Bodrum, Muğla Province, Aegean Region, Türkiye

🇹🇷 Bodrum is a port city and the centre of the eponymous district of Muğla Province in south-western Turkey. It is located on the southern coast of Bodrum Peninsula, at the entrance into the Gulf of Gökova.

During the 20th century the city's economy was mainly based on fishing and sponge diving, although tourism has become the main industry in Bodrum since the late 20th century. The abundance of visitors has also contributed to Bodrum's retail and service industry. Milas–Bodrum Airport and Kos International Airport are the main airports that serve the city. The port has ferries to other nearby Turkish and Greek ports and islands, Kos being the most important one. Most of the public transportation in the city is based on local share taxis and busses.

Economy During the 20th century the city's economy was mainly based on fishing and sponge diving. Even though naked sponge diving's past can be traced back at least three thousand years in the Aegean region, modern sponge diving started to be prevalent in Bodrum after the Koan and Cretan immigrants settled in the city in the early 20s, after the population exchange between Greece and Turkey. During its golden age between 1945 and 1965, there were close to 150 boats engaged in sponge diving activities in Bodrum. However, sponge diseases, artificial sponge production and a ban on sponge diving eventually ended this lucrative industry in Bodrum.

Over the years, tourism became one of the major activities and main income source of local communities in Bodrum. The abundance of visitors has also enlivened Bodrum's retail and service industry. Leather goods, particularly for traditional woven sandals are well known products in the town. Other traditional goods such as tangerine flavoured Turkish delight, Nazar amulets and handicrafts are also main souvenirs that are sold in the city.

Apart from small shopping facilities the city hosts some larger shopping centres like Midtown and Oasis. There are also Yacht and small ship accommodation oriented marinas such as Milta Bodrum Marina, D-Marin Turgutreis, and award-winning Yalıkavak Marina.

The Carian Trail also passes by Bodrum and the surrounding Kızılağaç and Pedasa ruins, attracting hikers both from inside and outside of Turkey.