Kaş is the small town with the big list, and the ten best things to do there range from the diving to the sunken city, from the ancient theater to the turquoise coves. The list below covers the essential Kaş experiences, ordered for the first visit.
1. Take the Boat Trip to Kekova
The boat trip to the sunken city of Kekova is the number one of Kaş, and the day on the water is the essential experience. The boats run from the harbor to the coast and the bays, with the stops for the swimming and the lunch; the sunken city of Kekova, with its ruins beneath the clear water, gives the unique sight; and the villages of the coast give the stops with the castles and the harbors. The Kekova trip is the classic Kaş excursion, and the water delivers the memory.
2. Dive the Waters of Kaş
The diving of Kaş is the famous sport of the town, and the underwater world of the coast is the draw. The waters around Kaş hold the reefs, the walls, and the wrecks, and the visibility of the Mediterranean is the clear one; the diving schools of the town teach the beginners and guide the experienced; and the underwater life of the region rewards the divers. The diving of Kaş is the essential experience, and the water delivers the world below.
3. Visit the Ancient Lycian Theater
The ancient Lycian theater of Kaş, set into the hill above the town, is the essential history stop, and the visit gives the ancient world. The theater of the ancient Antiphellos, carved into the hillside, holds the seats and the stage of the Lycian era, and the views from it reach the sea and the islands; the site is the walkable one, and the setting is the atmospheric one. The ancient theater gives the depth of Kaş, and the hilltop delivers the history.
4. Wander the Old Town
The old town of Kaş is the heart of the town’s charm, and the wandering there is the essential pastime. The stone houses, the narrow lanes, the bougainvillea, and the small squares give the texture; the lanes climb the hill behind the harbor, and the views from the top reach the sea; and the cafes and the shops of the quarter give the places to rest. The old town rewards the slow exploration, and the lanes give the postcard scenes.
5. Swim at the Coves and the Beaches
The swimming of Kaş is the essential summer activity, and the coves and the beaches give the turquoise water. The small pebble beaches of the town give the convenient swims, and the coves of the peninsula give the quieter options; the famous Kaputaş beach, between Kaş and Kalkan, gives the dramatic setting between the cliffs; and the water of the region stays the clear one. The swimming of Kaş delivers the daily dips, and the turquoise rewards the swimmer.
6. Watch the Sunset from the Harbor
The sunset of Kaş is the evening’s event, and the harbor gives the front-row view. The sun drops over the sea, and the water turns to the gold and the rose; the boats of the harbor frame the scene, and the waterfront cafes serve the tea and the drinks as the show unfolds; and the evening settles into the long dinner that follows. The sunset from the harbor is the daily Kaş ceremony, and the sea delivers the colors.
7. Eat the Fish Dinner by the Water
The food of Kaş is the Mediterranean food, and the fish dinner by the water is the essential meal. The harbor’s restaurants serve the catch of the day, and the meze spreads that precede it are the ritual of the Turkish table; the rakı or the wine accompanies, and the evening stretches long over the water. The fish dinner is the Kaş institution, and the waterfront delivers the classic evening.
8. Explore the Lycian Rock Tombs
The Lycian rock tombs of the region give the deeper history, and the ancient graves of the area reward the explorer. The tombs of the Lycians, carved into the cliffs around Kaş and the surrounding area, give the ancient scenes, and the sites of the region hold the layers of the history; the hiking of the Lycian Way passes the tombs and the ruins; and the exploring of the ancient sites gives the context. The Lycian rock tombs give the depth of the region, and the cliffs deliver the history.
9. Take the Hike of the Lycian Way
The Lycian Way, the famous hiking trail of the coast, gives the walking of the region, and the trails around Kaş reward the hiker. The path runs through the hills and along the coast, with the views of the sea, the mountains, and the ancient sites; the sections around Kaş give the day hikes, and the spring and the autumn give the best walking; and the trail delivers the wild beauty of the region. The Lycian Way gives the active Kaş, and the hills deliver the views.
10. Relax at the Harbor Cafes
The final essential of Kaş is the doing of nothing, and the harbor is the master of it. The long breakfast, the afternoon swim, the tea at the harbor cafe, and the slow evening of the mezes and the conversation — the relaxation is the point of the town, and the harbor delivers it without the effort. The relaxed pace of Kaş is the real attraction, and the unwinding is the essential activity.
The Off-the-List Bonus: The Peninsula Drive
The drive around the Kaş peninsula is the experience in itself, and the road gives the views of the coves and the sea. The peninsula road winds past the hidden coves and the viewpoints, and the stops for the swims and the photos give the day; the sunsets from the peninsula give the lovely closes; and the drive rewards the slow traveler. The peninsula drive is the bonus of the list, and the coast delivers the scenes.
The Practical Notes for the TennnThe ten experiences of Kaş come with the practical notes that make them smooth. The boat trips book at the harbor, and the swimsuit and the towel are the essentials aboard. The diving schools offer the introductory dives, and the beginners find the gentle sites. The old town is the walkable one, and the comfortable shoes serve the lanes and the hills. The theater is the walkable sight, and the morning and the evening give the best light. The coves need the car, and the water shoes help at the pebbly spots. The final note is the pacing: the ten experiences spread across the days at the comfortable rate, with the mornings for the active ones and the evenings for the town. The practical notes of the ten are the small preparations, and the prepared traveler takes the ten with the ease.n
The Family Angle of the ListnnThe ten things to do in Kaş work for the families too, and the list adapts to the younger travelers. The town’s beaches give the shallow, the safe swimming that the children love; the old town’s lanes make the gentle wandering, and the ancient theater gives the history with the views; the boat trip gives the swimming stops that the children enjoy; and the snorkeling in the clear water reveals the fish. The relaxed pace of Kaş suits the family holiday, and the Mediterranean town gives the space and the charm that the families need. The family angle of the list keeps the ten doable, and the gentle pace delivers the easy holiday for the whole family.n
The Off-Season Version of the ListnnThe ten things to do in Kaş work in the off-season too, and the list adapts to the quieter months. The old town’s wandering works in every season, and the soft light of the winter gives the lanes a different beauty; the ancient theater and the rock tombs reward the clear days of the low season; the hiking of the Lycian Way gives the best walking in the spring and the autumn; and the harbor, though too cool for the swimming, gives the bracing walks and the dramatic skies. The ten experiences of the off-season are the calmer ones, and the Mediterranean town delivers them with the quiet charm. The off-season version of the list keeps the essentials doable, and the town rewards the low-season traveler.n
The Takeaway
The top things to do in Kaş run from the Kekova boat trip to the diving, from the ancient theater to the turquoise coves. The list covers the essentials — the water, the history, the wandering, and the table — and the bonus is the peninsula itself. The ten experiences of Kaş deliver the turquoise magic of the Mediterranean, and the town leaves the traveler charmed.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best things to do in Kas?
Take the Kekova boat trip, dive the waters, visit the ancient theater, wander the old town, and swim at the coves.
Is the Kekova boat trip worth it?
Yes — the sunken city and the coast give the classic excursion, and the day on the water is the highlight.
What is Kas best known for?
The diving, the boat trips to Kekova, the Lycian history, and the turquoise coves.
Can I dive in Kas as a beginner?
Yes — the diving schools of the town offer the introductory dives and the courses in the gentle, the shallow sites.
Is the Lycian Way worth hiking?
Yes — the sections around Kaş give the day hikes with the views of the sea, the mountains, and the ancient sites.
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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