Kekova, Demre and Myra from Kemer: Is the Long Day Trip Worth It?
Updated October 22, 2026 · 6 min read
The short answer
Worth it if ancient history is the reason you came to the Turkish coast, not if you want a relaxed day. The trip sells three things in one: the sunken ruins of Kekova seen from a boat, the Church of St Nicholas in Demre, and the rock-cut tombs and Roman theatre of Myra. The price is a very long day. One of the listings below lays out about three hours on the coach each way, and the sites themselves get roughly an hour each.
If that sounds like too much, the Olympos cable car is a much shorter way to get a big view.
What you actually see
Kekova. The boat sails over the remains of Dolichiste, a Lycian town that slid into the sea after earthquakes in the 2nd century. You see walls and stairways through the water, and Simena Castle above the shore. Kekova has been a specially protected area since 1990, and according to demre.net, swimming and diving in the sunken city zone are prohibited. The swim stop on your tour is therefore in a nearby bay, not over the ruins.
Demre. The Church of St Nicholas honours the 4th-century bishop behind the Santa Claus legend. Demre.net gives the 2026 entrance fee as €17.
Myra. The rock tombs cut into the cliff and the Roman theatre. The same site lists €13 for Myra.
The four departures from Kemer compared
| Tour | Price | Rating · reviews | Duration | Entrances |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kekova Sunken City, Demre & Lycia Day Tour | €68 | 4.4 · 846 | 12 hours | Kekova and amphitheatre included, St Nicholas Church extra |
| Demre, Myra, and Kekova Tour with Boat Cruise | €44 | 4.6 · 22 | 11 - 12 hours | St Nicholas Church listed as not included, Myra only with the package option |
| Luxury Kekova Sunken City & Demre Myra Tour | €30.80 | 4.6 · 48 | 12 hours | Kekova and amphitheatre only with the option, St Nicholas Church extra |
| Kekova Sunken City, Demre & Myra | €13.28 | 4.5 · 131 | 12 - 18 hours | Myra and St Nicholas Church both extra |
Why the prices differ so much
Part of the gap between €13.28 and €68 is what is left out, not what you get. The cheapest listing charges extra for both Myra and the church. Using the fees above, that is about €30 per person on top. The other three tours list the church as not included as well, so add up the entrances for each before you compare.
Other differences on the booking pages:
- The €68 tour has the longest review record by far, with 846 reviews. It includes lunch and a yacht, and the listing says the church ticket (about 790 Turkish lira) is extra. GetYourGuide’s own review summary notes that travellers would like clearer information on the boat type, because many did not get a glass-bottom vessel.
- The €44 tour is guided in English, Russian and German and is marked not suitable for people prone to seasickness. Its listing says entrance fees are included only with a package option and lists the church entrance as not included; one reviewer reports that the most expensive option does include the church although the listing says it does not. With only 22 reviews, it is a promising price but a thin record.
- The €30.80 tour lists a one-hour cruise, a one-hour lunch and a Myra visit of about an hour. One reviewer mentions the shuttle air conditioning struggled.
- The €13.28 tour includes an onyx workshop stop of about 30 minutes, which is a shopping stop. One reviewer reports a change of vehicle depending on the language booked. It also runs up to 18 hours.
The pickup area also deserves a check. The €68 tour is titled Antalya/Kemer, but its description mentions only a hotel in Antalya. Confirm that your Kemer hotel is covered before paying.
Who should skip it
- Anyone prone to seasickness. The €44 listing says so itself.
- Wheelchair users and people with mobility impairments. The €68 tour lists wheelchair users as not suitable, and the €30.80 one lists people with mobility impairments. Confirm with the operator before booking.
- Pregnant women. The €68 listing marks the tour as not suitable.
- Small children. We found no age limit stated, but twelve hours with long coach legs is hard on them.
- Anyone who wants beach time. The swim stop is short.
Doing it on your own
Üçağız, where independent Kekova boats leave from, is about 35 km from Demre and roughly 40 minutes by road, according to demre.net, and some boats also leave from Demre harbour. From Antalya the same site gives about 2.5 hours in total. That points towards an overnight stay rather than a day trip from Kemer; we have not looked into that option.
For other long trips from the coast, see our day trips from Kemer and the boat trips from Kemer.
Our recommendation
For most visitors: the Kekova Sunken City, Demre and Lycia day tour. It costs the most, but it has by far the largest review base and covers the sights that justify the day. If your budget matters more than certainty, the €44 Demre, Myra and Kekova tour has strong early reviews, though only 22 of them, and which entrances it covers depends on the package option you pick. Whichever you choose, read what the ticket includes first.
