Antalya All Inclusive Kekova Sunken City Demre and Lycia Day Tour

Old cities float, under calm turquoise water. This Antalya day tour pairs Kekova’s sunken ruins with Myra and Demre, so you get both cliff-side ancient sights and time on the water. I like that the day is structured around big, clearly defined stops, so you spend less time wondering where to go.

I also like the way the tour handles language and comfort, with easy-to-understand English and even German explanations if you request them. The real consideration is cost timing: St. Nicholas Church has a separate admission fee, and the on-site time can feel short if you want to linger.

Key highlights you will feel right away

• Glass-bottom yacht view on Kekova, so you see ruins from the water without squinting
• Lycian rock-cut tombs in Myra, carved into cliffs that still read like they did centuries ago
• St. Nicholas Church in Demre, with frescoes and a marble sarcophagus, but tickets are extra
• Boat time near Kekova’s partially sunken areas, plus an option to swim in a small bay
• Lunch included in Demre, with a choice of 5 dishes and drinks paid separately

How Kemer pickup and timing shape your day

This is a full-day tour built for people staying around Kemer, with hotel pickup and drop-off included. You meet at DADA Restaurant in Kemer (Merkez, İsmet Sevinç Cad. 108. SK No:10, 07990 Kemer), and you’ll want an active phone number or WhatsApp so the team can confirm pickup. The tour is listed at about 12 hours, and one common schedule pattern has pickup around 7:45 am with a return close to 17:30.

The transport is a spacious, air-conditioned coach, which matters on a hot Mediterranean day when you are moving between inland sites and the coast. There’s also a short rest stop along the way, so you are not locked on the bus the whole time.

One practical note: drinks are not included. That means you may want to plan how you’ll handle water and soft drinks, especially if you are tempted to buy on-site at each stop. If you can, carry a small amount of cash or card for extras like the St. Nicholas ticket.

Finally, group size is capped at 100 travelers, which usually keeps the day manageable. Still, it is a shared tour, so you should expect a steady flow rather than a slow, private visit.

Myra Ancient City: Lycian tombs and the Roman theater

Myra Ancient City is the anchor for the morning, and it’s a strong pick if you like archaeology that feels close and human. You’ll walk through Lycian rock-cut tombs carved into cliff faces more than 2,000 years ago. These aren’t generic ruins in a field. They sit right where they were made, so you can see the way the cliff was turned into a kind of monument wall.

The Lycian side of the site gives you that early, dramatic feel, and then the Roman theater adds a different layer. The theater is impressive for its scale and how “performative” ancient buildings can be, even when they’re silent today. It helps you picture crowds, speeches, and performances instead of just stones.

Entrance to Myra’s main area is included, and the time at this stop is listed as about 1 hour with an admission ticket included. For many people, that is enough for the tomb areas and a quick theater circuit, but it will not satisfy anyone who wants hours of reading and slow photography. If you are the type who likes to stand still and really take in details, plan to move slower than the group but not so slow you miss the next transfers.

The payoff here is clarity. You get a sense of what the Lycian and Roman eras built, and you get it without extra ferry rides or complicated logistics.

Demre (Kale): walking the town and connecting the sites

After the Myra portion, the day shifts toward Demre (also associated with the historic name Kale). This stop is more than a bus pause. It helps the ruins connect to real daily life, because you can wander through the town’s atmosphere and get a feel for how people live near these ancient layers.

Demre is also where you will see the Church of St. Nicholas area later, and the schedule keeps things logical: you do not bounce around with scattered geography. This is a good design for a one-day format, where you want smooth transitions more than maximum browsing.

One included detail that influences your experience: the tour includes a scenic boat component later for Kekova, and Demre is where the day’s inland stops and coastal sight come together. If you like a day that alternates “history on land” and “history over water,” Demre helps set up that rhythm.

If you want to snack or recharge, Demre is also where lunch happens, which you’ll be thankful for after morning walking. Just remember that drinks are extra, so if you love a soda or a cold water bottle after lunch, budget for it.

St. Nicholas Church in Demre: see Santa’s roots, but plan for the extra ticket

The Church of St. Nicholas is one of the most meaningful religious sites in this region, tied to St. Nicholas, the real historical figure behind the Santa Claus story. This is a Byzantine-era church dating back to the 4th century, and it is known for its preserved frescoes and the marble sarcophagus connected to St. Nicholas.

The church stop is listed as about 45 minutes, and the church entrance fee is not included. The cost is described as about 22 USD. One guest also flagged that 45 minutes can feel short if you decide to buy the ticket, noting the admission price as around 17 EUR per person. Either way, you should treat this as a decision point, not a guaranteed “quick glance.”

Here’s the practical way to think about it. If you care about early Christian art and the specific story tied to St. Nicholas, this is worth paying for. If your main interest is the coastal ruins and the boat ride, you may decide the ticket cost plus limited time is not your priority.

Because the church is a museum-like stop in a set time window, I’d focus your energy on the parts that matter most to you. Look for the fresco areas and the sarcophagus details, then save your legs for the next transfer. If you’re the type who gets distracted by every corner, consider arriving mentally ready to make choices.

Kekova sunken ruins by glass-bottom yacht, plus a swim option

Now for the part that makes this tour feel like a storybook, but still real. Kekova is where you see ancient remains sitting under the water, and the tour includes a glass-bottom yacht tour. That matters because it reduces guesswork. You are not relying only on far-away sightlines from a boat deck.

The boat tour goes to the partially sunken area connected to Dolichiste on the uninhabited island of Kekova, then continues with views over the ruins around the coast. You also get time for an optional swim near a small bay close to the ruins. The water is described as crystal-clear, turquoise, and ideal for a quick dip.

A swim stop is not always offered on shorter tours like this, so it is a meaningful inclusion. It also changes how you pack: you will likely want your swimsuit ready under your clothes. Even if you do not swim, bringing something light and breathable is smart, because the day can combine warm bus time with direct sun on the coast.

Because the boat experience is included, you are saving money compared to paying for a separate Kekova excursion. And because it is a glass-bottom setup, you are getting value even if weather shifts light or your eyesight is not perfect.

Simena ruins: what you are actually looking for over the water

Kekova’s sunken ruins are connected to the ancient Lycian settlement of Simena, submerged beneath clear water along the coast. From the boat, you can spot stone walls, staircases, and foundations. What makes this part special is how the ruins look like they were interrupted mid-life, rather than completely erased.

The glass-bottom feature helps you “read” the structure. Instead of just seeing outlines, you can understand how buildings and edges sat relative to the shoreline. It’s also a reminder that geography can be a time machine. Coastlines shift, and the sea can preserve what would otherwise crumble on land.

This is not a hands-on archaeology dig. It is a visual and emotional experience. But that’s also why it works well on a day tour. You get the big effect without needing a long stay.

If you like photos, try to find a spot that gives you both the ruins and the coastline in your frame. You’ll usually get better compositions when you are not fighting your group’s heads. Move politely, keep your balance on the boat, and aim for steady shots.

Lunch in Demre: included food with a real choice

After morning history, lunch is a relief. Lunch is included, and it happens at a quick-service restaurant in Demre. One guest described it as a 5-dish choice, which is a practical way to handle different preferences without turning lunch into a slow sit-down meal.

This is a good value point. In Turkey, meals can be affordable, but a full day with transport and multiple admissions often becomes expensive if lunch is extra. Here, lunch is built into the price, so you can keep your spending more predictable.

Drinks are not included, so you should assume you’ll pay separately for sodas, tea, or water depending on what’s available. If you’re sensitive to heat or you sweat easily, plan to bring a refillable bottle if allowed, or budget for a drink purchase after lunch.

The best way to handle lunch on this kind of tour is simple: eat enough to fuel the afternoon stops, then avoid anything that will slow you down. You still have the church area and more archaeological sights to fit in, and the schedule keeps moving.

A short stop for gold jewelry shopping in Demre

There’s also a stop at a shop in Demre where you can look at and buy gold jewelry. This is not required, but it is part of the flow of the day.

If you do browse, keep expectations grounded. A shop stop is often time-managed to fit the tour schedule, so it is not a leisurely market crawl. If you are serious about buying, it helps to know the basics before you arrive, like how to compare quality and price, and whether any discounts are involved.

If you are not interested in jewelry at all, this is the time to rest, hydrate, and reset your brain. Treat it like a short pause, not a must-do.

Group comfort, languages, and how the guide keeps things clear

Language quality can make or break these days. Here, the tour is offered in English, and the guide can explain in an easy-to-understand style. One guest also noted that on request, the guide provided German explanations, which is a nice extra if you or someone in your party prefers it.

You’ll also travel with an international mix, since people from different countries are on the bus. That usually leads to a lively day, but it can also mean the guide must repeat key facts, especially around entrances and meeting times.

Comfort-wise, the coach is described as spacious and air-conditioned, and the tour has that short rest stop so you can stretch. At the end, groups may be divided into two buses to reach different hotels efficiently, and this is part of why many guests get back by about early evening.

If you want an easier time, do two small things. First, keep track of your meeting time reminders on the spot, because the day moves. Second, keep your phone active in case the team contacts you on WhatsApp, since pickup uses that channel.

Price and value: what $78.88 really covers, and what costs extra

At $78.88 per person, this tour is priced for a full day that includes transport, major entrances, and a serious boat component. The included items are hotel pickup and drop-off, lunch, entrance fees to Kekova Sunken City, entrance fees to Myra’s amphitheater, and the glass-bottom yacht tour.

That package is the real value. Without this kind of organized day, you’d likely spend time coordinating separate tickets for Kekova and Myra, plus transportation from Kemer and back. You’re paying for convenience, with enough structure to see the headline sites in one shot.

Now for the extras. The St. Nicholas Church entrance fee is not included, and drinks are extra. The church fee is listed at about 22 USD, and someone else referenced about 17 EUR per person for the admission when they decided not to enter due to time and price.

So think of the tour as a “mostly all-in-one day,” with two optional cost areas. If you want St. Nicholas inside, add the admission into your budget. If you do not, you can still enjoy the church visit in the broader area, while spending more energy on the included tombs, theater, and Kekova water time.

Who gets best value from this day?

• People who want Kekova by boat plus Myra tombs without complicated planning
• History and culture fans who like Roman and Lycian layers
• Anyone who appreciates a clear English-speaking guide and a comfortable coach

Should you book this tour?

Book it if you want a smooth one-day plan that combines Myra’s Lycian rock tombs and Roman theater with Kekova’s sunken ruins, and you like the idea of a glass-bottom boat and an optional swim. It’s a good match for first-timers who want the highlights without building a DIY route.

Skip or reconsider if St. Nicholas inside is your top priority and you dislike paying for museum-style admission, because the church ticket is extra and the visit time is listed as about 45 minutes. Also, if you hate group pacing, remember this is a shared day with up to 100 people.

If you’re happy with clear priorities and one big coastline payoff, this tour makes sense. The day is designed to move, but it still feels focused on the places that matter.

FAQ

What is the duration of the Antalya All Inclusive Kekova Sunken City Demre and Lycia day tour?

The tour runs for about 12 hours.

Where does the tour start and where does it end?

It starts at DADA Restaurant in Kemer and ends back at the meeting point, with pickup and drop-off offered.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

What languages are available?

The tour is offered in English. The guide can also provide German explanations on request.

What is included in the price?

Included are hotel pickup and drop-off, lunch, entrance fees to Kekova Sunken City, entrance fees to Myra (amphitheater), and a glass-bottom yacht tour.

What is not included?

St. Nicholas Church entrance fee is not included (about 22 USD), and drinks are not included.

Do you get a boat ride on Kekova?

Yes. You’ll take a glass-bottom yacht tour over the sunken ruins.

Is swimming included?

The schedule includes a chance to swim in a small bay near the ruins.

How big is the group?

The tour has a maximum of 100 travelers.

If you want, tell me your travel dates and whether you plan to enter St. Nicholas Church. I can help you decide whether to budget for that ticket based on what matters most to you.