The Sunken Ruins of Kekova Island: Turkey’s Ancient Lycian Federation
Photo by depositphotos.com
Centuries before the Byzantines, Romans, or Ottomans ruled Turkey, a remote corner of the country was home to the world’s first democratic federation, the Lycians. The Lycians were a peaceful federation of city-states that dated back to around 2000 BCE and included the city of Simena, a bustling sea-trading hub. However, in the 2nd century CE, Simena was devastated by a series of violent earthquakes and eventually submerged beneath the Mediterranean.
Photo by depositphotos.com
Today, the ruins of Simena lie just a few meters beneath the clear waters of the sea and include a shipyard, the foundations of public buildings, houses, and a couple of amphorae. Along the shoreline, one can also spot the remains of houses, Lycian tombs with arched roofs, and an early church. A stone staircase that leads into the calm waters is still visible. Kekova Island, where the ruins are located, is uninhabited, and goats can sometimes be spotted grazing among the ruins. The Turkish government has declared Kekova Island and its surrounding region a Specially Protected Area, and UNESCO has listed it as a “tentative” candidate for World Heritage status.
While swimming, snorkeling, diving, and jet-skis are prohibited in the area around the sunken city, chartered boats are allowed to cruise above it at a slow pace, providing visitors with a good view of the ruins both above and below the waterline.
Photo by depositphotos.com
Getting there
To visit the sunken city, one can take a two-hour tour on a crowded boat from nearby Ucagiz, or for a more comfortable experience, join a full-day cruise on a gulet from Kaş or Kalkan. Gulets can also be privately chartered for a few days or a week to explore the Lycian coast. Another option is to book a kayak trip from Kaş, which involves a bus ride to the seaside village where the kayaks are, followed by a paddle across the strait to Kekova, and a return to the mainland for lunch in another village. A support boat is available to assist kayakers who get tired or need a ride back to the bus.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Sunken City ruins, northern shore of Kekova Island (Dolichiste), Demre, Antalya, Türkiye; offshore reference area, visible from boat
- Coordinates
- 36.177395, 29.857765
- Access
- The sunken ruins are viewed from boats; the Turkish tourism authority says swimming is not allowed around the archaeological site. Üçağız is a boat departure point. Follow current skipper and protected-area rules; this marker is offshore and is not a landing point.
- Admission
- The official tourism page describes boat access to view the protected ruins but does not list a separate site-entry ticket. Boat tours are commercial and priced by operator, boat and itinerary; confirm the fare with the chosen operator.
- Time needed
- A local Üçağız boat operator lists 1.5 hours without stopping at Simena Castle or 2 hours with that stop. Those are boat-trip durations covering several nearby features, not time spent ashore at the submerged ruins; the boat views the ruins from the water.
- Best season
- No official best season for viewing the ruins is specified by the Turkish tourism page or the cited boat operator. Sailings depend on operator availability and sea/weather conditions; check with the skipper before travelling.
- Opening hours
- The submerged archaeological area has no visitor gate or published opening hours. The cited Üçağız operator arranges private boat departures by reservation rather than a fixed timetable; other operators may offer scheduled group trips. Swimming and diving are prohibited around the ruins.
- Location checked
- 2026-09-29
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-08
Map marks the area, not a visitor entrance.
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