Kayaköy Ghost Town Near Fethiye, Turkey: A Beautiful Village Frozen in Time

Prior to the 20th century, people of Greek and Turkish descent lived a fairly harmonious existence in the Turkish village of Kayakoy. Referred to as Livissi by the Greek population, the village was home to a Greek Orthodox church, rows of homes, and a school. A cultural rift between Greece and Turkey in the wake of World War I caused the expulsion of Turkey’s Greek population from the country. In the early 1920s, Kayakoy was abandoned and has yet to regain its former population.

Located near the sleek beaches of Fethyie, Kayakoy appears to be an ancient ruin. Rugged crumbling stone exteriors with no ceilings line the once active streets of Kayakoy. Upon closer inspection, structures such as the former Greek Orthodox Church show signs that Kayakoy was a functional village a little over a century ago.

You can wander the narrow streets of Kayakoy by yourself, or you can join a tour. Several tour companies based out of Fethyie offer walking and horseback tours of Kayakoy. Seeing wild patches of cactus overtake once stately buildings is a reminder that no neighborhood is immune from the tide of history. You may even spot a few camels sauntering in the distance.

If you’re a history buff, it is important to note that some tours are more informative than others when it comes to the cultural stand-off that led to Kayakoy ultimately becoming a ghost town. Also, many tours feature time constraints. The best option for true history lovers may be to take a bus from Oludenis or Fethiye and then design your own self-guided tour.

A few fixed-up buildings on the outskirts of Kayakoy currently house permanent residents. Several food and art vendors live nearby. But, Kayakoy has never been able to attract a sizable enough population to be reborn as a functional town. An earthquake in the late 1950s caused a great deal of structural damage to the village and made repair and renovation financially unfeasible for many people who were considering moving back.

It may seem like a paradox, but Kayakoy is an excellent spot to explore a turbulent moment in Turkey’s history in stillness and peace. If you’re looking for a break from bustling Fethiye, the quiet streets of Kayakoy are serene in comparison. Walking among the ruins of Kayakoy is a reminder to stay rooted in today, because there is no guarantee that your neighborhood will be the same tomorrow.