Last updated on December 18, 2023.

At the very end of Datça Peninsula, about a 45 minute drive from the town of Datça, are the ruins of Knidos (Κνίδος). It was an ancient Greek city in the Caria (Καρία) region. The city was partly on the mainland and partly on an island connected by a causeway.

Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Knidos

 

Visiting

Admission is 50₺ (as of May 2023) if you want to explore the ruins thoroughly, but they can be seen from outside the gates. The site is open daily.

 

Small Theatre

I had to use my imagination because the ruins weren’t as impressive as I was hoping, but they are well-marked. We started at a small theatre just near the entrance.

Small theatre at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Small theatre
Small theatre at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Small theatre
Small theatre at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
A chair at the small theatre

 

Stoa

Next, we walked by the long stoa, which had a couple of reconstructed columns.

Stoa at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Stoa
Stoa at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Stoa
Stoa at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Reconstructed columns
Stoa at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Reconstructed columns

 

Temple of Dionysus

In front of the stoa was what used to be a Temple of Dionysus. A basilica was built on top of it. This became a common theme. Many Byzantine-era churches were built on the ruins.

Temple of Dionysis and basilica at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Temple of Dionysis and basilica

 

Walking Up

From there, I climbed up to the top of the ruins using an ancient road. On the way up, I saw a small ruined church until I got to a Temple of Apollo and a small altar.

Road at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Road
Church at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Church
Temple of Apollo and altar at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Temple of Apollo and altar
Temple of Apollo and altar at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Temple of Apollo and altar

The higher I went, the more I could see. At one point, I could see four Greek islands and a hidden cove. It was possible to make out the small strip of land that separates the ruins and a small mountain with a lighthouse on the end.

Hidden cove at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Hidden cove
View of the lighthouse at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
View of the lighthouse

 

Tholos

At the highest point there is a tholos, which was a circular temple. Most people walked back down at that point, but we continued to the lesser-explored sections of Knidos.

Tholos at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Tholos
Tholos at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Tholos

 

More at the Top

Some of the gems we found were a sundial and the bouleuterion, where council members met in ancient times.

Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Knidos
Sundial at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Sundial
Sundial at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Sundial
Bouleuterion at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Bouleuterion

We also found the ruins of a church with a mosaic floor and a very interesting carving in Arabic script.

Church at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Church
Church at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Church
Church at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Carving in Arabic

 

Harbor

In the harbor, which is outside of the archaeological park, is a pier that juts out into crystal clear water. In the summer, there are all kinds of boats and yachts moored there, but in the low season, it was completely empty. If it was just a bit warmer, I would’ve jumped right into the water and had a nice swim.

Harbor at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Harbor
Harbor at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Harbor

Author

Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.

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