Kaş harbour and Lycian coast turquoise waters Turkey

Antalya

Kaş & the Lycian Coast

Unsplash / Unsplash

Trade-off

180km west — whitewashed harbour town, sunken ruins at Kekova, diving capital of Turkey.

A 2.5-hour drive west of Antalya, but the antithesis of Belek — small, whitewashed, walkable, with a Greek-island feel. Sunken Lycian ruins at Kekova, world-class diving, paragliding next door at Kaş and Ölüdeniz. The cultured, independent traveller's answer to mass Antalya tourism.

Scores

9/10

Walkability

4/10

Transit

5/10

Price

8/10

Local feel

5/10

Nightlife

7/10

Family-friendly

2/10

Centrality

What you gain

  • ↑Best diving in Turkey (and the eastern Mediterranean)
  • ↑Sunken ruins at Kekova by gulet day-trip
  • ↑Whitewashed harbour town vibe — closer to Greek islands than Lara

What you sacrifice

  • ↓2.5 hours from Antalya airport — hire car essentially required
  • ↓Limited choice if you want a 5-star pool resort

Best for

diversindependent couplesparaglider/adventure travellers

Avoid if

no-car visitorsall-inclusive seekersshort city breaks

Other Antalya neighbourhoods

Kaleiçi (Old Town)

Walled Ottoman quarter on the cliff above the marina — boutique hotels, Hadrian's Gate, minarets.

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Konyaaltı

West-side pebble beach below Taurus mountains — the local Antalyan beach district.

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Lara

East-side mega-resort strip — themed hotels, sandy beach, all-inclusive armies.

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Know where to stay — now find when to go.

Best time to visit Antalya →