Trebenna (Turkish: Trebenna) is an ancient city in the mountains west of Antalya. Its ruins are hidden in a pine forest: walls, tombs, and remains of buildings appear among the trees, with small caves nearby. After exploring the city, you can follow a mountain route of about 16 kilometers and finish the day at a café located over the water.
An Ancient City in the Forest
Trebenna lies about 32 kilometers west of Antalya, on the northern slope of Sivridağ near Geyikbayırı and Çağlarca. In Roman times, the city stood on the northeastern border of Lycia and remained inhabited during the Byzantine period.
The ruins are scattered across the terrain and partly hidden by vegetation. The walk through the city follows a forest path, so save a GPX track in advance and do not leave the clear route to reach an isolated stone or wall.
Small Caves
There are small caves and rock niches around Trebenna. They are easy to see along the way, but they are not equipped visitor attractions. Do not venture farther inside without a light, helmet, and experience: the rock may be unstable, and wet surfaces can be slippery.
A 16-Kilometer Route to a Café on the Water
After seeing the ancient city, you can walk about 16 kilometers to a café located directly over the water. The entire route follows a mountain road through pine forest and open ground. It is fairly straightforward, with no technically difficult sections.
This is a point-to-point route. Arrange your return from the café before starting or leave transport at the finish. Check that the café is open and do not treat it as your only source of food and water.
Difficulty and Preparation
The route’s main challenge is its length rather than the condition of the road. Allow extra time to explore the ruins and caves. The road can become muddy after rain, while open sections grow hot quickly in summer.
For the full route, bring closed-toe footwear, a first aid kit, a flashlight, food, and a water supply. Check an offline map in the forest and at junctions even if the road initially seems obvious.
Our Hikes
We visited Trebenna on October 22, 2023, March 24, 2024, and November 3, 2024. For a full day, we combined the ancient city with a long walk. Our main option covered about 16 kilometers of mountain terrain and finished at the café on the water.
