A Visitor's Guide to Kas, Antalya
The hillside town of Kaş (the little squiggle under the s gives it a "sh" sound, so the town's name is pronounced KASH) is a charming tourist destination in the Antalya province of Turkey. It seems to cater to the affluent visitor, with more high-end shops, cafes and bars, than we see in some other coastal towns in along the Lycian Coast. Fortunately, there are strict regulations in place that prohibit businesses from excessive solicitation – creating a pleasant and relaxing atmosphere for tourists wanting to explore the town at their leisure.
With all of its appeal, you'd expect Kas to be a popular and crowded holiday resort. But three factors may be its saving grace, preventing the picturesque town from attracting the masses.
- As mentioned above, the town is built onto the side of a hill, which can pose a challenge for those with mobility issues.
- The local beaches are pebbly, rather than sandy.
- The nearest airports are more than 3 hours away. (Kas is equidistant from Dalaman and Antalya.)
For these reasons, some people fail to see the appeal of the tiny seaside resort town.
History of Kas
Originally named Habesos (or Habesa) by the Lycians, the town's importance is evident from the number of sarcophagi and rock tombs in the surrounding area. One of the most prominent sarcophagi is the Monument Tomb (also called King's Tomb) located at the top of Uzun Carsi Caddesi (the old main street of Kaş). Carved from a single block, the tomb's inscriptions date back to the 4th century BCE.
The port city was overtaken by the Romans during the Hellenistic period and renamed Antiphellos. The 4000-seat limestone theatre on the west side of town was built during this period. Set amongst an olive grove, the well-preserved theatre continues to be the perfect spot for visitors to watch the spectacular Mediterranean sunsets.
As with many cities along the Mediterranean coast, the population of Kas dropped to near zero at the conclusion of the Turkish War of Independence when the majority of Greek inhabitants abandoned everything to return to their homeland during a population exchange in 1923.
Present Day Kas
Since 1923, Kas grew from a virtually abandoned fishing village renowned for the quality of local sponges to the tourist destination of today. Present day Kaş (which means "eyebrow" in Turkish) lies nestled in the 500-meter cliffs leading to the sea. The surrounding hills are filled with greenhouses, the produce of which is sold to visitors from near and far during the popular weekly market held each Friday.
Tightly packed with boats for fishing, diving and day trips to the nearby Kekova region (in particular, Simena Castle, the Sunken City of Kekova and the Greek island of Kastellorizo (Meis), the bustling harbour remains the center of life in this coastal town. Brightly coloured murals line the wall protecting the harbour from the sea. A small lighthouse stands guard on the top of the harbour wall, guiding sailors back to the safety of the harbour after dark. A large, private marina was built in 2011 to support the growth of private yachting in the region and take some pressure off the public harbour.
Scuba Diving in the Kas Antalya Region
Because of the sparkling clear water in the region, Kas is noted as a scuba diving center of excellence in Turkey. Pleasant water temperatures (reaching nearly 30º C late in the season), visibility of up to 40 meters, underwater caves, submerged ruins of ancient civilizations, plane and ship wrecks (including a recreation of the wreck of Uluburun from the late 14th century BC), and plenty of sea life draw dive-loving visitors from around the globe.
Most of our guests enjoy spending a few hours exploring Kas and shopping in the boutiques that line the winding streets, but it is usually the opportunity for scuba driving that gets their hearts racing.
The Beauty of Kas and Surrounding Area
Updated September 19, 2021
Click on any image to expand it.
![An evil-eye shape appears in brilliant blue water of the Mediterranean](../img/gallery/A2502-thumb.jpg)
![Hotels, apartments, and villas overlook the busy harbour at Kas](../img/gallery/A2663-thumb.jpg)
![Hundreds of small fish swimming in crystal clear, turquoise water](../img/gallery/A2672-thumb.jpg)
![Limestone theatre surrounded by pine and olive trees on a slope overlooking the Mediterranean Sea](../img/gallery/B2983-thumb.jpg)
![Perfectly restored theatre surrounded by pine and olive trees on Turkey's Mediterranean coast](../img/gallery/D2981-thumb.jpg)
![Aerial view of the hillside resort town of Kas, Antalya, Turkey at sunrise](../img/gallery/DF0450-thumb.jpg)
![Single gulet anchored at a small rocky island surrounded by incredibly clear water, making the area popular for scuba diving](../img/gallery/DF0476-thumb.jpg)
![A scuba diver surfacing from the clear water for which Kas is renowned](../img/gallery/E5535-thumb.jpg)
![The stairway approach to the Lycian theatre at Kas](../img/gallery/G2768-thumb.jpg)
![The popular resort town of Kas is built on the side of a pine-covered mountain](../img/gallery/G3560-thumb.jpg)
![Lycian tomb and Jacaranda trees overlooking the harbour at Kas](../img/gallery/G5999-thumb.jpg)
![Partially restored Hellenistic temple ruins](../img/gallery/G6003-thumb.jpg)
![Cobblestoned street of souvenir shops in the old section of Kas, Antalya](../img/gallery/G6012-thumb.jpg)
![Cobblestoned street of souvenir shops in the old section of Kas, Turkey](../img/gallery/G6013-thumb.jpg)
![Colourful towels and bathrobes on display outside a textiles shop in the upscale resort town of Turkey](../img/gallery/G6018-thumb.jpg)
![Evil eye pendants (nazar boncuk) embedded into the walkway](../img/gallery/G6020-thumb.jpg)
![The King's Tomb, a tall Lycian tomb with decorative carvings](../img/gallery/G6024-thumb.jpg)
![Ancient Greek lettering carved onto the side of a Lycian rock tomb](../img/gallery/G6027-thumb.jpg)
![Sun setting behind the small rocky islands located just off the coast of Kas Antalya](../img/gallery/H6708-thumb.jpg)
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![Murals painted on the sea wall at Kaş harbour](../img/gallery/J9293-thumb.jpg)
![View of Kaş from the top of the restored limestone theatre sitting just west of town](../img/gallery/J6403-thumb.jpg)
![An evil-eye shape appears in brilliant blue water of the Mediterranean](../img/gallery/A2502.jpg)
![Hotels, apartments, and villas overlook the busy harbour at Kas](../img/gallery/A2663.jpg)
![Hundreds of small fish swimming in crystal clear, turquoise water](../img/gallery/A2672.jpg)
![Limestone theatre surrounded by pine and olive trees on a slope overlooking the Mediterranean Sea](../img/gallery/B2983.jpg)
![Perfectly restored theatre surrounded by pine and olive trees on Turkey's Mediterranean coast](../img/gallery/D2981.jpg)
![Aerial view of the hillside resort town of Kas, Antalya, Turkey at sunrise](../img/gallery/DF0450.jpg)
![Single gulet anchored at a small rocky island surrounded by incredibly clear water, making the area popular for scuba diving](../img/gallery/DF0476.jpg)
![A scuba diver surfacing from the clear water for which Kas is renowned](../img/gallery/E5535.jpg)
![The stairway approach to the Lycian theatre at Kas](../img/gallery/G2768.jpg)
![The popular resort town of Kas is built on the side of a pine-covered mountain](../img/gallery/G3560.jpg)
![Lycian tomb and Jacaranda trees overlooking the harbour at Kas](../img/gallery/G5999.jpg)
![Partially restored Hellenistic temple ruins](../img/gallery/G6003.jpg)
![Cobblestoned street of souvenir shops in the old section of Kas, Antalya](../img/gallery/G6012.jpg)
![Cobblestoned street of souvenir shops in the old section of Kas, Turkey](../img/gallery/G6013.jpg)
![Colourful towels and bathrobes on display outside a textiles shop in the upscale resort town of Turkey](../img/gallery/G6018.jpg)
![Evil eye pendants (nazar boncuk) embedded into the walkway](../img/gallery/G6020.jpg)
![The King's Tomb, a tall Lycian tomb with decorative carvings](../img/gallery/G6024.jpg)
![Ancient Greek lettering carved onto the side of a Lycian rock tomb](../img/gallery/G6027.jpg)
![Sun setting behind the small rocky islands located just off the coast of Kas Antalya](../img/gallery/H6708.jpg)
![Murals painted on the sea wall at Kaş harbour](../img/gallery/J9214.jpg)
![Murals painted on the sea wall at Kaş harbour](../img/gallery/J9217.jpg)
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![Murals painted on the sea wall at Kaş harbour](../img/gallery/J9291.jpg)
![Murals painted on the sea wall at Kaş harbour](../img/gallery/J9293.jpg)
![View of Kaş from the top of the restored limestone theatre sitting just west of town](../img/gallery/J6403.jpg)