Kalkan, Kaş and Kekova

Kalkan and Kaş are two small towns on the Lycian peninsula, 27 km and 25 minutes' drive apart. Kalkan is a village built like an amphitheatre above a bay; Kaş is a harbour from which boats leave every morning for Kekova and the coves. There are no large resorts here: white houses, terraces and a handful of boutique hotels. This is the region to choose for sea, ancient sites and evenings by a harbour.

Patara: ancient city and beach

West of Kalkan, Patara was the capital of the Lycian League, the confederation of Lycian cities, and the only sea outlet of the Xanthos valley. St Nicholas was born here, and St Paul is said to have sailed from here to Rome. Patara's long beach lies inside the archaeological site and is also a nesting ground for loggerhead turtles. The site is open daily from 8 am to 7 pm local time, last ticket 6.30 pm. Entry will cost €16 from 1 April 2027, audio guide included; a ten-entry beach pass sells for €60.

Kekova, the sunken city

Kekova is the name of a 7.4 km island and the bay facing it, between Kaş and Demre. Along the island's northern shore, earthquakes swallowed part of an ancient town: stairs, houses and quays go down to 4 or 5 m below the surface and can be seen from the boat. Opposite, Kaleköy, ancient Simena, is a village with no road, crowned by a castle that looks over the whole bay; its site will cost €5 from 1 April 2027. Üçağız, ancient Teimiussa, is the embarkation port, 33 km from Kaş, about 40 minutes.

Two ways to go:

• by boat from Kaş, a full day with several swimming stops, from €60 per person;
• by sea kayak along the island, on a 6-hour outing, from €50 per person.

Demre: Myra and the Church of St Nicholas

Forty-five kilometres from Kaş, Demre stands on the site of Myra, capital of Lycia in the 5th century. Lycian tombs carved into the cliff tower over a large Roman theatre. The site is open daily from 8 am to 7 pm local time; €15 from 1 April 2027.

In town, the Church of St Nicholas was built over the tomb of the bishop of Myra, who by tradition died on 6 December; he is the saint behind Santa Claus. In 1087, merchants from Bari carried his relics off to Italy. The church, a Byzantine masterpiece, opens from 8.30 am to 7 pm local time; €19 from 1 April 2027, audio guide included.

By the sea, the ancient port of Andriake houses the Museum of Lycian Civilisations in its old granaries (€5).

Kaş and the sea

Kaş lives facing the water: boats to Kekova and the coves in the morning, terraces on the harbour in the evening. The Lycian Way runs above the town; eight days on the western section of the trail sell from €1,245 per person, with accommodation and luggage transfer included.

Sabaro's hotels

Both selected hotels are in Kalkan:

• Hotel Villa Mahal steps down in white terraces to the sea on the far side of Kalkan Bay: 14 rooms and suites facing the sunset, a triangular infinity pool, a beach club under the olive trees and a free water taxi to the harbour. Adults and children from 12 in the hotel. Price on request: in early June 2027 the hotel only took stays of at least three nights, from €342 a night.
• Courtyard Hotel Kalkan occupies old houses in the old town around a garden: six characterful rooms with fireplaces, beams and even a bathroom dug into the rock. Price on request.

When to go

Kaş has the mildest climate on the coast: average highs of 25 °C in May, 29.5 °C in June and 33 °C in August, with nights at 9 °C in January. The sea is above 24 °C from June to October and close to 29 °C in August. It hardly rains from May to September. For swimming and boat trips, June to October; for walking and sightseeing, April-May and October-November.

Safety

None of the European foreign ministries that Sabaro follows advises against Kalkan, Kaş or Kekova; several ask for heightened vigilance nationwide and mention summer forest fires and dangerous currents. The Safety table on this page gives your country's advice.