Demre / Myra
Tomb of Saint Nicholas in 5th-century Byzantine Myra
Why this destination matters
Saint Nicholas of Myra (c. 270-343 AD), born in nearby Patara, served as Bishop of Myra and attended the First Council of Nicaea in 325. For the Eastern Orthodox he is Hagios Nikolaos the Wonderworker, among the most venerated saints of all; the Metropolitan of Myra celebrates Divine Liturgy at the church every December 6, the only day it functions liturgically.
For Catholics, his relics were translated to Bari, Italy on 9 May 1087, where they remain at the Basilica di San Nicola; smaller fragments are in Venice and the Antalya Archaeological Museum. For Protestants, Nicholas is the historical root of the Santa Claus / Sinterklaas / Father Christmas tradition that crossed the Atlantic with Dutch settlers; though Luther shifted gift-giving to the Christkind, the Nicholas memory endured across Reformed Europe.
Today Demre - small, agricultural, tomato-greenhouse-rich, ringed by Lycian ruins - draws pilgrims of every tradition. The town stands on the ancient ruins of Myra; the church preserved over fifteen centuries of veneration. A sealed sarcophagus and 13th-century chapel were discovered beneath the church in 2024, reopening the question of whether the saint's primary tomb was ever actually emptied.
Historical background
Myra was one of the six leading cities of the Lycian League, a federal union of 23 cities that flourished from the 3rd century BC. By the 4th century AD it had become the seat of a Christian bishopric, and its most famous bishop, Nicholas, attended the First Council of Nicaea in 325. The city's prosperity continued through the Byzantine period, evidenced by the 5th-century basilica built over Nicholas's tomb and the extensive rock-cut necropolis.
The translation of Nicholas's relics to Bari in 1087 marked a turning point. As Seljuk forces advanced into Anatolia, 62 Bari sailors seized approximately 75 percent of the saint's remains and carried them to Italy, where Pope Urban II consecrated the crypt in 1089. The remaining fragments were taken by Venetian Crusaders around 1099 to San Nicolo del Lido. Despite the empty tomb, Demre continued to attract Orthodox pilgrims, and the church remained a place of veneration through the Ottoman period.
The 2024 archaeological discovery of a sealed limestone sarcophagus and a 13th-century chapel beneath the church floor has reignited scholarly debate about whether the Bari sailors took the correct remains — or whether the primary tomb was never fully emptied. The Antalya Directorate of Archaeology continues conservation work, and the find has not yet been opened publicly.
Key sites to visit
Church of Saint Nicholas
5th-century Byzantine basilica with sunken nave, broken sarcophagus and opus sectile floors. 2024 discovery of a sealed sarcophagus and 13th-century chapel beneath the church.
Myra Ancient City
Lycian rock-cut tombs and a 10,000-seat Roman theatre on a single dramatic cliff face.
Andriake / Lycian Civilizations Museum
The ancient port of Myra where Paul changed ships en route to Rome (Acts 27:5-6).
Kekova sunken city
Byzantine ruins partly submerged after a 2nd-century earthquake; standard glass-bottom boat trip from Ucagiz.
Demre Santa statue
Town-centre bronze of Saint Nicholas with children.
Best time to visit
April-May and September-October (22-28 degrees C). December 6 for the Orthodox Divine Liturgy. Avoid July-August heat.
Key feast days
- December 6 - Feast of Saint Nicholas (Orthodox liturgy at the church)
How to get there
Antalya (AYT) airport, 150 km / 2.5 hours via the D400 coastal road. Direct buses from Antalya otogar serve Demre daily.
Weather by month
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Rainfall | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 15°C | 6°C | High | Low |
| Feb | 16°C | 7°C | High | Low |
| Mar | 18°C | 8°C | Medium | Low |
| Apr | 22°C | 11°C | Low | Medium |
| May | 26°C | 15°C | Low | Medium |
| Jun | 31°C | 19°C | Very Low | Medium |
| Jul | 34°C | 22°C | Very Low | High |
| Aug | 34°C | 22°C | Very Low | High |
| Sep | 31°C | 19°C | Low | Medium |
| Oct | 26°C | 15°C | Medium | Medium |
| Nov | 21°C | 11°C | High | Low |
| Dec | 17°C | 8°C | High | High (Dec 6 feast) |
Where to stay
Demre town offers basic, authentic guesthouses. Kas (40 km east) is a boutique-hotel harbour. Kalkan (45 km west) is upscale. Kekova bay is the most secluded option.
| Tier | Examples | Price Range | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Demre town guesthouses, family-run pansiyons | 25-50 EUR/night | Pilgrims on a budget, authentic local experience |
| Mid-Range | Kas boutique hotels (40 km), Kalkan harbour hotels (45 km) | 60-120 EUR/night | Comfortable base with restaurant choice |
| Premium | Kalkan villa rentals, Kekova bay exclusive resorts | 150-400 EUR/night | Luxury pilgrimage with sea views and privacy |
Tours and experiences
Day tours from Antalya, Kemer or Kas combine the church, Myra ruins and a Kekova boat trip (60-90 EUR). Multi-day Biblical Turkey tours and December 6 pilgrimage packages are also available.
Partner accommodation
Alkan Apart Demre
A full-service apart-hotel in the heart of Demre town, steps from the Church of Saint Nicholas and within easy reach of the Myra rock-tombs and Andriake harbour.
Full kitchen · Free parking · Free Wi-Fi · Families & groups welcome
Gökyazı, İlkokul 3. Sokak, 07570 Demre/Antalya
Transport options
| Method | From | Duration | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intercity bus | Antalya otogar | ~2.5 hours | ~10-15 EUR | Direct service, several departures daily |
| Rental car | Antalya Airport (AYT) | ~2.5 hours | ~30-50 EUR/day | Scenic D400 coastal road; free parking at most sites |
| Day tour minibus | Antalya, Kemer, or Kas | Full day | 60-90 EUR | Includes church, Myra ruins, and Kekova boat trip |
| Taxi/private transfer | Antalya Airport | ~2 hours | ~100-130 EUR | Door-to-door; book through hotel or reputable company |
Practical information
- Hours
- 08:30-19:00 April-October; 08:30-17:00 November-March.
- Fees
- Approximate 2026 - verify on muze.gov.tr. Saint Nicholas Church ~17 EUR / 400 TL; Myra Ancient City ~13 EUR / 400 TL; Andriake ~5 EUR. Museum Pass Turkiye accepted.
- Dress code
- Modest dress; shoulders and knees covered inside the church. No flash photography.
- Accessibility
- Ramp at the church entrance; mostly single-level. Myra ruins involve uneven steps.
- Transport
- Direct intercity bus from Antalya otogar (~2.5 hours) or rental car along the D400.
Pilgrim tips
💡 Practical advice for pilgrims
- Arrive at the Church of Saint Nicholas before 09:00 to avoid tour bus crowds, especially in peak season.
- Combine Demre with a Kekova boat trip — the glass-bottom boats reveal submerged Byzantine ruins and the trip includes a seafood lunch on board.
- Bring a small candle to light at the church; the candle stand is in the narthex and donations support the site's upkeep.
- If visiting on December 6, arrive the night before — the Orthodox Divine Liturgy begins before sunrise and space inside the sunken nave is extremely limited.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes with grip — the Myra rock tombs involve uneven stone steps and the theatre has steep seating.
- Carry Turkish lira in cash for smaller sites, local restaurants, and the church donation box — card acceptance is limited outside Kas and Kalkan.
Did you know?
ℹ️ Fascinating facts
- The broken sarcophagus in the south aisle of the church is traditionally identified as Nicholas's original tomb — but the 2024 discovery of a sealed sarcophagus beneath the floor has reopened the question of whether the Bari sailors took the correct remains.
- The church's sunken nave is the result of centuries of silt deposition from the Demre River — the original 5th-century floor is approximately 2 metres below the current ground level.
- Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors, children, merchants, and repentant thieves — and is venerated by Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and Oriental Orthodox Christians alike.
- The Lycian rock-cut tombs above Myra's theatre date from the 4th century BC and were painted in bright red, blue, and gold — traces of pigment are still visible on some facades.
Biblical references
- Acts 27:5-6 — “When we had sailed across the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we landed at Myra in Lycia. There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy, and he put us aboard.”
Suggested reading before you go
| Title / Reference | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Acts 27:5-6 | Paul's stop at Myra en route to Rome — the only biblical mention of the city. |
| The Life and Miracles of Saint Nicholas (various hagiographies) | The medieval Greek and Latin lives of the saint, including the grain ships miracle and the three dowries. |
| Charles W. Jones, Saint Nicholas of Myra, Bari, and Manhattan (1978) | The definitive scholarly study of the Nicholas cult and the 1087 translation. |
| Turkish Ministry of Culture — Myra-Andriake | Official site for current excavation updates, including the 2024 sarcophagus discovery. |
Nearby destinations to combine
Patara
Birthplace of Saint Nicholas and Lycian federal capital
70 km east — Birthplace of Saint Nicholas and Lycian federal capital
Ephesus
House of the Virgin Mary, Basilica of St John and the First Church of Revelation
350 km northwest — House of the Virgin Mary and Basilica of St John
Cappadocia
Rock-hewn churches of the Cappadocian Fathers
650 km northeast — Rock-hewn churches of the Cappadocian Fathers
Featured on these routes
- Footsteps of Saint Paul — Tarsus to Rome - the missionary journeys of the Apostle
- Nicholas of Myra — Patara - Demre - Bari: the millennium pilgrimage of Saint Nicholas
Partner accommodation
Alkan Apart Demre
A full-service apart-hotel in the heart of Demre town, steps from the Church of Saint Nicholas and within easy reach of the Myra rock-tombs and Andriake harbour.
Full kitchen · Free parking · Free Wi-Fi · Families & groups welcome
Gökyazı, İlkokul 3. Sokak, 07570 Demre/Antalya
Frequently asked questions
Names in other languages
| Turkish | Demre / Noel Baba Kilisesi |
|---|---|
| Greek | Mura / Agios Nikolaos |
| German | Myra / Nikolauskirche |
| Russian | Miry Likiyskie / Tserkov Svyatogo Nikolaya |
| French | Myre / Eglise Saint-Nicolas |
| Italian | Mira / San Nicola |