Tlos (Lycian: tlawa) is an ancient city in Lycia, about 42 km southeast of Fethiye and 65 km north of Kalkan. The settlement site was already inhabited in the Bronze Age and is probably identical to the place called Dalawa in Hittite sources. A bronze axe found there suggests origins dating back to the 2nd millennium BC.

In Lycian times the place was called Tlava, as proven by coin finds. The city was one of the six largest towns in the Lycian League and had triple voting rights. Although the city was a bishop's seat in Byzantine times, its importance dwindled.

Today's ruins date from the Lycian, Roman and Byzantine periods. The last inglorious highlight in the 19th century was the construction of a winter residence and barracks in fortress construction on the old ruins of the Acropolis by Kanlı Ali Ağa, considered a robber.

Together with Olympos, Myra, Xanthos, Patara and Pinara, Tlos was one of the six largest cities in the Lycian Federation and, like them, had three votes. The Roman theatre of Tlos was built around the turn of the century, probably under the Roman Emperor Augustus (31 B.C. - 14 A.D.), according to a found inscription. As recently discovered during the excavations at the Limyra Theatre, the cavea at the Tlos Theatre was also erected on a vaulted structure with an external vault, similar to the one at the Side Theatre. The stage house is completely destroyed.

The big Roman Bath

Roman Bath

Coming from Fethiye take the national road D400, direction Antalya. At the village Oğurlu change to the D350, direction Korkuteli / Antalya. After approx. 1 km a road to the right branches off to Girmeler / Kadiköy. From here the path (approx. 12 km) to Tlos is signposted with brown signs.