Myra Archaeological Site

Address: Myra (ancient city), near Demre, Antalya Province, Turkey

Hours: Site generally open during daylight hours; seasonal variations apply

Admission: Admission usually charged at the archaeological site/museum (fees set by Turkish Ministry of Culture)

Myra is an ancient Lycian city in what is now Antalya Province in southern Turkey, noted for its rock-cut tombs and an extensive Roman theatre. The site preserves tomb façades carved into cliffs and large public architecture from the Roman and Byzantine periods.

The principal attractions are the cliffside Lycian tombs and the theatre, both impressive in scale and preservation; the area around the excavated ruins includes walkable terraces and visible street layouts.

Historically, Myra was an important Lycian and later Roman and Byzantine settlement; a 4th-century bishop of the city, Saint Nicholas, is associated with the town in historical sources. Over time the city declined and was partly buried by alluvium, with modern archaeological work exposing substantial ruins.

Myra sits near the modern coastal town of Demre on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast in Antalya Province, accessible by road from Antalya and other regional centres.

• Access: The site lies close to the modern town of Demre and is easily combined with visits to the nearby St. Nicholas Church and local museum.

What to See#

• Roman theatre: A large Roman theatre set into the landscape with surviving seating tiers and stage structures dating to the Roman period.
• Lycian rock-cut tombs: Rock-cut Lycian tombs carved into cliff faces that remain visible above the ancient city’s lower terraces.
• Church and bishopric: A Byzantine-era site and later ecclesiastical remains linked to the historical see where St. Nicholas served as bishop in the 4th century.

The archaeological site of Myra is beside the modern town of Demre (Antalya Province). It is reached by car on the D400 coastal road from Antalya and other coastal towns; regional intercity buses serve Demre from Antalya’s main bus station (Otogar). From Demre town centre the site is a short walk or a very short local taxi ride.

• Visit first thing in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the larger cruise‑ship and bus groups that arrive midday at the Demre/Myra ruins.
• Enter from the main Demre road car park and approach the Lycian rock‑cut tombs from the terrace above the theatre for the best view of the tomb façades and the Roman theatre in one sweep.
• Combine the Myra ruins with nearby St. Nicholas Church and the small Demre museum in the same village - many visitors see the tombs only and miss these closely located sites.