St Nicholas Island

A stay in Oludeniz is not quite complete without a visit to the island named after St Nicholas? Santa Claus. Legend may have it that he came from the snowy North but he lived and died just down the coast from here at Myra?.he was a real person, famed for his good works and he did become a Saint!

To get to St Nicholas you can hire a boat, join one of the daily boat excursions or reach the Island by road from Kaya village and the Gemiler Beach. A Church on the peak which is reached from shore by a processional covered walk-way is dedicated to him. Tombs surround other Churches and lower down the shoreline is riddled with the remains of dwellings and water-cisterns all hewn out of the local rock..Antique jetties now stretch out into the shallow turquoise waters now submerged half a meter below sea level. Guides will tell you that this was a pirate island and Captain Hook would indeed have felt at home here. Today the Island provides a good anchorage for yachts. Daily gullet trips anchor behind the Island to give passengers the possibility to swim in the shallow waters, snorkel round the shore or visit the Island. You can decide whether you prefer the idea of early Christian inhabitants or Pirates! There is a small entrance fee, and boats selling pancakes, ice creams and waters sports such as Ringo and Banana?..so bring some money with you?and don't forget your camera.