Demre,Myra,Kekova With Sunken City Boat Tour & St. Nicolas Church

Sunken ruins plus early pickup means a full day worth planning. I like how this route strings together Myra tombs, the Kekova sunken city boat trip, and the Church of St. Nicholas in Demre without feeling chaotic. Two standouts for me are the Myra stop, with its rock-cut tombs and amphitheater vibe, and the boat time on calm, clear water where you can relax on deck. The main thing to consider is that two stops have extra admission fees, and during the boat portion the guide’s English explanations can be harder to catch if you end up not seated near the front.

You get hotel transfer in an air-conditioned vehicle, starting with pickup around 7:00 am, and you will have a clear day rhythm: culture, lunch, then water. There is a group cap of 40, so it is not a massive bus crowd. One more practical note, these ancient sites mean uneven ground, so wear real shoes, not flip-flops pretending to be shoes.

If you pack for sun and water, this can be a smooth day. Bring your swimsuit, towel, and sunscreen, because you will have time to enjoy the Kekova boat ride, and the day is typically hot. Moderate physical fitness is enough, as long as you’re comfortable walking around historical areas.

Quick takeaways

• Myra feels like the main act: rock-cut tombs plus an amphitheater that gives you gladiator-era energy.
• Kekova is best from the boat: you view sunken ruins from crystal-clear water and can relax on the upper deck.
• You’ll need extra tickets twice: Myra Antik Kenti and the Church of St. Nicholas entrance fees are not included.
• Lunch is included, drinks are not: you get a meal at a local restaurant, but plan to buy water/soft drinks separately.
• Meet at the right place for pickup: with hotel privacy rules, you meet at the main entrance gate, not the reception.
• It’s a long day (11 to 12 hours): start early, expect a full schedule, then return to Antalya.

A Long, Sun-Heavy Day Between Antalya and Kekova

This is the kind of day trip that makes you grateful for early mornings and air-conditioning. The plan is 11 to 12 hours from Antalya, with multiple stops tied together by road time and a boat ride that uses the best part of daylight.

The value comes from how much you get in one go. You are covering Demre, Myra, and Kekova, plus the St. Nicholas Church. If you are short on time in Antalya, this route saves you from piecing together rides and tickets on your own.

The schedule also tells you what kind of expectations to set. It is guided, yes, but you still have to work with fixed time blocks at each stop. If you’re the type who wants endless wandering, you may feel a little time pressure at the ancient sites.

Pickup, Timing, and Getting Where You Need to Be

The tour starts at 7:00 am, and pickup is arranged through your hotel in the Antalya area. Because some hotels have strict privacy rules, the instruction is simple: meet at the main entrance gate, not the reception.

Your official starting point is McDonald’s Antalya Barbaros on Atatürk Cd. No:38, Muratpaşa/Antalya. The activity also notes that it ends back at the meeting point, even though the tour includes hotel transfer both ways. In practice, that means you should confirm your drop-off location clearly before you go, especially if your hotel is tucked away with complicated access.

The vehicle is modern and fully air conditioned. That matters. The day starts early, but the sun and road time can still wear you down, so having reliable cooling makes the long itinerary feel manageable.

Small-group pacing is another plus. The cap is 40 travelers, so you are not stuck in a giant bus line where you lose track of where your group is headed.

Stop 2, Myra Antik Kenti: Tombs, Amphitheater, and the Real Roman-Edge

Myra Antik Kenti is the ancient-city stop that tends to land hardest because it mixes dramatic visuals with layout you can actually make sense of. You head from the shore area to the ancient city by bus, then have about 1 hour there with a guide.

Here’s what makes Myra worth your time:

• Rock-cut tombs that show how people carved their resting places directly into the rock.
• An amphitheater that gives you that gladiator-era feeling, and it helps the ruins feel more human than just standing stones.

Myra also benefits from being a focused stop. With only about an hour, you are guided to the highlights instead of wandering in circles. It is the sort of place where 45 minutes can feel like sightseeing, but an hour gives you just enough time to connect the dots.

The one practical catch is cost. Entrance to Myra is not included, so expect to pay separate admission for this stop. If you’re budgeting on the fly, keep a little extra cash or card ready.

Also, wear comfortable shoes. Ancient sites usually have uneven ground, and if you’re climbing slightly and walking on stone, you’ll be glad you skipped sandals.

Demre (Kale) and the Included Lunch Break

After Myra, the itinerary shifts to Demre, about an hour at the Demre (Kale) stop. Right after that, lunch is served at a local restaurant.

This is one of the smarter pieces of the schedule, because you don’t just get food, you get a predictable break. Lunch is included, but drinks and breakfast are not included. That means you’ll likely want to plan for water or a soft drink purchase so you do not run out of steam later on the boat.

Demre also works as a reset between the inland archaeology and the coastal portion. The mood changes from stones and tombs to harbor air and sun.

If you like taking photos, this break helps you recharge before you point your camera back toward the water. It’s also a good time to check you have everything you need for the boat portion, especially sunglasses and sun protection.

Kekova Sunken City Boat Trip: Views, Ruins, and Deck Time

The Kekova segment is the centerpiece for most people, and with good reason. You travel to the harbor, then you get a boat trip lasting about 2 hours.

From the boat, you observe ruins of structures from the sunken ancient city. What you’re seeing is basically time on hold, then gently reintroduced by water. The tour also emphasizes crystal clear waters, plus a peaceful landscape that makes it feel like a break, not just another stop.

This part is also where you’ll want to set expectations. The boat ride is for looking and relaxing. You can sunbathe on the upper deck, and the best photos usually come when you are positioned for light and angles rather than when you are rushing to keep up with a busy crowd.

The guide’s English descriptions can vary in clarity depending on where you’re seated and how your group lines up. If you care about the commentary, try to sit where you can see and hear comfortably, especially during the main viewing stretches.

What I like about this stop for practical travelers: it is low-effort sightseeing. You are not climbing ruins. You are floating past them.

If you want to keep the day smooth, pack like you mean it:

• swimsuit for a quick change if you’re planning to get in the water
• towel for comfort
• sunscreen and a hat because the sun can feel aggressive out on the water

No entrance fee is listed for the boat trip, but as with most day tours, you still pay extra for other attractions in the plan, like Myra and St. Nicholas.

Church of St. Nicholas in Demre: Marble, Museum Vibes, and Santa Clues

After lunch and the boat ride, the schedule turns religious and story-driven. You head to the Church of Saint Nicholas in Demre.

This is about a 1-hour stop. The church is currently a museum, and it features a marble sarcophagus. Many people believe this is the original tomb of St. Nicholas. The guide also connects St. Nicholas to Santa Claus, which is a nice way to make the story feel personal instead of purely archaeological.

A big reason this stop works is that it is not just visuals. It’s explanations plus a clear item on-site, the sarcophagus, that anchors the history. Even if you do not know the legends ahead of time, the guide’s framing helps.

The downside is straightforward: the entrance fee for the church is not included. So you are paying separate admission again at the second non-free stop of the day.

Timing matters too. One hour can be perfect if you focus on the key displays and the sarcophagus area, but if you like slow museum reading, you may want more time. Still, for a full day that includes multiple big-ticket sites, the hour is a reasonable tradeoff.

Price and Value: What Your $60 Actually Buys

At $60 per person, the tour prices it as a value day, and the inclusions explain why. You get:

• lunch (at a local restaurant)
• hotel transfer both ways
• guiding service
• boat trip to the sunken city of Kekova

That combination can save real money and time compared to trying to coordinate transportation and separate tours across Demre and Kekova on your own.

Where the budget can shift is admissions. Myra Antik Kenti and the Church of St. Nicholas entrance fees are not included. Drinks are also not included, so you will likely spend a bit on water during the day. If you are planning a tight travel budget, consider that extra ticket costs are part of the deal.

The tour being capped at 40 travelers is also part of the value equation. You get a guided plan, but you are not stuck in a super-chaotic herd.

If you’re comparing alternatives, ask yourself this question: do you want a guided one-day sweep, or do you prefer control and unstructured time? This tour is for the sweep. It is not for building your own pace.

Comfort, What to Pack, and How to Make the Day Easier

This tour gives you a packing list for a reason. It’s long, hot, and includes a boat ride. Bring:

• swimsuits
• sunglasses
• towel
• sun cream
• hat
• comfortable shoes
• camera

A small practical tip: even if you plan to stay dry, sunscreen and sunglasses still matter, because you will be exposed during harbor time and on the boat deck.

Comfort shoes are not optional here. You are moving through ancient areas and walking around ruins. Lightweight breathable clothing is a safe bet for Antalya summer heat, but the specific layers you choose is up to your comfort.

Also, bring patience for the schedule. Your day is built around fixed times at each stop, so you cannot linger endlessly. If you are the type who gets cranky when the clock wins, plan to use quick photo routes and enjoy the highlights instead.

Who This Tour Suits Best (and Who Might Be Happier Elsewhere)

This tour fits best if you want a guided, big-sight day with less logistics work. It’s also a good match if you enjoy a mix of:

• ancient archaeology with Myra tombs and an amphitheater
• a boat-based sightseeing segment at Kekova
• a guided museum visit tied to the St. Nicholas legend

You’ll likely enjoy it if you’re traveling as a couple or small group and want a structured plan that still gives you deck time on the water.

It might be less ideal if you need lots of free time at museums, or if you strongly prefer to control your seating for narration during the boat segment. Since there are separate admission fees at two stops, it also may not feel like a perfect deal if you hate paying extra on the spot.

For families, the long day is the main question. The itinerary is paced, but it is still 11 to 12 hours. For active travelers, the moderate physical fitness requirement is usually fine as long as you can walk on uneven surfaces.

English guidance is offered, and the tour runs with a mobile ticket. If you need very detailed interpretation for every angle, you might want to plan to be near the front of the boat during the main viewing.

Should You Book This Demre, Myra, Kekova Tour?

If your priority is seeing Myra, doing the Kekova sunken city boat trip, and visiting the Church of St. Nicholas in one day, I think this tour is a strong value. The included lunch, hotel transfers, and guided route make it easy to handle a complicated geography without stress.

I would book it when you want a day with clear stops and you’re okay with paying separate entrance fees at Myra and St. Nicholas. If that extra cost would annoy you, or if you hate any uncertainty about drop-off points, spend a minute confirming the exact pickup and drop-off arrangements before committing.

For most visitors, the big payoff is the combination: tombs plus ruins on water, with a Santa-related story ending at the museum church. It’s the kind of day you remember later, when you realize you saw a sunken city and an amphitheater vibe before dinner.

FAQ

What is the price of the Demre, Myra, Kekova tour?

The tour is $60.00 per person. Lunch, hotel transfer both ways, guiding service, and the boat trip to the sunken city of Kekova are included.

How long is the tour?

It runs about 11 to 12 hours. Pickup starts around 7:00 am.

Where do I meet the tour in Antalya?

You start at McDonald’s Antalya Barbaros, Atatürk Cd. No:38, 07040 Muratpaşa/Antalya. Pickup details say to meet at your hotel’s main entrance gate, not the reception.

Are entrance fees included?

No. Entrance fees are not included for Myra Antik Kenti and the Church of St. Nicholas. Drinks & breakfast are also not included.

What should I bring?

Bring swimsuits, sunglasses, a towel, sun cream, a hat, comfortable shoes, and a camera.

What happens if the tour is canceled for weather or you cancel your booking?

You can cancel for free up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The experience requires good weather, and if it is canceled due to poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.