Things to Do in Kaş 2026: Diving, Kekova and Lycian Ruins

Kaş’s size is deceptive — the small harbour town is the access point for an extraordinary range of activities: some of the best scuba diving in the eastern Mediterranean, the Kekova sunken city (one of Turkey’s most remarkable sites), a Hellenistic theatre with sea views, Lycian rock tombs above the main street, and day trips to Demre (Church of St. Nicholas), Myra (Lycian cliff tombs and Roman theatre), and the Greek island of Kastellorizo. There is more to do from Kaş than most visitors realise.

For accommodation, see where to stay in Kaş. For beaches, see Kaş beaches.

Scuba diving: the primary activity

Kaş has built a reputation as one of the eastern Mediterranean’s finest diving destinations — and the reputation is deserved. The underwater geography is exceptional: walls that drop to 40m+, cave systems accessible to certified divers, tunnels, amphora fields from ancient shipwrecks, and clear water with 20–40m visibility on good days.

Best dive sites:

• Kekova tunnel system: An underwater tunnel through the headland, 12–15m depth, excellent for beginner-intermediate divers
• Rocky Island (Kaya adası): Canyon diving with walls and overhangs; diverse fish population
• Aircraft wreck (Kaş Uçak): A 1979 aircraft wreck at 25m depth; one of Turkey’s most visited wreck dives
• Uçağız wall: A wall dive dropping to 40m with excellent marine life
• Amphora alley: An ancient trade route with scattered amphora fragments on the seafloor

Dive operators: Multiple PADI and SSI certified operators in Kaş town. All offer introductory dives (₺400–600/person), fun dives (₺500–800/person for 2 dives), and full courses.

PADI Open Water course: ₺3,500–5,000 (3–4 days). Kaş is an excellent place to get certified — the conditions are good for beginners and the dive sites offer interesting progression as you improve.

Snorkelling: Non-divers can snorkel from the boat at most sites; the Kekova tunnel entrance and some shallow bay sites are excellent for mask and snorkel.

Kekova: the sunken city

Boat trip from Kaş: ₺300–500/person, full day including Üçağız village and Simena castle From Üçağız village: Shorter ride, ₺150–250/person for Kekova coastline Access: Not permitted to swim at Kekova (protected site); glass-bottom boat or kayak view from above

Kekova is one of Turkey’s most remarkable ancient sites — a stretch of Lycian coastline where a Byzantine-era earthquake submerged the ancient city of Dolchiste. The ruins (walls, stairways, building foundations, ceramic fragments) are clearly visible through the clear water, 1–3m below the surface. The glass-bottom boat allows viewing without swimming.

Simena castle (at Üçağız village): A small Byzantine-Crusader castle perched on a rock above Kekova bay, with a tiny Lycian theatre carved into the hillside below the castle walls — one of the smallest theatres in the ancient world, seating approximately 300. The view from the castle over the Kekova islands and bay is exceptional. Entry to the castle ₺50.

Üçağız village: A small Lycian village directly opposite the Kekova island — the access point for the shorter boat trips. Sarcophagi stand at the water’s edge in the village; several are actually in the sea. A genuinely atmospheric place. Dolmuş from Kaş: ₺30, 20 minutes.

Lycian ruins in Kaş town

Lion Tomb and Doric Tomb: Two massive Lycian rock tombs cut directly into the cliff above the main street — visible from the harbour, accessible by walking up from the town. The Lion Tomb (4th century BCE), with its distinctive lion frieze above the entrance, is one of the finest Lycian funerary monuments. Free to view from below; no entry fee.

Hellenistic Theatre: 1st century BCE theatre, 300m from the harbour, with views across the bay toward Kastellorizo. Well-preserved cavea (seating bowl) and orchestra. Free entry. Excellent as a sunset viewpoint — the theatre faces southwest and catches the evening light beautifully.

Kastellorizo (Meis), Greece

Ferry: Daily service in season (May–October), 30 minutes, ₺300–500 return Same-day visa requirements: Most nationalities (EU, UK, US, Australian) enter Greece without Schengen visa for short visits; passport required

The tiny Greek island of Kastellorizo is 4km from Kaş and served by daily ferry. The island (population: approximately 400 year-round) has one of the most photographed harbours in Greece — a horseshoe bay ringed by Italian-period and neoclassical houses, with the ruins of a Crusader castle on the headland.

What to do on Kastellorizo: Walk the harbour promenade; visit the Museum of Kastellorizo (small, interesting); take a small water-taxi to the Blue Grotto cave (natural sea cave with bioluminescent water, accessible only by kayak or small boat from the island).

Dining on Kastellorizo: The harbour fish restaurants are surprisingly good and reasonably priced by Greek island standards. Fish dinners ₺400–700/person equivalent.

Demre and Myra day trip

Distance: 45km east of Kaş; dolmuş ₺30 (30 minutes)

Myra ancient city (entry ₺200): One of the most impressive Lycian sites — massive cliff-face theatre of rock tombs in multiple registers, and a very well-preserved Roman theatre below. The scale of the rock tomb complex is larger and more dramatic than anything at Kaş or Fethiye.

Church of Saint Nicholas at Demre (entry ₺200): The actual church of the historical Saint Nicholas — bishop of Myra in the 4th century CE, who became the basis for the Santa Claus legend through a complicated chain of Dutch-to-English mistranslation. The church is a working archaeological site with 4th–11th century CE layers visible.

Combine both in a day: Dolmuş to Demre; Church of St. Nicholas first; taxi to Myra (4km, ₺50 return); back to Kaş by evening.

Saklikent Gorge (day trip)

Distance: 80km west of Kaş via Fethiye direction; taxi or organised tour

The deep slot canyon (entry ₺100) is accessible as a day trip from Kaş — 1.5 hours west, but the journey is worth it for the 300m-deep gorge and icy cold river. See Fethiye things to do for the full Saklikent guide. Several Kaş tour operators run day trips (₺400–600/person including transport).

Sea kayaking

The coastline around Kaş — with its sea caves, Kekova ruins, and the Üçağız lagoon — is excellent for sea kayaking. Multiple operators offer half-day and full-day guided kayak tours from Kaş harbour:

• Half-day kayak tour: ₺400–600/person
• Full-day tour to Kekova by kayak: ₺700–1,000/person (you can kayak over the sunken ruins, which you can’t do from a boat)

What to avoid

The harbour-front restaurants directly on the main promenade charge significantly more than the equivalent restaurants one or two streets back. The best diving operators tend to have their offices on the main street — for diving, reputation matters more than price; don’t choose the cheapest option for safety equipment-dependent activities.

For the full activity context, see Kaş hiking for the Lycian Way sections and Kaş coastal towns for accessible day trips.