Phaselis Bays

The three harbours of ancient Phaselis are now pine-shaded bays with clear water. Swimming here is part of the same day as walking among Roman ruins; few places in the region combine archaeology and the sea so closely.

Three harbours, three characters

• South Harbour: Its broad shore makes it one of the most-used areas; check seabed and wave conditions before entering.
• Military Harbour: In the middle of the ruins, closest to the main street.
• North Harbour: A separate harbour area on the northern side; calmness varies with wind and visitor numbers.

Which bay is calmest depends on the day's wind. In antiquity, too, the harbours were used in turn to shelter ships from winds blowing from different directions.

Before you visit

• Entry: The bays lie within the archaeological site; even to swim you pass through the site entrance and the same entry rules apply. Check muze.gov.tr for current hours and fees.
• Come early: On summer weekends the car park fills early and queues can form at the gate.
• Rules: Don't light fires, don't climb on the ruins and don't use them as picnic spots.

For the history and main monuments of the ancient city, see our Phaselis Ancient City page.