Ultimate Budget Guide for a Bodrum Family Trip
Wondering how much a trip to Bodrum actually costs? Before visiting, I found plenty of articles with estimated budgets, but very few shared what a real family spent.
While spending 6 days in Bodrum as a family of five, I tracked all our expenses, from our hotel and restaurants to groceries, activities, and a little shopping, to give you an honest look at what a vacation here really costs.
Whether you’re planning a family holiday, a couples’ getaway, or simply trying to decide if Bodrum fits your budget, this guide breaks down exactly what we spent, where we saved money, and whether we think Bodrum offers good value compared to other Mediterranean destinations.
If you’re wondering “Is Bodrum expensive?” or “How much does a trip to Bodrum cost?”, this real-life budget breakdown will help you plan your trip with confidence.
Related Articles
- The Only 10 Day Turkey Itinerary You Need
- Cheapest Greek Islands to Visit (Affordable & Beautiful Options)
- 7 Best Greek Islands for Families Without a Car
- How Much Does a Trip to Greece Cost? Full Budget Breakdown
- 5 Best Greek Islands for Different Travelers: Couples, Families, Beaches, Nightlife & Authentic Greece
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog!
Is Bodrum Expensive?
Not really! Before visiting, I wasn’t sure what to expect since Bodrum has a reputation for being one of Turkey’s more upscale beach destinations. While you can definitely spend a lot if you’re staying at luxury resorts or visiting trendy beach clubs, we found Bodrum to be much more affordable than we expected.
As a family of five, we were pleasantly surprised by how reasonable the prices were. We ate at local restaurants, enjoyed plenty of great food, spent time at the beach, and never felt like we had to constantly watch what we were spending. Compared to similar destinations in Greece, our money went a lot further in Bodrum.
Like anywhere, your budget depends on how you travel. If you’re happy eating at local restaurants and mixing free activities with a few paid ones, Bodrum can be a surprisingly budget-friendly destination. Below, I’ve broken down exactly what our family spent over six days so you can get a realistic idea of how much to budget for your own trip.
Our 6-Day Bodrum Budget Breakdown
Here’s exactly what our family of five spent during six days in Bodrum. We didn’t include flights or ferries since those will vary depending on where you’re traveling from, but everything else, from our hotel and meals to activities and shopping is included.
| Category | Cost (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Accommodations | $979.43 |
| Food & Drinks | $903.92 |
| Activities | $86.56 |
| Shopping | $3.20 |
| Transportation | $0.00 |
| Miscellaneous | $28.75 |
| Total | $2,001.86 |
Budget at a Glance
- Total trip cost: $2,001.86 CAD
- Length of trip: 6 days
- Family size: 5 people
- Average cost per day: $333.64 CAD
- Average cost per person: $400.37 CAD
- Average cost per person, per day: $66.73 CAD
Our family of five spent just over $2,000 CAD for six days in Bodrum (excluding the ferries from the Greek islands to get there), which worked out to just under $67 per person, per day. Considering we ate out for every meal and stayed in an airbnb just off the main waterfront in high season, we thought Bodrum offered excellent value for money, especially when compared to neighboring Greece.
Accommodation Costs
We spent $979.43 CAD on accommodation for our 6-night stay, which worked out to $163.24 CAD per night.
Instead of staying at a large resort, we booked an airbnb that turned out to be a small hotel. It was located just a couple of doors down from Black Rock Smash Burger and only about a 30-second walk to the waterfront, making it one of the best locations we could have asked for.
The location was honestly one of the biggest highlights. We could walk everywhere, including restaurants, shops, the beach, Bodrum Castle, and the ancient ruins, yet the hotel was tucked away on a quiet side street so it stayed peaceful at night. We never felt like we needed a taxi during our stay.
Our room was simple but exactly what we needed. It had four single beds, an updated bathroom, and everything was clean and well-maintained. Breakfast wasn’t included, but that wasn’t a deal-breaker for us since we wanted to try different cafés and Turkish breakfasts around Bodrum each morning.
We’re not the type of travelers who spend much time in the hotel—we mainly use it for sleeping and showering—so this accommodation was perfect for our travel style. We’d definitely stay here again because it offered excellent value, especially considering the location.
One funny story from our stay: my husband has a tradition of taping garbage bags over the windows whenever there aren’t blackout curtains so our kids don’t wake up at the crack of dawn. We did exactly that in Bodrum… and didn’t think twice about it all week. On our last morning, as I was taking the bags down before checking out, I looked out the window and realized we’d had a beautiful view of Bodrum Castle the entire time! We unknowingly covered up one of the best views in the city for our entire vacation. 😂
Food & Drink Costs
We spent a total of $903.92 CAD on food and drinks over six days. We ate out for every meal and were pleasantly surprised by how affordable Bodrum was, especially compared to many popular destinations in Greece.
Breakfast was one of the best values. We typically spent around $30 CAD for our family of five, and one of our favourite parts of the trip was trying traditional Turkish breakfasts. If you’ve never had one before, they’re much more than eggs and toast. Expect a table filled with cheeses, olives, fresh bread, tomatoes, cucumbers, jams, honey, eggs, and endless cups of Turkish tea.
Lunch and dinner varied depending on where we ate, but most meals cost us between $40 and $100 CAD for our family. One thing we noticed almost immediately was that restaurants along the waterfront were often twice the price—or even more—than restaurants just a few blocks inland. Not only were the prices better away from the marina, but we also thought the food was much more authentic.
We found ourselves returning to Atatürk Caddesi, where many of Bodrum’s highest-rated local restaurants are located. The atmosphere felt less touristy, portions were generous, and the prices were significantly lower than the waterfront restaurants.
Coffee was also generally affordable. An iced Americano typically cost between $3.45 and $5.75 CAD, making it the perfect excuse to take a break from sightseeing.
Ice cream averaged around $4.69 CAD, although prices varied depending on where you bought it.
We didn’t buy many groceries during our stay. The only thing we regularly picked up was bottled water from the local mini markets. Prices depended on where you were shopping. At supermarkets and neighbourhood convenience stores, a 500 mL bottle usually cost between $0.30 and $0.75 CAD, while a 1.5 L bottle ranged from $0.36 to $1.05 CAD. If you bought water from beach kiosks or shops along the waterfront, expect to pay quite a bit more, sometimes up to $1.79 CAD for a 1.5 L bottle.
Our Favourite Restaurants
We ate at a lot of great restaurants in Bodrum, but these were the ones we’d happily return to:
- Ye Gari – Our favourite restaurant overall. If you’re looking for authentic Turkish grilled food at fantastic prices, don’t miss this place. It offered the best value of any restaurant we visited, and everything we ordered was delicious. They were super friendly and had only been open for 2 weeks when we went.
- Chinese Inn – We weren’t expecting to find such good sushi and Chinese food in Bodrum, but this ended up being one of our favourite meals of the trip. It’s a great option if you’re looking for a break from Turkish cuisine. It was however the priciest meal we had.
- Black Rock Smash Burger – Located just steps from our accommodation, we went here on our last night and loved it. We wished we had gone sooner so we would have had a change to go back. The burgers were juicy, the fries were excellent. They’ve also put a lot of attention into the decor which gives it a great ambiance.
- Frenk Café – Hands down our favourite breakfast spot in Bodrum. The traditional Turkish breakfast was fantastic, and if you’re visiting with kids, this place is a gem. They have a dedicated play corner with toys, which kept our children entertained while we actually got to enjoy our breakfast (a rare luxury when traveling with little ones!). There’s also tons of old decor such as typewriters, books, tvs and other things which gives the place a cool vibe.
Activities & Attractions
The main activities we did were visiting ruins. In total, we spent $86.56 CAD on activities over six days.
One thing I regret skipping was a boat tour. We considered booking one but weren’t sure how our three kids would handle being on a boat for several hours. In the end, we decided against it. Looking back, I definitely wish we had gone! We ended up doing several boat trips later in Greece and Albania, and the kids absolutely loved them and did so much better than we expected. If I were planning this trip again, a Bodrum boat tour would be at the top of my list.
If you’re considering adding a boat trip or another activity to your itinerary, take a look at the tour options at Get Your Guide for ideas on experiences you can prebook.
Bodrum Castle
Cost: $76.61 CAD
The highlight of our trip was definitely Bodrum Castle. Out of all the archaeological sites we visited throughout our summer—including the Acropolis in Athens and ancient ruins across the Greek islands and Albania—this ended up being one of our favourites.
The castle is much bigger than we expected, with plenty to explore. We spent a couple of hours wandering through the different sections, climbing the towers, and taking in the incredible views over Bodrum Marina. The kids loved exploring and spotting the peacocks roaming around the grounds.
Between the fascinating history, beautiful gardens, museum exhibits, and panoramic views, it was well worth the admission price.
Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
Cost: $9.95 CAD
We also visited the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. While much of the original structure is gone today, it’s still a fascinating place to visit, especially if you’re interested in history.
Just above the mausoleum sits the Ancient Theatre of Halicarnassus, which is completely free to visit. The walk up is fairly steep, so I made the climb on my own while my husband stayed below with our stroller and the kids. Even though I only had a quick look around, it was worth the climb for the impressive views over Bodrum.
Overall, we thought Bodrum offered a great balance of history and affordability. Many of the best things to do, such as walking through the old town, exploring the marina, visiting the beaches, and seeing the ancient theatre are either free or inexpensive, making it easy to keep entertainment costs low without feeling like you’re missing out.
Shopping
I’m not really a souvenir person, and with three kids in tow, we didn’t spend much time browsing the shops. The only thing I bought was a little wallet pouch for my cards and coins which cost me $3.20. The smaller one I’d picked up in Greece was already starting to rip, so I needed something a little more practical!
Transportation Costs
One of the best things about our trip was that we didn’t spend a single dollar on transportation while we were in Bodrum.
Our accommodation was in the perfect location, just a 30-second walk from the waterfront, so we could easily walk everywhere. Restaurants, shops, beaches, Bodrum Castle, the marina, and the old town were all within a few minutes on foot. We never once felt the need to call a taxi or rent a car.
The furthest we walked was to the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, which was still completely manageable for us. Even with three young kids, we preferred walking because there was always something interesting to see along the way.
If you’re staying in Bodrum Town, I honestly don’t think renting a car is necessary. Parking can be limited, the streets are busy, and most of the main attractions are within walking distance. Unless you’re planning to explore other parts of the Bodrum Peninsula, you can easily save money by simply exploring on foot.
Not only did walking save us money, but it also allowed us to stumble across hidden streets, local cafés, and shops that we probably would have missed if we’d been driving. For us, staying central meant transportation was one less thing to budget for.
Miscellaneous Costs
Total: $28.95 CAD
Our miscellaneous expenses were almost non-existent. The only extra cost we had was renting sunbeds and an umbrella at Kumbahçe Beach, which came to $28.95 CAD for our family.
We actually only rented them once. After that, we discovered that Kumbahçe Beach has free city-owned umbrellas available to anyone on a first-come, first-served basis. We simply grabbed a spot under one of those, laid out our towels, and enjoyed the beach without spending another dollar.
For us, renting sunbeds every day just wasn’t worth it. We were rarely at the beach for more than a couple of hours at a time. We’d usually spend the morning swimming, head out for lunch, grab a coffee while our two youngest had their afternoon nap, and then return to our accommodation to shower and get ready for dinner.
If you’re planning to spend the entire day relaxing on the beach, renting sunbeds might be worth the extra cost. But if you’re like us and enjoy mixing beach time with sightseeing, shopping, and exploring the old town, you can easily save money by using the free umbrellas instead. It was one of the easiest ways we kept our Bodrum trip budget low.
Is Bodrum Worth the Cost?
Overall, we were genuinely surprised by how affordable Bodrum was. Before visiting, we expected it to be one of Turkey’s more expensive destinations because of its reputation for luxury resorts and beach clubs. While you can certainly spend a lot if that’s your travel style, we found it incredibly easy to keep costs down without feeling like we were sacrificing anything.
For just over $2,000 CAD, our family of five spent six days enjoying beautiful beaches, exploring ancient ruins, eating every meal at restaurants, and staying in a fantastic central location, all while walking everywhere and never needing a car or taxi.
If I were planning this trip again, the only thing I’d do differently is book a boat tour. We skipped it because we weren’t sure how our three kids would do, but after seeing how much they loved the boat trips we took later in Greece and Albania, it’s definitely something I’d add to our itinerary next time.
If you’re looking for a destination with crystal-clear water, fascinating history, delicious food, and excellent value for money, Bodrum is absolutely worth considering. Whether you’re traveling as a family, a couple, or with friends, it’s one of those places that offers a lot without requiring a huge budget.
