Topkapı Palace
The sultans’ palace on Sarayburnu: courtyards, the Imperial Council, the treasury and the terraces over the water. Dated entry, sold online on its own site.
Sedir Island Archaeological Site
Ancient Kedrai on a protected island in the Gulf of Gökova, where ruins, a rare-sand beach and unspoilt nature share the same shore.
About the museum
Sedir Island, known in antiquity as Kedrai, lies in the eastern part of the Gulf of Gökova within the Ula district of Muğla province. It is the largest of a group of three islands scattered with ancient remains. The site is a first-degree archaeological and natural conservation area, and it is also a special environmental protection zone, so history and nature are protected together here.
The name comes from the cedar tree, though there are no cedars on the island today. The island's most famous feature is the beach, about 800 metres long and known as Cleopatra Beach. Its sand is made of tiny limestone droplets formed by geological processes, and in the Aegean and Mediterranean this rare type is otherwise found only on Crete. Taking it off the beach is prohibited.
Many of the ancient structures survive standing and blend into the landscape, so a visit combines a walk among ruins with time by the water. It suits visitors who care about both history and nature.
Tips
- Do not take sand or stones from the beach; removal is prohibited and the area is protected.
- The island is reached by boat, so check departure and visiting arrangements in advance.
Questions
When is Sedir Island Archaeological Site open?
According to the Ministry’s listing it opens at 09:00 and closes at 19:30 (last entry 19:00). Open every day.
Can I buy tickets for Sedir Island Archaeological Site on this site?
No. This site sells no tickets. Topkapı Palace, the Basilica Cistern, Hagia Sophia and Dolmabahçe Palace are sold on our sister sites; for Sedir Island Archaeological Site, buy at the ticket office or on the Ministry’s official e-ticket system.
Where is Sedir Island Archaeological Site?
Sedir Island Archaeological Site is in Muğla, Türkiye — 48710 Sedir Adası.
Nearby
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Bodrum Ancient Theatre
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Marmaris Museum
A museum inside the Ottoman castle of Marmaris, built for Süleyman the Magnificent, showing finds from Knidos, Emecik and the sea floor around the bay.
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Knidos Archaeological Site
A double city at the tip of the Datça peninsula where the Aegean meets the Mediterranean, with two harbours, a grid plan, a theatre and terraced sanctuaries.
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Bodrum Underwater Archaeology Museum
Inside Bodrum Castle, the only museum in Turkey devoted to underwater archaeology, with Bronze Age and medieval shipwreck finds, glass, and one of the world's great amphora collections.
Istanbul tickets online
Four Istanbul landmarks, each sold on its own site by the agency behind this guide — dated entry and free cancellation up to 24 hours.
Basilica Cistern
Justinian’s great underground reservoir: 336 columns in still water and the two Medusa heads. Fast-track entry with a digital audio guide.
Hagia Sophia
Justinian’s cathedral, the sultans’ mosque and a working mosque again today. The ticket admits you to the upper visitor gallery.
Dolmabahçe Palace
A nineteenth-century palace on the water’s edge: the Selamlık, the Ceremonial Hall under its chandelier, the crystal staircase and the Harem.