A short history
Once known as Levissi, Kayakoy was home to a largely Greek-speaking community until the early 20th century. After the 1923 population exchange the village emptied and gradually fell into the silence you see today. Two large churches, a chapel and hundreds of house ruins still preserve the texture of the period.
Visiting tips
The site is protected as an open-air museum and can take a couple of hours to explore. The stone paths are uneven, so comfortable shoes matter. There is little shade in summer; an early-morning or late-afternoon visit is cooler and offers nicer light for photos. The viewpoint higher up the hillside, looking towards Oludeniz, is a highlight.
How to get there
Kayakoy is about 8 km from Fethiye and a short distance from Oludeniz, with a walking route (the Kayakoy–Oludeniz trail) linking the two. From Dalaman Airport, the roughly 57 km to Kayakoy is most practical by private transfer. You can also base yourself in Fethiye or Oludeniz and visit Kayakoy as a half-day trip.
The Kayakoy–Oludeniz walking trail
A section of the Lycian Way links Kayakoy to Oludeniz, running through pine forest and hillside viewpoints; the walk typically takes around 3-4 hours and ends near Ovacik. The path is waymarked but has little shade in places, so starting early in summer with plenty of water and sun protection is advisable. It's a scenic, historically resonant way to connect the two areas without a car.
