Demre

Last update October 1, 2026

Demre is the place where the real Saint Nicholas lived, a fact that always comes as a surprise to those who go there hoping for a flashy Christmas atmosphere and instead end up in a functioning Turkish Mediterranean town. St. Nicholas was bishop in the city which at that time was called Myra and died on December 6, 365, having reached the age of about 65. The Church of St. Nicholas, which was constructed in 520 AD on the site of the earlier church where he had preached, is still located in the town centre, its walls decorated with faded mosaics and wall paintings. It’s a quiet and rather odd experience to be in a Byzantine church and realize that this is where the story of Santa Claus actually began.

The town of Myra is situated a little inland, and the ancient theatre, which was built to accommodate 12,000 people, conveys an idea of the importance this city once had before it was left deserted by earthquakes, attacks, and a plague in the sixth century and by the 11th century. The real attraction, however, is the Lycian rock tombs that have been cut directly into the cliff face above the theatre; although they are made entirely of stone the facades have been carved to resemble wooden houses. If you climb up near them you can still see the details after two thousand years, a fact which applies to few ruins of that age.

The journey by boat to Kekova makes up the second part of a visit to Demre, the trip typically departing from the village of Kale-Üçağız, which is about forty minutes away by way of bumpy but picturesque roads. The Kekova Island has the sunken remains of Simena, a city which was destroyed by an earthquake in the 2nd century AD, visible directly through the clear water as the boat passes over it. Most of the tour groups stop to swim close to the ruins and snorkelling equipment is generally provided if you’d like to get a better view of the stone work below. Since the Kekova area is a protected zone, the boats travel at a slow speed and swimming is only allowed in a number of designated bays such as Kocakari and Aquarium Bay.

A whole day is enough to see Demre, Myra, and Kekova, typically beginning about 9 AM from Antalya or from a nearby base, and lunch is arranged before the boat journey. It’s a good idea to take a towel, sunscreen, and some shoes that you aren’t mind getting wet since you’ll be moving between the ruins, tombs, and open water more than once before the day finishes.