Amyntas Rock Tombs, Fethiye: Getting There and Hours
Prime Turist local team · Updated: October 2026 · 5 min read
The Amyntas Rock Tombs are carved into the rocky hillside of the Kesikkapı neighbourhood, just south of Fethiye town centre. It's an 8–10 minute uphill walk from Atatürk Caddesi, or you can take a taxi or drive right to the foot of the steps. More than 100 stone steps lead up to the tomb, you buy a ticket at the entrance and a visit takes 45–60 minutes. The façade and the view over the bay look their best in the late afternoon.
What are the Amyntas Rock Tombs and why visit?
The Tomb of Amyntas is the grandest monument left by Telmessos, the Lycian city that stood where Fethiye is today. Carved into the hillside around 350 BC, in the middle of the 4th century BC, its façade looks like a small Ionic temple with two columns. A Greek inscription on the side wall names the owner as ‘Amyntas, son of Hermagios’, and that's where the tomb gets its name.
Smaller rock tombs are cut into the cliff around the main one. Once you've climbed the steps, Fethiye Bay, the harbour and the town are spread out below you, so the visit is worth it for the view as much as for the history.
The visit is short, so it won't fill a day on its own. The most practical plan is to pair it with a stroll around the old bazaar in Paspatur and make a half day of it.
How to get there from central Fethiye
The tombs are right in town, so most visitors walk. To find the way, follow the brown ‘Kaya Mezarları’ (Rock Tombs) signs from the harbour.
• On foot: 8–10 minutes uphill from Atatürk Caddesi, or about 15 minutes at an easy pace from Paspatur. The road is steep, so take water with you in summer.
• By taxi: about 5 minutes from the harbour or the bus station; the taxi drops you at the foot of the steps.
• By car: there's a small free car park at the foot of the steps, but it fills up quickly in summer. Just enter ‘Amintas Kaya Mezarları’ in your sat nav.
• By dolmuş: Fethiye's town minibuses (dolmuş) will bring you into the centre; from there you walk the last stretch up to the tombs.
The steps and how long to allow
After the ticket office, more than 100 stone steps lead up to the tomb. Some of them are uneven, so wear closed, non-slip shoes. The climb only takes a few minutes, but there's no shade on the steps at midday in summer.
Allow 45–60 minutes for the visit, including the walk up and down and photo stops. Because of the steps, the tomb can't be reached with a pushchair or a wheelchair.
• Bring: water, a hat, sunscreen
• Shoes: closed and non-slip
• Difficulty: a short but steep climb
Opening hours and tickets
The Amyntas Rock Tombs are an archaeological site run by Turkey's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and you buy a ticket at the entrance. In summer the site is usually open from 08:30 until around 19:30; in winter it closes earlier. Opening hours and prices can change, so check muze.gov.tr before you go.
MüzeKart, the Ministry's museum card, is valid at its museums and archaeological sites, but it's only issued to Turkish citizens and holders of a Turkish residence permit. If you're visiting from abroad, you simply buy a ticket at the entrance. If you do have a MüzeKart, check at the ticket office that it's accepted at this site.
The best time to visit
The tomb's façade is mostly in shade in the morning; the colour of the stone and the view over the bay are at their best in the late afternoon, towards sunset. In summer the steps are hard work in the midday heat, so avoid those hours.
You can also fit the tombs into a boat trip day: get back from the 12 Islands Boat Trip from Fethiye between 17:00 and 18:00, then head up to the tombs in the late afternoon and end the day with the view.
Where else can you see Lycian rock tombs?
The area around Fethiye is full of Lycian rock tombs. The rock tombs of ancient Tlos are one of the stops on the Saklıkent Gorge Tour, and on the Dalyan Tour from Fethiye you'll see the rock tombs of Kaunos.
For the other ancient cities and archaeological sites in the area, have a look at our guide to historical places around Fethiye.
Frequently asked questions
Where in Fethiye are the Amyntas Rock Tombs? On the rocky hillside of the Kesikkapı neighbourhood, just south of the town centre. From the harbour and from Atatürk Caddesi you can see the temple-fronted tomb on the hillside.
Can I walk there from the centre? Yes. After an 8–10 minute uphill walk from Atatürk Caddesi, more than 100 steps lead up to the tomb. You can also take a taxi to the foot of the steps.
How long does a visit take? 45–60 minutes, including the steps and photo stops.
Is there an entry fee? Yes, you buy a ticket at the entrance. MüzeKart is only for Turkish citizens and residence-permit holders, so most visitors from abroad pay at the ticket office. Check muze.gov.tr for current prices and opening hours.
When should I go? In the late afternoon, when the sun is on the façade and the view over the bay is at its best. Avoid the middle of the day in summer.
