Kekova Sunken City Tour from Antalya 2027: Price, Route, How Long

A Kekova sunken city tour from Antalya takes about eight hours with Demre, Myra and a boat trip. Our group tour starts at $120, private at $140.

Ayşe ArslanAuthor23 October 20267 min read

Kekova Sunken City Tour from Antalya 2027: Price, Route, How Long

A Kekova sunken city tour from Antalya is a full day of about eight hours, combining the drive along the Lycian coast to Demre, the Church of St Nicholas and the rock tombs of Myra with a boat trip over the half-submerged ruins off Kekova island. Our group tour costs from $120 with lunch and the Myra and St Nicholas entrance fees, and our private version from $140. It is the most asked-about day trip from Antalya after the waterfalls, and in winter the boat part depends on the sea.

Below we set out the route hour by hour, what is and is not included, how the group and private formats differ, and what changes between summer and the quieter months. Demre is about two and a half hours by road west of Antalya, so this is a long day. It is also one of the most rewarding on the coast.

At a glance
Total length	About 8 hours with hotel pick-up
Drive Antalya to Demre	About 2.5 hours each way along the coast road
Boat trip	Around 2 hours from Üçağız past the sunken city and Kaleköy (Simena)
Our group tour	From $120, lunch and Myra and St Nicholas tickets included
Our private tour	From $140, private van, local guide, museum tickets included
Swimming	A swim stop in summer; not over the protected ruins
Winter	Boats run on calm days; land sites open every day

Kaleköy village and Simena Castle above the harbour at Kekova with tour boats moored

The route, hour by hour

Pick-up from central Antalya hotels starts early, usually around 07:30, because the drive west is long. The road follows the coast through Kemer and over the hills to Finike, with stretches above the sea that are worth the window seat.

The first stop is Demre, the modern town on the site of ancient Myra. Our guides start with the Church of St Nicholas, where the fourth-century bishop of Myra served. He is the saint behind the Santa Claus story, and the church is now a state museum, open every day. Each 6 December a memorial service is held inside.

From the church it is a short drive to the edge of town and the rock tombs of Myra, carved into the cliff face above a Roman theatre. The tombs are the most photographed group in Lycia, with house-like facades cut directly into the stone.

Then the coach heads to the harbour at Üçağız, where the boats wait. Lunch is served on board or in the village, depending on the season and the operator.

Lycian rock-cut tombs in the cliff at Myra, Demre, with autumn colours below

The boat trip: what you actually see

The boat follows the north shore of Kekova island, where an earthquake in antiquity dropped part of a Lycian town into the sea. From the deck you see foundations, stairways and walls running under clear water. It is not a dramatic underwater city like the photos sometimes suggest; it is a quiet, beautiful stretch of coast where ancient and modern meet.

The ruins are inside a protected area, and swimming, snorkelling and diving over them are not allowed. Boats stop for a swim in a nearby bay instead, during the warmer months.

The second highlight is Kaleköy, the village of ancient Simena, with a small castle on the hill and a Lycian sarcophagus standing in the water by the shore. Some boats moor here so you can walk up to the castle; on a group tour the stop is short, and on a private tour you decide.

The boat leg lasts around two hours. The coach then drives back to Antalya, arriving in the early evening.

Group tour vs private tour

	Group tour	Private tour
Price from	$120	$140
Transport	Shared air-conditioned coach	Private van
Guide	Licensed guide for the group	Local guide just for you
Lunch	Included	Not included; you choose where to eat
Entrance fees	Myra and St Nicholas included	Museum tickets included
Boat	Shared tour boat	Kekova boat trip, timing to suit you
Best for	Couples and solo travellers	Families, Christian groups, photographers

The difference in price is small, and for a family of four the private van often works out at very similar money per person. The real difference is time. A private guide can spend longer in the church, which matters for pilgrims, and can get you to the tombs before the coaches arrive.

Stone theatre masks carved on a block at the ancient city of Myra

Summer, winter and when to go

From May to October the sea is warm enough for the swim stop, the light is long and the boats run daily. July and August are hot at Myra, where there is little shade around the tombs, so a hat and water are not optional.

In winter, from November to March, the land part of the tour runs normally and the church and Myra stay open every day. The boat part depends on the weather. Boats run on calm days only, and when the wind is up the trip becomes a coast drive with a longer stop in Demre. December has one special date: the St Nicholas memorial service on 6 December, which draws pilgrims and press.

Spring, April and May, is our favourite time. The hills are green, the sea is calm most mornings and the crowds have not yet arrived.

What this means for your trip

If you are staying in Antalya for a week, Kekova is worth one of your days, and it pairs well with an easier day trip afterwards. Our Perge, Aspendos, Side and Manavgat waterfall tour from $90 and the Antalya old city and Düden waterfalls trip from $90 are both shorter on the road. For a simpler sea day, the Suluada island boat tour from Adrasan starts from $50.

Our report on Antalya day trips in winter compares the main excursions by cost, and our guide to Antalya boat trips covers the shorter harbour cruises. For Christmas travellers, our piece on Christmas in Turkey explains the St Nicholas service in Demre.

Questions travellers are asking

How long is the Kekova tour from Antalya?

The Kekova tour from Antalya takes about eight hours in total, including roughly two and a half hours of driving each way to Demre, visits to the Church of St Nicholas and the Myra rock tombs, and a boat trip of around two hours over the sunken city. Pick-up is early, usually around 07:30.

How much is the Kekova boat trip from Antalya?

Our Kekova sunken city tour from Antalya costs from $120 per person with hotel pick-up, a licensed guide, lunch, the boat trip and entrance fees for Myra and the Church of St Nicholas, while our private Demre, Myra and Kekova tour costs from $140 with a private van. Drinks are extra.

Can you swim at the Kekova sunken city?

No, swimming, snorkelling and diving are not allowed over the Kekova sunken city ruins, which lie inside a protected area, so boats view them from the surface and then stop for a swim in a nearby bay during the warmer months. In winter the swim stop is usually dropped.

Is the Kekova sunken city worth it?

The Kekova sunken city is worth it if you enjoy calm boat trips and ancient sites together, because one day combines the Church of St Nicholas, the Myra rock tombs and clear water over Lycian ruins, but the ruins are subtle walls and steps, not a dramatic underwater city. Kaleköy's castle adds a lot.

How far is Kekova from Antalya?

Kekova is about two and a half hours by road west of Antalya, via Kemer and Finike to Demre and then on to the harbour at Üçağız, where the boats leave; it is much closer from Kaş, under an hour's drive. From Antalya, a full-day tour with transport is the practical option.

Does the Kekova tour run in winter?

Yes, the Kekova tour runs in winter, and the Church of St Nicholas and Myra are open every day, but the boat over the sunken city only sails in calm weather, so on windy days the trip is a land tour with a longer stop in Demre. Ask us the day before.

Is the Church of St Nicholas included in the Kekova tour?

On our tours, yes: the group Kekova tour includes entrance to the Church of St Nicholas and Myra ancient city, and the private tour includes museum tickets, while many cheaper tours sold online list these tickets as extra, so check the inclusions before you compare prices. The church is open every day.

Plan it with us

We run the Kekova tour from Antalya all year, as a group day or privately, and pick up from hotels in Antalya city and nearby resorts. Message us on WhatsApp: +90 545 307 67 88.

Kekova sunken city boat trip and Myra tour with lunch, from $120
Demre, Myra and Kekova full-day private tour, from $140
Perge, Aspendos, Side and Manavgat waterfall tour, from $90
Private Antalya old town tour, from $90

Sources: Ministry of Culture and Tourism, muze.gov.tr listing for the St Nicholas Memorial Museum (open daily), checked 18 October 2026; getistanbultours.com tour itineraries and prices, 23 October 2026.