Kekova Sunken City Guide (Boat Tours, Kayaking, Map)

Kekova Sunken City: An Expert Guide to Turkey's Underwater Wonder Quick Answer: The Kekova Sunken City is a submerged Lycian settlement near Kaş, best viewed from a glass-bottom boat or sea kayak. While swimming directly over the protected ruins is forbidden, tours from Üçağız, Kaş, or Demre include swimming breaks in beautiful nearby coves. As a guide on this coastline for over fifteen years, I can tell you that few places capture the imagination like Kekova. Here, history is not memorialized in a museum. It sleeps just beneath the surface of the impossibly turquoise water. Known in ancient times as Dolchiste, this Lycian port town was shattered by an earthquake in the 2nd century AD, causing its waterfront homes, stairways, and harbor to slide gracefully into the sea. Today, as we glide over its ghostly remains, we are not just sightseeing. We are peering through a window into a lost world, a poignant and beautiful reminder of the power of nature and the resilience of history along Turkey's magnificent coast. Explore with a local expert → Browse our private antalya tours or build a Signature Made itinerary . Visiting Information Opening Hours The site is a protected waterway. Boat tours typically operate from 08:00 to 19:00 daily, especially from April to October. Official tickets & info There is no entry ticket to the protected area; access is via a mandatory boat or kayak tour. Tour prices vary by operator and season. Official site information Best Time to Visit May, June, September, and October for ideal weather. An early morning tour (before 11:00) offers the calmest water and best visibility with less glare. Duration to Allow Gliding past the ruins takes 20-30 minutes. A standard boat tour lasts 4-7 hours, including swim stops and a visit to Simena Castle. Dress Code Swimwear, sun hat, sunglasses, light cover-ups, and water shoes. No specific dress code required to view the ruins from a boat. Accessibility Limited. Access is almost exclusively by boat. Most t