Bodrum is a district and a port city in Muğla Province, in the southwestern Aegean Region of Turkey. It is located on the southern coast of Bodrum Peninsula, at a point that checks the entry into the Gulf of Gökova, and is also the center of the eponymous district. Built by the Knights Hospitaller in the 15th century, Bodrum Castle overlooks the harbour and the marina. The castle includes a museum of underwater archaeology and hosts several cultural festivals throughout the year. The city had a population of 36,317 in 2012. It takes 50 minutes via boat to reach Kos from Bodrum, with services running multiple times a day by at least three operators.

Bodrum is world renowned as a paradise for tourists featuring charming neighbourhoods, various ancient sites for sightseeing, exquisite bays, turquoise sea, mild Mediterranean climate, modern transportation, and vibrant night life. It is a top holiday destination in Turkey. The city's developed transportation infrastructure and port, which welcomes international cruise liners, also play an essential role in attracting millions of tourists. In ancient Greek, Bodrum was called Halicarnassus. Halicarnassus was especially famous for housing the Tomb of Mausolus (from where we get the word Mausoleum), one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.