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Lion Tomb, Kaş

The Lion Tomb in Kaş: the stone lid of a Lycian sarcophagus with two carved lions' heads projecting from it
Photo: Dosseman, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
Free, no ticket
Hours
Open 24/7, every day — it stands on a public street
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
15 min
With kids
Fine with kids
When to see it
Any time — it is a street, not a museum
Time needed
10–15 minutes, up to 30 with photos
Where
Top of Uzun Çarşı (Long Bazaar street), above the harbour and Republic Square
Getting there
3–5 minutes uphill on foot from Republic Square (Cumhuriyet Meydanı)
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Turkish names
Aslanlı Lahit (“sarcophagus with lions”) or Kral Mezarı (“King’s Tomb”)
Accessibility
Cobbled, uphill street; the stones get slippery after rain
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Coordinates
36.19945, 29.64242YesGo MapGoogleApple

Key facts

4th century BCthe date given for the tomb
3 sourcesEnglish Wikipedia (Antiphellus)Antalya provincial tourism siteLonely Planet
Lions’ headsproject from the lid and give the tomb its name; English Wikipedia and Lonely Planet say two, Russian Wikipedia four
2 sourcesEnglish and Russian WikipediaLonely Planet
Lycian Bthe inscription is in Milyan, otherwise known only from two poems on the Xanthian Obelisk
2 sourcesEnglish Wikipedia (AntiphellusLycian language)
2 tiersa rock-cut base chamber (hyposorium) with the sarcophagus set on top as a separate block
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
Uzun Çarşı“Long Bazaar” — the shopping street whose upper end the tomb stands on
2 sourcesEnglish WikipediaWikivoyage
1803first drawn by Luigi Mayer as a “colossal sarcophagus near Castle Rosso”
2 sourcesEnglish WikipediaWikimedia Commons (Mayer engraving)
Antiphellosthe ancient name of Kaş — the harbour of the Lycian city of Phellos
2 sourcesEnglish and Russian WikipediaWikivoyage
≈ 1.5 mheight of the lower, rock-cut chamber
SourceEnglish Wikipedia (Antiphellus)
Undecipheredthe verse epitaph has never been interpreted
SourceEnglish Wikipedia (Antiphellus)
1901Ernst Kalinka published the definitive copy of the inscription
SourceEnglish Wikipedia (Antiphellus)

What is the Lion Tomb?

The Lion Tomb is a 4th-century BC Lycian sarcophagus and the best-preserved tomb of ancient Antiphellos, the harbour town that modern Kaş is built over. Locals call it the King’s Tomb (Kral Mezarı), though nobody knows who was buried in it — the grand name simply reflects its size and carving.

It has two tiers. The lower one is a rock-cut base with a chamber about 1.5 m high — the hyposorium. Above it sits the sarcophagus itself, cut from a separate block, under the tall, ogival lid that is the Lycian trademark.

The name comes from the lions’ heads projecting from the sides of the lid. English Wikipedia and Lonely Planet describe two, Russian Wikipedia counts four; from the street you’ll see two at a time.

The lid is divided into four panels of standing figures in relief. On the front pediment a bearded man leans on a staff in front of a seated woman — the builder of the tomb and his wife, for whom it was made.

How to get to the Lion Tomb

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on footdestinationStreet view

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On foot

More tips

  1. Start at Republic Square (Cumhuriyet Meydanı) by the harbour — the heart of Kaş and the natural starting point for any walk.
  2. Look for Uzun Çarşı, the cobbled lane climbing away from the square, lined with shops and draped in bougainvillea.
  3. Walk up it for 3–5 minutes — uphill, but short.
  4. The sarcophagus stands at the top where the lane forks; you can’t miss it.
  5. Arriving by intercity bus? Head for the harbour first: from the old otogar in town it’s a walk down; from the new terminal on the Demre road, take a dolmuş or a taxi.
  6. From here wander down through the Old Town and harbour, then catch sunset at the Antiphellos Theatre.

Is the Lion Tomb worth seeing?

Yes — mainly because it costs you nothing in time or money. It stands on the street you’ll walk anyway for shopping or dinner, and there is no ticket. It is the easiest way to see a Lycian sarcophagus up close without leaving town.

It isn’t a reason to come to Kaş on its own: it’s one monument and ten minutes. Its value is as part of a walk — the tomb, the old lanes, the theatre and the rock tombs above town together give you a good feel for ancient Lycia in a single evening. If you’re heading to Myra or Kekova later, this is a good warm-up.

The inscription nobody can read

The rock-cut lower tier carries an epitaph in Lycian B, or Milyan — a rare language known otherwise only from two poems on the famous inscribed obelisk at Xanthos. Unusually for Lycia, the epitaph is written as a poem, but scholars have never managed to interpret it.

There’s blank space under the lines, as if the text was meant to run longer. The artist Luigi Mayer drew the tomb in 1803, calling it a “colossal sarcophagus near Castle Rosso” — the old name of the Greek island of Kastellorizo just offshore. Ernst Kalinka published the definitive copy of the inscription in 1901.

What to look for

  • The lions’ heads on the lid — stand to one side to see them in profile against the sky.
  • The relief panels on the lid and the married couple on the pediment — morning light picks them out best.
  • The lines of Milyan text on the lower tier — one of the rarest inscriptions in Turkey.
  • The rock-cut lower tier, and the join where the sarcophagus sits on it as a separate block.
  • Uzun Çarşı itself: whitewashed houses with wooden balconies, bougainvillea, shops and cafés.

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Lion Tomb vs the rock tombs and the theatre

Lion Tombyou are here4th-century BC sarcophagus in the streetFree10–15 min3–5 min from the harbourMorning or evening
Rock tombsTombs cut into the cliff above townFree30–60 min with the climbUphill pathMorning, before the heat
Antiphellos TheatreAncient theatre by the seaFree20–40 min≈ 10 min walk from the harbourSunset

Short on time? Start with the Lion Tomb — it’s on your way. Go to the theatre for sunset, and to the rock tombs only if you’re up for a climb.

Historic Kaş compared

Every historic site in Kaş rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

Lion Tombyou are here4515 minFree—
Kaş Lycian Rock Tombs4530 minFree4 min walk
Antiphellos Theatre4430 minFree12 min walk
Kastellorizo (Meis) Island314 hFerry ≈ €28–40 return7.1 km
Myra and St Nicholas Church, Demre302 h 30 min≈ €13 Myra + €17 church31.5 km
Kekova Sunken City and Simena164 hBoat priced by operators, castle €419.7 km

Ancient Kaş in an evening

The harbour square, up to the sarcophagus, down through the old lanes and sunset at the theatre. Add them to your route in one tap — YesGo fits in the timing and walks.

  1. Kaş Old Town and Harbour1 h 30 min · Free
  2. 3 min walk from the previous stopLion Tombyou are here15 min · Free, no ticket
  3. 4 min walk from the previous stopKaş Lycian Rock Tombs30 min · Free
  4. 12 min walk from the previous stopAntiphellos Theatre30 min · Free

4 places · about 3 h 4 min with walks · 19 min on foot in total

Go · my route

Nearby — add to your day

Kaş Lycian Rock Tombs

Kaş, Turkey

30 min · Free · 4 min walk

Antiphellos Theatre

Kaş, Turkey

30 min · Free · 12 min walk

Lycian Way

Kaş, Turkey

3 h · Free, no tickets · 18 min walk

How to do it right

  • Pair it with dinner: Uzun Çarşı and the lanes around it are full of cafés and fish restaurants.
  • The classic shot is from lower down the lane, with the sarcophagus framed by houses and bougainvillea.
  • Don’t lean on the base or sit on the stones — it’s a monument, not a bench.
  • After rain, take the way down slowly: there’s a reason Uzun Çarşı is nicknamed “slippery street”.
  • Taking the ferry to Kastellorizo? Two centuries ago this tomb was described as the “sarcophagus near Castle Rosso”.

Questions

Where is the Lion Tomb in Kaş?

In the centre of Kaş, at the top of the Uzun Çarşı shopping street, a 3–5-minute uphill walk from Republic Square and the harbour.

Is the Lion Tomb free?

Yes. The sarcophagus stands on a public street, so there is no ticket.

What are the Lion Tomb’s opening hours?

It has none — you can see it at any time of day or night, every day of the year.

How long do you need at the Lion Tomb?

10–15 minutes, or up to half an hour if you take photos and browse the street around it.

Is the Lion Tomb the same as the King’s Tomb?

Yes. Locals call it Kral Mezarı, the King’s Tomb; in Turkish it is also Aslanlı Lahit, the sarcophagus with lions.

How old is the Lion Tomb?

It dates from the 4th century BC, so it is about 2,400 years old.

What does the inscription say?

It is a verse epitaph in Lycian B (Milyan), a rare ancient language of Lycia, cut into the lower tier. Nobody has been able to interpret it.

Is the Lion Tomb worth visiting?

Yes, if you are in Kaş — it’s free and on your way. It isn’t worth a special trip to the town on its own.

What else is near the Lion Tomb?

The Old Town lanes and harbour, the rock tombs in the cliff above town and the Antiphellos Theatre on the western edge of town.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • English Wikipedia: Antiphellus — the tomb on Uzunçarşı Street, date, structure, inscription, history of study
  • English Wikipedia: Lycian language — on Lycian B (Milyan)
  • Russian Wikipedia: Антифеллос — the two-storey Lion Tomb and its four lions’ heads
  • Antalya provincial tourism site: King's Tomb — Long Bazaar, 4th century BC, Lycian inscription on the lower part
  • Lonely Planet: King's Tomb — 4th-century BC sarcophagus on a high base, two lions’ heads
  • Wikivoyage: Kaş — Uzun Çarşı and its upper section Doğruyol Caddesi, bus stations
  • Wikidata Q134728431 and Wikimedia Commons: Antiphellos Aslanlı Lahit, Luigi Mayer’s engraving of 1803
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 30.10.2026 ·
How we checkedThe 4th-century BC date is confirmed by three sources: English Wikipedia, the Antalya provincial tourism site and Lonely Planet; the inscription on the lower part by Wikipedia and the Antalya site. The height of the lower chamber, the couple on the pediment, the undeciphered text and Kalinka’s publication come from English Wikipedia alone (citing Bean, Schürr and Kalinka), so we add nothing beyond it. Sources disagree on the lions’ heads: English Wikipedia and Lonely Planet say two, Russian Wikipedia four — we show both. Walking time from the square and the bus-station directions are marked “verifying”: Wikivoyage describes a new terminal 5 km east of town as well as the old otogar in the centre.

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