# Kayakoy (Kayaköy) — The Abandoned Greek Ghost Village Near Fethiye

An abandoned Greek settlement of Levissi featuring hundreds of ruined stone houses and churches, preserved today as an open-air memorial museum.

Kayaköy is a unique open-air museum located in a scenic mountain valley. Until 1923, this was a thriving Greek town named Levissi, where Greeks and Turks lived side by side in harmony. Following the Greco-Turkish War, the Greek population departed as part of the compulsory population exchange agreement. The incoming Turkish immigrants from Greece did not settle on these rocky slopes, and the town gradually became a ghost town.

Today, the ruins of over 500 roofless stone houses cascade down the hillside, forming a melancholic and highly photogenic landscape. Notable structures among the ruins include two large basilicas — the Upper Church (Taxisarhis) and the Lower Church (Panagia Pyrgiotissa), which still retain parts of their original mosaics. Climbing to the small chapel at the top of the hill rewards visitors with a panorama of the valley and Soğuksu Bay.

At the foot of the hill, the "new" village of Kayaköy is lively, featuring authentic restaurants famous for oven-roasted lamb (kuzu tandır) and traditional gözleme flatbreads. The road from Fethiye is fully asphalted, and local dolmuş minibuses run frequently.

Practical Information

• Location: 8 km south of Fethiye (approx. 15 minutes by car)
• Road: Asphalt
• Infrastructure: Ticket office, toilets at the entrance, signposts, souvenir shops, and numerous restaurants, cafes, and guesthouses in the modern village area
• Entrance: Paid (approx. 60-100 TL, free for Turkish Museum Card / Müze Kart holders)
• Tip: Wear sturdy, non-slip shoes as the paths among the ruins are uneven and rocky. In summer, visit early in the morning or after 16:00 to avoid the intense sun, as there is little shade on the hill.