Kaş Travel Guide

Kaş is a small, easy-going harbour town on Turkey’s Lycian coast, between Kalkan and Demre in Antalya province. Ancient Antiphellos lies right inside the modern town, so you walk past 2,000-year-old rock tombs on the way to dinner. The water here is some of the clearest in the Mediterranean, which has made Kaş Turkey’s best-known diving centre, and the Greek island of Meis (Kastellorizo) sits just across the bay. There are almost no big resorts. Instead you’ll find pensions, boutique hotels, village-style restaurants and a lot of people who came for a week and keep coming back.

Why go to Kaş

• For the sea: very clear, deep blue water, perfect for diving, snorkelling and swimming from rocky platforms.
• For history: Lycian rock tombs, a Hellenistic theatre and the sunken city of Kekova are all close by.
• For a calm, authentic holiday: Kaş suits couples, independent travellers, divers and walkers more than people looking for a big all-inclusive resort.

🗺️ Plan your visit: Dalaman Airport transfers · Kalkan · Antalya Airport transfers · Lycian Way

Top things to do in Kaş

• Kekova and the sunken city: the classic Kaş day out. Boats leave from Kaş harbour or from Üçağız, about 35 km east, and glide over the half-sunken ruins along Kekova island. Swimming, anchoring and diving over the ruins are not allowed, so the boats pass slowly and you look down into the clear water. Most trips stop at Kaleköy (Simena), a village you can only reach by sea, with a castle on the hill and Lycian sarcophagi standing in the water. A sea-kayak tour takes you closer and is many visitors’ favourite way to see it.
• The Antiphellos theatre: a small Hellenistic theatre just west of the town centre, with views across the sea to Meis. It is free to walk around and one of the best sunset spots in town.
• Lycian rock tombs and the Lion Tomb: tombs cut into the cliff above Kaş, and a tall stone sarcophagus, often called the King’s or Lion Tomb, standing at the top of the old shopping street, Uzun Çarşı.
• Diving and snorkelling: dozens of dive centres, from first “try dives” to advanced courses. Divers visit a sunken aircraft, the Sakarya wreck, the Duchess of York trawler, underwater caves and old amphora fields.
• Paragliding: tandem flights take off from the mountain behind the town and land near the sea, with Meis and the islands below you.
• A day on Meis (Kastellorizo): a short ferry crossing to a colourful Greek harbour. Check the current entry rules for your passport before you go.
• Walking the Lycian Way: some of the most beautiful day sections of Turkey’s famous long-distance trail start near Kaş and Üçağız.

Beaches near Kaş

• Büyük Çakıl and Küçük Çakıl: two pebble beaches within walking distance of the centre.
• Swimming platforms: most hotels and beach clubs on the Çukurbağ peninsula have wooden decks with ladders straight into deep, clear water. This is how most people swim in Kaş.
• Limanağzı coves: small bays across the harbour, reached by water taxi.
• Kaputaş: the famous turquoise cove at the foot of a gorge, about 20 km west on the road to Kalkan. Go early: it is small and busy by midday.
• Patara: one of Turkey’s longest sandy beaches, about 40 km away, next to an ancient city. Loggerhead turtles nest here, so the beach closes in the evening.

Boat trips and tours

• Kekova boat trip: a full day with swimming stops, lunch on board and a visit to Kaleköy. Boats differ a lot in size and comfort, so compare what is included before you book.
• Kekova sea kayaking: paddle along the sunken ruins with a guide. Suitable for beginners.
• Scuba diving: try-dives for first-timers and certified courses for all levels.
• Paragliding: tandem flights with a licensed pilot.
• Meis day trip: ferry crossing to the Greek island.

Getting there and around

• Dalaman Airport: about 150 km, roughly 2 to 2.5 hours by car.
• Antalya Airport: about 190 km, roughly 3 to 3.5 hours along the beautiful but winding D400 coast road.
• Dolmuş minibuses connect Kaş with Kalkan, Kaputaş, Patara and Fethiye. Water taxis leave from the harbour.
• Parking in the centre is limited, and the town is hilly, so comfortable shoes help.

Where to stay in Kaş

• Old town and harbour: pensions and small boutique hotels, close to restaurants and boats.
• Çukurbağ peninsula: sea-view hotels with private swimming platforms, plus holiday villas.
• The hills above town: quiet villas and rentals with big views.

When to go

The best months are May, June, September and October: warm, sunny and less crowded. The sea is around 20°C in May and reaches 27–28°C in August. Diving runs from about April to November. July and August are hot and busy. In winter Kaş stays more alive than many resort towns, but it is very quiet.

What to eat

Look for seafood meze and grilled fish in the harbour, gözleme and village dishes inland, and local olive oil and honey. The lanes around Uzun Çarşı are full of small restaurants. Expect prices a little higher than in Turkey’s big mass-market resorts.

What visitors say: practical tips

• Visitors love the relaxed atmosphere and the clear water, and many say Kaş feels “more real” than bigger resorts.
• The Kekova trip is the highlight for most people, but boats vary, so check group size and what is included.
• Go to Kaputaş early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
• The town is hilly and the streets are narrow: not ideal for heavy suitcases or limited mobility.
• The coast road to Kalkan is spectacular but winding. Take it slowly.

Day trips from Kaş

• Kalkan (about 27 km): a pretty, upmarket harbour village with rooftop restaurants.
• Patara and Xanthos (40–45 km): a huge sandy beach and a UNESCO World Heritage Lycian city.
• Demre (about 45 km): the rock tombs of Myra and the Church of St Nicholas.
• Saklıkent Gorge (about 75 km): wade through icy water in a narrow canyon.
• Fethiye and Ölüdeniz: about 2 hours west.

Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Kekova sunken city by JamesDavidShoots (CC BY-SA 4.0); Çukurbağ peninsula and Antiphellos theatre by Alexkom000 (CC BY 4.0); Kaleköy by Josep M. Gracia (CC BY-SA 4.0).