Kaş Travel Guide
Everything you need to plan a trip to Kaş — a small, whitewashed harbour town on the Lycian coast, prized for diving, boat trips to the sunken city of Kekova and a slower pace than the bigger Riviera resorts.
Kaş sits at the tip of a narrow headland on Turkey’s south-western coast, in the ancient region of Lycia, and it has kept a low-rise, small-town character that sets it apart from Antalya, Side or Alanya. Stone houses climb a hillside above a compact harbour, a Hellenistic rock-cut theatre looks straight out to the Greek island of Meis (Kastellorizo) just offshore, and the town’s narrow streets of galleries, cafés and pensions are built for walking rather than driving.
The town’s single biggest draw is the coastline around it rather than the town itself. Boats leave the harbour daily for Kekova, where a stretch of ancient Lycian settlement partly slid into the sea in an earthquake and now sits visible beneath clear, shallow water — swimming directly over the ruins is not permitted, but you view them gliding past by boat. Around Kaş, Lycian rock tombs are carved directly into cliff faces, and the peninsula’s clear, deep water has made it one of Turkey’s established diving centres.
This guide covers the essentials for planning your trip: the top things to do, the best time of year to come, how to get to Kaş, and where to base yourself depending on the holiday you want.
Top things to do in Kaş
Start in the town itself: the ancient theatre just west of the centre, the rock tombs cut into the hillside above the harbour, and the small Doric tomb standing incongruously among the streets. Take a day boat trip to Kekova to see the partly submerged Lycian city and to stop at the harbour village of Kaleköy beneath its hilltop Simena castle. Kaş is also one of the best-placed towns on this coast for diving and snorkelling, with wrecks and reefs a short boat ride out. For walkers, a stretch of the long-distance Lycian Way passes through the area, and Patara beach — one of Turkey’s longest sand beaches, backed by another Lycian ruin field — is a manageable day trip.
When to visit Kaş
The season runs roughly from May to October. July and August are the warmest and busiest, ideal for swimming and diving but with the fullest harbour and boat trips. May–June and September–October bring a still-swimmable sea, milder days and quieter streets and boats, and are generally the more comfortable months for the Lycian Way or a Kekova cruise. Winters are mild but very quiet, with much of the harbour restaurant scene closed.
How to get to Kaş
Kaş has no airport of its own and sits roughly midway between two: Dalaman Airport (DLM) to the north-west and Antalya Airport (AYT) to the east, each around 2–2.5 hours away by road transfer depending on traffic and the exact route through the mountains. Which one to choose usually comes down to your onward plans — Dalaman suits an itinerary that also covers Fethiye or Ölüdeniz, Antalya suits one that also covers the central Turkish Riviera.
Where to stay in Kaş
Most visitors base themselves in Kaş town itself, within walking distance of the harbour, restaurants and dive centres — it is compact enough that almost anywhere in the centre works. For something quieter, the coves either side of the headland offer simpler, smaller-scale pensions with their own patch of sea. Some travellers instead base themselves in Kalkan, a short drive west, and visit Kaş as a day trip, or use Kaş itself as a base for day trips out to Kekova and Patara.
Know before you go
No airport in Kaş itself: Dalaman (DLM) and Antalya (AYT) are each roughly 2–2.5 hours away by road transfer.
Kekova’s partly sunken Lycian city is Kaş’s best-known boat trip — viewed from the water, not swum over.
Kaş is one of Turkey’s established diving centres, with wrecks and reefs a short boat ride from the harbour.
Lycian rock tombs are carved into the cliffs around the town, including one standing among the harbour streets.
Best months are May–June and September–October for a swimmable sea with quieter boats and trails.
Patara, with one of Turkey’s longest beaches and another Lycian ruin field, is a manageable day trip.
Tours in Kaş
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kaş worth visiting?
Yes, particularly for travellers who want a smaller, quieter alternative to the bigger Turkish Riviera resorts, along with strong diving, a boat trip to the sunken city of Kekova and access to Lycian rock tombs and the Lycian Way walking trail.
What is the best time to visit Kaş?
May–June and September–October offer the best balance of a swimmable sea and comfortable conditions for boat trips and walking, with fewer crowds than July–August. The season runs roughly May to October; winters are mild but very quiet.
How do you get to Kaş?
Fly into either Dalaman Airport (DLM) or Antalya Airport (AYT), then take a road transfer of around 2–2.5 hours to Kaş. There is no airport in the town itself, so the choice between the two usually depends on the rest of your itinerary.
What is Kekova and how do you visit it?
Kekova is a stretch of coastline near Kaş where part of an ancient Lycian settlement slid into the sea in an earthquake and is now visible beneath shallow water. It is normally visited on a day boat trip from Kaş harbour, which also usually stops at the village of Kaleköy below Simena castle. Swimming directly over the submerged ruins is not permitted.
Is Kaş good for diving?
Yes. Kaş is one of Turkey’s best-known diving bases, with clear water, wrecks and reef sites reachable on short boat trips from the harbour, and it is well set up for both beginners and experienced divers.
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