Kayaköy: the ghost town on Ölüdeniz's doorstep
A few minutes over the hill from Ölüdeniz lies one of Turkey's most haunting places: Kayaköy, a hillside village of hundreds of roofless stone houses, empty for a century. It is the area's most rewarding half-day trip, and this guide covers the essentials.
What is Kayaköy?
Kayaköy — historically known as Levissi — was a predominantly Greek Orthodox town until its residents left in the 1923 population exchange between Greece and Türkiye. The houses were never resettled, and the hillside remains as it was left: lanes, chapels and homes slowly returning to the landscape. Today it is a protected historical site you can wander through.
Visiting practicalities
Kayaköy sits between Fethiye and Ölüdeniz and is reached in about 15 minutes by road from either; minibuses run regularly in season. Entry to the historical zone is ticketed, and opening arrangements can change seasonally — check locally for current details. Wear proper shoes: the lanes are stony and the hillside is steep. The village pairs well with lunch at one of the farmhouse restaurants in the valley below.
The view almost nobody knows
From the ground, Kayaköy is moving; from the air, it is astonishing — an entire town etched into a hillside, framed by pine forest and the sea beyond. Paragliding flights from Babadağ trace the coastline nearby, and on clear days the valley opens up below you. If you want both experiences in one trip, see our first-timer's flight guide.
Make it a day
Morning flight from Babadağ, afternoon wandering Kayaköy's lanes, sunset back at the beach: that is Ölüdeniz's history-and-sky day, and it needs no car — everything is minutes apart.