Demre,Myra,Kekova With Sunken City Boat Tour & St. Nicolas Church

Sunken ruins and history in one long day. You’ll start in Antalya, then roll through Myra and Demre, finishing with a boat ride over the Kekova sunken city. It’s a tight mix of ancient rock-cut tombs, coastal ruins, and the St Nicholas story tied to Santa Claus.

I especially like the set schedule and hotel transfer both ways. It makes a big day feel manageable, and the included lunch helps you avoid scrambling for food mid-tour. I also like that the stops are designed around time outdoors, with the boat giving you a chance to relax while still seeing ruins.

One thing to consider: entrance fees are not included for key sites like Myra and the Church of St Nicholas, and the day is long in the heat.

Key things to know before you go

• Comfortable early start: Pickup from your Antalya-area hotel and a modern, air-conditioned vehicle.
• Myra is the anchor stop: Rock-cut tombs and an amphitheater are the main sights, with a guided overview.
• Kekova is best from the water: A 2-hour boat trip to observe sunken ruins, plus time to enjoy the ride.
• St Nicholas Church needs a separate ticket: It’s a museum stop with the marble sarcophagus and the Santa Claus connection.
• Group size stays under control: Up to 40 travelers, so it’s not a giant bus-filling swarm.
• Bring sun gear: Swimsuit, sunglasses, towel, sunscreen, and hat are strongly recommended.

A full-day route that starts with an early Antalya pickup

This tour is built for a big, day-long sightseeing loop, usually beginning at 7:00 am. You meet at McDonald’s Antalya Barbaros (Atatürk Cd. No:38, 07040 Muratpaşa), and pickup is handled for most hotels in the Antalya region. One practical tip, based on how pickup is described: meet at the main entrance gate, not the reception.

The vehicle ride matters here because you’re covering more than one historic area in a single day. The ride is in a comfortable, modern, air-conditioned bus, which is a real quality-of-life upgrade on a hot coast day. The day also has built-in breaks, including lunch, so you are not just bouncing between attractions without a breather.

The tour runs about 11 to 12 hours, and you should plan as if it’s a full day rather than an easy half-day. If you’re sensitive to heat or fatigue, pack smart and consider bringing a hat you can actually wear all day.

Myra Antik Kenti: rock-cut tombs and the amphitheater vibe

Myra is where the ancient atmosphere really kicks in. After the morning ride, you head from the shore into the ancient city area, and you get about 1 hour to explore with guidance from your tour guide.

Two sights define Myra: the rock-cut tombs and the amphitheater. These aren’t just pretty ruins, they’re evidence of how people lived and honored the dead. Even in a short stop, you can get a strong sense of the scale, especially around the amphitheater area that gives that gladiator-era feel.

Is it enough time? For a one-hour visit, it can feel focused rather than slow. If you like photos, go early in the stop and take your wide-angle shots first, then circle back for details. Since entrance fees are not included for Myra, you’ll also want to budget for those tickets so nothing surprises you at the gate.

Demre (Kale) stop: where lunch becomes a real part of the day

After Myra, the route continues to Demre (Kale). This part of the day is shorter on paper, but it’s important because it includes a lunch break at a local restaurant.

Lunch is listed as included, while drinks and breakfast are not. That distinction matters: you can keep your cost predictable if you plan to buy drinks separately, and you can eat without feeling like you’re rushing. Use this time to refill water, cool down a little, and adjust your socks and footwear if the day is already baking.

Demre also sets up your next two stops. You’re in the right area to visit the Church of St Nicholas, and then later you travel toward Kekova for the boat ride. So even if this stop feels like a transition, it’s doing real work in the flow of the day.

Kekova sunken city boat trip: ruins, clear water, and limited wandering

Then comes the signature moment: Kekova and the 2-hour boat trip to the sunken ancient city. You board at a harbor area, and the boat ride is the main way to see the underwater and shoreline remains. During the ride, you’ll observe ruins of several structures from the water.

This is one of those experiences where the format changes what you notice. Being on the water lets you see how the coastline and ruins relate, and it also makes the day feel like more than just standing in ruins on land. There’s also time for relaxation, like sunbathing on the upper deck, which can be a nice reset if the bus rides have already worn you out.

A practical note from real-world experience patterns: the boat time can feel a bit stretched if you want more action or entertainment. Also, if you were hoping to walk around on specific spots like Simena, you should know that boat excursions often limit wandering. Think of it as a ride that gives you views and observation, not a full on-foot exploration.

The waters are described as crystal clear in the tour info, and that matters for photos. Bring sunglasses you can trust and wipe your phone lens if you get spray, because the light can look great and then quickly turn hazy if you’re not careful.

Church of St Nicholas in Demre: a museum visit with a Santa Claus thread

After the boat, you head back toward Demre for the Church of St Nicholas. This is a popular religious site and today it functions as a museum.

What makes it memorable is the marble sarcophagus, plus the belief that it is the original tomb associated with St Nicholas. The tour guide also connects St Nicholas to the Santa Claus story, and that link is a big reason many people choose this stop, especially if you’re traveling with kids or you just like how traditions travel across cultures.

Plan for this as an inside-focused visit. Entrance fees are not included, so you’ll pay separately here just like you likely did at Myra. One good strategy: go in with 10 minutes of curiosity. Scan for the sarcophagus and the story cues, then take your time reading what’s there. If your group pace is fast, you can still get something meaningful by focusing on the key objects instead of trying to see everything at once.

What you actually pay for: value of lunch, transfers, guide, and the boat

At $60 per person, the price looks reasonable for a long route, especially because several major pieces are included. You get hotel transfer both ways, guiding service, lunch, and the boat trip to the sunken city of Kekova. Those inclusions can easily outweigh the base price if you were to line everything up independently, particularly the transport and the boat.

What costs extra are the parts that are clearly labeled as not included: entrance fees. In this itinerary, Myra and the Church of St Nicholas fall into the not-included category. Drinks are also not included, which is common for day trips but still worth planning for.

If you’re trying to squeeze the best value out of the day, treat it like this:

• Save time by relying on the transfers and guided pacing.
• Budget extra for entrances at Myra and the church.
• Use the included lunch as your main food moment and plan for drinks separately.

Also, note the tour is offered in English. That said, on long days, English narration can vary by moment and by how crowded the group areas get. If clear explanation is your top priority, it helps to sit where you can hear well and ask questions if something is unclear.

Timing, group size, and how to make the day feel easy

This is a full-day outing, and it stays manageable partly because the group size caps at 40 travelers. That’s large enough to keep costs down and make logistics work, but not so huge that everything is chaos at once.

Timing-wise, you’re looking at multiple segments: pickup in Antalya, then Myra, then Demre lunch, then Kekova boat, then Church of St Nicholas, and finally the return to Antalya. You’ll want to keep your bag organized. Put essentials where you can reach them fast: sunscreen, sunglasses, water, and a light layer if you get a breeze near the water.

One caution based on how some tours like this can operate in practice: drop-off details can matter. The tour states it ends back at the meeting point, but if you are expecting a specific hotel drop, confirm it before you go. Don’t assume every return is the same for every hotel. If you need a specific location, ask directly and get clarity up front.

Packing smart for hot weather and a boat day in Kekova

The tour info is very specific about what to bring, and I agree with most of it. Bring comfortable shoes, because Myra and the Church of St Nicholas involve walking on uneven surfaces and steps. Bring sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses, because the day starts early and includes significant time outdoors.

For Kekova, plan for water and sun. The recommended list includes a swimsuit, a towel, and sun cream. Even if you think you won’t swim, the swimsuit-and-towel setup can make the boat ride more enjoyable if you want to cool off. Bring a camera, because the sunken city ruins look best when you can frame them against the shoreline and water.

You’ll also want water and a little flexibility with energy. This is listed for travelers with moderate physical fitness, so it’s not an intense hike tour, but it does involve walking and time on your feet at multiple sites.

Who should book this Demre Myra Kekova tour

This tour is a good fit if you want big-name sights without the hassle of organizing a bus plus a boat plus separate entrance logistics. If you’re short on time in Antalya, it’s also efficient: you’re packing multiple highlights into one day.

I’d also point it toward travelers who enjoy mixing indoor history with outdoor viewing. Myra gives you land-based ancient structures, Kekova gives you the water perspective on the sunken city, and the Church of St Nicholas brings a cultural story connection that many people find memorable.

If you strongly prefer free time, this might feel structured. You’re on a schedule at every stop, and some parts are likely to move at a group pace. If your ideal day is wandering slowly, this may feel more like a guided hits tour than a relaxed ramble.

Should you book this tour?

Book it if you want a guided day trip that combines Antalya-area transfers, guided stops at Myra and the Church of St Nicholas, and a Kekova sunken city boat ride with lunch included. The $60 price works best when you value not having to coordinate transport and when you’re okay paying separate entrance fees.

Skip or reconsider if you need very detailed English narration at every moment, because narration quality can vary by stop and crowding. Also reconsider if you expect a very specific hotel drop-off location, since the actual return point needs confirmation. Finally, if you want lots of on-foot exploration at Kekova, think twice, since the core experience is primarily from the boat.

FAQ

How long is the Demre, Myra, Kekova tour?

The tour runs about 11 to 12 hours.

What time does the tour start, and where do I meet?

Pickup starts at 7:00 am, and you meet at McDonald’s Antalya Barbaros, Atatürk Cd. No:38, 07040 Muratpaşa/Antalya.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

Yes. Hotel transfer both ways is included. Pickup is arranged through the main entrance gate of your hotel, not the reception.

What is included in the price, and what costs extra?

Included are lunch, hotel transfers, guiding service, and the boat trip to the sunken city of Kekova. Entrance fees are not included, and drinks are not included either.

Do I need to bring a swimsuit for Kekova?

The tour strongly recommends a swimsuit, along with a towel, sunglasses, sun cream, and a hat. The Kekova day includes a boat trip where sun and water time can happen.

What happens if the tour is affected by weather or if I need to cancel?

This tour requires good weather. If it is canceled due to poor weather, you will be offered a different date or a full refund. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.