Image: Sunset at Patara Sand Dunes.
Highlights
– What to see and do between Antalya and Kaş, Antalya, Turkey.
Time of Visit: October 2025
Duration of Visit: Çamyuva – Three Nights, Kaş – Three Nights
Description
Antalya is Turkey’s fifth most populous city. Visitors who explore the Turkish Riviera would most likely fly into Antalya. Though there are ruins, waterfalls, an old town and other things to see and do in Antalya, we stayed away from this large city. The drive alone from the airport to the edge of the city going West took about an hour. This convinced us to adjust our itinerary and stay in the small tourist town of Çamyuva about an hour and half away.
Kaş, on the other hand, is a charming coastal town about a three hour drive from Antalya. It has a laid-back atmosphere, historic character, and stunning Mediterranean scenery. It is the place to be for a quiet holiday/vacation. Though Kaş is popular with tourists, it did not feel crowded. In our opinion, it deserves a stop in anybody’s Turkish Riviera itinerary.
Here we list the places we visited and the activities while staying in Çamyuva and Kaş.
Activities
North of Antalya
Aspendos Ancient City
Aspendos Ancient City is about a 30 minute drive from Antalya Airport to the East. The archeological site is undergoing some restorations. Much of the ancient city is still in ruins but the main attraction is the theater. Aspendos Theater is the best preserved/restored ancient theater that we have seen in Turkey.
Köprülü Canyon National Park
The national park area is about another hour drive from Aspendos Ancient City. We encountered the Toros (Taurus) Mountains and pine forest during our drive to the “Viewpoint of the Canyon” and the Historical Oluk Bridge (both shown in Google maps).
The Köprüçay River runs through the park and has carved a canyon with steep walls. Underground springs feed the river which is crystal clear. Rafting is the main outdoor recreation in the park. There are several outfitters along the road on the way to the Oluk Bridge which is where the rafting normally starts.
Çamyuva
Çamyuva Plaji
Çamyuva Plaji is a long beach lined with lounge chairs. Judging from the number of lounge chairs, this beach would be popular during the busy summer season. The beach is pebbly instead of sand but the water was calm during our visit.
Chimaera
Chimaera (Yanartaş), near Çıralı on Mount Olympos, is a natural marvel where eternal flames burn directly from the rocky ground. The fires are fueled by methane gas seeping through cracks in the earth’s crust. The flames ignite spontaneously upon contact with oxygen, creating the legendary “eternal fire”. Some flame spots have gone out over time because the underground gas flow shifts or diminishes in certain locations, reducing the fuel supply necessary to sustain combustion.
Chimaera is about a 30 minute drive West of Çamyuva. Last admission is at 9PM and the place closes at 10 PM. It involves a one kilometer uphill walk that takes about 20 to 30 minutes depending on your pace. The path has some smooth rock surfaces so surefootedness is required. Bring a flashlight or headlamp if you plan on staying in the flame area until dark as the path is not lit.
Çıralı
Just like Çamyuva, Çıralı is a small town tucked away from the main highway – D400. We were surprised to have stumbled into this small community on our way to Chimaera. As we were driving on the narrow road to the eternal flame area, all of a sudden, there were stores, restaurants and people walking. Totally unexpected. It was only after looking at Google maps that we found out the area has two beaches which are Çıralı and Olympos.
Kaş
Three nights in Kaş was not enough, especially when we were not able to go and do anything on our last day because it rained all day. There are certainly more things to do and see in and around Kaş than what we listed here which we were able to do in one afternoon.
Viewpoints Around Kaş
Kaş is sandwiched between the Mediterranean Sea and the Taurus Mountains. The D400 highway runs along the mountain side and offers some spectacular views. One popular location is the Kaş Panorama (Seyirlik) which is shown on Google Maps. The viewpoint provides a nice view of the town and the nearby islands.
Another viewpoint but less visited is Kaş Bayindir panorama which is about a ten minute drive from D400.
Beaches
There is no shortage of beaches between Antalya and Kaş. In Kaş, we visited only one which was Büyükçakıl Plajı. This beach is actually walking distance from town although you will have to tackle some uphill walks along the way.
Büyükçakıl Plajı is a small beach with restaurants and lounge chairs. The water is amazingly blue but the beach is smooth gravel instead of sand. It was windy during our visit and the water was wavy but that did not stop some people from getting in the water.
Another popular beach is Kaputaş Beach which is a 20-25 minute drive West of town. From the road, this beach also has blue colored water and is much calmer compared to Büyükçakıl Plajı.
Old Town Kaş
Old Town Kaş is just a joy to walk around. You have a marina on one side, a main square/park adjacent to it and shops and restaurants in all directions. Plus there are pedestrian only streets lined with colorful houses with bougainvillea trees bearing colorful flowers.
Hellenistic Theatre
About a ten minute walk West of Old Town Kaş is the Hellenistic Theatre. This stone amphitheatre is well preserved despite being freely accessible to the public.
Sunset at Patara Sand Dunes
Watching the sunset on top of one of the Patara Sand Dunes should not be missed. The horizon glows in varying shades of yellow to orange to red. Arrive at least 30 minutes before sunset as it requires about a 10 to 15 minute sandy walk to get to the dunes from the parking area. Stick around up to 30 minutes past sunset to see the horizon glow at its most colorful stage.
Myra Ruins
The Myra Ruins are closer to Kaş than Çamyuva. It has an amphitheater and necropolis that is different from other archeological sites that we saw in Turkey. The tombs are built on the mountain side rather than being free standing. We came to see the Myra Ruins because of the ornamental relief on most structures. It is only here that we came across human faces as decorative relief.
Myra Ruins is about 45 kilometers east of Kaş. The ruins take about an hour to see, two at the most. The archeological site has some restorations done.
Other Activities
There are tour companies in Old Town Kas. Most of them offer boat tours to hidden coves and beaches and even the neighboring islands.
How To Get There
The closest airport is in the City of Antalya, code AYT.
There are buses that run between Antalya and Kaş. Use the app Obilet to get the bus schedules.
We rented a car from Antalya airport and drove ourselves to Kaş. There are speed cameras throughout Turkey so watch your speed at all times. For the most part, Turkish drivers are not impatient but you will encounter some speedsters just like any other country.
Where To Stay
Çamyuva
Çamyuva is a walkable community so a car is not needed if you just plan to be at the beach all the time. We stayed in Atalay Homes which is about a 15 minute walk to Çamyuva Plaji. Atalay Homes has one bedroom apartments with a balcony or patio. The apartment is on the small side compared to other apartments we rented for the same price point. There are other apartments closer to the beach but this is the only one we found that pets are not allowed.
Kaş
If you do not have your own vehicle, staying near the old town would be your best bet. Shops and restaurants are within walking distance plus you can conveniently experience the night scene.
If you have your own vehicle, then staying outside of the old town is where you need to be because parking is pretty much non-existing in the old town. We stayed in Akar Apart Otel which is about a 30 minute walk to the old town.
How To Get Around
Kaş is hilly so walking around may be challenging if you venture past the old town. However, there are scooter rentals available. It reminds us of Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia where scooters are the primary means of getting around, even for the locals.
Expected Expenses
Aspendos Ancient City – 15 Euros pp (amount collected/charged is the equivalent amount in TRY)
Chimaera – 60 TRY
Kaş Scooter Rental: No information on cost as we did not inquire.
Myra Ruins – 13 Euros pp ((amount collected/charged is the equivalent amount in TRY)
Summary
Most visitors who explore the Turkish Riviera begin their adventure in Antalya, Turkey’s fifth most populous city. Though there are places to see in Antalya, we ventured away from it because of its size and settled instead in the small beachside town of Çamyuva. Olympos-Bey Mountains Shore National Park is practically at its doorstep and the eternal flames of Chimaera are 30 minutes away.
Kaş, like Çamyuva, is a small seaside town but a popular tourist destination because it caters to a wide range of interests while maintaining its unspoiled beauty. Spectacular viewpoints of the Mediterranean, sand dunes, secluded beaches and hidden coves are just minutes away. You would be amiss if you spend less than three nights here like we did. Culturally, Kaş offers access to several ancient sites, including Patara, Xanthos, and Myra, making it an excellent base for exploring the Lycian heritage.
It is an easy blend of history and outdoor adventure along the Turkish Riviera. And there are many towns and villages along this stretch of Turkey that can be a good base for explorations. It just depends on what you want to do. For us, the small town charm of Çamyuva and Kaş were standout destinations. Both provided the perfect mix of peace, beauty, and discovery where we could swim, hike, explore ancient ruins and unwind, all in the same day.