Letoon

Letoon was not a city but the religious centre of the Lycian League, a sanctuary set on flat farmland a few kilometres south of Xanthos, near the village of Kumluova. That makes it small and easy to walk around. It shares its UNESCO World Heritage listing with Xanthos.

The heart of the site is a row of three temples, dedicated to Leto and her twins Artemis and Apollo. Some columns of the largest, the Temple of Leto, have been set back up. In front of the temples lies the nymphaeum, a monumental fountain that is usually flooded because the water table here is high; turtles and frogs are part of the scenery. To the north is the theatre, entered through a vaulted passage. An hour is generally enough.

The site is low-lying with no shade, and in summer it can be hot and buggy, so aim for early morning or late afternoon and bring insect repellent. Stones near the water can be slippery. Letoon is a short turn off the main road between Fethiye and Kaş, and a car is the practical way to get here. Pair it with Xanthos and the long beach and ruins of Patara for a full day. Check the hours on the museum page.