An hour east of Kaş, the small town of Demre sits on a wide greenhouse plain that hides one of Türkiye's most striking archaeological sites and one of Christianity's most beloved churches. Together they make the best inland day trip on the Lycian coast — and the most natural pairing with a Kekova boat trip if you have a full day to spend.
Myra: the Lycian rock tombs and Roman theatre
Myra (Demre) is one of the most photographed archaeological sites in Türkiye, and once you see it you understand why. A honeycomb of carved Lycian house tombs climbs straight up a cliff face, with a vast Roman amphitheatre right below it. The whole thing is intact enough that you can walk among the seats and trace the geometry of carved theatre masks scattered on the ground. Allow at least 90 minutes here. Mid morning light is best for photos; early afternoon adds harsh shadows on the tomb faces.
St Nicholas Church: where Santa Claus began
Two kilometres from Myra stands the Byzantine church of St Nicholas, where the 4th century bishop who became Santa Claus actually lived, served and was buried. The frescoes inside are fragmentary but powerful, and his original marble sarcophagus is still here (the relics themselves were taken to Bari, Italy in 1087). For Orthodox visitors it's a place of pilgrimage; for everyone else it's a quiet, atmospheric counterpoint to the open sky and theatre stones of Myra. Modest dress is appreciated; a scarf for shoulders is enough.
Combining Demre with a Kekova boat trip
Kekova is just 20 minutes south of Demre by road. The classic local combo is a long full day where you do Myra and St Nicholas in the morning, drive down to Üçağız or Andriake harbour for lunch, and join an afternoon boat trip over the sunken city — or vice versa. If you prefer comfort, a private driver from Kaş can handle both ends, drop you at the boat and pick you up on the other side. Most of our Kekova boat trips start from Kaş, but a private charter can pick you up from Andriake too.
Practical: opening hours, tickets and how to get there
Both sites open daily from around 09:00 to 19:00 in summer (08:30 to 17:30 in winter). Entry is roughly 25 ‑ 30 € (or the Müzekart for residents) for Myra, similar for St Nicholas — both are covered by the Türkiye Museum Pass if you're touring widely. The drive from Kaş is about 60 to 70 minutes each way via the D400. Dolmuş minibuses run every couple of hours but take longer with stops. Park at the official lot in Demre and walk five minutes to St Nicholas; Myra has its own parking just beyond. Allow a half day minimum; a full day with lunch and a stop at Andriake is more relaxed.
What to eat: Demre is greenhouse country
Demre supplies a large slice of Türkiye's winter vegetables, and that abundance shows on local lunch tables. Try grilled sea bream straight off the harbour at Andriake, a meze spread heavy on tomato and pepper from the surrounding greenhouses, and the local çay (tea) brewed strong. Roadside köfte stands between Kaş and Demre are worth a stop on the way home — sandwiches of grilled meatballs with raw onion, sumac and tomato that taste better than anything you'll plan in advance.
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