Transport in and Around Bodrum
Transport in and around Bodrum is easy to use and reasonably priced.
Bodrum has dolmuses in abundance, to transport you around Bodrum, along the peninsula and beyond. Literally meaning 'stuffed', a dolmus is a minibus of a sort, which runs along set routes picking people up and dropping them off as they wish. They are great for convenience, and for your wallet too, as they cost very little.
To stop a dolmus, just signal as you would a taxi, and jump on. When at your destination, you can literally just yell stop, or 'inecek var' (meaning 'someone's getting off here') and stop it will. If in doubt just do as the locals do and you'll be laughing.
To pay, just tell the driver your destination and pass forward a few low denomination bills and your change will be passed back to you. If you sit near the front you'll be responsible for relaying money and destinations from more rear passengers to the driver, and returning their change. Not the easiest task in the world so those after an easy life look for a seat near to the back of the dolmus.
Being the cosmopolitan city it is, Bodrum has hoards of air-conditioned taxis to transport you in and around Bodrum. Turkish taxis are yellow, and therefore instantly recognisable. The standard fee is really quite low, but that's not to say the occasional taxi driver won't try his luck with foreigners, clues include driving round and round in a circle and the meter saying 'night' when it's actually 3 o'clock in the afternoon! And it goes without saying be sure that it is a real, genuine taxi; that there is an ID number and so on, just as you would at home.
Many bus services for transport in and around Bodrum and the villages and towns on the Bodrum peninsula leave from the bus station. Ask at the station for timetables and prices.
Driving in and around Bodrum can pose a bit of a nightmare for tourists, with the confusing one-way system and distinct lack of parking. Try Akustik for car hire, who's prices are more favourable than some of the bigger companies.
