Bodrum Castle

Name: Bodrum Castle
Address: Kale Cd, Bodrum City, Bodrum, TR
Telephone: +90 252 316 25 16

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History museums ·Bodrum ·Open now

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#3History museums in Turkey Most reviewed in BodrumTravelers' Choice 2026

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About

Bodrum Castle (Bodrum Kalesi) in Bodrum City, Turkey: a Knights of St John fortress between two harbours, now an underwater museum.

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Why go

The garden inside the castle, with nearly every plant and tree of the Mediterranean region.
The Amphora Exhibition, with one of the largest amphora collections in the world.
The Serçelimanı Glass Shipwreck Exhibition, with the largest glass group from Syria.

Opening hours

Today08:30 – 17:30Show all

Monday08:30 – 17:30

Tuesday08:30 – 17:30

Wednesday08:30 – 17:30

Thursday08:30 – 17:30

Friday08:30 – 17:30

Saturday08:30 – 17:30

Sunday08:30 – 17:30

Don't miss

Uluburun shipThe Uluburun wreck, a late Bronze Age ship raised with its cargo, is the museum's showpiece.Museum halls inside the castle
Tomb of a Carian princessA room of its own holds the tomb of a Carian princess.One room in the museum
Mycenaean vases and amphoraeThe former chapel holds vases and amphoras from the Mycenaean age.The former chapel
Reconstructed Fatımi wreckThe Fatımi wreck is shown reconstructed beside the Uluburun.Museum halls
Coats of arms on the gatesCoats of arms decorate the seven gates into the inner castle.The seven gates into the inner castle

Know before you go What's inside With kids Tips for your visit

Know before you go

Open every day, Monday to Sunday, from 08:30 to 17:30.
Tickets can be bought online through the castle's own website.
Phone: +90 252 316 25 16.

What's inside

Shipwreck halls with finds and information on shipbuilding and maritime trade.
The Müsgebi Necropolis collection, the largest Mycenaean artefact collection in Turkish museums.
The Princess of Caria Hall, with land finds on the history of the Bodrum Peninsula.
The Castle Mosque/Chapel, the Bath and the Cannon Exhibition, all noteworthy areas of the castle.
The tour italienne, with a collection of coins and jewellery spanning many centuries.
The Doğu Roma Gemisi, one of the displays in the museum.
Open-air areas across a 33.5 dönüm site, with finds displayed outdoors.

With kids

Two shipwrecks are reconstructed inside the museum: the Uluburun wreck and the Fatımi wreck, sunk 935 years ago.
The tower with a carved lion relief is also called the Lion Tower.
The museum's underwater finds include amphoras, ancient glass, bronze, clay and iron items.

Tips for your visit

Start with the Uluburun wreck, the museum's best-known exhibit.
The English Tower holds a hall on how the castle and its knights evolved.
A history exhibition shows how underwater archaeology began in Turkey, with help from Bodrum sponge hunters.
Finds are also shown outdoors across the 33.5 dönüm site.

Interesting facts7

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The four towers are named for the nations that raised them: English, French, German and Italian.
Bodrum Castle - Wikipedia
The Pope promised the builders a place in heaven, but gave no deadline for finishing.
Bodrum - Wikivoyage (see)
It is Turkey's only museum devoted to underwater archaeology.
BODRUM UNDERWATER ARCHAEOLOGY MUSEUM
Fourteen rainwater cisterns are cut into the rock below the castle.
Château Saint-Pierre - Wikipedia
10 tonnes
The Uluburun wreck carried 10 tonnes of copper ingots.
Château Saint-Pierre - Wikipedia
In antiquity the site was an island, later joined to the land as a peninsula.
Bodrum Kalesi - Wikipedia
A wooden writing tablet from the wreck has survived.
St. Peter (Bodrum) - Wikipedia

Shorts

History

Stones from the Mausoleum and from ancient Halicarnassus were reused in its walls. Four nations built the castle, so construction took most of a century. Later it was used as a prison. A French warship destroyed the minaret in 1915.

4th century BCMausolus makes the site his palace when Halicarnassus becomes his capital.
1402The Knights of St John begin the castle and name it the Castle of St Peter.
1404Construction starts under the knight architect Heinrich Schlegelholt.
1437The first walls around the castle are finished.
1482Prince Cem Sultan takes refuge in the castle after a failed revolt against his brother.

Show all

1523The Ottomans take the castle after the fall of Rhodes.
1915A French warship's fire destroys the minaret.
1962The castle is turned into a museum for underwater archaeology finds.

Sources: Bodrum Castle - Wikipedia · Bodrum - Wikivoyage (see) · BODRUM UNDERWATER ARCHAEOLOGY MUSEUM · St. Peter (Bodrum) - Wikipedia · Château Saint-Pierre - Wikipedia · Bodrum Kalesi - Wikipedia · Bodrum Castle: tickets (its own site) · checked 26 Oct 2026

Where

Kale Cd, Bodrum City

Website: muze.gov.tr/muze-detay?sectionId=BSA01&di…
Phone: +90 252 316 25 16

Plan from here: A day out →

Questions and answers

What are the opening hours of Bodrum Castle?

Bodrum Castle is open every day, Monday to Sunday, from 08:30 to 17:30.

Can I buy tickets for Bodrum Castle online?

Yes. Tickets for Bodrum Castle can be bought online through the castle's own website.

Where is Bodrum Castle?

Bodrum Castle stands on Kale Cd in Bodrum City, on a rocky site between two harbours, in front of the natural harbour.

What can children see at Bodrum Castle?

Children can see the Uluburun and Fatımi shipwrecks, reconstructed inside the museum, and the tower with a carved lion relief, also called the Lion Tower.

What is the phone number of Bodrum Castle?

The phone number of Bodrum Castle is +90 252 316 25 16.

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