Termessos is an ancient city in the Pamphylia region of Turkey, high over the mountains northwest of the regional capital of Antalya.
Established by native Pisidians, the earliest records available about Termessos date back to 333 BC, when Alexander the Great failed to conquer it in one of his rare defeats. At an elevation of more than 1000 metres over the Mt Solymos (modern Güllük Dağı) of the Taurus Mountains range, the city has been referred to as an eagle's nest ever since.
Due to its mountainous setting, Termessos is often nicknamed "Turkey's Machu Picchu", although it receives only a fraction of the visitor numbers of its South American counterpart.
The highlight of the site is the impressive theatre.
Explore the Roman ruins. The site is small enough to be explored on foot.
There are no shops so bring what you need with you, including snacks and plenty of water.
Head west to the non-touristy town of Elmalı, which is a starting point for hikes up to the nearby mountains. Further westwards from there, the road meets the sea again in Fethiye.