10 Best Nightlife Experiences in Bodrum

Bodrum Bar Street is the nickname for Cumhuriyet Street, which starts from the square in front of Bodrum Castle and winds east along the coast. This mile-long street bustles with vibrant nightlife spots.

Start your evening with a Turkish coffee to keep you going all night, then take your pick of beachfront bars with pricey cocktails or clubs where you can dance the night away. With several spots lining the street, like Halikarnas Night Club, Kule Rock City Bar and Reef Beach Bar, you can't throw a rock without hitting a good time.

The Bodrum Marina Yacht Club isn’t just for sailors – rather, this swanky establishment is one of the town’s best venues to eat, drink, and be merry. Come during the daytime and you’ll enjoy a laidback atmosphere and tasty Turkish and Mediterranean fare. A strategic location in the middle of the marina allows diners to appreciate the hustle and bustle of the port and affords sweeping views of the adjacent fort.

At night – from around 10.30pm or so – the venue adopts a different vibe. Live bands or local DJs hit the stage, and the dancefloor packs out with sweaty revellers who boogie away until daybreak.

Welcome to Gumbet Bar Street, Bodrum’s primary party drag and a hotspot for hedonism from dusk until dawn. Rows upon rows of rowdy establishments line the bustling strip, brimming with glitter, neon, and bargain-basement booze. Gumbet is popular with the youngsters so don’t come here if you fancy a quiet evening tipple.

You’ll be spoilt for choice of where to go, with a mesmerizing array of competing venues to choose from. We recommend giving Chico’s Cocktail Bar and No Name Bar a shot, though sometimes it’s best to follow your nose. Once you’re ready to dance, Club Posh Bodrum and Club Mood Bodrum are always good bets.

Kule Rock City Bar is the go-to establishment in Bodrum for when you want to indulge in one of life’s great pleasures: listening to live rock. Don’t expect to hear the hard stuff from the get-go because most bands play soft rock or pop classics in the early evening. But as the night wears on and the punters become more inebriated, heavier groups hit the stage to thrash out banging rock tunes.

Cool kitsch decor and technicoloured lighting make this a fun place to drink, and you’ll enjoy 2-for-1 cocktails if you rock up before 11.

Mandalin Bodrum is the best place in the city to see a live music show, with talented musicians putting on an energetic gig every night of the week. If you’re not a fan of contemporary Turkish tunes – or you aren’t familiar with them – prepare to have your mind blown as these epic performances captivate locals and visitors alike. Of course, you’ll get a healthy dose of international pop in the mix as well.

A superb location on the beach and a well-dressed clientele mean the joint is a little upmarket, so don’t expect any rock-bottom drink prices here. Still, Mandalin is well worth the splurge when live music is a must.

Club Catamaran is a Bodrum institution – a must-visit for any nightclub aficionado on vacation in the city. What’s so special about this place, then? It’s all in the name: Club Catamaran is a floating nightclub on a ship that sails out to sea.

The debaucherous vessel departs the Bodrum harbor around 11pm and starts slowly making its way back around 4am – it's a whole night of booze-fueled nautical fun. But don’t worry; you don’t have to stick to their schedule as a speedboat shuttle service comes included in the cover charge. On board, live international DJs and a saucy cabaret show entertain an exuberant crowd.

Scotch lovers rejoice, for Gekko Cocktail & Whiskey brings delicious distilled mixers to downtown Bodrum (of course, you can order your preferred poison on the rocks as well). The classy establishment serves a wide array of the good stuff, sourcing its spirits from as far afield as Scotland and Tennessee. Feeling tired? Try the WAKE UP with coffee and Caribbean rum.

Multicolored mood lighting adds an intimate air to the cave-like space, while chatty bar staff ensures everyone feels at home. Live DJs spin chilled beats most nights, but it’s got more of a speakeasy than a nightclub kind of vibe.