Myra

Tickets and tours: all the options

The ruins of Myra and the church of Saint Nicholas in Demre are separate sites run by the Turkish Ministry of Culture, each with its own ticket paid at the gate in euros. The Museum Pass for the Mediterranean region or the whole of Turkey covers both, as well as the Museum of Lycian Civilizations at Andriake. Nothing needs to be booked ahead, and independent visitors can see all three in half a day.

The tours sold online are almost all full-day trips that combine Myra and the church with a boat trip around the island of Kekova, where the walls of a Lycian town lie under shallow water. They start from Antalya, Kemer and Alanya, which means two and a half to four hours on the road each way, or from Kas and Kalkan, which are much closer. Most include hotel transport, a guide, the boat and lunch; entry tickets are often extra, so check the price. Private versions add flexibility, and some long-distance tours from Alanya leave before dawn.

If you are staying in Kas or Kalkan, a small-group tour is the easiest way to combine Myra with Kekova. From Antalya, a guided day trip saves the long drive, but if you have a car, going alone and starting early is better.

A short history

Myra was probably founded by the Lycians on the river Myros and was Hellenized by the 3rd century BC. Strabo counted it among the largest towns of the Lycian League, and under Rome it became the capital of the province of Lycia in the 4th century. Saint Nicholas was its bishop at the time of the Council of Nicaea in 325, and his tomb made the town a place of pilgrimage. Arab raiders sacked it in 809, and merchants from Bari took the saint's relics in 1087. River silt later buried much of the city. The theatre and baths have been partly excavated, and work at Andriake has continued since 2009.

Getting there

Myra lies on the northern edge of Demre, on the coast road between Antalya and Kas. Buses from Antalya's main bus station reach Demre in about two and a half to three hours, and minibuses from Kas take about an hour. From the bus station in Demre the ruins are about 2 km north, a walk of around 25 minutes on a flat road through greenhouses, or a short taxi ride. The church of Saint Nicholas is in the town centre, close to the bus station. Antalya airport is the nearest major airport, about three hours by road; Dalaman is further west. Drivers will find parking at the entrance, with cafes and souvenir stalls along the approach.

Rules and what to bring

Climbing up to the tombs or onto the theatre walls is not allowed, and parts of the cliff are fenced because of falling rock. Drones need official permission. Bring a hat, sunscreen and water: the plain is hot from May to October and there is almost no shade by the theatre. In the church, dress modestly and keep your voice down if a service is under way. Toilets are at the entrance, and cafes line the road outside.

When to go

Myra is a stop on many boat-and-ruins tours, and their coaches usually arrive between about 10 am and 1 pm, filling the small site and the church at the same time. At opening, or in the late afternoon, you may have the theatre almost to yourself, and the low sun lights the tomb facades.

April to June and September to October are the most pleasant months for walking on the plain. July and August are very hot, so start early and save the church, which is shaded, for midday. Winter is mild and quiet, though the site closes earlier and rain is common. On 6 December, the feast of Saint Nicholas, Orthodox pilgrims and clergy gather at the church for a liturgy, and Demre becomes very busy. Allow an hour for the ruins and another for the church, and half a day if you add Andriake.