Cape Gelidonya Lighthouse

What makes it special

The lighthouse is a short tower, 9 metres from base to lantern, set on sharp rock 227 metres above the sea. Its white light flashes in groups of three every ten seconds, so if you stay for dusk you can watch it come on and count the pattern.

Beside the tower stands the keeper's house, and both are protected as national heritage. The light was wound by hand until solar power arrived in 2017.

From the seaward side, the cape runs out below you as a pine-covered ridge, and off its tip lie the Beşadalar, five small, bare islands. A Bronze Age ship sank on the rocks off the cape, and its cargo is now on show in the Museum of Underwater Archaeology in Bodrum.

Visiting

Steep in places, the waymarked Lycian Way climbs about 2 km through black pine from the signed walk start at Taşlık Burnu to the lighthouse. Allow 45 to 60 minutes on the way up, and half a day for the round trip with time at the cape.

The lighthouse grounds are often locked, so plan to see the tower and the keeper's house from outside. Walk round to the seaward side for the view, then find shelter for lunch: the point is exposed and the wind blows hard even in summer.

Camping at the lighthouse is allowed, and a night there gives you both sunset and sunrise from the cape. The walk back follows the same path, so take the rocky upper section slowly.

Tips

Carry all the water you will drink. Some walkers find taps on the lower route out of Karaöz, but nothing is reliable beyond the village, and the cistern at the lighthouse may be dry.

Wear walking shoes with grip for the rocky upper path. In the warm months, start early or late so you are not climbing in the midday heat, which can be strong even in late October.