Antalya is beautiful, but if you look at a map of the Turkish coastline, there is a jagged, wild stretch of land to the west. This is the Turquoise Coast.
Location: Kekova Island & Kaleköy (Simena)
Water Color: Electric Turquoise
Mood: Sun-kissed and Salty
Today, I woke up early, rented a car, and drove a couple of hours down the winding coastal road towards a small harbor town called Üçağız. I wasn’t looking for a beach today. I was looking for a city that fell into the sea.
The Wooden Gulet (The Departure)
At the harbor, I boarded a traditional Turkish wooden boat called a Gulet. As the captain navigated us out of the bay, the color of the water shifted. It went from deep navy to a neon, glowing turquoise. It looked like someone had poured a giant bottle of blue ink into the Mediterranean.
The sun was hot, but the sea breeze on the front deck was perfect. I sat with my legs dangling over the edge, watching the rocky islands pass by.
The Sunken City (Looking Down)
After about forty minutes, the boat slowed down to a crawl. We were approaching Kekova Island. In the 2nd century AD, a massive earthquake shattered this region, sending an entire Lycian city sliding down the hillside into the Mediterranean.
The captain pointed to the water. I leaned over the wooden railing. Just a few feet below the clear surface, I saw them: stone staircases leading into the abyss. The foundations of houses, doorways, and broken amphorae were perfectly preserved in the silent blue water.
You are strictly forbidden from swimming or anchoring directly over the ruins to protect them, which actually makes it more magical. It feels like flying silently over a ghost town.
The Ruins You CAN Swim In (Tersane Bay)
But this is the Mediterranean, and it was 35°C. I needed to swim. The captain steered the boat around the corner into Tersane Bay (Shipyard Bay). This was an ancient boat-building area, and here, swimming is allowed.
The anchor dropped. I didn’t use the ladder. I just dove straight off the side of the boat. The shock of the cold, salty water was incredible. I opened my eyes underwater (it stung, but it was worth it). I was swimming next to half-submerged Byzantine church ruins. Small silver fish darted between the ancient stones. It felt like I was swimming through a history book.
The Village With No Roads (Kaleköy)
After drying off on the deck with a glass of strong Turkish tea, we headed across the water to Kaleköy (Ancient Simena). This is a village built on a steep hill that has zero roads. You can only get here by boat.
I hopped off onto a wooden pier and started walking up the narrow, flower-lined stone paths. The locals were selling homemade peach and cactus fruit ice cream. At the very top of the hill sits a Crusader castle. I paid the small entrance fee and climbed the battlements.
The view from up there is the best on the entire coast. I could see the Lycian sarcophagi (stone tombs) actually standing in the shallow water below, surrounded by dozens of wooden boats leaving white trails in the blue sea.
The Verdict
I’m writing this as the boat heads back to the harbor, my skin tight from the sea salt, my hair a messy knot from the wind. A day trip to Kekova is a long journey from the center of Antalya, but it is the ultimate Mediterranean dream. You don’t just look at history here; you sail over it, you swim in it, and you climb it.
My “Eat Walk Repeat” Note for Today:
Eat: Buy the homemade Cactus Fruit (Frenk İnciri) ice cream from the grandmothers in Kaleköy. It is neon pink and surprisingly refreshing.
Walk: The climb to the Simena Castle is steep and hot. Bring water, but don’t skip it. The view is your reward.
Repeat: Sit on the bow of the boat on the way back and let the Mediterranean sun dry the salt on your skin.
Explore More of My Antalya Diaries:
If you enjoyed this diary, check out the rest of my Antalya series to see the Mediterranean through a local lens:
🍽️ Eat & Drink
- Food Diaries: Why I Put Tahini on My Meatballs (Tahinli Piyaz)
- Food Diaries: The Strange Magic of “Burnt” Ice Cream (Yanık Dondurma)
🎟️ Things To Do
- The 7 AM Swim Ritual: Jumping into the Mediterranean at Konyaaltı
- Climbing Termessos: Feeling Like Indiana Jones in the Taurus Mountains
🗺️ Itineraries
- Lost in Kaleiçi: A Full Day Behind the Roman Walls of the Old Town
- The Turquoise Coast: A Day Trip to the Sunken City of Kekova
🚇 Essentials
- The Midday Siesta Diaries: How I Survived the 40°C Mediterranean Heat
- Escaping the Airport Chaos: Riding the Antray Tram to the Sea
🏘️ Neighborhoods
- Kaleiçi Diaries: Roman Harbors and Hidden Courtyard Bars
- The Cliffs of Lara: Chasing Waterfalls and High-End Cafes
🌦️ Seasonal
- Summer Diaries: Midnight Swims and the Wall of Humidity
- Winter Diaries: Snow on the Mountains, Oranges on the Trees
