Looking to get inspired for a holiday in Kas, Turkey? You have come to the right place! We are Oylum and Onur – a Turkish travel and photography couple who have been visiting this beautiful destination for years now.
We met in Istanbul in 2010, and at that time we had been working in the marketing industry for over 10 years. Travel and photography have always been our passions. We have been traveling together since we first met, at every chance. In 2010, we got married in Kenya. On our wedding day we made the decision to quit our jobs and begin a new life of full-time travel.
Since 2011, we have been constantly adding new destinations to our photography archive. You can browse through our blog and Instagram page to see all of these amazing trips. One place that we have come back to time and time again is Kas. We spent 10 days there on our first visit after wanting to discover the Lycian ancient sites and pristine turquoise beaches.
Following that magical trip, Kas became our favorite spot. We keep coming back to Kas every year to spend at least a week there. Over the past decade, we have changed up the months that we visit (between May and October) because we wanted to experience more and capture different lights and seasons. Even after traveling the world, Kas is still our favorite place.
Moving to Kas in September, 2020
Eventually we decided to move to Kas. Travelers should know that Kas is not a typical summer destination – it’s a hidden gem on the Turquoise Coast of Turkey. The things we love most are the crystal-clear beaches and the ruins of the Lycian cities. You can easily do both on the same day.
We always knew that we would move to Kas one day but we couldn’t make the move before because we were traveling often and needed to be close to the Istanbul airport. Before moving to Kas, we were living in Galata, Istanbul. During our decade plus of travel, we would spend half a month at home and the other half traveling around Turkey and the world.
When we got stuck at home for six months due to the pandemic and couldn’t travel, we decided to stop postponing our life and finally we moved to Kas as soon as we could. Even if the pandemic continued, and we were stuck at home, at least it would be at our favorite destination: Kas, Turkey.
Running a Guesthouse in Kas
To cut a long story short, we have been living in Kas since September, 2020. When we left Istanbul, we had to stop working for some of our commercial photography clients. We knew nothing about running a guesthouse but since we stayed at hundreds of guesthouses around the world we believed we understood guest experiences well and thought we could give it a try.
Kuytu Terrace Bed and Breakfast is our new business, situated in the heart of the historical center of Kas. Our rooftop terrace has stunning views over Kas and Megisti – it’s the perfect spot to enjoy a traditional Turkish breakfast. Being so close to the Old Bazaar and Lycian Tomb means you can discover some incredible sights in Kas right outside your B&B doorstep.
Kas is an intoxicating place to walk around. Kuytu is close to some fantastic little restaurants and bars as well as the main public beaches of the city. We have 10 rooms that guests can book, all with different styles of decorations. Bookings can be made on our website link above or on booking.com.
Our Favorite Places to Visit in Kas
The four attractions of Patara Ancient City, Patara Beach, Xanthos Ancient City and Kaputas Beach are our favorite places to visit. If we have traveled to any of those four places on the same day, for us that is the perfect day.
Walking around Patara Ancient City and swimming at Patara Beach, after that heading to Xanthos Ancient City with our hair still wet, wandering around the theater and getting hot again, finally on our way back stopping for a quick swim at Kaputas Beach – that is the ultimate quartet. History and nature, hot and cold, yellow and turquoise. We love to mix these.
8 Best Things To Do in Kas (Turkey)
The ancient ruins of Antiphellos lie near Kas city center and are definitely worth checking out for the afternoon. Doing a tour of the Sunken City of Kekova and the ancient village of Simena is another highlight of the area.
Hiking the Lycian Way, visiting Patara, Xanthos and Letoon ancient cities, swimming in the turquoise waters of Kaputas or Patara beaches are all great experiences as well. With that in mind, here are our top things to do in Kas. Please note: these experiences are listed in no particular order.
1. Go Swimming at Kaputas Beach Before 10am
Kaputas is one of the most picturesque beaches on the Turkish Riviera. Nestled below steep cliffs lies this secluded little paradise with golden sand and shimmering turquoise waters. To access the beach, you need to drive from Kas for about 20 minutes and then walk down 200 steps to the bay.
Lined with umbrellas and sunbeds in the summer, Kaputas Beach is the perfect place to work on your tan and relax in the sun. This is a very popular beach so you should expect large crowds of people during the middle of the day in peak season. However, if you visit before 10am, the beach is basically empty and you can enjoy this slice of paradise all to yourself.
There is also a blue cave that you can explore nearby. The cave is accessible via boat, so chartering a boat or booking a group tour is the best option. You could theoretically swim to the cave from Kaputas Beach, however the strong currents make that difficult to do so. Swimming through the little opening in the cliff to see the beautiful blue waters is such a treat.
2. Visit Patara Ancient City & Sunset at Patara Beach
We recommend visiting Patara Ancient City in the afternoon and then heading to Patara Beach to watch the sunset. The city was founded by a son of Apollo called Patarus and proceeded to be a major Lycian city.
Many civilizations left their mark on Patara Ancient City over the centuries, including the Romans and the Byzantines. You can feel this depth of history when you walk down the Roman boulevards, marvel at the 5,000 seat amphitheater or ponder what occurred at the bouleuterion building.
The nearby Patara Beach will cap off the day with the chance to have a nice beach stroll and enjoy captivating sunset colors. This 18km beach is one of the longest of its kind in the world. Even during peak season you will still be able to find a little section to enjoy all for yourself. Patara Beach is usually more wavy than other calm beaches along the Turkish Riviera.
3. Explore the Rock Tombs of Xanthos Ancient City
Located 45km from Kas is the incredible Xanthos Ancient City, perched on a hillside overlooking the beautiful Esen River. This UNESCO World Heritage Center boasts some extraordinary ancient sites such as the Xanthian Obelisk, the Agora, the Pillar of Harpies and a Roman theater.
The rock tombs scattered around the site are also quite impressive. Most of these tombs are pillar tombs, which means they were constructed with a large pillar stone on top of a burial chamber and decorated in a Greek style.
4. Discover the Sunken City of Kekova by Boat
The best way of visiting the Sunken City of Kekova is to book a boat trip. There are various options for Kekova boat tours that you can book from Kas. Moreover, the different options suit every type of traveler and budget. Not only can you visit the Sunken City of Kekova on these trips but you can also stop by the Sunken City of Theimussa, Simena and Inonu Bay.
The Sunken City of Kekova was once a thriving city. Now the city is underwater. Swimming around the turquoise waters of Kekova is reason enough to book this tour, though the history is equally as enjoyable.
5. Take a Dip at Small Pebble or Big Pebble Beach
Just like Kaputas Beach, visiting Small Pebble and Big Pebble beach is best done in the early morning before the crowds arrive. Small Pebble Beach is a tiny little beach near the center of Kas. You can easily walk there from your hotel. Despite its city location, the waters are still lovely and clear.
Getting to Small Pebble is part of the fun. The entrance is covered in vines but then opens up to this 5-10 meter beach hidden between rocky cliffs. As the name suggests, this area is made up of pebbles rather than fine grains of sand. No more than 20 people should fit on the beach at the same time, however during the summer it can get crowded and attract 30+ visitors.
Big Pebble Beach, on the other hand, is a larger beach that can easily host more than 20 people. But still you should aim to get there in the morning. This beach has large pebbles and sits between two lush green hills.
6. Hike the Lycian Way to Limanagzi Beach
The Lycian Way traverses 540kms through 25 historical sites, to numerous beaches, spanning over 29 days of walking. There is a section of the Lycian Way that you can walk from Kas. The Limanagzi part is a great option where you can have a swim before turning back. The entire Lycian Way would be a great hike to tick off your bucket list but that is for another trip.
Limanagzi is a lush beach with reflections from its surroundings that turn the water green. The beach doesn’t attract as many visitors as places like Kaputas Beach, so you can visit at all hours of the day. The walking route to Limanagzi from Kas takes you along the Lycian Way. It’s a long hike but the views, history and inviting waters of Limanagzi make it worth doing.
7. Watch the Sunset from the Antiphellos Theater
Located 500 meters west of Kas is the extraordinary Antiphellos Theater. During its time, the theater could hold up to 4,000 spectators. Walking up to the top tier seating, one is afforded these sweeping views of Kas and the sea. For us, it’s one of the most unique places in Turkey to watch the sun go down. Be sure to leave no trace and respect this ancient ruin.
8. Try the Local Food at the Best Restaurants of Kas
Being near the sea, it’s easy to find fresh seafood restaurants in Kas, but also there are many other food options. For seafood and traditional raki and Turkish meze plates (tapas), Demeti Restaurant is our favorite. If you would like to try meze plates with cocktails then Zuhtu is the place to go.
When craving vegan or far east cuisine we love stopping by Oburus Mobus. Then there is traditional Turkish food served at places like Ege Restaurant, Oz Nazilli Restaurant and Emre Restaurant. If chicken or meat doner sounds appealing, Kas has Kervan, or if you would like to try some lahmacun, Oba Restaurant is a good option. Oba has a lovely garden too.
Travel Tips for Visiting Kas
Before visiting, travelers should read about Lycian history and the Lycian Way. The main tourist season is between March and November. From June to August it can get very crowded and hot. If you would like to go hiking and swimming on the same day then April to May or September to October would be much better. If you have questions, DM us on Instagram.
