Olympos makes a superb base not just because of what it holds, but because of what surrounds it. Within an easy day-trip radius lie some of the most beautiful and historic places on the Turkish coast: the sunken city of Kekova and the town of Kas, the ancient port of Phaselis, the dramatic beach and ruins of Patara, the mountain lake of Salda with its white shores, and the hiking trails of the Lycian Way. The valley itself is small enough that a full day away does not hurt, and the coast road makes most of these trips straightforward by car, scooter, or organized tour. This guide covers the best day trips from Olympos, 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
Olympos sits on the D400 coastal highway between Antalya and the far southwest corner of Turkey. To the east (toward Antalya) lie Phaselis, Kemer, and the resorts of the Gulf of Antalya; to the west lie the bays and villages of the Lycian coast — Çıralı, Adrasan, Karaöz, the turn for Kekova and Kas, and finally Patara and Kalkan. Most day trips are west, because that is where the wild coast and the famous ruins are; Phaselis is the main exception eastward.
Getting around: a car is the best enabler — most of these places are 45 to 90 minutes away by road, and the driving is on good highways with some of the most beautiful scenery in the country. Scooters and motorbikes are popular with younger travelers for the shorter hops. For those without wheels, organized tours run from Olympos and Çıralı to the main sights, and the public dolmuş network links the coastal towns, though it rarely reaches the ruins themselves. If you plan two or more day trips, renting a car for a day or two usually pays for itself.
1. Kekova Island and the Sunken City
Why go: the single 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 and stairways under the turquoise sea is unlike anything else on the Turkish coast.
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 at the beautiful bays around it. Some trips combine Kekova with the nearby town of Demre and the Church of Saint Nicholas (the historical basis of Santa Claus), or with the Lycian rock tombs of Myra.
Practical notes: the trip is a full day from Olympos (about 1.5 hours’ drive each way to the harbors, plus the boat time). The sunken city is best seen from a glass-bottomed boat or a boat that gets you close to the waterline. Bring snorkel gear if you have it — the swimming stops are superb. The whole stretch of coast here is protected, so boats keep their distance from the ruins themselves.
Effort: easy — the boat does the work. Time: full day. Cost: the drive plus the boat trip; book the boat from Üçağız harbor or through an Olympos operator.
2. Phaselis — Ruins on a Three-Beached Peninsula
Why go: Phaselis is the closest famous ancient site to Olympos and one of the most beautiful settings on the coast. A Lycian-Greek-Roman city spread over a small peninsula with three beaches, its ruined theatre, aqueduct, agora, and streets run down to coves of perfect water. You swim between ancient walls and can spend a whole day alternating ruins and sea.
What it involves: a drive east along the D400 of about 45 minutes to an hour from Olympos, a modest entrance fee, and then the site itself: wander the ruins, swim at the three beaches, and have a picnic lunch under the pines. It is compact enough to be a half-day or a full lazy day.
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, which makes it a perfect first day trip.
Effort: easy. Time: half to full day. Cost: entrance fee plus fuel.
3. Patara — the Beach and the Ruins
Why go: Patara offers two things at once: the longest and most spectacular sandy beach in Turkey (12 kilometers of dunes, backed by the ruins of the Lycian city of Patara) and one of the most important archaeological sites in the region. It is also a protected loggerhead sea turtle nesting ground, which gives the beach a wild, unspoiled feel.
What it involves: a drive west of about 90 minutes to two hours from Olympos. The site and the beach share an entrance. Spend the morning among the ruins — the theatre, the parliament building (where the Lycian League met), the Roman baths — and the afternoon on the beach, or the reverse. The sand dunes at the far end are spectacular if you have the energy to walk.
Practical notes: the beach is big and bare — bring shade, water, and supplies, because facilities are limited. In summer it can get busy with families later in the day; the early morning is best. The ruins and beach together easily make a full day.
Effort: moderate — it is 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 this stretch of the Lycian coast: a compact, pedestrian-friendly center of whitewashed houses, a small harbour with fishing boats, excellent cafés and restaurants, and a genuinely relaxed atmosphere. It is not a ruin or a beach but a working Mediterranean town — a pleasant change of pace from the valley.
What it involves: a drive of about 90 minutes to two hours west of Olympos. Spend the day browsing the streets, the small shops, and the ancient theatre, eat lunch by the harbour, and swim at the little pebbly beach or the nearby coves. Kas is also the launch point for diving and boat trips — if you want to combine the town with the water, this is the place.
Practical notes: Kas is more developed than Olympos, with a proper choice of restaurants and cafés — good for a treat lunch. It makes an easy half-day if you leave after breakfast and return before dark, or a full day if you add a swim or a boat hour.
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 white sand beaches of the Caribbean — the comparison is made so often that NASA studied Salda’s geology for lessons about a Martian lake. The turquoise water and white terraces are unlike anything else within reach of 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. Some visitors combine it with the nearby lake and ancient cities of the Burdur area.
Practical notes: the white terraces are fragile — walk carefully and stick to the marked paths. It is a long day, best done by car, and best in spring and autumn when the heat and the crowds are lower. This is the day trip for travelers who want variety from the sea.
Effort: long drive, easy once there. Time: full day, realistically dawn to dusk. Cost: fuel.
6. The Adrasan and Karaöz Bays
Why go: the hidden bays between Olympos and Cape Gelidonya are the least-visited stretch of the coast, and they are stunning. Adrasan is a small village in a wide, green bay with a pebbly beach and a very laid-back atmosphere; Karaöz is even smaller and quieter. Both are reachable by a spectacular drive or by the coastal path, and both make perfect low-effort escapes.
What it involves: a drive west of about 45 minutes, or a boat trip from Olympos. In Adrasan, eat at one of the simple beachfront restaurants, swim, and do nothing; in Karaöz, the beach is wilder and the village barely exists. The drive itself, through the forest above the sea, is part of the reward.
Practical notes: facilities are minimal — bring what you need. The boats from Olympos reach these bays for a swimming stop, which makes a half-day trip easy without a car.
Effort: easy. Time: half to full day. Cost: fuel or boat fare.
7. The Lycian Way — a Hiking Day
Why go: the valley itself is on the Lycian Way, and a day hike is the cheapest and most authentic day trip on offer. Options range from the short coastal stretch south of Olympos to the full climb over the mountain to the cape, or a walk inland through the forest above Ulupınar.
What it involves: no driving at all — you are already there. Pick a section, carry water and a picnic, and walk. The classic day is from Olympos over the ridge toward the coast, with views down the whole bay, or the circuit up toward the mountain above the valley.
Practical notes: the Lycian Way 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, this is the most impressive single site near Olympos: the ancient city of Myra with its dramatic cliff-face rock tombs, and the Church of Saint Nicholas in the town of 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 of Myra — carved straight into the cliff, looking like a facade of an ancient city — 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. The tombs are best appreciated from the theatre below, which gives you the full scale of the cliff.
Effort: moderate. Time: half to full day. Cost: entrance fees plus fuel.
Building Your Day-Trip Plan
- One day: Phaselis for the closest and easiest, or a boat day to Kekova for the most famous.
- Two days: add Kas or Patara — Kas for the town and the food, 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: book the organized tours from Olympos and Çıralı — most cover Kekova, Kas, and Phaselis — or use the boat trips for 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
Olympos is a destination that gives twice: once in itself, and again as a base for the best the Turkish 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. None of them are far, all of them are different, and together they turn a holiday in one small valley into a tour of the entire Lycian coast. Rent a car, pick your priorities, and let the D400 do the rest.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best day trips from Olympos?
The sunken city of Kekova, the ruins and beaches of Phaselis, the great beach and ruins of Patara, the town of Kas, and — for a longer drive — the white shores of Lake Salda.
Do you need a car for day trips from Olympos?
Not strictly. Organized tours and boats cover the main sights, but a car unlocks the best combination of ruins, beaches, and flexibility, and pays for itself over two or more trips.
How far is Kas from Olympos?
About 90 minutes to two hours by road along the D400.
Can you do Kekova as a day trip from Olympos?
Yes. Allow a full day: about 1.5 hours’ drive to the harbors, then the boat trip around the island and the sunken city.
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 the Lycian city of Patara for its 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.
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