Bodrum

Bodrum's harbour is dominated by the Castle of St. Peter, a Crusader fortress from the 15th century that now houses the Museum of Underwater Archaeology and one of the world's oldest recovered shipwrecks. The castle sits on a rocky promontory between two bays, with gulets, traditional Turkish wooden sailing boats, moored along the waterfront. The cruise terminal is a 20-minute walk along the harbour promenade, or there's a shuttle boat. The old town behind the harbour has whitewashed buildings with bougainvillea spilling over garden walls, and the narrow streets are full of carpet shops, leather vendors, and small restaurants. The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, is mostly gone but the foundation and a small museum remain. Bodrum's bazaar is compact and sells spices, olive oil soap, and ceramics. Turkish tea is offered everywhere and refusing it is considered rude.