Bodrum Independent Day Trip by Ferry from Kos

Kos harbour and Kos Town

Your day begins in Kos Town, the lively capital of the island, close to the harbour where yachts and ferries come and go beneath the walls of the Castle of the Knights, the medieval fortress also known as Neratzia. The meeting point on Georgiou Averof street lies a few minutes from the harbour front, and there our team hands you the travel documents prepared for the crossing.

Kos lies only a few kilometres off the Turkish coast, and on a clear day the hills of the Bodrum peninsula are visible across the water. That closeness is what makes a Bodrum day trip from Kos so easy. After passport control at the port you board the ferry; arrive in good time, as border formalities can take a little while in high season.

The ferry crossing from Kos to Bodrum

The Bodrum ferry from Kos takes about 50 minutes and crosses the narrow strait between the Greek islands of the Dodecanese and the Anatolian coast. From the deck you watch Kos Town and its castle fade behind you while the white houses of Bodrum, scattered over the hills around a deep bay, slowly come into view.

Sit outside for the best views and photos, especially as the ferry approaches Bodrum and passes the Castle of St. Peter at the entrance of the harbour. On arrival you go through Turkish passport control at the port, and then you are free to explore. Keep your return ferry time in mind: it is printed on your ticket, and you should be back at the port well before departure.

Bodrum Castle, the Castle of St. Peter

Bodrum Castle dominates the harbour from a rocky promontory between the town's two bays. It was built in the fifteenth century by the Knights of St. John, who reused green volcanic stone and marble from the ruins of the ancient Mausoleum, and its towers still carry the names of the knights' native lands, such as the English, French, Italian and German towers.

Today the castle houses the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology, one of the finest of its kind, with treasures recovered from ancient shipwrecks off the Turkish coast, including a Bronze Age wreck with its cargo of copper, glass and gold. Allow about two hours. The Bodrum Castle ticket is not included, so buy it at the entrance; from the battlements you get the finest views over the marina and the bay.

The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus and ancient Bodrum

Bodrum stands on the site of Halicarnassus, an important ancient Greek city on the coast of Caria. Its most famous monument was the Mausoleum, the monumental tomb of the local ruler Mausolus, built in the fourth century BC and so splendid that it was counted among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World; the word mausoleum still comes from his name.

Earthquakes and builders over the centuries reduced it to foundations, but the open-air site and its small museum, a short walk uphill from the harbour, show models and fragments that help you imagine its size. Higher up, the ancient theatre of Halicarnassus looks out over the bay, and the restored Myndos Gate marks the old city walls. Choose one or two of these if history is your focus.

Bodrum marina, seafront and old bazaar

For many visitors the joy of Bodrum is simply wandering. Whitewashed houses draped in bougainvillea climb the hills, the marina is lined with gleaming yachts and traditional wooden gulets, and the seafront promenade runs around the bay with cafés and restaurants facing the water. On the hill above the town, a row of old windmills offers a sweeping panorama.

The old bazaar lanes behind the harbour are perfect for shopping: leather sandals, textiles, ceramics, spices, Turkish delight and evil-eye charms. Lunch is a highlight, with kebabs, pide, grilled fish, mezes and baklava, and halal food is easy to find all over town. The best time for a Kos to Bodrum trip is from May to October, when the ferries run most often and the seafront is at its liveliest.