Kaş and the Sunken City of Kekova

Kaş is a small coastal town on the Lycian coast of Türkiye, in the province of Antalya, where the Mediterranean meets steep hills covered in maquis, pine and olive trees. Just offshore lies Kekova, a narrow island and its surrounding protected area, known for a sunken city whose ancient walls, stairways and foundations rest beneath unusually clear water. Together, Kaş and Kekova offer a rare combination of archaeology and marine landscape, with ruins visible both on land and below the surface.

Kaş and the Lycian Coast

The town curves around a sheltered bay, and its history reaches back to the Lycian settlement of Antiphellos. Above the modern streets, a small Hellenistic theatre still looks out over the sea, and rock-cut Lycian tombs are carved into the cliffs nearby. Narrow lanes, whitewashed houses and flowering bougainvillea give the centre a quiet, walkable character, while the harbour faces the Greek island of Meis, known in Greek as Kastellorizo, across a narrow strait. The Çukurbağ peninsula, just west of town, extends the coastline with coves and low rocky shores.

Kekova: An Island of Submerged Ruins

Kekova is the name of both the island and the sheltered channel between it and the mainland, part of a special environmental protection area. Along the northern shore of the island, ancient structures lie partly underwater: walls, steps, building foundations, mooring points and the remains of a ruined quay. The water is clear enough that the outlines of these shapes remain visible from the surface, shifting with the light and the movement of the sea.

Simena, Kaleköy and Üçağız

On the mainland opposite the island, the village of Kaleköy, ancient Simena, can be reached by boat or on foot and is crowned by a small castle that overlooks a Lycian necropolis below. Close by, Üçağız, once Teimiussa, sits on a calm inlet where rock tombs stand at the waterline. Both settlements belong to the same ancient coastal landscape that includes Kekova island.

Why the Ruins Lie Beneath the Sea

Earthquakes along the region's fault lines, gradual subsidence and changing sea levels over many centuries lowered parts of this coastline. The Lycians built their harbours and towns close to the water, so when the land sank, the sea covered streets, quays and walls. That is why modern visitors see stairways that descend into the water and lines of masonry running along the seabed. The sunken city area is protected: diving is not permitted over the ruins, and boats cross the channel slowly so that passengers can look down into the transparent water.

Lycian Heritage Around Kaş

Kaş sits in a landscape dense with Lycian remains. Sarcophagi appear among olive groves, cliff faces hold carved tombs, and the long-distance Lycian Way walking route passes through the hills behind the town. Inland, small villages, pine forest and the slopes of the Taurus Mountains rise behind the coast, while the shoreline is dotted with bays and rocky headlands. Local cuisine draws on olive oil, seafood, wild greens and meze, reflecting the region's long connection to the sea and its gardens.

Seasons and Sea

Summers here are warm and dry, spring and autumn are mild, and winters are quiet and green. The Mediterranean stays warm from late spring into autumn, and the sheltered inlets around Kekova are known for calm, clear water. This makes the area appealing for sailing, swimming and simply watching the coastline, where ancient stone and open sea meet in the same view.