Bodrum with children: Best kids activities in Bodrum

Wondering where and what to do with your kids during your Bodrum holiday? We've listed the best things to do with children in Bodrum, so you're never at a loss for fun-filled activities to keep your little ones occupied during daylight hours. Ideal for everyone from toddlers to teens to adventurous adults, get ready for some fun family filled days out in this beautiful area of Turkey.

Bodrum With Kids and Things to Do

1: Bodrum Aqua Park in Ortakent

Bodrum Aqua Park has an impressive array of slides, rides and pools spread over a whopping 40,000 square metres, making it one of Turkey's largest waterparks. Around 20 slides - including kamikaze, multi-slide and lots of pools from shallow toddler-friendly to deeper pools and a wave pool for confident swimmers entertain families throughout summer. Teenagers seeking thrills should try the Black Hole and Big Hole boats, while more minor children enjoy water bikes and baby bungees. With plenty of places to lounge in the sun and lots of eateries, stay all day. Some hotels offer transport to the waterpark.

2: Bodrum's Child-friendly Beaches

The peninsula has dozens of beaches, from pebbly coves to sandy shores. If you have little ones in tow, our favourite is Gumbet Beach. With its clean, sandy seashore and good facilities such as cafes and sunbeds, this beach is an easy option close to Bodrum centre. The water is shallow and calm. Older kids can also try water sports. You could also head to the quiet Bitez Beach, seven kilometres west of Bodrum. The cool breeze that attracts windsurfers to Bitez makes the beach excellent for relaxing. It's soft and calm here but enjoy restaurants and cafes nearby, as well as orange and mandarin gardens. Turgutreis Beach is another excellent bustling spot, with lots of facilities and a sandy beach, very popular with families. Water sports, Kayaking, banana boating, parasailing and just general splashing about are all great options for children in Bodrum.

3: Visit Bodrum Castle and Museum

This attraction is unmissable. Overlooking the harbour and the marina, the 15th-century castle, initially constructed by the Knights of Rhodes, is now a museum and houses the Museum of Underwater Archaeology. Older children will enjoy the museum, which houses incredible finds from underwater excavations all along the Turkish coast, including the Uluburun Shipwreck, the earliest and wealthiest wreck ever discovered. Younger children will enjoy exploring the towers and the castle hallways. Unfortunately, the dungeon exhibition will not be suitable for younger children.

4: Daily Boat Trips

Children love exploring the Bodrum coastline to swim in warm waters. There are dozens of tour operators and tours, and you can take a powered boat or a traditional wooden gulet. Look for an operator that offers family-friendly tours to islands with shallow waters and provides floaties for children. This is an excellent chance for kids to learn about sea life in Turkey, including brightly coloured fish and turtles, and see little-explored ruins on the islands and along the coastline. Most tours last a few hours, so this is probably one for children over five.

5: Kids Clubs in All Inclusive Hotels

If your kids fancy a little parent-free time, kids club are great ways to get a bit of space - and have your wee ones run off steam. Children participate in craft activities, games, swimming and more. The larger hotels are more reputable, with trained staff on hand. Prices and age ranges vary, but they usually accept children between three and 11.

6: Fun Town Yahsi Park

Think table tennis, go-kart, paintball, and remote-control cars to understand why all kids like Fun Town in Ortakent. Sitting among picturesque scenery with refreshments outlets onsite, Yahsi Park also has a football pitch lit up at night times. Additionally, you don't need to be a Clint Eastwood-style cowboy to enjoy horse riding. Their instructors take riders into the hills to enjoy the stunning views and explore the hidden ruins and pine forests. Children over the age of five are generally welcome. Rides last from a couple of hours to day-long affairs.

General Tips for Visiting Bodrum with Kids

• Bodrum has some stray dogs. While they are generally harmless, ensure your children don’t approach them.
• The sun gets scorched in the peak months of July and August. So first, ensure children are hydrated and covered up. Then, keep them indoors during the hottest hours.
• Always watch your children as they play by the pool or on the shoreline.
• Keep spare change at the ready in your pocket for public toilets. Unfortunately, small children often do not allow you much warning.
• Bodrum water is fine to drink, but young stomachs might not be used to the high mineral content, so keep this in mind.
• Nip into the local tour agency shops to find more kids' activities like jeep safaris for teenagers.

More About Bodrum

The Best Area: Deciding on the best area of Bodrum can be challenging because this corner of Turkey throws up many coastal resorts worthy of admiration. From small bays to sandy beaches, clubs, and great restaurants, this location next to the Aegean Sea in Turkey, previously called Halicarnassus, presents fascinating history as seen in the castle and underwater museum.

Why We Love Bodrum: It's not hard to find something to love about the Bodrum peninsula. After all, Bodrum is a place of outstanding natural beauty, where the sun shines for 300 days, and there is a wealth of things to do all year round. The real difficulty lies in narrowing it down to a shortlist. From parties to pootling around in boats, explore our favourite things about Bodrum.

Best Beaches in Bodrum: Famed for its white sugar-cubed houses tumbling down the hillsides, Bodrum on the Aegean coast of Turkey also has another luring attribute. The small bays and caves feature some of Turkey's best beaches, making Bodrum popular for holidays. Those stretches of golden sand, combined with the blue Aegean waters and boats, catapulted Bodrum into one of the Turkish Riviera's top destinations. So, enjoy these best beaches while in Bodrum with kids.