Car Rental in Bodrum

Why rent a car in Bodrum?

Bodrum is a fascinating place to visit. One of the most popular resort towns in Turkey, its long Aegean coastline is no less impressive than beaches in Italy, Spain, or Greece. With plenty of beach bars and restaurants, great opportunities for water sports, and a touch of ancient history in the city center, Bodrum is the perfect vacation destination.

Top ways to enter Bodrum

• Milas-Bodrum Airport: Serving Bodrum, as well as the nearby town of Milas, the airport handles nearly three million travelers every year. The airport is especially active during the summer months when around 25 airlines fly to and from Bodrum. The city is 36km (22 miles) southwest of the airport and can be reached in about 35 minutes.
• Dalaman Airport: Another coastal airport primarily serving vacationers coming to the Turkish Mediterranean, Dalaman is much larger than Milas-Bodrum as it handles around 4.5 million travelers each year. About 200km (124 miles) east of Bodrum, the airport can be reached in less than 3 hours.
• Izmir Airport: Serving Turkey’s third largest city, Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport is a hub for Pegasus Airlines and SunExpress. It is also served by around 30 other airlines. Flying to Izmir can often be a good alternative if you cannot find a direct flight to Bodrum. Located 220km (136 miles) north of Bodrum, the airport can be reached in about 2 hours and 40 minutes.
• Rhodes Airport: Also known as Diagoras, it is the international airport serving the Greek island of Rhodes and the fourth-busiest airport in Greece. Separated from Bodrum by the Aegean Sea, the two destinations are linked by a ferry service. Read more about traveling between Rhodes and Bodrum below. 
• By sea: If arriving in Bodrum by ferry, you can conveniently pick up your rental car at the Port of Bodrum. During the summer months, Bodrum has a frequent ferry service to a number of nearby Greek islands, as well as destinations in Turkey. The service is less active during the rest of the year and it is a good idea to look up the timetable in advance.

Important: While there is a ship service between Bodrum and Rhodes, Kos, and other Greek islands, many rental car providers will not permit taking a vehicle on a ferry. If you’re flying to Rhodes or Kos and plan to continue to Bodrum, an alternative is to take a ferry without a car and then pick up one upon arriving in Turkey.

It’s also important to see if you need a visa for Turkey - unlike Greece, Turkey is not a member state of the European Union or the Schengen Area, and the entry requirements can be quite different depending on your citizenship.

City facts

• Like the rest of the southern Turkish coast, Bodrum enjoys a Mediterranean climate with very hot summers and short, mild winters. The average temperature is 29°C  (84°F) in July and August, the warmest months, and 14°C  (57°F) in January and February. It is quite rainy from November to March, but very dry from June to August with practically no precipitation in July. 
• More than 2000 years ago there was an Ancient Greek city called Halicarnassus in the area of present-day Bodrum. It’s most famous building was the Tomb of Mausolus, also known as the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. The tomb, built to honor a local satrap, or ruler, was so impressive that it was considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The mausoleum stood for more than 1,500 years until a series of earthquakes destroyed it between the 12th to 15th centuries. Nevertheless, the legend of the mausoleum survived and today, a model of it can be observed at the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology.

Top sights and activities

• Bodrum Castle. Also known as the Castle of St. Peter, its construction started in 1402 and was continued at various times and by different rulers. Its four towers are known as the German, English, Italian, and French towers after the nationalities who constructed them. As impressive from land as it is from the sea, the castle is one of the symbols of Bodrum.
• Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology. Located inside the Bodrum Castle, the museum deserves a special mention as one of the best in Turkey. It contains jewelry of the Carians, the first inhabitants of the region; Byzantine and Syrian shipwrecks; ancient Greek coins with images of their gods’ and many other artifacts and objects.
• Bodrum Amphitheater. Its construction was begun by the Greeks and finished, centuries later, by the Romans. Located right on the coast, it used to host gladiator fights and other entertainment for the city’s inhabitants. It is one of the best-preserved amphitheaters in Turkey and you should not miss a chance to visit it.
• Ottoman Shipyard & Tower. Formerly home to the fabled Ottoman fleet, the old shipyard remains one of the most interesting places to visit in Bodrum. The tower is quite a bit newer than the shipyard itself and was erected as a warning system against pirate attacks. Since these have dropped in frequency, the former shipyard has been repurposed as one of the most popular art spaces in Bodrum.

Traffic and parking

• Unless specifically indicated otherwise, the speed limits are 120 km/h (74.5 mph) on highways, 90 km/h (55.9 mph) on two-lane roads, and 50 km/h (31 mph) in populated and built-up areas.
• It is illegal to use a mobile phone while driving.
• On regional roads, there might be fewer gas stations than on the national highways. Never stay too low on gas and always plan your route in advance to know the location of the next gas station.
• Due to high taxes, Turkey has very expensive petrol with prices even higher than in most EU countries. Keep that in mind when planning your route!
• Turkey is overall a warm country, but during the winter the roads can be covered with ice, especially in the country’s mountainous regions. Ask your car rental provider in advance if your vehicle will have winter tires..
• Occasionally you might encounter police roadblocks and even military checkpoints, especially in Southeastern Turkey. They are there for your own safety and in most cases, they will only check your license and warn you about any potential danger that might lie ahead. 
• The legal alcohol limit is 0.05% if you’re driving alone and 0.00% if you’re traveling with other passengers. Exceeding the limit can lead to large fines and a licence ban.
• Proof of insurance and the car’s documentation need to be in the car whenever you’re driving.
• When driving,  you need to have your passport or ID card with you at all times.
• The general emergency number is 112. The police number is 155, the fire brigade number is 110, and the forest fire number is 177. 

Toll roads

• Driving on most national motorways, as well as some bridges and tunnels, in Turkey requires a toll payment, including some motorways in the Bodrum area and in the wider Turkish Mediterranean region. 
• Most Turkish toll roads only permit an electronic, contactless payment from an electronic toll-payment transponder that’s in a car or by an electronic chip-sticker that’s on a car. This means that you cannot pay either by cash or credit card for most toll roads (only a handful of newer ones will permit that). 
• All rental cars have to be equipped either with a toll-payment transponder or with a toll-payment sticker. Some rental car providers might charge an extra fee for this service. Contact your rental car provider in advance to find out more. 
• The toll roads in Turkey are divided into HGS, the High-Speed Passage System (Hızlı Geçiş Sistemi in Turkish) and OGS (Otomatik Geçiş Sistemi in Turkish). On HGS roads, you can pass through the toll area at a higher speed. On OGS roads, you need to slow down as you go through a toll gate and the toll payment is registered through the electronic transponder that’s in a car. The exact amount you’ll have to pay will depend on the specific road you drive on and on the distance you travel.
• Find out more about the toll roads in Turkey on the European toll road website.

Ideas for day trips

• Beaches. Even though there’s plenty of ancient history to discover, Bodrum remains, first and foremost, a beach destination. Many Bodrum’s beaches are very nice, but they are made of pebbles and can also get crowded. The real winners are right outside the city’s borders. Gumbet or Bitez, both located less than a 15 minute drive west of the city center, are two sandy shores with plenty of opportunities for swimming, diving, or having a delicious meal at a beach bar.
• Gümüşlük. A small and relaxed fishing village on the edge of the Peninsula of Bodrum, Gümüşlük is famous as the location of the ancient Carian city of Myndos which was washed into the sea by an earthquake. The submerged city offers truly picturesque underwater life and Gümüşlük has developed a reputation as a prime snorkeling destination. Infinitely more quiet than Bodrum, but located just 21km (13 miles) west, the village can be reached in about 13 minutes.
• Kalymnos. A small and relatively undiscovered Greek island, Kalymnos has become something of a rock-climbing paradise. Those who make it to the top of the cliffs are rewarded with views of the surrounding Aegean Sea. But even if bouldering is not your thing, you can still enjoy picturesque little villages, quiet corners of nature, and truly spectacular beaches. Most car rental suppliers won’t allow you to take your rental car on a ferry. The ferry service is quite frequent during the summer months, so if you go in the morning and come back in the evening, Kalymnos can be a perfect day-trip destination. Note: Unlike Turkey, Greece is a member of the European Union and the Schengen Area. Depending on your citizenship, you might need to obtain a visa in advance in order to be able to enter it.
• Kos. Another Greek destination that’s even closer to Bodrum, the island of Kos is very popular with tourists. Like Bodrum, it has a number of well-preserved landmarks dating back to the ancient Hellenic era, and that’s not to mention all the beautiful beaches and excellent kitesurfing spots. As with a trip to the aforementioned Kalymnos, you should leave your rental car in Bodrum (or drop it off and pick up a new one in Kos), and also check in advance whether you need a visa to enter Greece.

Most popular cars

The most popular rental car in Bodrum is the Fiat Panda, but many travelers also go for the Fiat 500 and the Renault Clio. The most popular rental car types are mini, economy, and standard.

Further destinations

Find out more about traveling around Turkey with a rental car in our complete guide. 

• Marmaris. Part of the Turquoise Coast, Marmaris is not just a major resort town - it also attracts visitors with its traditional Turkish baths, ancient sites such as Nimara Cave on nearby Heaven Island, and natural landmarks such as the mountains and waterfalls that surround the city. Located just 160km (99 miles) east of Bodrum and easily reached in two hours, Marmaris is a safe bet as a fun stop on your Turkish adventure. 
• Pamukkale. Known as the “Cotton Castle”, Pamukkale is a famous site of hot mineral springs. In use as a spa since before Christ, Pamukkale’s healing waters attracted Greeks and Romans; the former built a city, Hierapolis, on the top of the site which included the mighty 12,000-seat amphitheater which can still be visited. Located 270km(167 miles) northeast of Bodrum, Pamukkale can be reached in 3 hours and 30 minutes.
• Dilek Peninsula-Büyük Menderes Delta National Park. One of the most biodiverse national parks in Turkey, Büyük Menderes is made up of impressive canyons, valleys, and wetlands. Perfect for hiking and relaxing, the national park is home to such varied animal species as golden jackals, pygmy cormorants, Dalmatian pelicans, and even caracal cats and striped hyenas. There are also natural landmarks such as the Cave of Zeus. About 138km (85 miles) north of Bodrum, the national park can be reached in 2 hours and 20 minutes. 

Car rental prices in Bodrum

• Small cars - from $46 per day
• Large cars - from $46 per day
• Medium cars - from $46 per day
• Station wagons - from $58 per day
• Vans - from $72 per day
• SUVs - from $60 per day
• Premium cars - from $139 per day

Money-saving and other tips

Follow these simple tips to land the best available rental car in Bodrum:

• Compare the rates of different rental car providers
• Book your rental car well in advance
• Plan your route before you go
• Know your fuel and mileage requirements
• Visit during the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Bodrum is the cheapest in February when renting a car is about 69% cheaper than the yearly average and a whole 83% cheaper than renting a car in November.