The short answer: no, and that is deliberate
On the Kekova, Demre and Myra day tour, entrance tickets to the Church of St Nicholas and to ancient Myra are not included in the tour price. They are paid locally, they apply from age 8, and your guide arranges the tickets on the spot so you are not queueing at the gate.
What the price does cover: hotel pickup and drop-off from Antalya in an air-conditioned vehicle, professional guiding, lunch during the day's programme, the boat cruise over the sunken city, and travel insurance. €75 per adult, €62 per child aged 8–12, infants aged 0–3 free. It is a ten-hour day with an early start, running twice a week on Sundays and Wednesdays.
We do not print a figure for the two Demre gates, because the site management sets those rates and changes them. We confirm the current amount when you book. Bring cash for them either way.
The tour that does publish its gate prices
If the not-knowing bothers you, the Perge, Aspendos and Kurşunlu Waterfall day trip lists every entrance fee before you book: Perge €11 per person and Aspendos €15 per person, payable at the gate, plus 95 TL per person for the Kurşunlu Waterfall park, per current listings and subject to change by the site management. The tour itself is €50 per adult and €30 per child aged 3–11, six hours, with round-trip hotel transfer, a licensed guide narrating in English, German, Norwegian and Turkish, and lunch at a local restaurant.
A Museum Card is accepted at the Perge and Aspendos entrances. It is not valid at the waterfall park.
Why we leave gate fees out of the price
Two honest reasons. Bundling a ticket into a tour price means adding a handling margin you cannot see, and it charges Museum Card holders for something they already own. Listing the fees separately keeps the number on the booking form the number we actually charge, and lets you work out the true cost of your day before you commit. The trade-off is that you carry cash and pay twice in one morning. We think that is the better deal; if you would rather have one all-in figure, this is not the operator for you.
The other objections worth answering before you book
Can you actually see the sunken city?
Yes. The water over Kekova is remarkably clear, and walls, stairways and building foundations are visible from the deck as the boat glides over them.
Can you swim there?
Not above the ruins — that is a protected archaeological zone. When weather permits, the boat stops in a designated bay nearby for the swim break. The Perge and Aspendos trip has no swim break at all.
Is this really where Father Christmas came from?
St Nicholas was the fourth-century bishop of Myra, today's Demre, and the church you visit is the one where he served. It remains an active pilgrimage site, so modest dress is appreciated and a light cover-up is worth packing.
How much walking is involved?
Moderate walking on uneven ground at both Myra and Demre — a proper archaeological visit rather than a drive-by, and the same is true at Perge. Sturdy shoes matter more than they sound like they should. In July and August, time at the open-air sites may be shortened because of the heat.
How do payment and cancellation work?
Reservation is free on both tours, you pay on the tour day, and you can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before departure.
Children and the age bands
On the Kekova tour, infants aged 0–3 travel free and the child rate covers ages 8–12. Children between those two bands are priced individually, so tell us their ages and we confirm the amount before you book rather than surprising you at the vehicle door. Remember the two Demre entrance fees apply from age 8 as well.
Who this day is not for
- Anyone protecting their beach time. Ten hours, early start, and you are back tired.
- Very young children. Families join regularly, but this suits children already used to full days out.
- Travellers who want everything prepaid. You will be handing over cash at two gates.
- Guests with limited mobility. Uneven ancient ground is the whole point of the destination.
- Swimmers. There is one weather-dependent bay stop on the Kekova trip and none at all on the Perge and Aspendos day.
Book the ancient coast
Choose the Lycian coast on the Kekova, Demre and Myra day tour, or stay closer to base with Perge, Aspendos and Kurşunlu Waterfall. Both sit in our full-day excursions collection and on the Antalya day trips page.
Planning the rest of the week? See which Antalya day trip to choose, what to know before Pamukkale and which Side excursion suits you.