We visited Kas as part of my mom’s big birthday trip to Turkey. I did absolutely no research and was in full go with the flow mode. Luckily a good friend of the family is from Turkey and happened to be in Kas at the time! He was fantastic at sharing restaurant recommendations, suggesting what to order and helping us plan our days. We visited at the end of May and enjoyed days of glorious sunshine following a dreary English winter. If you’re looking for a maximum relaxation holiday I would highly recommend a visit to Kas!
Restaurants we loved in Kas
– Voyn Meyhane
This restaurant was so great we went twice! It’s a gorgeous local restaurant just one road back from the main drag. They have a full a la carte offering with grilled meats and fish options but we opted to order a whole bunch of starters and salads for the table to share. I would highly recommend this approach! Stand-out favourite dishes you really should order include the shrimp with rum sauce, hot greens (very surprising!), crispy zucchini and aubergine stuffed with vegetables. I’d also recommend a big Greek or Shepard’s salad (Greek includes feta and Shephard’s doesn’t) to share and a few bottles of affordable cold wine!
– Zaika
This was a bit of a trek up a hill and at one point we were a little lost. We walked from our hotel and my parents took the rental car- that may have been the better approach. Zaika specialises in local grilled meats. We had an amazing selection of dips and breads to start. For mains we shared the mixed grill for two between three of us – it’s a huge plate and super delicious!
Things we did when not eating
– Explore the Kas Old Town
The Old Town of Kas is lovely with hidden alleyways, sprays of bougainvilleas and a promenade along the water. There are plenty of shopping options too and we spent a fair amount of time buying lovely gold plated jewellery in an affordable local shop.
– Find Damak ilk Hasat
This is technically still eating but not a restaurant and I say it goes here! It’s a Turkish chocolate made by Nestle. It’s a palm-sized square of milk chocolate filled with pistachios perfect for sharing between two. I wish we bought a whole stash to take home as they were delicious!
– Kas Pazar Market
The market takes place every Friday from 8am to 7pm. It’s a genuine local Turkish market, with farmers from the surrounding villages selling fresh produce. You can also buy clothes, jewellery, shoes and household bits and bobs. Outside the market, there was a van selling doughnuts. Whilst this is a little odd it was a lot delicious! Definitely make sure to look out for the doughnut van and grab a few scoops of hot tiny syrupy doughnuts!
– Kekova – Aperlai Boat trip
This was definitely the highlight of our trip! It’s a full-day boat excursion starting at 9:30am and ending at 6:30pm. You cover the Lycian Way, the ancient city of Aperlai, the Sunken City and Simena. These sites are not huge archaeological gems so don’t go expecting wonders but it was amazing to have a day on the water. Simena was fantastic and is definitely worth an explore. Make your way over to the Lycian rock tombs. Lunch was simple but delicious after a busy morning jumping in and out of the water. We booked with Xanthos Travel and we paid 4,000 Turkish Lira (€105) for five people on a private boat. Our captain for the day was Hasan who I’d suggest contacting directly (WhatsApp on 05335164439).
Where we stayed in Kas
We stayed at Lukka Exclusive which is an adults only hotel just outside of Kas but right on the water! It was about a five to ten car ride into Kas – we had a rental car but also rented taxis easily or about a thirty-minute slow walk. The hotel room decor is a little grandma style but the grounds, swimming pool and position on the water definitely make up for it! Breakfast was amazing both in terms of the jaw-dropping view to start your day and the good food options.
Other great links for reading about Kas
As I said, I did no research at all – very unlike me! But when I was looking up the name of the market I came across this blog post by London City Calling which looks great! They also have a post on where to eat which could be helpful for your trip (on my next one!!).
Have the best time in Kas
with all my love, Tahlia
