Kekova Myra and Sunken City Tour
Explore Demre, Myra, and Kekova on a private 8-hour tour from Antalya, including St. Nicholas Church, Myra rock tombs, ancient theater, Ucagiz harbour, Simena Castle, and the Sunken City.
Highlights
- St Nicholas Church and Santa Claus tomb in Demre
- Myra Ancient City theater and Lycian rock tombs
- Scenic Mediterranean coastal transfer route
- Ucagiz Harbor boarding point for Kekova waters
- Boat cruise over the Sunken City remains
- Simena Castle hilltop panorama and Kalekoy view
- Private guided full-day Demre and Kekova program
Kekova Myra and Sunken City Tour
Explore Demre, Myra, and Kekova on a private 8-hour tour from Antalya, including St. Nicholas Church, Myra rock tombs, ancient theater, Ucagiz harbour, Simena Castle, and the Sunken City.
Itinerary
This Kekova Myra and Sunken City tour is designed for travelers who want archaeology, coastal scenery, and history in one efficient day from Antalya. The route runs as a private 8-hour itinerary with a licensed guide and private deluxe vehicle. It starts with the Demre-Myra section and continues to Kekova by boat in a clear sequence. Guests looking for a private Demre Myra Kekova tour from Antalya often choose this format for flexibility and direct logistics. The program follows the listed highlights and avoids unrelated stops. It is a strong option for couples, families, and small private groups.
The first major stop is St. Nicholas Church in Demre, one of the region’s most important religious and historical landmarks. Guided interpretation explains the church context, saint tradition, and the site’s lasting cultural significance. You then continue to Myra Ancient Site, where the theater and rock-cut tombs create one of the most impressive Lycian-Roman combinations in the area. This section is ideal for travelers searching a St Nicholas Church and Myra ruins experience in one day. The guide helps organize walking flow across the site for better coverage and photo time. The route remains practical and content-focused throughout.
After Myra, the tour continues to Ucagiz Harbour for the Kekova boat segment and Simena area views. During the cruise, you observe the submerged remains and shoreline features associated with the Ucagiz harbour sunken city route. The Simena Castle zone adds panoramic views and historical texture that complete the coastal section of the day. Included services are licensed guide, private deluxe A/C vehicle, parking fees, local taxes, and pickup-drop-off from Antalya points. Entrance fees, gratuities, lunch-drinks, and personal expenses are excluded according to official details. Overall, this is a complete Simena Castle boat trip and Demre-Myra cultural itinerary.
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Hotel Pickup in Antalya
Meet your guide and depart toward Demre and Kekova.
Pickup from Antalya hotel, airport, or meeting point before the western coastal transfer route.
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Finike and Kumluca Coastal Corridor
Scenic coastal transfer section toward Demre.
The route passes the Finike-Kumluca coastline, one of the main Mediterranean road corridors in Antalya province.
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St Nicholas Church (Demre)
Guided visit of the church and Santa Claus tomb area.
St Nicholas Church in Demre is a major Christian heritage site linked to the 4th-century bishop Saint Nicholas.
St Nicholas Church (Demre) is one of the most meaningful heritage stops on the Lycian coast, linking the region to the historical figure who later became known worldwide as Santa Claus. The church is important not because it overwhelms with size, but because it carries such a powerful legacy of memory, devotion, and cultural continuity. Visiting it in Demre gives that familiar story a much more grounded and authentic setting. The result is both surprising and memorable.
The atmosphere here is reflective, especially when you remember that the site belongs to a broader landscape of Lycian tombs, churches, and ancient coastal routes. For many visitors, the stop becomes more moving than expected because it connects a global tradition to a very specific local place. This gives Demre unusual character within the southwest coast itinerary. It is a heritage stop with real emotional and historical weight.
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Myra Ancient City
Explore theater and Lycian rock tomb zones.
Myra is one of Lycia's most important ancient cities, known for monumental cliff tombs and a Roman theater.
Myra Ancient City is one of Lycia's most striking archaeological sites, where dramatic rock-cut tombs and a substantial Roman theatre stand close enough to create an unforgettable first impression. The cliff tomb façades immediately set the site apart, because they seem to turn the mountain itself into a memorial landscape. Combined with the theatre below, they reveal a city that was both culturally sophisticated and visually bold. Even if you have visited other ancient cities, Myra feels distinctive because of this powerful vertical setting. It is one of the highlights of the Lycian route for good reason.
As you explore, try to take in the relationship between burial tradition, public architecture, and natural terrain. Myra tells a story not only of urban life, but of how the Lycian world expressed status and memory in stone. The theatre adds another dimension, showing the city's later Roman life and civic scale. This stop rewards both careful observation and simple visual enjoyment, because the site is dramatic even before you study the details. For many travelers, Myra becomes one of the most photogenic and memorable ancient stops in southern Turkey.
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Lunch Break in Demre Area
Free time for lunch before Ucagiz harbor transfer.
A planned lunch break is scheduled between Demre archaeological visits and Kekova boat program.
A lunch break in the Demre area fits naturally between the region's archaeological stops and the onward move toward Ucagiz and Kekova. The area still carries the quiet Mediterranean character of the Lycian coast, so the meal tends to feel relaxed rather than rushed. After church and tomb visits, the break gives the day a welcome reset. It is simple, but very well placed.
For lunch, coastal Turkish dishes are the best match. Grilled fish or meats, meze, vegetable dishes, and lighter Mediterranean plates suit the route particularly well, especially before boarding or continuing by the sea. A brief tea afterward can be enough to restore the pace for the afternoon. The stop adds comfort without breaking the regional mood.
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Ucagiz Harbor
Boarding point for the Kekova boat segment.
Ucagiz Harbor is the departure point for boat routes toward Kekova and the Sunken City area.
Ucagiz Harbor is a small and appealing departure point that introduces the quieter maritime character of the Kekova region. Unlike a large marina, the harbor feels local, compact, and closely connected to village life. Boats, waterfront views, and the calm rhythm of the bay immediately prepare you for a different pace of travel. It is the kind of place where the journey out on the water already feels like part of the destination.
This harbor is especially pleasant because it acts as a soft threshold between road travel and coastal exploration. As you board here, the mood changes from overland sightseeing to sea-based discovery among coves, ruins, and village silhouettes. The setting also gives you a sense of how naturally boats belong to daily life in this part of the coast. Even a short stop at Ucagiz can feel atmospheric and distinctly Mediterranean.
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Kekova Sunken City Cruise
Boat segment over submerged historical shoreline.
The Kekova Sunken City preserves partially submerged walls and structures along the protected coastal strip.
The Kekova Sunken City cruise gives you a graceful overview of one of the Mediterranean's most distinctive submerged heritage zones. Cruising over the protected shoreline, you experience the area as a continuous coastal story rather than a single ruined point. The partially sunken remains, the quiet sea, and the close relationship between boat and landscape create an atmosphere that feels almost suspended in time. It is an excursion defined by calm observation.
What sets the cruise apart is the way history is encountered through motion. The boat's pace allows the coastline to unfold gently, making the submerged traces feel like part of the wider environment instead of isolated attractions. This gives the whole experience a contemplative quality that suits Kekova very well. It is less about dramatic spectacle and more about absorbing the meeting of sea, memory, and ancient settlement.
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Simena Castle (Kalekoy)
Panoramic stop near Simena hillside castle zone.
Simena Castle overlooks Kekova waters and is one of the iconic viewpoints of the region.
Simena Castle (Kalekoy) offers one of the most evocative viewpoints in the Kekova region, where sea, stone, and history come together beautifully. The castle setting above the shoreline gives you sweeping views over inlets, boats, and the scattered coastal landscape. It feels less like a formal fortress visit and more like stepping into a layered historical lookout above a still-living waterfront village. The relationship between the hill, the ruins, and the water makes the stop especially memorable.
From here, the Kekova coast becomes easy to read as both a scenic and historical landscape. You can sense why this area mattered strategically, while also enjoying the quiet beauty that defines it today. Kalekoy has a slow, almost timeless atmosphere, and the castle view intensifies that feeling. This is a wonderful stop for visitors who enjoy places where the panorama is inseparable from the history.
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Return Transfer and Drop-off
Tour ends with transfer back to Antalya.
After Kekova and Demre program, return transfer to your Antalya hotel, airport, or meeting point.
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Informations
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What's Included
- Private professional licensed tour guide.
- Private deluxe A/C vehicle.
- Parking fees.
- Local taxes.
- Pick up from your hotel, airport, or meeting point.
- Drop off to your hotel, airport, or meeting point.
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What's Excluded
- Entrance fees.
- Gratuities to the guide and driver.
- Lunch and drinks.
- Personal expenses.
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Entrance Fees
- St Nicholas Church (Demre): Entrance fee applies.
- Myra Ancient City: Entrance fee applies.
- Kekova boat tour and any optional harbor services: Fee may apply.
- Any optional site not listed in included services: Entrance fee may apply.
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Travel Tips
- Wear comfortable shoes suitable for archaeological and harbor walking sections.
- Use hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses for coastal and open-air stops.
- Carry water for transfer and boat segments.
- Bring light wind protection for the sea section.
- Carry your camera for Lycian tombs, Sunken City waterline, and Simena views.
- Respect local dress expectations when visiting church and heritage areas.
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Note
- This tour is private and operated only for your party.
- Wheelchair assistance can be arranged on request before booking.
- Boat timing may vary by weather and local harbor conditions.
- Some walking areas include uneven stone and sloped paths.
- Tour confirmation details are sent by e-mail after prebooking.
- Tour runs year-round subject to weather, sea, and local operating conditions.
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Cancellation Policy
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FAQs
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What are the main stops on this private Kekova, Myra, and St Nicholas tour from Antalya?
This private full-day itinerary includes St Nicholas Church in Demre, Myra Ancient City (theatre and Lycian rock tombs), and the Kekova area with a sunken city boat cruise and a stop near Simena (Kalekoy).
- Pickup and drop-off are in Antalya.
- The day combines history, coastline scenery, and a boat segment.
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How long does the tour take and is there driving time?
The planned duration is around 8 hours, including driving time along the coastal corridor toward Demre and Kekova.
- Traffic and season can affect timing.
- Comfort breaks can be added when needed.
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Is the Kekova Sunken City cruise included and how does it work?
The itinerary includes a boat segment over the sunken city shoreline in Kekova.
- Boat operation details can vary by day.
- Sea conditions can affect the exact route.
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Are entrance fees included for St Nicholas Church and Myra?
Entrance fees are typically paid separately unless your booking confirmation states otherwise.
- Your guide can advise timing and the most important areas to see.
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How much walking is involved at Myra and Simena?
Expect moderate walking at Myra, with uneven surfaces.
- Rock tomb viewpoints may include steps.
- Simena hillside areas can be steep if you climb higher for views.
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Is lunch included?
A lunch break is planned in the Demre area. Whether lunch is included depends on your confirmation.
- If lunch is not included, you can choose what you prefer during the break.
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Is this tour suitable for seniors or families with children?
Many guests can join, but there is driving time and walking on uneven ground.
- Tell your guide if you need a slower pace.
- Strollers can be difficult at rock tomb areas and steep village paths.
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What should I wear and bring?
Bring essentials for sun, walking, and boat time.
- Walking shoes, hat, sunscreen, and water are recommended.
- A light layer can help if you feel cool on the boat.
- If you get motion sickness, prepare before the cruise.
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Is this a private tour and who joins the tour?
Yes. Touring on the ground is private for your party with a dedicated guide and vehicle.
- Boat segments may be shared depending on the boat operation.
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Can we spend more time at Myra or in Kalekoy?
As a private tour, pacing can be adjusted within the day timing.
- Spending more time in one place may reduce time elsewhere.
- Share your priorities early so the route stays comfortable.
General FAQs
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What currency is used in Turkey?
Turkey uses the Turkish Lira (TRY).
- Cards are widely accepted in cities and tourist areas, but cash is still useful for small purchases.
- ATMs are common. Exchange offices and banks are also available.
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Can I pay by credit card in Turkey?
In most restaurants, hotels, and shops you can pay by card.
- For markets, small shops, taxis, and tips, carrying some cash is recommended.
- Let your bank know you are traveling to avoid card blocks.
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Is Turkey safe for tourists?
Turkey is generally safe for visitors, especially in main tourist areas.
- As in any destination, watch out for pickpockets in crowded places.
- Use licensed taxis/transport where possible and keep valuables secure.
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What should I wear when visiting mosques in Turkey?
Dress modestly when entering mosques.
- Shoulders and knees should be covered.
- Women may be asked to cover their hair.
- Shoes are usually removed at the entrance.
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Do I need a visa to visit Turkey?
Visa requirements depend on your nationality.
- Please check the latest rules from official sources (consulate/embassy or the official e-visa portal) before travel.
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What is the best time to visit Turkey?
Spring and autumn are popular because temperatures are usually milder.
- Summer can be hot on the coast and inland.
- Winter is quieter and can be great for cities and some regions.
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Will English be enough in Turkey?
Turkish is the official language. In tourist areas, English is commonly spoken.
- Learning a few basic Turkish words is appreciated and can help outside major areas.
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What power plug is used in Turkey?
Turkey typically uses Type C and Type F plugs (220V, 50Hz).
- If your devices use a different plug type, bring a travel adapter.
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Is tap water safe to drink in Turkey?
In many places, visitors prefer bottled water.
- Hotels and restaurants usually provide bottled water easily.
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Is tipping expected in Turkey?
Tipping is common and appreciated for good service.
- In restaurants, rounding up or leaving a small amount is typical.
- For guides and drivers, tips are at your discretion based on satisfaction.
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Do I need to carry my passport in Turkey?
We recommend keeping your passport safely in your hotel and carrying a copy (photo or printed) when out.
- Some venues may request an ID; your guide can advise for your route.
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Do museums and sites have weekly closure days in Turkey?
Opening hours can change by season and some venues may have weekly closure days.
- We recommend checking the latest opening hours close to your travel date.
- Starting earlier in the day helps to avoid crowds at popular sites.
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What are the emergency numbers in Turkey?
Dial 112 for emergencies (medical, police, fire and other urgent situations).
- 112 is a unified emergency line in Turkey.
- If you do not speak Turkish, try English and share your location clearly.
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How do I get from airports to the city in Turkey?
Options depend on the city, but common choices are:
- Official airport taxi
- Airport shuttles/buses
- Metro/train (available in some cities)
- Pre-booked private transfers
If you arrive late at night or with luggage, a pre-booked transfer can be the easiest option.
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Are taxis and ride-hailing apps reliable in Turkey?
Use licensed taxis and make sure the meter is used (unless a fixed airport fare is confirmed).
- In some cities, taxi-hailing apps can help you find a taxi more easily.
- If possible, keep small cash and ask for a receipt when needed.
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How do I buy a SIM/eSIM in Turkey?
You can buy SIM/eSIM options from mobile operators and official stores.
- Bring your passport for registration.
- For longer stays, foreign phones may require device registration (IMEI) to keep working on local networks.
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What are typical opening hours in Turkey?
Opening hours vary by city and season.
- Many shops and malls stay open late, especially in tourist areas.
- Some museums may close earlier and may have weekly closure days.
- During national or religious holidays, hours can change.
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How do pharmacies work in Turkey (duty pharmacy)?
Pharmacies are called Eczane. Outside normal hours, there is usually a rotating on-duty pharmacy (Nöbetçi Eczane).
- Regular pharmacies typically post the on-duty pharmacy information on the door/window.
- Your hotel reception can also help you find the nearest one.
Let's Customize Your Trip!
Prepare your own tour plan!
Good to Know
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Use shoes with grip for ancient paths
Myra paths and steps can be uneven.
- Shoes with grip improve comfort and safety.
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Bring sun protection and water
Open-air sites and the boat segment can feel hot in summer.
- Hat, sunscreen, and water help a lot.
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Pack a light layer for the boat
Sea breeze can be cooler than inland temperatures.
- A thin layer can be useful on deck.
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Plan for steep steps if you want the best Simena views
Kalekoy hillside areas can be steep.
- If you prefer easy walking, focus on lower viewpoints.
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Keep valuables simple during boat boarding
Harbor areas are busier during boarding times.
- Use a secure bag and keep phones and wallets close.
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