Knidos Ancient City is one of the best historical sites you can consider visiting during your stay in any part of Mugla, Turkey. This marvelous site is still under restoration but welcomes visitors from any part of the world.

In addition to this, you can find plenty of other attractions and activities to visit or engage in while you are in the area. So, if you may be interested in visiting this historical beauty, then the following guide is for you!

You can learn everything you may want to learn about the ancient city with the help of this quick guide before your visit.

Where Was Knidos?

Knidos will take you on a 2,600-year-old journey and you will be able to witness perfectly preserved artifacts and ruins in the area. The settlement area used to be home to more than 5,000 people in the past and you will witness all the ruins proving this fact.

Throughout history, the settlement area became a home for many civilizations. However, the founder of the city is the Carians. Later, the city was captured by Dors and Persians as well. During its time within Roman and Byzantium borders, the marvelous Aphrodite statue was built.

What Is the Meaning of Knidos?

Knidos does not have any meaning but is the name of the ancient city. It was derived from the Cnidus word, which is respelled while naming the city. The city was famous for its beautiful statuary and buildings in those years. In addition to this, this settlement area used to be famous for its school of medicine for a while.

How Old Is Knidos?

Although the settlement in Knidos dates back thousands of years ago, the proven history of the area is only 2,600 years old. We know that the Carians built this beautiful settlement area in the past. However, it is worth noting that the city became very famous at this time.

Before it enjoyed great recognition, there was already a settlement in the area, but no historical records can be found as evidence. Throughout history, many powerful civilizations ruled the area, but the Ottoman Empire is the nation that ruled the area the longest.

Today, it is believed that most of the walls of Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul, which also served as a palace for the Ottoman Empires, are made of stones brought from this area.

Why Was Knidos Abandoned?

Although Knidos was an important settlement area for many nations, and its population even increased to 70,000 residents, the site was abandoned by locals in the past. It is believed that locals abandoned the area in 365.

For long years, people believed that locals abandoned the area because of a major earthquake. However, recent evidence found proves that locals had to leave the settlement area because of drought.

History of Knidos

Knidos Ancient City’s proven history dates back to 2,600 years ago. In those years, the area was ruled by Carians, and more than 5,000 people used to live. This is a quite lot number considering the circumstances of those years.

Later, the area was captured by the Dors and then the Persians. After that, it was ruled by the Roman Empire and then Byzantium Empire. As the Ottoman Empire started to move through the West, the settlement area quickly became one of the states of the Ottoman Empire.

Ottoman Empire restored the city and helped the settlement area to regain its magnificent days. They also built a military port.

How Do I Get to Knidos Ancient City?

The best and quickest way to get to Knidos Ancient City is by renting your car or booking a private transfer. The settlement area is located on the tip of the Datça peninsula, and you need to go to the edge of the area to visit the ancient city.

If you can’t drive, you do not have to worry because there are plenty of tour agencies that offer half-day or full-day tours to the ancient city as well. Besides land transportation, you can also consider booking boat tours from any part of Mugla City.

Is There an Entrance Fee to Knidos Ancient City?

Yes, there is an entrance fee to the Knidos Ancient City, and it is 17.5 Turkish Lira per person. This is about slightly less than €1. However, keep in mind that you can visit this beautiful historical site between 9 AM and 8 PM.

If you are looking for fun activities during your holiday to Turkey and you love history, then we recommend putting this beautiful attraction on your to-do list. You can also book your holiday villa in the area by visiting our homepage.