KAS TRAVEL GUIDE: THE BEST BEACH TOWN ON THE TURKISH COAST
Over the past 3 and a half weeks I have been spending my days living and “working” in Kaş, in southern Türkiye-and it has been one of the greatest times of my young life so far.
Kaş is a perfect little beach town around 2 hours east of Fethiye, and around 3 hours west of Antalya. Time does not exist in Kaş, the days are measured in the most unreal sunrises and sunsets.
Kaputaş Beach, Kaş
I have been to some really amazing little beach towns both on the Mediterranean and around the world, and Kaş is undoubtedly my favorite so far. I am going to cherish my time there every single day until I get back as soon as possible.
If you find yourself in Türkiye, especially down south, I am quite literally begging you to hit Kaş. Below is a collection of everything I have gathered that might help before visiting. Enjoy.
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KAS OVERVIEW & HISTORY
The town has been a bustling, important port city for centuries now, once even being captured by Alexander the Great in 333 B.C. It was also an important stop along the pilgrimage route to and from Jerusalem during the Middle Ages.
Kaş was once named Habesos during the days of the Lycian civilization, and then named Antiphellus and the port of Phellus during the Roman Empire.
There is evidence of this history through out the streets-and it is SO unreal to see up close. From the tombs from the 4th century BCE just casually in the center of the small roads and cliffs, to the ancient Greek amphitheater overlooking the town lights and Mediterranean Sea.
There have literally been coins from the Roman times found in town!! Unfortunately people in the early 1900’s ‘had to use’ the stones to build on top of the ancient roads that once were filled with people before.
While the resort-y metropolitan feeling city of Antalya is the most visited, Kaş is the gem of the beach towns along the Riviera.
Kaş’ small cobblestone streets are alive all day and night-in the best way. There isn’t anyone outside of the stores constantly trying to sell you something, but instead just people sitting outside drinking their tea, and talking with friends.
Filled with a good mix of both Turkish locals and foreigners vacationing, Kaş is increasingly seeing more visitors post pandemic, though definitely still smaller and lesser known than some of the surrounding resort towns like Ölüdeniz, Fethiye, and Antalya.
Split into two parts, Kaş has its main ‘Old Town’ with many stores, cafes, bars, restaurants, beaches, night life, absolutely insane history-and so much more. For a small town there is plenty of things to see and do in the main streets.
The other part of Kaş is the Peninsula on the land that jets out into the sea from the main town, filled with mostly nicer hotels, beach clubs, cliffs to tan on and jump off of, and the best hostel/hotel in the entire world (more on the peninsula and the hostel below).
HOW TO GET TO KAS
Even if you do not have a car, getting to Kaş is super easy.
NEAREST AIRPORTS: Dalaman Int. Airport (∼2 hours driving) & Antalya Int. Airport (∼3 hours driving)
BY BUS: Though most people will take the bus from either Fethiye or Antalya, there are buses to Kaş-from everywhere. Kamil Koç, Pemukkale, and Metro bus companies all run routes to and from Kaş, from all around the country. There are direct night buses to and from Istanbul that will cost you €48, and to and from Izmir and Ankara as well.
Heads up: There are two main bus stations in Kaş, one in the center of town, and one about 20 minutes outside of town in the middle of nowhere: Kaş Otobüs Terminali (Ağullu, 07580 Kaş/Antalya, Türkiye). There are buses into the center of town from there, but if you have the option to choose another ending stop you can make it easier for yourself.
BY FERRY: If you are coming to Kaş from Greece, there are ferries from the small Greek island of Kastellorizo, with ferries that connect to Rhodes as well.
Ferries from Kastellorizo: €20, 25 minutes. Ferries from Kastellorizo to Rhodes: €35, 2.5 hours
MAIN TOWN VS. PENINSULA
Getting into Kaş at first, I was a little stressed that I would be super far out from the town on the peninsula, but it ended up being the most perfect location, and an easy ride in. I couldn’t have been in a better spot.
MAIN TOWN: This is where all of the stores, super markets, pharmacies, cafes, bars, and everything is. When you need something or want to spend a night out you will need to go into town. From the center, there are little minibuses that go to the peninsula to drop people off wherever, twice every hour for ∼$1.
PENINSULA: The Peninsula (Çukurbağ Peninsula), is the part of Kaş that jets out into the sea, lined by beautiful beach hotels on the cliffs, with a couple of public sandy beaches. There are two nice restaurants on the peninsula (more on that in a second), and two little markets if you need something quickly.
BEST TIME TO VISIT KAS
The shoulder season: September-October! The days are still so warm, but not so extremely hot like July and August, and it is still so lively and fun without being too crowded.
BEST PLACE TO STAY IN KAS
I am totally biased being A: 20 years old, and B. A girl with a 20 year old’s budget, but Sole’n Blu is the best place to stay in Kaş.
The hostel part is so fun being super social in such a beautiful spot-but also a hotel with a gorgeous private rooms. The breakfast is so unreal that it is stupid. There is a kitchen as well, and a little private beach on the cliffs, a 5 minute walk away.
The word about Sole’n Blu got around this Summer in the circles of people traveling in the Balkans and Turkey, and with everyone extending their stays, there was often no beds available. If you are planning to hit Kaş and want to stay at the best hostel ever, get on it.
HOW TO GET AROUND KAS
Getting around Kaş is easy as the main town is all walkable and close together, and getting in and out of the peninsula is easy and quick by mini bus or taxi if you don’t have a car or a scooter or bicycle.
Again, mini bus ticket will cost you∼$1, and the taxis have a ‘set price’ of 220₺ to and from the center of town and the peninsula.
BEST THINGS TO DO IN KAS
EXPLORE THE OLD TOWN:
With the colors, flowers, cobblestone roads and the overall vibe of Kaş, it feels like you might as well be somewhere like Greece.
In the main part of the old town, you will find the cutest clothing stores, coffee shops, souvenir stores, and much more. In the mornings the town is much quieter, but through out the day as it gets more lively it does not get too overwhelming at all. Every night of the week in the summer the town is awake until the early hours of the morning, with everyone just out relaxing, drinking, talking, and dancing to music.
Small little jewelry stands line the streets, along with fresh juice stands and so much Turkish ice cream. Though she is small, there is so much to see and do.
The 4th Century BCE King’s Tomb
VISIT THE ROCK TOMBS:
Along with the King’s Tomb in the center of town in the street, there are some tombs built into the cliffs and rocks in the city as well.
All of those hundreds of years ago, people used to bury loved ones up high in tombs carved into the mountains because they believed that being elevated up there would attract a winged creature to take them up to the next life.
These tombs have stayed intact incredibly well through so much history, and it’s just so unreal to see the old writing etched into the stone, I really am never going to be able to comprehend history like that for as long as I live!
There are lots of beautiful old rock tombs all around the area along the Lycian Way, most famously including the Tomb of Amyntas in Fethiye, and the old rocks tombs in the ancient city of Myra, around 1 hour east of Kas towards Antalya.
ANTIPHELLUS AMPHITHEATER:
I did not get any pictures of the amphitheater (Antiphellos Theatre) because I had only went at night to sit up top and look at the shooting stars with the lights of the town on the water across the way.
Though it is a restored version of the original, it is so absolutely unreal to think about people sitting there and looking out at the same mountains and same sea thousands and thousands of years ago. Sitting there under the stars is a feeling that I will never ever forget.
In the mornings, people run yoga classes, and through out the evening people still go to play music, again like people did all of those centuries in the past. It is a sweet feeling knowing that people have somewhat always been the same in ways like that throughout this whole existence.
KAPUTAŞ BEACH:
Going to Kaş you will hear mixed reviews on Kaputaş Beach, some will tell you how fun and beautiful it is, some will tell you that it is too crowded.
Though there are much more beautiful beaches along the main coastal road that are quiet and untouched all around Kaş, Kaputaş is fun not only because of the beautiful views over the beach, the cliffs to jump off, and the clear blue water, but because of the people watching and happy atmosphere.
Kaputaş is around a 25 minute drive west of Kaş, and it is a perfect length of a drive to get a moped for, if you do not have a car.
PATARAS BEACH:
If you are going west out of town to Kaputaş Beach, you might as well keep going past the town of Kalkan to Patara, and visit Patara Beach. Patara has amazing ancient ruins, and unreal sand dunes further west down the beach. The little town of Patara is lovely as well.
Visiting Patara Beach and the dunes at sunset was one of my favorite memories from my time in Turkey. And driving back to Kaş after dark with all of the windows down with the warm summer air, blasting music, with all of the twinkling town lights on the hills, and the sea and the tiny islands below is one of my favorite memories of all time.
The Sand Dunes at Patara Beach
VISIT KASTELLORIZO, GREECE:
Located just one mile off the coast of Kaş, Kastellorizo is a tiny little Greek island that you can swim to from the shores of Turkey if you were that determined. Kastellorizo is a beautiful spot to hit even if it is just for one evening to grab drinks and dinner.
The old town on the island is a perfect mix of Greece and Turkey, and being so small and almost unknown to most foreigners visiting the Mediterranean, it is not crowded and overwhelming like a good amount of the other islands.
There are multiple ferry rides to and from Kastellorizo daily, that again, will only take you about 25 minutes, and cost you around 20 Euros.
Along with that option, there are multiple small boat companies that you can charter a private ride over with, that will be much quicker and more fun, but just a little more pricey. You can find these small companies in the main marina and in the small tourism offices both in the center of town.
ABANDONED WATER PARK:
Pictured above: on the northern part of the peninsula, there is a huge, beautiful waterpark/resort(?) on the cliffs that has just been completely abandoned. This is such a beautiful sunset spot, with the best view of Kastellorizo. There was a good amount of people watching the sunset there as well.
VISIT THE FRIDAY MARKET/BAZAAR:
Right by the center of town, across from the main road out to the peninsula is the big Friday market filled with the most colorful fresh fruit, vegetables, candy, nuts, and so many Turkish towels, knock-off designer, and more.
THE SUNKEN CITY OF KEKOVA:
The sunken city of Kekova (or Dolichiste) is an ancient city of the Lycian people on the island of Kekova that has partially sunken into the sea over the hundreds and hundreds of years.
There are a number of boat tours that you can take to see the island, and you can even book one with Sole n’ Blu to make it easy another option is kayaking around the island, which I think is even better to see the history up close!
HOW LONG TO STAY IN KAS
Coming into Kaş is like a trap, working at Sole n’ Blu, I quickly noticed a pattern of everyone extending their stays, most of the time not even two days in. If you are strictly just passing through, I would recommend at least four days to hit everything with some time to relax.
BEST PLACES TO EAT IN KAS
I did not go out to eat too much in Kaş, but I visited a good amount of spots that were so good, so these are my favorites listed off.
Main Town:
Voyn Meyhane: Across from Panorama and Loop is Voyn Meyhane, a super cute spot with fresh fish and amazing traditional Turkish food. The meals are inexpensive and the view over the street is fun to people watch down on.
L'Apéro: If you need a break from Turkish food, L'Apéro is a great French restaurant with a really cozy, cool atmosphere, and super good meals.
Fika Garden Cafe: My favorite cafe for a coffee in town is the Fika Garden Cafe. Iced coffees, smoothies, cheesecakes, omelets, and so much more, in a garden, surrounded by cats? Say less.
Frida Pub: A little pub dedicated to the theme of Frida Kahlo, this spot is so cute. It is a good stop to grab some quick appetizers during the early evening and chill for a bit.
Peninsula:
Oburus Momus: A two second walk down from Sole n’ Blu is Oburus Momus, a gorgeous plant based restaurant on a terrace over the water. Having a sunset meal here is a must do on the peninsula.
Beach Club Hotels Over The Water On The Kas Peninsula
Kaş is one of my favorite places on this earth after my visit, not only because of how good of a time I had here and how great my summer was this year, but the Mediterranean is my favorite region at this point in my life, and this little corner of the sea is so magical in every sense of the word. I miss it everyday and can not wait to make my way back over.
THINKING OF TRAVELING TO KAS? DO IT.
HERE ARE ALL OF THE RESOURCES I USE TO PLAN MY TRIPS:
FLIGHTS AND ACCOMMODATION: BOOKING.COM IS WHAT I WILL ALWAYS USE TO BOOK FLIGHTS AND STAYS. NEVER DONE ME WRONG.
TOURS, DRIVERS, AND ALL THAT FUN STUFF: VIATOR IS MY GO-TO.
TRAVEL INSURANCE: SAFETYWING HAS ALWAYS BEEN FABULOUS. THE BEST EVER.
RENTAL CARS: WHEN BOOKING ANY TRIP THAT YOU DECIDE TO RENT A CAR FOR, BOOKING.COM IS FABULOUS LIKE ALWAYS.
