Kayakoy, Turkey

From series “Abandoned Places of the Earth with Distinct Marks of Civilization”

In the south-western part of Turkey, at the foot of the Taurus Mountains, there is Kayakoy ghost town. Today, only ruins remind about its once vivid life. A hundred years ago, this city was home to a large Greek community; a number of residents was about 20 000 people. The town was deserted during the civil war. Locals have been forcibly resettled during the land redistribution and, after that, their homes were destroyed. Today, you can see about 350 stone buildings in the ruined city. There are also ruins of the two churches.

A few years ago, a museum dedicated to tragic history has been opened in Karakoy. Every year, this deserted place is visited by more and more tourists. Before the city was deserted, there have been about 3 000 homes. There have been pharmacies, plenty of shops, and even a printing press that has printed a local newspaper. In addition, the city had ancient churches and monasteries, which were unable to survive.

Kayakoy City was founded in the 11th century. It is located near the modern city of Fethiye, therefore it's not deprived of an attention of curious tourists. In the middle of the 20th century, the deserted city experienced another tragedy, a heavy earthquake. It completely destroyed several building that managed to survive after the Civil War. For residents of Fethiye, the nearby abandoned town for many years has remained a source of building materials. That’s why during a walk through the ruins you won’t see a single building with survived entrance doors and other wooden elements.

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Back to the start “Abandoned Places of the Earth with Distinct Marks of Civilization”

Kayakoy - interactive map

Useful staff nearby

ATM bankomat: 'Akbank ATM' located in 3.87 km (

check the route on the map).

Car rental office: 'Oscar Rent A Car' is located in 4.72 km (

on the map).

Fuel station: 'Po Gaz' in 1.43 km

Supermarket: 'Kuyubaşı Market' in 0.65 km

Parking: 'Park@ Ölüdeniz Otopark' in 5.16 km

Apotheek: 'Çamcı Eczanesi' in 5.1 km

Police station: 'Polis Merkez' in 5.26 km

Cafe/restaurant: 'Izela Restaurant' in 0.58 km

Nearest airports:
» Dalaman Airport DLM - in 29 km

» Kastelorizo Island Public Airport KZS - in 65 km

» Diagoras Airport RHO - in 90 km

» Milas Airport BXN - in 140 km

» Antalya Airport AYT - in 158 km

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» Guide to Fethiye

» Cuisine & restaurants

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» Attractions & nightlife

» Apartments

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» Car rent in Fethiye

» SUVs

» Guide to Kaş

» Culture & art

» Attractions & nightlife

» Hotels in Kaş

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» Bed & Breakfast

» Apartments

» Hostels

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» Guide to Marmaris

» Cuisine & restaurants

» Traditions & mentality

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» Apartments

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Best hotels near Kayakoy

New Age Kaya Village Cottage

Located in 0 km from Kayakoy
Route on the map:

Rooms: 4

Villas at New Age Kaya Village Cottage come with a furnished balcony offering pool, garden and mountain views. They include a flat-screen TV with … More: photo, rates and booking

Villa Macri Kayaköy

Located in 1 km from Kayakoy
Route on the map:

Rooms: 3

Macri Kayaköy Villa offers an air-conditioned accommodation with a balcony and a private bathroom fitted with a shower and a bathtub. The … More: photo, rates and booking

Hillside Beach Club

Located in 3 km from Kayakoy
Route on the map:

Rooms: 330

Whether guests need to wind down and relax or be fit and active, Hillside Beach Club offers a wide range of facilities including a well-appointed … More: photo, rates and booking

Sunmed Lodge

Located in 4 km from Kayakoy
Route on the map:

Rooms: 8

The bungalows of Sunmed Lodge include a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with 24-hour hot water. Each bungalow has a patio opening onto the … More: photo, rates and booking

Nearest unique sightseeing spots to visit

0 km - Kayakoy

From the series 'The Most Impressive Abandoned Cities on the Planet'

Located in Turkey Kayakoy ghost town is an invaluable architectural complex where each element is the unique embodiment of the Turkish history. Originally built a hundred years ago, the settlement was home to Greek residents and Christians. Kayakoy has grown to …

5 km - Butterfly Valley

From the series 'The Hidden and Hard-To-Reach Beautiful Beaches'

In Turkey, there is also a picturesque and unified beach for lovers of recreation in the tranquil atmosphere. In the surroundings of Oludeniz is the valley of the butterflies - the incredibly beautiful sand bay surrounded by the 350 meter high Babadag rocks. The …

77 km - The Colossus of Rhodes

From the series 'Seven Wonders of the World'

The city of Rhodes was the largest economic and trade center in ancient times. For hundreds of years, this coastal place has remained a cause of incessant wars that involved all the rulers of neighboring states. The god Helios was considered the patron of the city. So, …

132 km - Olympos Teleferik

From the series 'The Longest Ski-Lifts and Cable Trams in the World'

Turkey also can boast one of the most extensive and interesting cable cars in the world, Olympos Teleferik. The aerial tramway, which was opened in 2007, originates near Kemer, next to Camyuva and Tekirova villages; its terminal station is on top of Tahtalı mountain. …

145 km - Sabanci Congress and Fair Centre

From the series 'Glass Architecture - Impressive Villas and Buildings from Glass'

In Antalya, you can find an unusual pyramid where has placed Sabanci Congress and Exhibition Center. This building looks extraordinary in the traditional urban area. The pyramid was built with the use of metal and glass materials. It is located on the territory of a …

149 km - Pamukkale Travertine

From the series 'The Most Surrealistic Places of the Earth'

Pamukkale is one of the most famous natural sights of Turkey. This is a complicated complex of thermal springs and incredibly beautiful terraces of water basins formed by travertines. The local mineral sources contain a lot of calcium, which is why the natural basins …

Top destination around Kayakoy - Fethiye

Spa guests will have an opportunity to visit the old knight's fortress. It was built in Antiquity to protect the coast. The last major reconstruction of the fortress was held in the 15th century by the Knights of the Order of the Johannites. The once massive construction has maintained only partially to this day. Fragments of the fortress are found at a hillock. A beautiful panoramic view of the coast opens out of here.

Lovers of nature are offered interesting tours to the Kabak Valley, which is located off the coast and is famous for its incredible natural beauty. Impenetrable mountains surround the valley from every side, so it is simply cannot be reached from certain regions of Turkey. There are several small settlements in the valley. Tourists may stay here for a few days in modest bungalows and join the life of the indigenous population.

Not far from the resort is the Valley of the Butterflies. This extraordinary natural area has no equal in beauty. Rare species of butterflies live here among the lush tropical greenery and waterfalls. It will turn into a fascinating attraction to monitor them. Many professional researchers visit these places especially to see the rare tiger butterfly. These insects live near waterfalls.
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