Xanthos Antik Kenti
Xanthos Antik Kenti
4.5
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Xanthos was the capital city of the Lycian Federation and its greatest city for most of Lycian history.
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4.5
573 reviews
Excellent
303
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184
Average
71
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11
Terrible
4
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RichardK938
West Palm Beach, FL728 contributions
June 2021
This is a great Lycian ruins site! The amphitheater is huge and very well restored and the surrounding tombs are very unusual. Some are shaped like houses, some are carved into cliffs and some are on top of high towers. Take a long walk around the site and find out of the way structures. Unfortunately some of the most important pieces of history were taken out of here by the British and are in London. Note the intricate carvings on the tombs.
Written 25 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BeNa
Germany1,121 contributions
Oct 2024 • Couples
Xanthos is located near Letoon and is much larger and more extensive. Admission costs 3 euros per person.
Beautiful amphitheatre, temple columns, large and long temple square, well preserved church ruins, many rock tombs behind the hill. To the rock tombs and sarcophagi you have to walk around the hill about 10 - 15 minutes, but it is worth it. Good footwear is advisable. We could see many large but shy lizards.
At the parking lot there is a small kiosk and toilet facility (toilet not so clean, take disinfectant and speeds)
The ancient site is also suitable and recommended for children! 👍
Beautiful amphitheatre, temple columns, large and long temple square, well preserved church ruins, many rock tombs behind the hill. To the rock tombs and sarcophagi you have to walk around the hill about 10 - 15 minutes, but it is worth it. Good footwear is advisable. We could see many large but shy lizards.
At the parking lot there is a small kiosk and toilet facility (toilet not so clean, take disinfectant and speeds)
The ancient site is also suitable and recommended for children! 👍
Automatically translated
Written 19 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
alper ş
Datca, Türkiye47 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
When you follow the path on the right at the entrance, after a while you come to a place where you have to climb a little without a guide (maybe slightly difficult with children, but quite doable for adults). As a result of climbing, the rock tombs are reached. The lack of directional signs in that area can be considered a negative, but I found it very enjoyable to reach the ruins after the mysterious climb. Continuing on the same path eventually reaches the point where you made the first payment.
Written 20 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Matthew R
1 contribution
July 2023 • Family
Wonderful business! I walked in, asking directions to a dive shop, and Sefer invited me to come back if we were interested in any of his tours.
We came back later after diving and arranged a wonderful trip to Kekova by kayak.
Our guide, çagan, was very kind and informative.
We went back a few days later and arranged a trip to the canyons, and the river, which was a very good way to spend an extremely hot day.
Our guides treated us like family, and we all ended up having a big splashing fight to keep cool at the end of the day, very fun!
On our last day, a private boat trip was arranged for snorkeling, and the family who operated the boat were delightful, and the cooking was amazing. We saw some amphora shards, while snorkeling and free diving.
We came back later after diving and arranged a wonderful trip to Kekova by kayak.
Our guide, çagan, was very kind and informative.
We went back a few days later and arranged a trip to the canyons, and the river, which was a very good way to spend an extremely hot day.
Our guides treated us like family, and we all ended up having a big splashing fight to keep cool at the end of the day, very fun!
On our last day, a private boat trip was arranged for snorkeling, and the family who operated the boat were delightful, and the cooking was amazing. We saw some amphora shards, while snorkeling and free diving.
Written 18 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Serena C
Cheshire, UK899 contributions
Oct 2024 • Couples
In comparison with Perge, the signage was pretty poor, to say the least. One sign at the main entrance - left to the Necropolis and right to the church! You had to divert from the main paths (white stones) to see the remaining tombs and then were in danger of getting lost in the brambles! If you can make it to the top, there is a great view of the amphitheatre. Go early in the morning as it gets really hot!
Written 31 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Musicians Mum
1,313 contributions
Sept 2022
visited as an add on to a small group tour.Not very touristy.A simple site of ruins of the major city of the Lycean League.
It fits into a niche in the history of this area and as such,is an interesting place to visit.
Toilets were not open. Hence the lower rating
It fits into a niche in the history of this area and as such,is an interesting place to visit.
Toilets were not open. Hence the lower rating
Written 22 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anne0319
Kingsbridge, UK277 contributions
Oct 2024 • Friends
We had a great trip to Xanthos. Reasonably priced and great fun to walk around. There are some adorable and friendly dogs on site too. It would have been nice if there were a few more information signs saying what they think things used to be, but otherwise definitely worth the trip!
Written 16 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
radio_hack
London, UK142 contributions
Aug 2013 • Couples
We planned a two hour walk around Xanthos and it turned into nearly four hours. Partly the heat - we arrived as it opened at 9am and by midday we could have been overtaken by a middle aged tortoise. But it's also fascinating, particularly if you read up a little on the history beforehand (www.lycianturkey.com was very useful). As usual with Turkish attractions, there is very little information on site (although Xanthos has more than some). This has left an opening for self-appointed guides but we've found the standard varies considerably so we got what we wanted via the iPad (www.exploreturkey.com has a useful guided walk around the site).
The walk up to the necropolis has a little more shade than the lower area so, although it's more strenuous than wandering on the flat, I'd suggest you do the climb during the hottest part of your visit. There was also a lovely refreshing breeze at the top. On the day we visited, we seemed to be the only people up there. I can only think some people are put off by the climb, others because it isn't particularly well signposted and visitors don't know what's there. I've added some pics from the necropolis area because that's the part that seems least represented here.
As others have noted, there is a lot of archaeological work going on (July 2013) but very few areas were out of bounds.
If you visit on a Friday, stop off in the village and you'll see a more traditional market than the sales fest of Fethiye. No fake brands or hard selling, just local people doing their weekly shop.
The walk up to the necropolis has a little more shade than the lower area so, although it's more strenuous than wandering on the flat, I'd suggest you do the climb during the hottest part of your visit. There was also a lovely refreshing breeze at the top. On the day we visited, we seemed to be the only people up there. I can only think some people are put off by the climb, others because it isn't particularly well signposted and visitors don't know what's there. I've added some pics from the necropolis area because that's the part that seems least represented here.
As others have noted, there is a lot of archaeological work going on (July 2013) but very few areas were out of bounds.
If you visit on a Friday, stop off in the village and you'll see a more traditional market than the sales fest of Fethiye. No fake brands or hard selling, just local people doing their weekly shop.
Written 7 August 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeff3000
NYC9 contributions
we were based in Kas and drove our rental car around to all the sites. The smallest of the sites, Letoon was our first stop and was probably the site least rennovated. Minor charge to get in, amphitheater and some erect columns. Xanthos was just down the road, much larger site, rennovations underway, cool sarcofogi, column with Lycian writing, frescos. Next was site of Patara which is in a national park of sorts right near a fantastic sand beach. Even larger site with more renovations/excavations underway. More Roman influence here. Did the whole trip in well under one day....started early and tried to time it so we would be beachside around 3pm or so. Can rent beach loungers at Patara. Small restaurant there as well,
Written 3 October 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mup5044
Birmingham, UK23 contributions
Oct 2017 • Couples
If you like your history then Xanthos is definitely worth a visit.
It is easy to get to from Kalkan by Dolmus only 7 Turkish lira and 10 Turkish lira to enter the site.
It is over a large area with a great amphitheatre and lots to walk around, if you can a walk upto the tombs the view and tombs are awesome.
It is easy to get to from Kalkan by Dolmus only 7 Turkish lira and 10 Turkish lira to enter the site.
It is over a large area with a great amphitheatre and lots to walk around, if you can a walk upto the tombs the view and tombs are awesome.
Written 15 October 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Was it easy to find the Dolmus to return to Kalkan? We spent ages waiting for one back from Patara, it got a bit stressful!
Written 1 November 2017
We had hired a car for our holiday so don’t know how easy it would be to get a bus. Sorry but if you get a taxi I wouldn’t think it would be to expensive-but give yourself a good couple of hours and get one of the guides well worth it for the knowledge and information they have...hope you enjoy it 😊
Written 8 April 2018
Hi is Xanthos very far from. Kalkan as we are looking to go there and wondered if you could get a bus or how much in a taxi thanks
Written 26 August 2016
Not very far but as we had a car as part of our villa package I cannot tell you much. Bus is probably a good option. Xanthos is a couple of miles beyond the Patara turn off the main road and there always seem to be taxis at that turning but bear in mind that the site is poorly signposted-=-it took us a while to find it. But very worthwhile and impressive
Written 27 August 2016
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