# Myra and St Nicholas Church, Demre, Kaş > Myra is the ancient Lycian city under modern Demre, 45 km east of Kaş. Two paid sites sit 2 km apart: Myra’s cliff of rock-cut tombs and Roman theatre (about €13) and the Church of St Nicholas, the original Santa Claus (about €17). Both open daily until 19:00. Allow 2.5 hours on site, half a day from Kaş. Web page: https://yesgo.io/turkey/kas/kas-myra - City: [Kaş](https://yesgo.io/turkey/kas), Turkey - YesGo score: 30/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 2 h 30 min - Entry: ≈ €13 Myra + €17 church - Opening hours: Myra daily 08:00–19:00, St Nicholas Church 08:30–19:00, last tickets 18:30; winter closing may be earlier - With kids: Fine with kids - Myra ticket: ≈ €13 for foreign visitors - St Nicholas Church ticket: ≈ €17 for foreign visitors - Myra hours: Daily 08:00–19:00, last entry 18:30 - Church hours: Daily 08:30–19:00, last entry 18:30 - Winter: Earlier closing — 17:00 or 17:30, sources differ - Time needed: ≈ 1 hour each, plus the hop between them - From Kaş: ≈ 45 km east, bus ≈ 50 min - Church to Myra: ≈ 2 km: taxi or a 25–30 minute walk - Coordinates: 36.25917, 29.98528 - Facts checked: 30.10.2026 ## Key facts - **1087** — the year merchants from Bari took St Nicholas’s relics from Myra to Italy (source: muze.gov.tr (Aziz Nikolaos Anıt Müzesi); English and Russian Wikipedia) - **2 tickets** — Myra and the church are separate state sites with separate ticket offices (source: muze.gov.tr (Myra Örenyeri; Aziz Nikolaos Anıt Müzesi)) - **≈ 2 km** — between the church in central Demre and the tomb cliff at Myra (source: My Turkey Adventure (Myra and St Nicholas guide); Airial Travel (Myra)) - **4th century** — when Nicholas was Bishop of Myra — the saint behind Santa Claus (source: muze.gov.tr; English and Russian Wikipedia) - **AD 141** — an earthquake destroyed Myra’s Roman theatre, which was then rebuilt (source: English Wikipedia (Myra); Livius (Opramoas of Rhodiapolis)) - **2 necropolises** — the sea necropolis above the theatre and the river necropolis up the valley, with the Lion (Painted) Tomb (source: English Wikipedia (Myra); Ancient History Sites (Myra)) - **St Paul** — changed ships at Myra on his voyage to Rome (Acts 27) (source: English and Russian Wikipedia) - **Andriake** — Myra’s ancient port; Hadrian’s granary now holds the Museum of Lycian Civilisations (source: English Wikipedia (Myra); muze.gov.tr (Lycian Civilisations Museum)) - **Lycian League** — Myra was one of its largest cities (source: English Wikipedia (citing Strabo); Russian Wikipedia) - **River silt** — buried much of the ancient city and once filled the church (source: English and Russian Wikipedia) ## Is Myra and St Nicholas Church worth visiting? Yes, if you like ancient sites or have any interest in St Nicholas. **Myra’s cliff of Lycian house-tombs** above a Roman theatre is one of the most striking sights on the whole Turquoise Coast, and from Kaş it’s an easy morning out. The church is quieter and more about atmosphere and frescoes than grand architecture. Be realistic about Demre itself: it’s a working farm town ringed by greenhouses, not a pretty resort, and the church area can be busy when tour coaches from Antalya arrive. If ancient stones leave you cold, you’ll get a taste of Lycian tombs for free in Kaş and can spend the day on a boat instead. > **Two separate tickets, two sites 2 km apart** Myra is on the northern edge of Demre; the Church of St Nicholas is in the town centre. Each has its own ticket office and there’s no combined ticket. If you come by bus, budget for a taxi or a hot, shadeless half-hour walk between them. Organised tours from Kaş or Antalya handle this for you. ## Myra and St Nicholas Church tickets and opening hours Foreign visitors pay in euros: **about €13 for Myra and about €17 for the church**, so roughly €30 for both. The official museum site lists hours but not prices; these figures match in two independent 2026 fee lists, so treat them as a guide. Both sites are open daily — Myra from 08:00, the church from 08:30, each until 19:00 with last tickets at 18:30. The MüzeKart is for Turkish citizens only. The Museum Pass Türkiye and the Mediterranean pass are reported to cover both sites, but they only pay off if you’re visiting many more museums on the coast. In winter, unofficial guides give an earlier closing of 17:00 or 17:30 — check before an afternoon visit. ## What to see at Myra and in Demre - **The sea necropolis** — the sheer cliff above the theatre, honeycombed with Lycian tombs carved to look like timber houses; this is the photo everyone comes for. - **The Roman theatre** — at the foot of the cliff, rebuilt after the earthquake of AD 141, with its seating rows and passages still clear. - **The river necropolis** — about 1.5 km up the valley from the theatre, home to the Lion or Painted Tomb. When Charles Fellows saw these tombs in 1840 they still showed red, yellow and blue paint. - **The Church of St Nicholas** — a Byzantine church on the site where Nicholas served as bishop, with frescoes of his life and miracles and patterned marble floors. - **The sarcophagus in the south aisle** — traditionally his burial place, broken open when the relics were taken to Bari in 1087. - **Andriake** — Myra’s ancient harbour a few kilometres away by the sea, with Hadrian’s granary and the Museum of Lycian Civilisations; separate ticket. ## Inside the Church of St Nicholas: the real Santa Claus The church is **a museum, not a working parish**: Orthodox services are held only occasionally, usually on 6 December, the saint’s feast day. It stands on the site of the church where Nicholas was bishop in the 4th century; most of what you see dates from the 8th century onwards, with frescoes, a marble sarcophagus and fragments of decorative stone flooring. His bones aren’t here. In 1087 merchants from Bari opened the tomb and shipped the relics to Italy, where they lie in the Basilica di San Nicola. Some relics associated with the saint are shown in the Antalya Museum. River silt later buried the church, and in the 19th century it was partly restored with Russian money. > **What to wear in St Nicholas Church** There’s no formal dress code — it’s a state museum — but many visitors come as pilgrims. Cover your shoulders and knees; a light shirt or scarf in your bag is enough. Women don’t need to cover their hair. Keep your voice down by the sarcophagus and don’t lean on it for photos. ## A short history of ancient Myra Myra was a **Lycian city** that became Hellenistic and then Roman; Strabo counted it among the largest members of the Lycian League. The Lycians buried their elite high in cliffs, hence the tomb façades above the theatre. St Paul changed ships here on his way to trial in Rome. Under Rome Myra became the capital of the province of Lycia, and in the 4th century its bishop was Nicholas. Earthquakes, an Abbasid raid in 809 and Seljuk attacks followed, while the Myros river buried the streets under silt — most of the ancient city is still underground. Modern Demre, formerly called Kale, grew up beside it. ## How to get to Myra and Demre from Kaş 1. From Republic Square (Cumhuriyet Meydanı) by the harbour, walk up to Kaş otogar on the hill above town — about 10 minutes uphill. 2. Take a Batı Antalya bus or minibus to Demre. Services run roughly hourly and take about 50 minutes along the coast; confirm times at the otogar ticket desk. 3. Get off at Demre otogar. The Church of St Nicholas (Aziz Nikolaos Anıt Müzesi) is in the town centre on Müze Caddesi, within walking distance. 4. From the church to Myra (Myra Örenyeri) is about 2 km north: a taxi from the square by the church, or a 25–30 minute walk with no shade. 5. Head back to Kaş on the same bus line from Demre otogar — check the last departure before you set off. 6. By car or transfer: follow the D400 east from Kaş, about 50 minutes. ## Demre, Myra and Kekova in one day The classic combo is **Demre and Myra in the morning, a Kekova boat in the afternoon**. From Kaş you can do it yourself: the two sites first, then a boat from Üçağız over the sunken city to Simena castle — see [Kekova and Simena](https://yesgo.io/turkey/kas/kas-kekova). From Antalya, Kemer or Side the same day is a long coach ride each way, which is why most people book a tour there. From Kaş it’s close enough to go independently, be back for lunch and spend the evening in [Kaş harbour](https://yesgo.io/turkey/kas/kas-old-town). ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Leave early — Myra has almost no shade and the cliff gets very hot by midday - [ ] Water and a hat - [ ] About €30 per person for both tickets - [ ] Shoulders and knees covered for the church - [ ] Shoes with grip for the stone paths and theatre - [ ] Time of the last bus from Demre back to Kaş ## Myra, Kekova or the rock tombs in Kaş? | | Myra and St Nicholas | Kekova and Simena | Kaş rock tombs | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | What it is | Ancient city and the saint’s church | Boat over a sunken city, castle | Lycian tombs above town | | Cost | ≈ €13 + €17 | Paid boat trip | Free | | Time | Half a day with travel | Full day | 30–60 minutes | | From Kaş | ≈ 50 min by bus | By boat or car | Walk from the centre | | Best for | History and pilgrimage | Sea and swimming | A free taste of Lycia | Myra’s tombs are bigger and more dramatic than those in Kaş, and the church is unique. For a free, no-travel look at Lycian cliff tombs, start with the [Kaş rock tombs](https://yesgo.io/turkey/kas/kas-rock-tombs). ## History around Kaş: compare and choose Ancient sites in and around Kaş rated by YesGo. - [Lion Tomb](https://yesgo.io/turkey/kas/kas-lion-tomb) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 15 min · Free, no ticket - [Kaş Lycian Rock Tombs](https://yesgo.io/turkey/kas/kas-rock-tombs) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free - [Antiphellos Theatre](https://yesgo.io/turkey/kas/antiphellos-theatre) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free - [Kastellorizo (Meis) Island](https://yesgo.io/turkey/kas/kastellorizo) — YesGo score 31/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · Ferry ≈ €28–40 return - [Myra and St Nicholas Church, Demre](https://yesgo.io/turkey/kas/kas-myra) — YesGo score 30/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · ≈ €13 Myra + €17 church - [Kekova Sunken City and Simena](https://yesgo.io/turkey/kas/kas-kekova) — YesGo score 16/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · Boat priced by operators, castle €4 ## A day from Kaş: Myra, Kekova and the harbour Morning at Myra and St Nicholas, a Kekova boat in the afternoon, then the harbour and sunset at the ancient theatre. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and walks. 1. [Myra and St Nicholas Church, Demre](https://yesgo.io/turkey/kas/kas-myra) — YesGo score 30/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · ≈ €13 Myra + €17 church 2. [Kekova Sunken City and Simena](https://yesgo.io/turkey/kas/kas-kekova) — YesGo score 16/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · Boat priced by operators, castle €4 3. [Kaş Old Town and Harbour](https://yesgo.io/turkey/kas/kas-old-town) — YesGo score 52/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · Free 4. [Antiphellos Theatre](https://yesgo.io/turkey/kas/antiphellos-theatre) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free ## Good to know Myra is the ancient name, Demre the modern town (once called Kale) — same place. Don’t confuse it with Kaleköy (Simena) at Kekova, a castle village by the sea. St Nicholas’s relics are not in Demre: they are in Bari, and a few are shown in the Antalya Museum. ## Tips - Be at Myra when it opens: the morning light on the cliff is softer and the coaches from Antalya arrive later. - The tombs are best seen from the theatre below; bring a zoom lens or binoculars for the carved details. - In the church, the side aisles have the best-preserved frescoes and fewer people. - Have lunch in Demre or in Üçağız on the way to Kekova so the day from Kaş never feels rushed. - Visiting in early December? Around 6 December there may be services and pilgrims, so expect crowds. ## Questions ### How much is the entrance fee for Myra and St Nicholas Church? About €13 for Myra and about €17 for the church for foreign visitors, bought separately. The official site doesn’t list prices, so confirm at the ticket office. ### What are the opening hours? Both are open daily: Myra 08:00–19:00, the church 08:30–19:00, with last tickets at 18:30. Unofficial guides give an earlier winter closing of 17:00 or 17:30. ### How long do you need at Myra and the church? About an hour at each, plus the short hop between them. From Kaş, plan half a day; add a Kekova boat and it becomes a full day. ### How do I get from Kaş to Demre by bus? Batı Antalya buses and minibuses leave Kaş otogar roughly hourly and take about 50 minutes. Walk to the church from Demre otogar, then take a taxi or walk about 2 km to Myra. ### Is St Nicholas buried in Demre? Not any more. Merchants from Bari took his relics to Italy in 1087. The sarcophagus traditionally held to be his tomb is still in the church. ### Is the St Nicholas Church the real Santa Claus church? Yes — Nicholas was Bishop of Myra in the 4th century, and the legends behind Santa Claus grew from his story. The church stands where he served. ### Where is the best view of the Myra rock tombs? From the theatre and the paths at the foot of the cliff, where the whole wall of tombs fits in one view. Morning light is best for photos. ### Is a Demre, Myra and Kekova tour worth it? From Antalya, Kemer or Side it’s a long day on a coach but the easiest way to see all three. From Kaş you can do it independently and more slowly. ### Is there a dress code at St Nicholas Church? No formal one, as it’s a museum, but covered shoulders and knees are respectful to the many pilgrims. ## How we checked Opening hours and daily opening come from the official muze.gov.tr pages; they show one schedule only, and unofficial guides disagree on winter closing — 17:00 (Demre.net) or 17:30 (Antalya Tourist Information) — so that row is marked “verifying”. The official site gives no prices: €13 and €17 match in two independent 2026 fee lists, while older tour listings quote less, so prices are marked “verifying” too. Sources disagree on when the church was built (6th vs 8th century) and on the year of the Russian restoration, so we give the safer wording without exact dates; the same goes for St Nicholas’s life dates. The Kaş–Demre bus timetable comes from a single source — check locally. ## Sources - Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Türkiye, muze.gov.tr: Myra Örenyeri — hours, address, sea necropolis and theatre - Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Türkiye, muze.gov.tr: Aziz (St.) Nikolaos Anıt Müzesi — hours, Bari, sarcophagus, frescoes - English Wikipedia: Myra; St. Nicholas Church, Demre - Russian Wikipedia: Мира (город); Церковь Святого Николая (Демре) - The Other Tour: 2026 entrance fees for museums in Turkey — Myra, St Nicholas, Andriake - Demre.net: St Nicholas Church — fee, museum passes, winter hours - Antalya Tourist Information: St Nicholas Church — winter hours, museum passes - Livius: Opramoas of Rhodiapolis — the earthquake of AD 141 - Wikidata Q652024 and Q3671440 --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.