The Sunken City of Kekova, Turkey

Coordinates: 36°10'60.0"N, 29°52'28.5"E

Kekova Island lies just off the Turkish coast near the small town of Demre (Antalya). The island is uninhabited, except for a few goats who scramble over ruins on the island's north side. These ruins are all that remain of an ancient Greek settlement called Dolchiste, a tiny city that toppled into the sea.

Sailing over the ruins of the Sunken City is a featured part of our cruises to the Kekova region.

This page was updated on Apr 20, 2021 12:50 PM

How the Sunken City of Kekova Came to Be

Kekova's Sunken City is the perfect place to engage your imagination! What was life like on the island hundreds of years ago?

Dolchiste

While never a major city, Dolchiste was a relatively busy harbour community - with houses, public buildings, churches, and ship-building facilities. (The island was also a major producer of "fish sauce". Don't believe me? There are scholarly research articles to support this! ) But, in the 2nd century, a massive earthquake felled the small town, and most of it slid into the sea! The town was rebuilt after the earthquake, but Arab invasions eventually forced the citizens of Dolchiste to flee and the settlement was left to ruin.

The remains, most of which are now underwater, are referred to as "The Sunken City of Kekova". (Sadly, over the ages, looters have removed or destroyed many relics from the area, so what we see today is just a taste of what once was.)

The Sunken City

The Sunken City (and the entire Kekova region) is protected by the Turkish government so swimming and diving along the coast is prohibited, and visitors are not allowed to access the island. But boats are permitted in the area, allowing us to get a glimpse at the remains of the city - both above and below the water.

Stone block walls, with gaps for doors and windows, and stairways are the easiest to spot when cruising by. Smooth walls carved into the rock of the island show evidence of floor and ceiling beams. And just beneath the water along the shore, several building foundations are readily apparent. On a calm day, it's even possible to see remnants of amphora (ceramic pottery) sitting at the bottom of the sea!

In addition to houses and workshops, archaeologists have discovered water collection systems, storage tanks, churches and chapels, watch towers, and a harbour complex in the ruins. And, just off the island, they've discovered several sunken ships that once transported goods along the coast.

Tersane (Shipyard) Bay

There are isolated ruins scattered about other areas on the island too, some of which are more accessible to tourists. The most notable is the Byzantine-era church built in Tersane Bay on the northwest end of the island. This part of Kekova Island is no longer in the protected zone, so is a popular anchorage for daily tour boats in the region and visitors are permitted to explore the ruins of the old church.

How to Get to the Sunken City of Kekova

As you can probably imagine, the Sunken City of Kekova is not a destination you'd plan an entire vacation around. But it's definitely an interesting sight to visit if you're in the area.

Fortunately, there are plenty of options to get there. Most gulet cruises between Fethiye / Göcek and Demre / Olympos include a visit to the Sunken City on their itinerary. And there are scores of daily boat trips to the Kekova region originating in Kaş, Demre, and Uçağiz. You can even hire a kayak (or join a guided tour) in Uçağiz and paddle over the sunken ruins.

And once you're done your tour over the Sunken City (it only takes about 15 minutes if you're in a boat), be sure to head across the channel to visit the castle village of Simena. For many, it's even more impressive than the ancient city that slid into the sea.

Click on any image to enlarge.

Goats scamper through the ruins of ancient buildings on Kekova Island
Stone walls built in the 4th century still standing on Kekova Island
The remains of stone walls with openings for doors and windows built in the 4th century still standing on Kekova Island
Aerial view of the shore of Kekova island, including the submerged foundations of buildings, lending the name sunken city to the area
Aerial view of Kekova island and its coastline, including the submerged foundations of buildings, lending the name sunken city to the area
Aerial view of the shoreline at Turkey's Sunken City on the Mediterranean Coast near Antalya
Aerial view of the shoreline at Kekova Island's Sunken City
Aerial view of the shoreline and turquoise water at Turkey's Sunken City of Kekova
Aerial view of the shore of Kekova island showing evidence of buildings which have been submerged over time
The low walls of a submerged building can be seen along the shore of Kekova Island
A stone wall with openings for door and window still standing strong on the water's edge hundreds of years after the city was abandoned due to flooding and collapse
The remains of walls of buildings along the ancient harbour at Kekova island, now called Sunken City
Evidence of a peaked roof and slatted floor are etched into the flat stone above water in the Kekova channel
Partial stone walls and archways can still be seen on the shore of Kekova Island
Partial stone walls and archways on the shore of Kekova Island, and submerged foundations visible in the turquoise water around the island.
The ruins of ancient buildings can be seen above and below the water in the Kekova channel
Building foundations and low stone walls are clearly visible in the turquoise water at Kekova's Sunken City
Building foundations and low stone walls are clearly visible above and below the turquoise water at Kekova's Sunken City
Building foundations and low stone walls are clearly visible above and below the turquoise water at the Sunken City of Kekova in Turkey
Stone walls with openings for doors and windows still stand on Kekova Island
Foundation of an ancient building is clearly visible under the crystal clear turquoise water
Low stone wall is clearly visible under the crystal clear turquoise water at Turkey's Sunken City
A winding staircase carved into the stone of Kekova Island lead down into the water
Remains of a wall made of stone blocks with openings for doors and windows
Remains of a archways and walls made of stone blocks with openings for doors and windows on the slope of Kekova Island
Evidence of floors, ceilings, and roofs can be seen etched into the flat stones that once formed back walls of buildings at Turkey's Sunken City of Kekova
Partial remains of a wall crafted from stone blocks in the 4th century
Stone blocks forming a low stone wall with an opening for a door and window
Stone blocks forming a low stone wall with openings for a door and windows facing the former harbour area on Kekova Island in Turkey
Submerged foundation and walls visible in turquoise water at Turkey's Sunken City of Kekova
Submerged walls of an ancient building in Kekova's harbour clearly visible in the crystal clear, turquoise water at Sunken City
A perfectly formed stone wall can be seen under turquoise water near the shore of Kekova Island
Remains of stone buildings on the shore of Kekova Island
A small motor boat taking passengers on a tour of the Sunken City of Kekova
Two women kayak along the shore of Kekova Island to see the ruins of the famed Sunken City
Two women kayak past the ruins of stone buildings at the Sunken City of Kekova in Turkey

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