Kas is a small, hilly tourism town right on the Mediterranean Sea, where the mountain rises high from the sea level. It was first discovered by Turkish tourists in the 1980s. At that time, it was a remote, hard-to-reach fishing village. In the 1990s, it started getting attention from university educated Turkish crowds, campers, and some foreign tourists.
Today, tourism business in Kas has grown a lot. It is easier to access relative to the past, but still a few hours drive away from Antalya and Fethiye, which are the major holiday destinations. The town is mostly visited by Turks, mostly from Ankara, as well as some international tourists.
Kas has no sand beaches. The coastline is rocky. You swim from concrete platforms, rocky edges, or pebble beaches. The water is blue, clear and deep right from the shore. If you want sand, take a boat trip to Kaputaş Beach (a famous sand beach about 20 minutes east of Kas) or to the nearby coves.
Kas is known as a diving resort. However, Turkey does not offer the diving experience world-famous diving resorts do — do not expect the Red Sea, Maldives, or Caribbean. That said, the underwater visibility is good, and there are caves, reefs, and marine life worth seeing. Several dive shops line the harbor. Beginner courses and daily boat dives are available. The best diving is from spring to early summer when visibility is highest.
The old town is a maze of narrow, steep streets lined with white-washed houses, bougainvilla, boutique hotels, and small shops. No high-rise hotels. No traffic in the center. The hills make for great views but bring comfortable shoes.
The small harbor is the heart of Kas. Boats depart for daily trips to Kekova, the sunken city, and nearby coves. Restaurants line the waterfront. The atmosphere is relaxed, not loud.
The Lycian Way, one of the world's best long-distance hiking trails, passes through Kas. You can hike sections of it from Kas to nearby villages like Kalkan or Patara. The views from the trail are spectacular, the sea on one side, mountains on the other.
Kas was built on the site of the ancient Lycian city of Antiphellos. Remains include a well-preserved Hellenistic theater (right in town, free to visit), rock tombs on the hillside, and a sarcophagus near the harbor.
The most popular day trip from Kas is to Kekova, the sunken city. You see underwater ruins, swim in crystal coves, and visit the village of Kaleköy with its castle. Boats leave daily from the harbor around 10 AM, return around 5 PM. Lunch is usually included.
About 20 minutes east of Kas by car (or by dolmuş). A famous sand beach in a gorge between two cliffs. The water is turquoise. It is crowded in summer. Worth the steep stairs down (and up).
Kas has no big resorts. Accommodation is mostly boutique hotels, small guest houses (pansiyons), and rental apartments. The best area to stay is the old town (harbor area) — walking distance to restaurants, shops, and the waterfront. For quiet, stay on the hills above the town with sea views. For camping, there are sites just outside town. For lodging see Kas Hotels.
Kas is a few hours drive from Antalya and Fethiye, which are the major holiday destinations. Fly to Antalya Airport (AYT) or Dalaman Airport (DLM), then drive or take a bus.
From Antalya: Take the D400 coastal road east to west. The drive takes about 3 hours (180 km). The road is winding but the sea views are spectacular. Buses run from Antalya bus terminal (Otogar) to Kas multiple times daily.
From Dalaman: Drive via Fethiye. Dalaman to Fethiye is about 45 minutes, Fethiye to Kas is about 1.5 hours (90 km). Total about 2.5 hours.
From Fethiye: The D400 follows the coast through stunning scenery. About 90 km, 1.5 hours.
From Istanbul: Fly to Dalaman or Antalya, then drive. Direct buses from Istanbul to Kas take 12-14 hours — fly instead.
The town center is walkable — you will climb hills. A car is useful for exploring nearby sights: Kaputaş Beach, Patara Beach (sand beach and ancient ruins), Xanthos (UNESCO Lycian site), and the mountain villages. Parking in the town center is difficult in summer. Many hotels have parking outside the center.