Patara Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
Lycian settlement on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey
About Patara
Patara in mythology was a son of Apollo, and the city had a cult and oracle of Apollo to rival that of Delphi. It was at the mouth of the Xanthos River, with a sheltered harbour and large tracts of good level farmland a few km inland, rare along this rugged coast. Its heyday was from about 180 BC as a principal city of the Lycian League, and it was a provincial capital under the Romans. St Paul passed through, changing ships in Patara on his return towards Jerusalem. However its most famous son, born here in 270 AD, was Santa Claus: St Nicholas was Bishop of Myra (nowadaysDemre, 80 km east) and supposedly worked various wonders, but none more amazing than his metamorphosis from scholarly cleric into the rubicund deity of Christmas merchandising. The city compacted in the 5th century AD, ta
Top Attractions in Patara
Explore the best things to see and do in Patara:
- ★Patara Ancient City
Where to Stay in Patara
- 🏨Akay Hotel
- 🏨Ferah Hotel
- 🏨Patara Delfin Hotel
- 🏨Zeybek 2 Pension
Patara Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 12 sections including: