All About Kaş
Kaş is like no other seaside town in Turkey. Its specialty lies in its ability to please any traveler. Whether looking to party, find history, try new adventurous sports, or spend copious hours under the warmth of the summer sun, Kaş will amaze you with its rustic attractiveness and vibrant atmosphere.
A colorful city in Turkey’s south-western Lycian region, Kaş was previously a settlement known as Antiphellos, ruins of which are still visible today. Up until 1923, it had a predominantly Greek population that left during the exchange following the Greco-Turkish War. Situated on a hill that glides down to the Turquoise Coast, Kaş’s transformation into its present-day incarnation of an international seaside retreat began relatively late, in the 1990s. Situated 168km from Antalya, Kaş is now a fascinating destination with a distinctively authentic individuality.
Routes and Ferries to Kaş
Ferry tickets to Kaş are bookable via Ferryscanner. A return ticket for the 30-minute boat ride from the Greek island of Kastelorizo to Kaş costs €25. There are 14 sailing a week on this route, with one arrival and departure every day. Not surprisingly, Kaş is also a popular stop on most Blue Cruises. However, a cruise only allows you to enjoy the city for a day, whereas you need at least three days to unhurriedly appreciate its diverse attractions.
The primary reason tons of tourists don’t crowd Kaş every year is that it takes a little effort to reach the city. If arriving by air, you can choose between Dalaman or Antalya airports. The former is two hours away, while it takes three hours by bus or car on a coastal highway to travel between Antalya and Kaş. The shuttle bus from Dalaman Airport costs €6 one way.
Port of Kaş
Kaş has a small port that lies in the south of Lycia. Central to the city, it is typically busy with fishing boats, yachts, ferries, and cruise ships. The latter, though, have to use tenders to transport their passengers on and off the land. In addition to managing different vessels, the Port of Kaş has a modern marina that can accommodate a few hundred boats.
Passengers arriving with ferry tickets to Kaş will find the border control and customs alongside the harbor. However, the ferry company handles all the passports for their passengers. You simply give them the document a day before and then take it back at the time of boarding the boat.
Best Beaches
The beaches in Kaş might have less fine sand and more grit, but that only makes them less predictable and a whole lot more enjoyable for passionate beach hunters. When planning what to take in your luggage while booking ferry tickets to Kaş, remember to pack water shoes, snorkel gear, and a spirit of adventure that will help you discover some of the secluded bays alongside the city’s captivating coastline.
Kaputaş Plajı
Nestled between two dramatically rising cliffs, Kaputaş is, without a doubt, the best beach in Kaş. Bordering the Mediterranean, where the shade of the water changes from light to dark, Kaputaş is known for its golden sand. To reach the beach, you can drive 20 minutes or take a dolmuş in the westerly direction from Kaş. Once at the clifftop, you’ll have to go down a fair number of steps. At the bottom, though, there is a café, sunbeds for rent, toilets, and changing rooms. Kaputaş is terrific for both swimming and sunbathing. However, get there early if you want one of the limited parking spots and a good place to lie down near the water.
Seyrek Çakıl Plajı
Seyrek is a secluded cove close to Kaputaş beach but it’s very different. Since there are only a few basic facilities, hardly any tourists come here. A truly intimate escape for couples, the beach lies 13km from the main city. While the shore is stony and rocky, Seyrek does have pretty little thatched-roof cabanas you can rent for €4. A restaurant across the road provides refreshments for eager sunbathers, and the calm waters here make it a great place to snorkel.
Patara Plajı
Driving 43km to Patara for the day is worth the trouble for a few different reasons. Firstly, you can walk around several ruins as the beach is also the site of the ancient city of Patara. The strand itself is famous for its sandy disposition and for being the breeding ground of Caretta turtles. Often crowded during the day, the shore is left empty after sundown for the turtles to come ashore safely. However, do stick around for some breath-taking sunsets. A long, wide, and occasionally windy beach, it has toilets and showers for convenience and hiking trails nearby for avid explorers.
Kaş Belediyesi Halk Plajı
This pebbled public beach is ideal for sunbathers looking for a quiet seaside break. The water here is calm and has the region’s trademark blue color. Perfect for swimming and snorkeling, the sea at Belediyesi gets relatively deep, close to the shoreline. Located 2km west of the city center, it’s a 30-minute gentle stroll to the beach. Amenities at Belediyesi include WCs, showers, changing rooms, a separate women’s area, parking, a playground, and umbrellas for rent at €1.50.
Küçük Çakıl
A cute little pebble beach, the best part about Küçük Çakıl is that it lies within the city limits. The entrance to the water is through a small path. Although there is no proper place to sunbathe, locals often sit on their towels to catch the rays. Thanks to several restaurants around this bay, the atmosphere is forever lively. Some restaurants also have stairs leading down to the turquoise-colored sea. Situated near the port, you can often catch a glimpse of passengers arriving with ferry tickets to Kaş while swimming in the cove.
Things to Do
Kaş offers an unexpectedly exclusive set of excursions to visitors. When in the city, it is possible to go diving, visit remnants of its vibrant past, indulge in epicurean pleasures, and end your day dancing away till the morning light.
Take a Day Trip to Kastelorizo
It’s worth setting a day aside to discover the gorgeously petite Greek island of Kastelorizo. Once on land, head out to soak up the untamed beauty, not forgetting to go up the hill and admire panoramic vistas of the Mediterranean Sea. Also, you can take a boat ride to the enchanting Blue Cave and have lunch at one of the scenic waterfront restaurants. Day trips to the island range between €10 and €15. However, traveling on your own using the ferry is a much cheaper and pleasurable choice.
Float Over the Ancient City of Simena
A novel way to get accustomed to the history of Kaş is to take a canoe ride over the partially sunk city of Simena in Kekova. Destroyed during an earthquake, Kekova gives insight into the region’s importance as an ancient port and settlement. To preserve these fragments of history, swimming here is forbidden, but the sheer spectacle of floating over the Dolchiste ruins is unmatched. When spending a day in Kekova, visit the fortress on the hill and dine at one of the picturesque waterfront cafes. During summers, there are day tours to Kekova available from Kaş harbor.
Go Scuba Diving
Kaş is the best place in Turkey to go scuba diving. The waters surrounding the city are teeming with marine life, waiting to amaze divers with their colorful beauty. Kaş has several established dive centers that help plan trips to any of the 30 diving sites in the vicinity. These include a couple of wrecks. June to September is peak diving season. While underwater, be on the lookout for Caretta turtles, barracudas, stingrays, Moray eels, and groupers, among other fish.
Shop at Uzun Bazaar
The Long Market of Kaş is where locals and tourists go for retail therapy. Unlike some of the other famous Turkish bazaars, Uzun has a very mellow vibe wherein shopkeepers do not bother visitors. The place in town to try your bargaining skills, the market has a variety of shops, from designer clothing and jewelry showrooms to stores selling locally made handicrafts, carpets, glasswork, Turkish Delights, and spices. If you’re in town on a Friday, don’t miss out on the weekly farmer’s market, Kaş Pazar. It’s a great place to buy fresh produce brought in by farmers from neighboring villages.
Try Coasteering
Coasteering is, in fact, a bona fide adventure activity apt for thrill-seekers looking to do something different in Kaş. The sport involves conquering the coastline by climbing rocks, jumping in the water, and swimming. As it happens, the Lycian shore near Kaş is perfect for beginners wishing to try coasteering. Professionally managed, using safety equipment, every trip includes a guide and also lunch. While the duration differs based on the route taken, a 3 to 4-hour trip usually costs €50.
Transportation Around Kaş
Kaş is a delightful town to walk around and promises interesting sights, plentiful shopping, and even a couple of beaches at a short distance from the center. To visit some of the more secluded spots, rent a scooter and zip around comfortably. The local minibusses, dolmuş, run on specific routes and are cheap and ideal for transportation when you have time on your hands. Taxis are expensive but also faster and convenient.
Tourists arriving with ferry tickets to Kaş have the advantage of witnessing the city’s coastline, albeit for a short period. For some slow exploration, you can take one of the many boat tours that leave the harbor regularly. If you prefer sea transportation, take a boat taxi to one of the beach clubs. Sea taxis operate from 9:00 to 19:00 and typically cost €3 for a point-to-point round trip.
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