Kızkalesi & Silifke

A resort town on Turkey's Cilician coast, where the Maiden's Castle rises from the bay, surrounded by the Heaven and Hell sinkholes and Roman-Byzantine ancient cities such as Kanlıdivane and Uzuncaburç.

Kızkalesi and Silifke lie on the Cilician coast in southwestern Mersin Province, Turkey, about 60 km southwest of the city of Mersin and roughly 1.5–2 hours' drive from the airport serving the Adana–Mersin (Çukurova) area. Kızkalesi is a seaside resort in Erdemli district, where the 12th–13th-century Maiden's Castle stands in the bay, facing the Corycus land castle on the shore. Silifke is the district town at the mouth of the Göksu River, crowned by a medieval hilltop castle. This area was the heart of ancient Rough Cilicia and is packed with Roman and Byzantine ruins. Around Kızkalesi are the Heaven and Hell sinkholes, the Wishing Cave, the Narlıkuyu mosaic, the Adamkayalar rock reliefs, the sinkhole city of Kanlıdivane and the ancient city of Elaiussa Sebaste. Around Silifke are the pilgrimage site of Saint Thecla, the ancient city of Uzuncaburç in the mountains to the north, Boğsak Bay to the southwest and the Göksu Delta birdwatching area, with Alahan Monastery further away in the mountains. Jun–Sep is ideal for beach holidays, while Apr–May and October have pleasant temperatures and are best for visiting ruins. Summer middays are hot, so visit sites early or late in the day. Sights are spread out, so driving is best, though minibuses on the D400 highway connect Mersin and Silifke. Plan to stay 2–4 days.

Top sights

• Kızkalesi (Maiden's Castle) – A medieval sea castle on a small island about 300 meters offshore, facing the land-based Korykos Castle on the coast. It is a landmark of t…
• Cennet and Cehennem Sinkholes – Two giant sinkholes formed by karst collapse. Descend more than 400 steps to a Byzantine chapel and a mythical cave at the bottom of Cennet…
• Uzuncaburç (Diocaesarea) – A Hellenistic ancient city in the Taurus Mountains with a well-preserved Corinthian colonnade of the Temple of Zeus, a tall tower, a theatr…
• Silifke Castle – A medieval fortress on the hilltop behind Silifke, built in the Byzantine period and later used by the Crusaders and Armenians, with views…
• Hagia Thekla (Ayatekla) – A pilgrimage site of the early Christian female saint Thecla, with the surviving semicircular apse of a 5th-century cathedral and an underg…
• Kanlıdivane (Kanytelis) – A giant sinkhole about 60 meters deep, ringed by Roman and Byzantine ruins including four churches, towers and fine sarcophagus tombs.
• Elaiussa Sebaste – A Roman ancient city beside the coastal road, with a theater built into the hillside, an ancient harbor, a temple and Byzantine church mosa…
• Adamkayalar – More than ten Roman-era human reliefs carved into the cliffs of a canyon, reached by a steep mountain path. It is a hidden hiking spot near…
• Narlıkuyu Mosaic Museum – A small museum built on the site of a 4th-century Roman bathhouse, whose treasure is the 'Three Graces' floor mosaic. The bay it sits on is…
• Astım Cave (Wishing Cave) – A stalactite cave beside the Heaven and Hell sinkhole. Locals believe its humid air benefits asthma, hence the name 'Asthma Cave,' also kno…
• Göksu Delta – A Ramsar wetland of international importance, where lagoons, dunes and reed beds are home to over 300 bird species, including flamingos and…
• Korykos Land Castle – A medieval land castle facing the Maiden's Castle across the water, with well-preserved double walls. Its battlements overlook the Kızkales…
• Kızkalesi Beach – A Blue Flag beach of fine sand and gently sloping, clear water, facing the Maiden's Castle, where visitors can swim or rent boats and paddl…
• Boğsak Bay & Island – A pine-forested bay southwest of Silifke, with Byzantine ruins scattered across the island at its mouth. Its clear waters suit swimming and…
• Alahan Monastery – A 5th-century Byzantine monastic complex on a cliff terrace of the Taurus Mountains, whose finely carved rectangular church facade is remar…
• Silifke Museum – A regional museum displaying coin hoards, Roman statues, mosaics and folk objects from the Cilicia region. It makes a good introduction bef…
• Frederick Barbarossa Memorial – A stone memorial beside the Göksu River commemorating Emperor Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor, who drowned here in 1190 while on the Third…

Where to eat

• Yörük Apo Lagos Balıkçısı – A long-standing seafood restaurant on Narlıkuyu Bay, right on the sea, famous for grilled grouper and buttery spicy shr…
• Rüzgar Tantuni – A local Silifke favorite and the first place residents think of for tantuni, known for its yogurt tantuni wrapped in do…
• Chaplin Cafe & Restoran – A casual restaurant on Kızkalesi's seafront road, steps from the sea, where you can enjoy seafood and pizza while looki…