Kayaköy Ghost Village: A Walk Through a Silent Town

Kayaköy is one of the most moving places on the Turquoise Coast. On a pine-covered hillside 8 km south of Fethiye stand hundreds of roofless stone houses, chapels and cisterns, all empty. Until the early 1920s this was Levissi, a busy town where Greek Orthodox families lived. After the 1923 population exchange between Greece and Turkey, its people left for Greece, and the town was never filled again. Today you can wander its paths in near silence.

What you’ll see

• The houses: stone homes built close together up the slope, each one placed so it doesn’t block its neighbour’s view. Look for fireplaces, wall niches and old doorways.
• The churches: the lower church near the entrance and the upper church higher up the hill. Parts of the churches may be closed or fenced off for safety, so respect any barriers and admire them from outside.
• The view: from the top of the village you look out over the valley, the ruins and the mountains. The late-afternoon light is especially beautiful.

The best time to visit

The site has very little shade, so avoid the midday sun in summer. Come in the morning, ideally after breakfast in the village, or in the late afternoon around 16:00 to 17:00, when it is cooler, the crowds have gone and the stones glow in the evening light. Spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons. Plan about one and a half to two hours to walk around.

Practical tips

• There is an entry fee; check the official Kayaköy page on Turkish Museums (Ministry of Culture and Tourism) for current opening hours. Summer and winter hours are different.
• The paths are rocky and uneven. Wear trainers or walking shoes, not flip-flops.
• Bring water and a hat. There are cafés in the village, but almost no shade among the ruins.
• Don’t climb into the ruined houses. Some walls are unstable.
• There are very few signs on the site, so read a little about the village’s history before you go (this page is a good start).

Getting there

Kayaköy is a short drive from Fethiye. The dolmuş (shared minibus) runs from Fethiye, and in summer also from Ölüdeniz and Hisarönü. Return minibuses can be infrequent, especially in the evening, so check the times when you arrive. Keen walkers can also hike from Kayaköy over the hill to Ölüdeniz on an old path, or down to the bay of Soğuksu and Gemiler Island.

Nearby

Combine Kayaköy with a swim at Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon in the afternoon, or with a sunset walk along the Fethiye marina.

What visitors say

Travellers who have walked through Kayaköy recently share a few practical points:

• Wear proper shoes. The paths between the houses are stony and uneven, and can be slippery after rain.
• Go early or late in the day. There is very little shade on the hillside in summer. Bring water and a hat.
• Climb to the top. Many say the view back over the empty houses from the top of the village is the most memorable moment.
• Walk over the hill to Ölüdeniz. A marked footpath leads from Kayaköy down to the coast through pine forest. Many walk it in the morning and take a dolmuş back.
• Take your time. Visitors often say the quiet is what stays with them, so allow a couple of hours and do not rush.
• End with a meal in the village. A slow breakfast or lunch at one of the village restaurants is part of the experience.

Sources we checked (November 2026): Turkey's For Life: Kayaköy village · TripAdvisor: Kayakoy to Oludeniz Walking Trail reviews · Rough Guides: The walk from Kaya Köyü to Ölüdeniz

Photos: Jorge Franganillo, CC BY-SA 4.0; Nikodem Nijaki, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons