How to Get to Meis from Kaş

NOTE: Due to the pandemic, flights from Kaş to Meis are still not available as of May 2021. There may be developments in June, stay tuned...

There are two agencies that provide transportation from Kaş to Meis. They provide transportation from Kaş port by big boats once a week in winter and every day in summer according to demand. Boats depart at 10:00 in the morning and return at 16:00. Due to the passport queue in the summer period, your entrance to the island can reach 11 -12. The journey takes 25 minutes. The transportation fee between Kaş and Meis is 25 euros round trip.

During the summer, there are flights to Meis twice a week in the evenings. You can have a nice dinner by the sea in Meis by joining the 18.00 departure and 23.00 return flights. In fact, those who want to spend a longer time on the island can choose one of these two days and get on the boat at 10:00 in the morning and return at 23:00 at night.

Visa Status

A Schengen visa is required to go to Meis Island. No action is required for those who already have a visa and a green passport. Those who do not have a visa can obtain a special gate visa to Meis and some Greek islands. For this, only two photographs and a photocopy of the passport need to be given 3 days in advance. The visa fee is 70 euros. With this visa, you can stay in Meis for up to 10 days.

Daily Boat Trip to Meis

There is also a boat tour that goes from Kaş port to Meis every day during the summer period. The 12-person boat departs at 11:00 in the morning and returns to Kaş at 22:00 in the evening. Blue Cave, Mandraki Bay, St. George Beach and Meis center are places to stop by boat. Lunch is served on the boat. The price per person is 55 euro. Those who do not have a Schengen visa can apply for a gate visa by contacting them in advance.

Where to Stay in Meis

Apart from 2-3 luxury hotels, there are hostels and houses to stay in Meis. Rooms cost between 200-300 euros per night. But you can find rooms between 80-100 euros in hostels. If you want to rent a house, it is even cheaper (70-80 euros). At least 3-4 people can stay in the houses. Regarding accommodation in houses, Huriye Bakırcı Magiatris, a bride from Kaş to the island, helps those who are looking for a place to stay.

Places to Visit in Meis

Today, only 400-odd people live on the island, where 15 thousand people lived in the past. Of course, the population revives with the Greeks who come to visit their homes in the summer and the tourists from Kaş. The settlement is small enough to walk in 1-2 hours. It is best to leave yourself to its narrow, well-maintained streets full of colorful flowers and get lost. Of course, it is not possible to get lost, this is a very small settlement. You don't have to search anywhere specifically, you will come across two museums, chapels and monasteries. Don't forget to stop and take a break at a cafe or restaurant you like...

Very few cars and engines are used on the island. If you want, you can rent a motorbike and travel all the ways you can go. As of 2019, there are 12 restaurants, 4 cafes-bars, 1 patisserie, 2 markets and 6 accommodation places on the island.
Places to visit

- The knight's castle, built on the hill on the left while approaching the port, was built in the 14th century. In fact, it was built on an even older castle. It reaches the castle with a steep walk. The steep iron staircase mounted on the castle wall takes you to the top. At the summit there is nothing but the stone ruins of the castle, but the view is of course impressive...

- There are two Lycian rock tombs on the island. That's why Meis has the title of having the only rock tombs in Europe. When you walk along the shore from the port to the knight's castle, you will notice it among the rocks.

- The Ottoman mosque built in 1753, which you will notice on the left side of the port, was restored in 2007 and turned into an ethnography museum. Items and artifacts belonging to the island life from the 20th century are on display. There is also an archeology museum on the island.

- St. To reach George of the Mountain Monastery, you have to climb the stone stairs that you will see on the hill behind the island centre. Completing the 400-step ladder requires very good conditioning, especially in the summer heat. As you climb, you have the chance to watch the port, all the houses and the sea from a bird's eye view.

After completing the 400-step stone staircase, you will proceed on a flat area and then you will reach a point where you can see the other side of the island. When you go a little further, you will come across a locked monastery, surrounded by thick walls like a castle. But reaching him is an excuse anyway. From here, watch the size, virginity and emptiness of the island in the company of the wind. Enjoy the short taste of monastic life...

It takes 45 minutes to get to the top of the hill without hurrying and taking pictures. It will be very difficult to climb all the stairs in the summer heat, you can go to a place and come back. But you should not forget to take a hat, glasses and sunscreen with you. By the way, it is possible to go up the hill by taxi for 15 euros.

- When you walk to the other end of the bowl-shaped harbor, the white church standing alone will attract your attention. Sculptor Alexandros has been spending the summer months here for many years. The church is closed to worship, but thanks to it, it gained a different meaning. Alexandros carved both the rock pieces around the church and the rock walls of the church into sculptures. There are also different sculpture works inside. The church is both the exhibition space and its living space, so it must act in a quiet and respectful manner. By the way, it is very pleasant to swim in front of the church...

Places to Swim

There is no flat-footed beach on the island where you can swim. It is possible to swim in the sea from the stairs in front of some cafes and hotels in the port. The sea at both ends of the port is quite clean and clear. But in the middle, the sea seems to be more polluted and turbid.

- Just in front of the old mosque at the left end of the harbor, a cafe with sun loungers and umbrellas is used as a beach. From the stairs in front of you, you can enter the sea as if you were entering the pool. A point where you can swim at the Megisti Hotel at the right end of the port. You can take advantage of the sun loungers here by paying a fee.

- Saint George Beach, built on a small islet right in front of Meis, is the cleanest spot to swim. You have to reach here by sea taxi (5 euro). Sunbeds and umbrellas are 4 euro, food and beverage menus are extensive. You can enter the sea again by descending the stairs. One of its operators is a Turkish bride from Kaş. It helps you with many issues related to the candidate. By the way, when you take the water taxi to the Blue Cave, you can get off at Saint George Beach on the way back, so you don't have to pay 5 euro again to go to this beach.

- The small bay adjacent to the port is called Mandraki. Even though it doesn't look very attractive, there are people who swim from the stony little beach here.