Places to Visit in Kekova

Antalya's Demre Kekova, located near the district, is a unique region where nature and history meet in fascinating harmony, offering all shades of blue and green together. Kekova, one of the most touristic spots in Turkey and also known as the “Sunken City”, fascinates its visitors with its deep blue sea, the warm touch of the sun and historical ruins that bear traces of the past in every corner. Kekova, nominated for the UNESCO World Heritage List, offers a corner of heaven with its length of 7,5 kilometers and width of 500 meters. Many places to discover in Kekova await you with its natural beauties and historical riches.

Aquarium Cove

Aquarium Bay is one of the most charming bays in the Kekova region, resembling a real aquarium with its crystal clear waters and natural beauty. Located between two islands on the west of Kekova Island, this lagoon-like bay offers a pleasant stopover point while exploring the region.

Aquarium Bay, a paradise for those who want to explore the underwater world with its clear and clean waters, provides an ideal environment for activities such as snorkeling, swimming, and canoeing. This bay, which impresses its visitors with its peaceful atmosphere and striking natural landscapes, stands out as one of the best swimming spots in the Kekova region near Demre. Aquarium Bay promises an unforgettable experience for everyone who wants to discover the unique beauties of nature.

Aperlai Ancient City

Aperlai Ancient City, Eyebrow It is a small Lycian port city located at the beginning of a long and narrow bay on the Sıçak Peninsula between and Kekova. The easiest way to visit this ancient city is by sea from Kaş or Üçağız to the Sıçak Pier. Its name is recorded in the Luwian language as "Aprillai", meaning "Stream Strait". The city, which dates back to the 5th and 4th centuries BC, was an important settlement before the Lycian Union.

The ruins of the city are surrounded by walls extending from the seaside to the acropolis, using rectogonal and polygonal techniques. The walls are reinforced with square-plan defensive towers, and three gates, two of which are plain and one is arched, stand out on the western wall. The southern wall exhibits the defensive architecture of the city with its polygonal structure and perpendicular extension to the hillside. Piri Reis Kitab-i BahriyeKnown as a sheltered port in the , Aperlai was a prominent settlement in terms of maritime trade and strategic importance in the past. Today, it offers a unique destination for history lovers to discover with its ancient ruins.

Sunken City

Kekova Island, off the coast of Demre district of Antalya, is home to the ruins of Dolichiste, an important historical site from the Lycian period and known as the “Sunken City.” Approximately 7,4 kilometers long and 500 meters wide, Kekova Island gives its name to the region and attracts attention with its unique natural beauty and historical riches.

Located on the northern shores of Kekova Island, the Sunken City was one of the important trade centers of the Lycian civilization and was partially submerged as a result of an earthquake in the 2nd century. The ruins of this fascinating site can be seen just below the sea surface on the coast of the island. Today, boat and canoe tours are organized for visitors who want to explore the Sunken City, offering a unique opportunity to examine this historical and natural wonder up close.

Gokkaya Koyu

Gökkaya Bay is a region between the Demre and Kaş districts of Antalya, attracting attention with its unique natural beauty and historical richness. The bay, which has three different entrances, is located between Kisneli Island and the mainland in the west, between Kisneli and Aşırlı Island in the middle, and between Aşırlı Island and the mainland in the east. This strategic location makes Gökkaya Bay one of the most special stops in the Mediterranean.

Known for its proximity to important Lycian sites such as the Ancient City of Simena, Üçağız Village and the Sunken City of Kekova, Gökkaya Bay is also the largest of the bays in the region. The rocky islets in the middle of the bay and the historical ruins on the north side offer visitors the perfect harmony of nature and history.

This special bay, where historical, cultural and natural riches come together, is a popular anchoring point for blue cruise boats and yachts. Offering various activities such as water sports, entertainment opportunities and a night bar, Gökkaya Bay is an indispensable destination for those looking for a pleasant experience.

Hamidiye Bay

Hamidiye Bay is a small bay, about half a mile east of Kaleköy, that attracts attention with its deep and calm waters. The bay, which has a sheltered structure due to being closed to the breezes, attracts visitors with both its natural beauty and historical importance. The small island and the bay on the west coast, with depths ranging from 15 to 25 meters, offer a unique experience for sea lovers.

While historical ruins such as rock tombs, walls and arches can be seen along the coast, the well and pergola under a large tree at the end of the bay are an ideal stopover point for cooling off and resting. Also known as the place where the Hamidiye Cruiser and its commander Rauf Orbay hid from enemy ships during the Balkan War, the bay took its name from this historical event. It is also known that a rock depicting the Turkish flag has been preserved to this day.

Hamidiye Bay is one of the important points of the Kekova region as a peaceful stop where nature and history can be discovered together.

Pirates Cave

Pirate Cave is an impressive natural formation located on the southern point of Aşırlı Island, west of Demre. It is necessary to join a boat tour to explore this cave, which is one of the most striking points of the Kekova region.

Although the entrance to the cave seems small at first glance, the inside is quite large and it is possible to observe the inside with small boats. According to legends, it is said that there may be lost treasures in this cave, which was used as a hiding place by pirates in the past.

Pirates Cave, which can only be reached by sea, is one of the stops that will make your tour in Kekova region unforgettable with its crystal clear waters and fascinating surrounding landscape. This natural wonder offers a perfect combination of history and nature.

Snail Bay

Salyangoz Bay is a paradise that fascinates with the unique nature of the Mediterranean, as one of the quietest and most peaceful corners of Kekova. Located at the back of Kekova Island, like a secret door opening to the Mediterranean, this bay is a place where you will encounter the simple beauty that nature offers to people in its purest form.

Requiring a longer journey than other coves, Salyangoz Cove is a quiet, hidden paradise discovered only by those who want to be alone with nature. The cove, which has no structures made by human hands, is a spot where nature is exhibited like a work of art with its clear sea and unique color transitions. The visual feast of fish dancing a few meters under the water completes the serene atmosphere of the cove.

For those looking for a holiday that is in harmony with peace, tranquility and nature, Salyangoz Bay is one of the most special stops in the Mediterranean waiting to be discovered. For this unique experience, we invite you to an unforgettable journey in Kekova.

Ancient City of Simena

The ancient city of Simena is a small coastal town known today as Kaleköy, which attracts attention with its historical texture from the Lycian period. The most striking feature of Simena, which has existed in a strategic position since the 4th century BC, is the castle ruins that have managed to survive intact to the present day. This castle offers visitors fascinating views of Kekova and its surroundings.

Simena, one of the rare settlements accessible by sea, is located within the Kekova Special Environmental Protection Area and is protected as a first-degree archaeological site. Kekova represents the general name of the region and covers the 7,4-kilometer-long island and the surrounding area. The northern shores of Kekova Island are full of ancient ruins that extend to depths of 4-5 meters and are partially submerged. Simena, on the other hand, is located on the peninsula just opposite this unique island and invites its visitors to a journey through time.

Tersane Koyu

Tersane Bay is a unique destination located on the west coast of the Kekova Region in the Demre district of Antalya, blended with history and nature. This bay, where tour boats departing from Kaş, Demre and Üçağız frequently anchor, offers visitors an unforgettable swimming and diving experience with its turquoise clear waters and rich underwater world.

While the historical ruins along the coast and in the sea transform the bay into an open-air museum, this area, where the past and the present meet in perfect harmony, also fascinates with its natural beauty. Tersane Bay is one of the indispensable stops of the Kekova Region for both history and nature enthusiasts and is a must-see for everyone visiting Antalya.

Theimussa Ancient City

Theimussa Ancient City, known today as Üçağız Village, is a settlement that draws attention with its historical texture belonging to the Lycian civilization. This ancient village can be reached by a road heading south from the 20th kilometer of the Kaş-Demre highway. The ruins are located on the east side of the village, in the area where houses are sparse. As learned from historical records, Theimussa is not a city but a village in terms of administration.

One of the most striking structures of the city is a miniature castle built of bossed, rectogonal stones on the coast. This structure, thought to have been expanded during the Byzantine Period, served a defensive function around the city. In addition, there is an acropolis built with the same technique on the city's border with Tybersissos, and this is considered to be part of possible defensive strategies.

As you proceed east from the coast, a pair of destroyed rock tombs in a rocky area attract attention. In one of these tombs, an inscription in Lycian language indicates that the owner of the tomb is Kluwanimi. On the upper part of the tomb is a standing figure of a young man or child. Theimussa offers a unique stop for visitors who want to discover the historical and cultural heritage of the region with its historical structures and traces of the Lycian civilization.

Ancient City of Trysa

Trysa Ancient City is a historical settlement belonging to the Lycian civilization, located to the east of a plateau near Gölbaşı Neighborhood of Davazlar Village in Kaş district of Antalya. Trysa, known to have been a member of the Lycian League in the 2nd century BC, is known with the abbreviation TP on coins from this period. The city, which has been mentioned in archaeological literature especially since the end of the XNUMXth century, is a well-preserved castle-like settlement, thought to be the administrative center of a local leader or king, like Phellos, Istlada and Sura.

The most striking structure of the city that has survived to the present day is a temple located at the southwestern foot of the Acropolis. However, this structure has been severely damaged over time and no trace remains of the two columns between the ante walls. A fragment of an inscription belonging to the temple includes an expression of honor for a citizen who served as a priest to Zeus and Helios, and it is thought that the structure was dedicated to one or both of these gods.

The Ancient City of Trysa is an important historical stop waiting to be discovered, with its architectural ruins that shed light on Lycian history and structures that bear traces of the past.

Places to visit in Kekova offer an unforgettable experience with the region's natural and historical texture. From the Sunken City to the Aquarium Bay, from the Tersane Bay to the Ancient City of Simena, each stop takes visitors on a fascinating journey into the past. Activities such as boat tours, canoeing and diving offer unique opportunities to discover the unique beauties of Kekova. Discovering Kekova's bays filled with every shade of blue and green, its underwater riches and this special region adorned with traces of the Lycian civilization will leave a permanent place in the memory of every visitor.

You can read the Kekova Travel Guide article to learn detailed information about Kekova, such as transportation, accommodation and nightlife. Also, to discover all the beauties of Antalya Places to Visit in Antalya to take a closer look at the guide and the historical and natural riches in the region. Places to Visit in Demre You can check out the article. Kekova awaits you as a region worth exploring in every aspect!