Kekova, Antalya, Türkiye

Standing: High
Rank: Rank 408 of 5,798

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

About Kekova

Kekova is a small, uninhabited island of about 4.5 km² off Demre district in Antalya province. It faces the villages of Kaleköy (ancient Simena) and Üçağız (ancient Teimioussa), and in antiquity it was known as Dolichiste. After a dispute between Italy and Turkey, a 1932 convention assigned the island to Turkey. The wider Kekova region, about 260 km², takes in the island, the two villages and the four ancient towns of Simena, Aperlae, Dolchiste and Teimioussa.

Checked 2026-11-10 · Source

What's inside

On the island's northern side lie the partly sunken ruins of Dolchiste, an ancient town destroyed by an earthquake in the 2nd century. It was rebuilt, flourished in the Byzantine period and was finally abandoned because of Arab raids. At the northwest of the island is Tersane, a bay named for the ancient city and dockyard of Xera, with the ruins of a Byzantine church. Across the water, Kaleköy is a small village with a castle that can be reached only by sea.

Checked 2026-11-10 · Source

What to watch out for

The Kekova region was declared a specially protected area by the Turkish Ministry of Environment and Forest on 18 January 1990. At first all diving and swimming were prohibited and needed special permits from government offices. The ban has since been lifted except for the part where the sunken city lies, so swimming and diving over the ruins remain off limits. Kaleköy, the village facing the island, can be reached only by sea.

Checked 2026-11-10 · Source