Kaş Travel Guide: Kekova, Kaputaş, Diving and the Lycian Coast
How to reach Kaş from Dalaman or Antalya, where to stay, the theatre of Antiphellos, the sunken city of Kekova, Kaputaş and Patara beaches, diving and the best months.
Kaş is a small town at the western edge of Antalya province, on a stretch of coast where the mountains drop straight into the sea. Whitewashed houses, bougainvillea in the lanes, a working harbour — and a great deal within reach: a Lycian theatre inside the town itself, the sunken ruins of Kekova a boat ride away, and the beaches of Kaputaş and Patara along the road. It is the base to choose if you want diving, boat trips and walking on the Lycian Way in the same week.
Getting to Kaş
Kaş has no airport. The nearest is Dalaman (DLM), about 170 km away — roughly two and a half hours by road via Fethiye; the flight from Istanbul takes about an hour and twenty minutes. Antalya (AYT), around 200 km east, is the alternative, three to three and a half hours by road.
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By public transport: from Dalaman, take the Havaş or MUTTAŞ bus to Fethiye bus station and change for Kaş. From Antalya, go to the main bus station and take a coach along the coast. There are also direct overnight coaches from Istanbul and Ankara, but the journey runs well over half a day. A rental car pays for itself if you want Kaputaş, Patara and Kekova on your own schedule; otherwise minibuses run from Kaş bus station to Kalkan, Patara, Kaputaş and the Kekova direction.
Where to stay
Kaş centre is the practical first choice: the harbour, the old bazaar street, the theatre and the boat jetty are all walkable. The Çukurbağ Peninsula west of town has the sea-front hotels and the quiet, but you will want a car or taxi to come and go. Küçükçakıl and Büyükçakıl are the swimming spots closest to the centre. Kalkan, west along the coast, is quieter again and closer to Patara.
What to see
The theatre of Antiphellos
Kaş stands on ancient Antiphellos. Its small Hellenistic theatre, at the western end of town, is one of the few in Anatolia that faces the open sea — the Greek island of Kastellorizo sits on the horizon. Sitting on the steps in the late afternoon is the local ritual.
Kekova and the sunken city
Boats leave the harbour for Kekova island, where the remains of a Lycian settlement damaged by 2nd-century earthquakes run down into clear water — stairways and walls visible beneath the surface. Swimming over the ruins is not permitted, but the boats pass slowly above them. The trip usually includes the castle village of Simena and a swim stop.
Kaputaş and Patara beaches
Kaputaş is the postcard beach at the mouth of a canyon between Kaş and Kalkan, reached by a long staircase from the road. Patara, further west, is an 18 km stretch of sand backed by dunes and the ruins of ancient Patara — a protected nesting site for loggerhead turtles, which is why it closes in the evening and stays undeveloped.
Diving and sea kayaking
Kaş is the main diving centre on this coast: clear water, walls, caves and wrecks, with schools running courses through the season. Sea kayaking over the Kekova ruins is the calmer alternative and needs no experience.
Saklıkent, Xanthos and Letoon
Inland and west, the gorge at Saklıkent and the UNESCO-listed Lycian sites of Xanthos and Letoon make a full day by car — Xanthos was the Lycian capital, Letoon its sanctuary.
What to eat
The coast means fish and meze, and the mountains behind supply the rest: wild greens, goat's cheese, thyme honey. Look for çöp şiş at the roadside grills and local citrus in everything from salads to desserts.
When to go
The season runs from May to October, and the sea stays warm into late autumn. May–June and September–October are the best: swimming weather without the peak crowds, and walking temperatures on the Lycian Way. July and August are hot and the town is full. Winter is quiet, green and rainy — good for walking, less so for swimming, and many businesses close.
Three days in Kaş
Day 1: The town, the bazaar and the theatre at sunset.
Day 2: A boat trip to Kekova and Simena, with a swim stop.
Day 3: Kaputaş in the morning, Patara and the ruins in the afternoon.