Kaleköy (Simena): A Time Tunnel Reached Only by Boat

On the peninsula facing Kekova Island, opposite Üçağız, Kaleköy is a small fishing village reachable only by boat — no road leads here. Known in antiquity as Simena, it was an important Lycian settlement facing Kekova. The Crusader-era castle rising above the village offers one of the most dramatic vistas in the Mediterranean.

**The Crusader Castle**
Believed to have been built by the Knights of Rhodes in the Middle Ages, the castle is reached by a steep path winding between the village houses. Lycian sarcophagi still stand within the castle walls — a strikingly rare example of different historical layers intertwining. From the castle terrace, the view over Kekova Island and the underwater silhouette of the sunken city is unforgettable.

**The Sunken City**
A major earthquake in the 2nd century AD submerged a Lycian coastal settlement beneath the waters of Kekova. Visible from a boat or by snorkelling, the underwater structures — staircases, door frames and collapsed roofs — hold clues to this lost civilisation. Diving is prohibited; snorkelling and boat touring are sufficient.

**Practical Info**
- 45 min by car from Kaş to Üçağız; from there take a boat service or hire a private boat
- Alternatively, daily Kekova tours from Kaş include Kaleköy
- Small restaurants and cafes in Kaleköy
- No entrance fee; castle walk is free