A short drive from Ölüdeniz, up a hillside covered in around 500 empty stone houses, sits one of the more genuinely moving places on this coast. Kayaköy is not a reconstruction or a museum piece, it is a real village that emptied out almost a century ago and was simply left standing. No one lives in the ruins, no one rebuilt them, they have just weathered in place since 1923.
What Actually Happened Here
Kayaköy was once called Levissi, a Greek Orthodox village that grew through the 18th and 19th centuries to around 2,000 residents at its peak, with roughly 500 stone houses climbing the slope. In 1923, under the Greek-Turkish population exchange that followed the war, the entire Greek Orthodox community was required to relocate to Greece. Muslim families arriving from Greece were resettled here, but the rocky, unfarmable hillside did not suit them and most moved on within a few years. The village was left standing empty, and a 1957 earthquake damaged much of what remained. What you walk through today is largely how it was left, not a rebuild.
What’s There Now
The hillside is covered in roofless stone houses and narrow lanes, most open to wander through freely. Two Greek Orthodox churches still stand, the Lower Church (Panagia Pyrgiotissa) and the Upper Church (Taksiyarhis), both closed to the public inside for safety but worth seeing from outside, the upper one in particular for the view back down over the whole site. A standard visit exploring the main part of the village takes around 1.5 to 2 hours. Down in the modern village below the ruins, small garden cafes serve gözleme and Turkish coffee if you want a break before or after.
Getting There and Practical Details
Kayaköy is about 8km from Fethiye, roughly 20 to 25 minutes by shared minibus (dolmuş) or a short taxi ride from Ölüdeniz. Entrance is a small fee, in the region of €3 equivalent paid in Turkish lira cash at the gate, and the site is typically open 09:00 to 20:00 in high season with last entry around 19:30. Wear proper shoes, the ground is uneven stone and rubble throughout, not a paved path.
The Hiking Trail to Ölüdeniz
For anyone who likes to walk, there is a rougher trail leading from Kayaköy toward Soğuk Su Koyu (Cold Water Bay), around 1.6km each way, and a longer route continuing on to Ölüdeniz itself, roughly 1.5 hours of walking. It is not a groomed tourist path, expect loose stone and some proper uphill sections, so bring water and do it earlier in the day rather than at midday in summer heat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kayaköy worth visiting if I only have one day near Ölüdeniz?
If you like history and atmosphere over beach time, yes, it is close enough to combine with a half day, and it is a genuinely different kind of sight from the coast’s beaches and ruins.
Can you go inside the churches?
No, both are closed to the public for safety reasons, but the exteriors and the views from the upper church are worth the walk regardless.
Is it accessible for people with mobility issues?
Not really. The site is uneven stone on a slope throughout, with no paved or flattened paths.
🚐 Want It Built Into a Custom Day?
We arrange private transfers from Antalya to anywhere on the coast, and custom day-by-day itineraries that can include Kayaköy alongside Ölüdeniz or Fethiye. Message us on WhatsApp for a quick quote.
📝 A Local’s Note
Two tips from having been more than once. Go in the late afternoon rather than midday, the light is better for photos and the heat is much more bearable on a shadeless hillside. And bring small Turkish lira notes for the entrance fee, the gate is cash only and does not always have change for a large note.
Page last updated: September 2026