Visitors to Bodrum will be confronted with so many options to experience the history and culture of the town and the surrounding area that just lying on the beach in the sun may not seem possible given the time available. However, in order to ensure a relaxing break, visitors would be well advised to plan ahead. A visit to Bodrum Castle is recommended, for younger people a night at Bodrum's huge outdoor nightclub would be a shame to miss and for everyone, a Turkish bath, if only to be able to say that you've tried one.

The tradition of Turkish baths goes back many thousands of years and in this part of the country the custom is a combination of traditional Turkish components mixed with Greek and Roman influences. The basic idea of the Turkish bath is just as much cleanliness as it is relaxation, although in today's modern times more emphasis seems to be placed on the latter.

Men and woman have separate areas and even children are allowed to take part (at half price usually, so a cheap and interesting experience for them too). Everyone can chose their own type of treatment but the general idea is to go somewhere hot to start perspiring and sweat out any impurities from the skin followed by a Kese, which is an exfoliating body scrub carried out by an attendant or Kesaci. Raising the body temperature is either achieved by lying on a heated marble stone or by pouring on hot water from basins. After the body scrub, the attendant will wash you down with a soap and olive oil lotion which will leaves the skin wonderfully smooth.

Next comes a wash down with clean warm water, then an optional oil massage to relieve tension and loosen any tight muscles. To conclude most people just lounge around, relaxing for as long as they want before drying off and heading home feeling wonderfully refreshed.