---

We wanted to take a ferry for a short trip to Greece to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary, but because of the pandemic, all international ferry crossing had been put on hold, so we opted to explore another part of Turkey and took a ferry from Bodrum to Datça, less than two hours away.

On arrival at Datça we rented a car, and because it was too soon for us to check into our accommodation we went to explore the local area.

Exploring Knidos

I did Classical History at school, and became absorbed with the Greeks and Romans, and was looking forward to visiting the tip of the Datça Peninsula 35km away, where the ancient city of Knidos is located. The Dorians founded a colony here around 400 BC, but it developed into one of the major cities in the Hellenistic era.

Knidos was a major hub for trade routes, but the city also became a centre for culture and the arts. One of the town’s most famous areas was the Temple of Aphrodite, attracting notoriety for the first life-size statue of a nude female form created by the famous 4th Century BC sculptor, Praxiteles. He actually created two versions of Aphrodite, one clothed and one unclothed, and gave the citizens of the nearby Greek Island of Kos the option of a first pick. They chose the clothed version, which meant that the nude statue was offered to the Knidians. The statue is no longer here, it went to Byzantium (modern day Istanbul) before disappearing.

The tip of the Datça peninsula is the geographic meeting point of the Mediterranean and the Aegean. The Mediterranean runs along the southern coastline of the Datça Peninsula and the Aegean runs along the northern coastline. We’d been swimming in Bodrum the previous week, and was surprised by how much warmer the Mediterranean was.

Knidos consisted of two parts—the mainland and an island. On either side of the isthmus that connects two  is a harbour. These dual-harbors became a convenient stop-over point for ships that had to wait for favorable winds before continuing north or south. The north harbour was used for military purposes, whereas the larger southern harbour was used for merchant ships.

Exploring Knidos

Even though it was late September, we were welcomed with vivid blue skies and a slightly humid 95°F. There’s minimal shade while walking around Knidos, so make sure you have plenty of water with you, and a hat is useful too. This area of Datça can sometimes be breezy, but there wasn’t a breath of wind during our visit.

Entrance to Knidos and Gift Shop

• Summer Opening Times: 1 April – 1 October. Opening time: 08:30. Closing time: 20:00.
• Winter Opening Times: 1 October – 1 April. Opening time: 08:30. Closing time: 17:30.
• Entry Fee: 14TL
• Government Website

When we visited, the Turkish government hadn’t begun mandatory face-masks in public. But there was no problem social distancing. Knidos is spread across a large area, and with only about two-dozen visitors it felt deserted.

Temple of Dionysus and Amphitheater

We only explored the ruins on the same level as the entrance, which included a wander through the Temple of Dionysus (also referred to as Dionysos), who according Greek mythology was the god of the grape-harvest.

And the end of the temple area we explored the amphitheater that overlooks the southern harbour.

Walking around Knidos it felt like walking amongst a giant jigsaw puzzle still in progress. There were more workmen than visitors inside this historical site. With row upon row of archeological finds lining the pathways it isn’t hard to imagine the grandeur of Knidos in its heyday.

Knidos Restaurant Overlooking the Southern Harbour

There’s only one restaurant at Knidos, which serves unpretentious traditional Turkish food.

There’s covered indoor seating and outdoor tables overlooking the southern harbour. It’s a pretty special place to enjoy a meal, but they have the market cornered, and the menu prices reflect their monopoly.

Knidos Restaurant Menu

---

Frequently Asked Questions about visiting Knidos

Is there public transport between Datça and Knidos?

• Yes, but there’s only a couple of buses a day (one in the morning and one in the afternoon)

If I’m doing a day trip from Bodrum, is there enough time to visit Knidos?

• Only if you have your own transport or hire a taxi.

---

A single visit to Knidos doesn’t do this historical site justice. I was torn between climbing the hill to explore the ruins dotted across the hillside, or going in search of a nearby beach for a swim. The sun was merciless, so the decision was easy.

We wrapped up this visit, knowing that next time we’re in Datça we’ll pay Knidos a return visit.