Antalya Airport to Myra & St. Nicholas Church Transfer

Ancient Myra was a leading city of the Lycian League, and its most striking remains are the rock-cut tombs carved into the cliff face like the fronts of little houses, set above a well-preserved Roman theatre. Wandering beneath the tombs and through the theatre gives a vivid sense of how this Lycian and Roman city once looked.

A short distance away in the centre of Demre stands the Church of St. Nicholas (Aziz Nikolaos Kilisesi), built over the tomb of the 4th-century bishop whose generosity gave rise to the legend of Santa Claus. Inside are old frescoes, marble floors and the stone sarcophagus traditionally linked to the saint.

Together the two sites tell a story that runs from Lycian rock tombs through Roman theatre to early Christian pilgrimage, which is why Myra and Demre draw visitors from all over the world.

The drive from Antalya Airport to Myra and Demre runs roughly 145 km and usually takes about 130 minutes door to door. The route heads west and southwest, following the D400 coastal highway past Kemer, Finike and the long sweep of the Lycian shore.

Much of the journey is genuinely scenic, with the Taurus Mountains on one side and glimpses of the Mediterranean on the other. Sections wind along the coast and through orange and tomato-growing plains around Finike before reaching Demre, so it is worth keeping a camera within reach.

Because the price is fixed per vehicle, the fare does not change if traffic is heavier in the busy summer months. Your driver tracks your flight, so even if you land early or late, someone is there waiting and the agreed price stays the same.

Transfers to Myra and St. Nicholas Church start from €53 for an economy car and from €69 for a Vito minivan, with the price set per vehicle for one way rather than per person. A family or small group travelling together therefore shares one clear fare.

Every booking includes a free meet and greet: your driver waits in the arrivals hall with a name sign and helps with your luggage. Flights are tracked automatically, so a delayed or early landing is not a problem, and child seats are provided free of charge on request.

There is no prepayment required. You pay the driver directly at the time of transfer, in cash or by card, and the quoted price is the price you pay with no hidden extras.

Because the round trip is a long day, set off early to enjoy both Myra and the church without rushing, and bring water, sun protection and comfortable shoes for the uneven stone paths around the tombs and theatre.

Myra and the Church of St. Nicholas are only a couple of kilometres apart in and around Demre, so both can be seen comfortably on the same visit. Many travellers also pause for a seafood or local lunch in Demre before the drive back.

Return transfers to the airport or on to your hotel in Kaş, Kalkan or Antalya are easy to add to the same reservation. Keeping the outbound and return with one provider means a fixed price both ways and a driver who already knows your schedule.

Myra flourished for centuries, first as a Lycian centre and later under Roman and Byzantine rule, when it became an important Christian bishopric. Saint Nicholas served as its bishop in the 4th century, and after his death his tomb in Demre became a major place of pilgrimage, with the surviving church largely shaped by later Byzantine rebuilding.

Allow roughly two to three hours to see the rock tombs, the theatre and the church without hurrying, plus time for the drive. Both sites usually charge a separate entrance fee, and the church in particular can be busy with tour groups in high season.

The site is suitable for families, though small children should be supervised near the steep theatre seating and around the tombs. Modest, comfortable clothing is sensible for visiting the church, as it remains a place of religious significance.