Çıralı’s greatest gift is what surrounds it. The village sits on the D400 coastal highway, perfectly placed to explore the best of the Lycian coast, and the day trips that radiate from it are among the finest in Turkey: the sunken city of Kekova, the ruins and beaches of Phaselis, the dunes and ancient city of Patara, the charms of Kas, the white shores of Lake Salda, and the mountain valley of Ulupınar right next door. The village itself is small enough that a full day away never feels like you are abandoning anything — and the return to the garden, the beach, and the quiet evening is part of the pleasure. This guide covers the best day trips from Çıralı, ranked by the balance of effort and reward, with the practical details that turn a good idea into a good day.
The Day-Trip Landscape
Çıralı sits at the heart of the most beautiful stretch of the Turkish Mediterranean. To the east lie the ruins of Phaselis and the resorts of the Antalya gulf; to the west lie the wild bays and historic sites of the Lycian coast — Kekova, Kas, Patara, Kalkan; and inland, the mountain valleys, springs, and the extraordinary lake district around Salda. Most day trips head west or inland, with Phaselis the main exception eastward.
Getting around: a car is the best enabler — most of these places are 45 minutes to two hours away by road, on good highways with spectacular scenery. Scooters and motorbikes are popular for the shorter hops. Without wheels, organized tours run from Çıralı and Olympos to the main sights, and the public dolmuş links the coastal towns. If you plan two or more day trips, a car for a day or two usually pays for itself.
1. Kekova Island and the Sunken City
Why go: the most famous and atmospheric day trip from the whole Lycian coast. Kekova is a small island off the coast, and along its northern shore lies a sunken ancient city — the remains of a settlement that slid into the sea after earthquakes, visible through clear water from a boat. The sight of submerged stone walls under the turquoise sea is unlike anything else in Turkey.
What it involves: most visitors do Kekova as a boat trip from the harbor of Üçağız or from Kas and Demre. The boat cruises the island’s coast over the sunken city, then stops for swimming in the beautiful bays around it. Some trips combine Kekova with Demre and the Church of Saint Nicholas, or with the Lycian rock tombs of Myra.
Practical notes: a full day from Çıralı (about 1.5 hours’ drive each way to the harbors, plus the boat time). The sunken city is best seen from close to the waterline; bring snorkel gear for the swimming stops. The whole stretch is protected, so boats keep their distance from the ruins.
Effort: easy — the boat does the work. Time: full day. Cost: the drive plus the boat trip.
2. Phaselis — Ruins on a Three-Beached Peninsula
Why go: Phaselis is the most beautiful ancient site near Çıralı, a Lycian-Greek-Roman city spread over a small peninsula with three beaches. Its theatre, aqueduct, agora, and streets run down to coves of perfect water, and you swim between ancient walls.
What it involves: a drive east along the D400 of about 45 minutes to an hour, a modest entrance fee, and the site itself — wander the ruins, swim at the three beaches, and picnic under the pines. Compact enough for a half-day or a full lazy one.
Practical notes: the site is shady in places and hot in summer — go early. The beaches are pebbly; water shoes help. This is the easiest “ancient site plus swim” on the list.
Effort: easy. Time: half to full day. Cost: entrance fee plus fuel.
3. Patara — the Beach and the Ruins
Why go: Patara delivers two things at once: the longest and most spectacular sandy beach in Turkey (12 kilometers of dunes) and one of the most important Lycian sites in the region — the ruins of the city that gave the beach its name, where the Lycian League met.
What it involves: a drive west of about 90 minutes to two hours. The site and the beach share an entrance. Spend the morning among the ruins — the theatre, the parliament building, the Roman baths — and the afternoon on the beach, or the reverse. The dunes at the far end are spectacular.
Practical notes: the beach is big and bare — bring shade, water, and supplies. In summer it gets busy later in the day; go early. The ruins and beach together easily make a full day.
Effort: moderate — a long day of driving and walking. Time: full day. Cost: entrance fee plus fuel.
4. Kas — the Pretty Coastal Town
Why go: Kas is the most charming town on the Lycian coast: a compact, pedestrian-friendly center of whitewashed houses, a small harbour, excellent cafés and restaurants, and a genuinely relaxed atmosphere. A change of pace from the village, and the launch point for diving and boat trips.
What it involves: a drive of about 90 minutes to two hours west. Spend the day browsing the streets and the shops, eat lunch by the harbour, swim at the little beach or the nearby coves, and take in the town’s easy energy.
Practical notes: Kas is more developed than Çıralı, with a proper choice of restaurants — good for a treat lunch. It makes an easy half-day or a full day with a swim or a boat hour added.
Effort: easy. Time: half to full day. Cost: fuel and food.
5. Lake Salda — Turkey’s White Beaches
Why go: for something completely different: a mountain lake whose white, mineral-rich shores look astonishingly like the Caribbean — the comparison so strong that NASA studied Salda’s geology for lessons about a Martian lake. The turquoise water and white terraces are unlike anything else near the coast.
What it involves: the longest drive on the list — about two and a half hours north, inland toward the lake district. The reward is a full day at a lake that is genuinely beautiful, with swimming spots, walks along the white terraces, and the mountains around it.
Practical notes: the white terraces are fragile — stick to the marked paths. A long day, best by car, best in spring and autumn.
Effort: long drive, easy once there. Time: full day. Cost: fuel.
6. Ulupınar and the Springs — the Nearest Escape
Why go: the hidden gem right next door. A short drive up the valley, Ulupınar sits at the birth of the river that runs through the Olympos ruins. Enormous natural springs boil up out of the ground, and the riverside trout restaurants make it a perfect half-day.
What it involves: a 15–20 minute drive, a walk around the astonishing springs, a trout lunch over the rushing water, and a wander through the green valley above. The easiest and most relaxing day trip in the area.
Effort: easy. Time: half a day. Cost: the lunch.
7. The Lycian Way — a Hiking Day
Why go: the area is on the Lycian Way, Turkey’s famous long-distance trail, and a day hike is the cheapest and most authentic day trip on offer. The options range from the coastal walk south toward Cape Gelidonya to the climbs above the valley.
What it involves: no driving — pick a section, carry water and a picnic, and walk. The best-known local sections link the Olympos valley, the coast, and the headland, with views over the whole bay.
Practical notes: the trail is well-marked with red-and-white blazes, but the terrain is rough and hot in summer. Start early, carry plenty of water, and tell your guesthouse your plan.
Effort: moderate to strenuous. Time: half to full day. Cost: free.
8. Myra and Demre
Why go: for the history, the most impressive single site near the area: the ancient city of Myra with its cliff-face rock tombs, and the Church of Saint Nicholas in Demre below, where the historical bishop became the legend of Santa Claus.
What it involves: a drive of about two hours west, inland toward Demre. The rock tombs carved into the cliff are extraordinary, and the church is a modest but moving site. The drive passes the Kekova turning, so Myra and Demre combine naturally with a Kekova boat trip.
Practical notes: the site is popular with tour groups — go early.
Effort: moderate. Time: half to full day. Cost: entrance fees plus fuel.
Building Your Day-Trip Plan
- One day: Ulupınar for the easiest and nearest, Phaselis for the ancient-and-swim combination, or Kekova for the most famous.
- Two days: add Kas (for the town and the food) or Patara (for the beach and the ruins).
- Three days or more: Lake Salda for the complete change, Myra and Demre for the history, and a hiking day on the Lycian Way.
- No car: the organized tours from Çıralı and Olympos cover Kekova, Kas, and Phaselis; the boats cover the coastal bays.
- Best seasons: spring and autumn for everything, when the sites are cooler and emptier; summer for the beaches, with early starts.
The Takeaway
Çıralı is the ideal base for the best the Lycian coast has to offer. The day trips radiate in every direction — the sunken city of Kekova, the three-beached peninsula of Phaselis, the dunes of Patara, the white shores of Salda, the harbourside cafés of Kas, and the springs of Ulupınar right next door. None of them are far, all of them are different, and together they turn a holiday in one small village into a tour of the entire coast. Rent a car, pick your priorities, and let the D400 do the rest — then come home to the garden, the beach, and the quiet evening that makes Çıralı the perfect place to return to.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best day trips from Cirali?
The sunken city of Kekova, the ruins and beaches of Phaselis, the great beach and ruins of Patara, the town of Kas, the springs at Ulupınar, and — for a longer drive — the white shores of Lake Salda.
Do I need a car for day trips from Cirali?
Not strictly. Organized tours and boats cover the main sights, but a car unlocks the best combination of ruins, beaches, and flexibility.
How far is Kas from Cirali?
About 90 minutes to two hours by road along the D400.
Can I do Kekova as a day trip from Cirali?
Yes. Allow a full day: about 1.5 hours’ drive to the harbors, then the boat trip.
Which day trip is best for swimming?
Phaselis for swimming among the ruins, Patara for a long sandy beach, and the Kekova bays for clear-water stops from the boat.
What is the best day trip for history lovers?
Myra and Demre for the cliff tombs and the Church of Saint Nicholas, or Patara for the ruins and beach in one.
All Over Information
The All Over Information editorial team researches and writes practical English-language guides to Turkey. Facts are checked against official and local sources before publication, prices are published as dated ranges rather than quotes, and guides are revised when things change. We accept no sponsored posts, paid placements or paid links.
More guides like this
Top 10 Things to Do in Cirali
Çıralı is a small village with a disproportionate amount to offer — the kind of place where a week barely feels like…
How to Get to Cirali from Istanbul
Getting from Istanbul to Çıralı is a proper journey — more than a thousand kilometers as the road runs, and several ways…
Shopping Guide: What to Buy in Cirali
Çıralı is not a shopping destination in the way of the Grand Bazaar or a resort town's boutique strip — there are…
48 Hours in Cirali: The Perfect Itinerary
Two days in Çıralı is exactly the right amount to see the area's three great things — the beach, the ancient city…
Where to Stay in Cirali: Neighborhood Guide
" — has a slightly different answer than it does in a big city.
Family-Friendly Activities in Cirali
Çıralı is the family destination of the Olympos area — the place that gives you the wild beach, the ancient city, and…