicarnassus.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism (muze.gov.tr): Bodrum Sualtı Arkeoloji Müzesi — hours, address, halls, history, 30.10.2026
  • Turkish Museums (turkishmuseums.com): Muğla Bodrum Sualtı Arkeoloji Müzesi — Bodrum Kalesi — fees, seasonal hours, Museum Pass, 30.10.2026
  • Turkish Museums (turkishmuseums.com): Muğla Bodrum Mausoleum Anıt Müzesi — fee and hours for comparison, 30.10.2026
  • English Wikipedia: Bodrum Castle, Uluburun shipwreck; Russian Wikipedia: Замок Святого Петра; Wikidata Q1113602
  • Wikivoyage: Bodrum — new bus station at Torba, town bus station, airport bus, seasonal hours
  • Bodrum bus station guide (bodrumotogar.com): town station by the bazaar, new bus station, Havaş and Muttaş airport buses, 30.10.2026
  • Birgün: on the 2017 restoration closure; NTV: Bodrum Kalesi su altı arkeolojisi meraklılarını bekliyor — on the 2020 reopening
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 30.10.2026 ·
How we checkedFees, hours and the museum pass were rechecked on 30.10.2026 on the museum's official turkishmuseums.com page; the off-season hours match muze.gov.tr. Wikivoyage lists 9:00–22:30 in summer and €23 (April 2024) — we keep the official figures. Other facts are checked against at least two sources. The surrender date differs — Russian Wikipedia gives December 1522, the Ministry 1523 — so we show both. We found no reports of closed halls in 2026; the big restoration ran from 2017 to 2020, but there is no official list of open halls, so that row is marked “verifying”. The new bus station at Torba and the town station by the bazaar come from Wikivoyage and the bus station guide. The airport bus is also “verifying”: the guide lists Havaş and Muttaş runs, while Wikivoyage said Havaş was not running in 2023.

Top YesGo picks: Bodrum

Ephesus

Bodrum, Turkey

3 h · ≈ €40, Terrace Houses ≈ €15

Myndos Gate

Bodrum, Turkey

30 min · Free

Pedasa

Bodrum, Turkey

1 h · Free, no ticket office

Yalıkavak

Bodrum, Turkey

2 h · Free

Gümüşlük

Bodrum, Turkey

3 h · Free

All places: Bodrum →