If you are planning a trip to Turkey, Kaş (pronounced “cash”) should be on your itinerary! Kaş is a touristy but quaint coastal town in southwest Turkey. There are countless restaurants, boutiques, and coffee shops to explore. The coastal views are incredible and the beaches are breathtaking! Kaş was my favorite city I visited during my trip in Turkey, so I certainly recommend the visit!

Stunning Beaches

The beaches in Kaş are stunning! You can drive the cliffs along the coast and stop off at different beaches with bright blue water to soak in some sun. My favorite beach was Kaputas Beach. Kaputas Beach is a popular beach with limited parking, so arrive early for your beach day! You can see from the picture below how incredible the views are. When I visited, there was a small entry fee that cost only a couple US dollars. We were able to pay with card. Beach chairs are for rent at this beach, so plan on bringing a towel or a couple extra dollars/Turkish lira. It is the perfect spot to spend a day!

Küçük Çakıl Plajı is another stunning beach that is walking distance from the main city center. This beach is formed into a small cove area, so it feels private. When I visited in the morning, there were only two other people on the beach. It is definitely a relaxing safe haven!

Old Town

Old Town in Kaş is the main hub where you will find the restaurants, boutiques, and coffee shops. The city center is busiest in the evening. In the boutiques, you can find traditional souvenirs like t-shirts and other clothing, souvenir trinkets, jewelry, and handmade crafts. There are a couple local shops that sell impressive and ornate Turkish rugs and towels as well.

You can find all kinds of restaurants serving a variety of cuisines. Whether you want a fancy waterfront dining experience or a small and quaint restaurant offering traditional Turkish food, you can surely find what you are looking for! Below are some restaurant recommendations:

• Dolphin Restaurant (peaceful water views)
• Salkım Ocakbaşı Meyhane Kaş (delicious traditional Turkish cuisine)
• Demeti Kas (fancy entrees for a great price)

I don’t know about you, but if I am on vacation, I am treating myself to a latte every morning! If you enjoy trying new coffee shops as well, below are some coffee shop recommendations located in Old Town.

• Godo Coffee and More
• Spoko Coffee Cake
• Nokta Cafe

Excursions

If you are looking for adventure outside of the city center or want a day-trip to add a little bit of spice to your itinerary, there are plenty of excursions in the area to keep you content.

Plenty of travelers take day trips to Fethiye which is about an hour and a half away when driving. Fethiye is another coastal town with beautiful beaches and stunning lookouts. Butterfly Valley is a popular lookout spot to see the bright blue water between cliffs. I personally didn’t end up in Fethiye during my time in Turkey due to time constraints, but if I made it there, Butterfly Valley was the place I was going to go to. The backdrop makes for an incredible photo op. The Pinara Ruins include carvings into cliffs, temples, and tombs. These ruins are located near Fethiye and are a popular tourist excursion that may interest you. There are tours that can educate you on the history and process of building or forming these ruins.

If you are up for a ferry ride, you can take a short 20-30 minute ferry ride to Kastellorizo, Greece! We booked our ferry through Meis Express. Kastellorizo is supposedly the most remote island of Greece, and let me tell you… It does not disappoint! For more information on how to get from Kaş to Kastellorizo, check out my blog post on this. Keep an eye out for my upcoming blog post all about my day-trip to Kastellorizo. But as a teaser, you can expect colorful buildings, delicious gyros, and pretty hikes. My exciting surprise when I arrived were two giant sea turtles swimming in the crystal clear harbor. To put it simply, if you have a day to spare in your itinerary, spend it in Kastellorizo!

If you are interested in a shorter excursion, there are options for you there! Shorter excursions in Kaş include boat cruises, snorkeling trips, and paragliding adventures.

Transportation

If you are exploring Turkey, I recommend renting a car to see more of the unique country. During my trip, I used public transportation only in Istanbul but drove between several other destinations. If you want to fly into an airport near Kaş, the two closest airports are Dalaman airport and Antalya Airport. Dalaman airport is about 2.5 hours away, and Antalya airport is about 3 hours away.

Parking

If you have a car rental, there is free street parking around Old Town. Our Airbnb was located higher up in Kaş as there is quite the elevation change. My husband and I walked down for dinner the first night and after our sweaty hike, we opted to drive all the other times we returned to the city center. The parking can be a bit chaotic, but we never spent more than 5-10 minutes searching for a parking spot when we visited in May.

Safety

Kaş felt very safe even when we were walking in the evening back to our Airbnb after dinner. The locals and tourists were all very welcoming and friendly. The city was very clean as well. We had no concerns during our stay!

Conclusion

Kaş is a dream destination for your vacation! It is the perfect spot for a mixture of relaxation, adventure, and all the good food!

Cheers to visiting new coastal cities and making connections around the world! Thanks for stopping by! To find my other blog posts, check out the destinations tab on my website.