Antalya Airport to Simena & Kekova Transfer

Simena & Kekova (Simena ve Kekova) are an ancient Lycian harbour area on the Mediterranean near Demre. Simena, today the village of Kaleköy, is crowned by a small medieval castle, while Kekova is the long island across the bay whose shoreline hides the famous Batık Şehir, or sunken city.

Earthquakes in antiquity dropped part of the settlement below sea level, and you can still see house walls, steps and quays beneath the surface from a boat. The village of Kaleköy has no road access, so it is reached on foot or by water, which keeps it peaceful and unspoilt.

Most visitors come to take a boat trip over the sunken city, climb to the castle for sweeping views of the bay, and enjoy the calm harbours of Üçağız and Kaleköy. It is one of the most atmospheric and unhurried spots on the whole Lycian coast.

The drive from Antalya Airport to Simena & Kekova runs roughly 145 km and usually takes about 130 minutes door to door. The route heads southwest, skirting Antalya on the ring road before joining the coastal highway through Kumluca and Finike towards Demre.

From there it is one of the prettiest drives on the coast, winding past greenhouses, citrus groves and the open Mediterranean before turning down a quiet country road to Üçağız, the small harbour where boats for Kekova set out. The last stretch is calm and rural, away from the busier resorts.

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 Simena & Kekova 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 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.

Travel light if you can, as Kaleköy itself has no roads and the harbour at Üçağız is the practical drop-off point for boats and the village. Bring water, sun protection and a swimsuit, since most Kekova boat trips include time to swim in the clear bays.

Late spring and early autumn are the most comfortable times to visit, with warm seas and fewer crowds than the peak of summer. The castle climb at Kaleköy is short but rocky, so comfortable shoes help.

Nearby Demre is home to ancient Myra and the Church of Saint Nicholas, so many travellers combine the two in one trip. Return transfers back to the airport or on to your hotel are easy to add to the same reservation, with a fixed price both ways and a driver who already knows your schedule.

Simena was a small Lycian settlement that flourished under Greek and Roman rule, and its rock-cut tombs, a tiny theatre carved into the hillside and scattered sarcophagi still stand around modern Kaleköy. The hilltop castle that gives the village its name was built in the medieval period over these older foundations.

The sunken city along Kekova Island dates from antiquity, when earthquakes lowered the coast and left walls and stairways beneath the shallows. Swimming and diving directly over the ruins is restricted to protect them, so the usual way to see them is from a glass-bottom or open boat.

Allow most of a day to enjoy a boat trip, the castle and a harbour lunch without rushing. The area suits families, though the castle path and boat boarding call for care with small children, and it is worth carrying some cash for boat fares, tickets and refreshments.