Kaunos Ancient City

About this place

Kaunos is an ancient city of Caria in Anatolia, a few kilometres west of the town of Dalyan in Muğla Province, southwest Turkey, about 50 km northwest of Fethiye in a straight line. The Dalyan river was the border between Caria and Lycia. Kaunos was an important sea port whose history is thought to go back to the 10th century BC. But the formation of İztuzu beach and the silting of the bay from about 200 BC left it inland, and it now lies about 8 km from the coast. It was abandoned completely in the 15th century, and excavations have run since 1966. The remains spread over a hillside crowned by an acropolis: a large theatre cut into the slope, a terrace temple, Roman baths, a round building and a domed church. From the top a view opens over the Dalyan river winding through the reeds to the sea, and over rock tombs carved into the cliffs. Visitors cross the river from Dalyan by small boat, then walk among the ruins and climb to the theatre and acropolis. Many combine the visit with a river trip to İztuzu beach; summers are hot, so arrive early.