Ancient Antiphellos & Theatre (Kaş)

Antiphellos: Ancient Seaside Harbour and Theatre in Kaş

Antiphellos Ancient City lies in the beating heart of modern Kaş, creating a magical atmosphere where millennia of Lycian heritage seamlessly blend with contemporary coastal life. Situated just 27 kilometres (a scenic 25-minute drive) from Kalkan, Antiphellos is an essential cultural highlight along the Turquoise Coast.

Originally settled as the tiny seaside port for the mountain citadel of Phellos, Antiphellos grew rapidly during the Hellenistic and Roman eras as Mediterranean maritime commerce exploded, eventually eclipsing its parent settlement to become a thriving independent port metropolis.

Monumental Highlights

• Sea-Facing Hellenistic Theatre: Built in the 1st century BC to seat 4,000 spectators, this remarkably preserved amphitheatre is the only theatre in Lycia constructed facing directly out toward the Mediterranean Sea and Kastellorizo (Meis) Island. Watching the golden Mediterranean sunset from its ancient stone tiers is Kaş's most celebrated ritual.
• Uzun Çarşı King's Sarcophagus (Lion Tomb): Standing at the summit of Kaş's cobblestone, bougainvillea-framed Uzun Çarşı street, this two-storey 4th-century BC Lycian tomb features regal carved lion heads and an intact 8-line Lycian poetic inscription.
• Cliffside Rock-Cut Tombs: Carved into the sheer limestone bluffs rising behind modern Kaş, these monumental tombs with pointed Gothic arches served as eternal burial resting places for the ancient city's nobility.

Visitor Tips & Access

The Antiphellos Theatre is an easy 5-minute stroll from central Kaş harbour, and admission is free. From Kalkan, follow the picturesque D400 coastal highway past Kaputaş Beach. Combine your historical visit with boutique shopping in the old town, harbourfront dining, and sunset drinks.