Kaş, Turkey: A Charming Seaside Town for Solo Women Over 50

Why I Could Have Stayed in Kas a Month or Two

Cafés, Calm Evenings & Crystal Clear Water

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you. Last updated: 26/10/26

Finding the right destination for solo travel in midlife isn’t always about ticking off famous sights. Sometimes it’s about finding somewhere you can settle into, enjoy good food, explore at your own pace and spend time beside the sea without feeling you need to be doing something every minute.

Kaş, a small coastal town on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast, has much of that appeal. With its characterful old town, independent cafés, beautiful blue water and relaxed atmosphere, it offers something different from a conventional beach resort.

A quick note on my perspective: I travel solo most of the time, but for this two-week stay in Kaş a friend joined me. I then carried on to Cappadocia on my own, and I’ll admit I had a bit of a wobble about those onward plans as I could’ve easily have spent a month or two in Kaş on my own. So my thoughts on solo female travel here are partly what I experienced and partly what I can imagine for a woman travelling alone, and I’ll try to be clear about which is which.

There is also one important consideration: Kaş is very hilly, which can make getting around challenging if you have foot pain or mobility difficulties (which I did).

So what makes Kaş appealing for midlife solo women, and what should you consider before booking?

A town with character and a slower pace

Kaş is not an undiscovered secret. Independent travellers, divers, hikers and Turkish holidaymakers have enjoyed it for years. But compared with some of Turkey’s larger, more heavily promoted resort destinations, it feels more intimate and individual.

The old town is a maze of narrow streets, bougainvillea-covered buildings, small boutiques and inviting cafés. The harbour is lined with boats, the sea is gloriously blue, and the surrounding mountains provide a dramatic backdrop.

Rather than being dominated by large hotel complexes, the town has a compact centre of small businesses, restaurants, guesthouses and shops. You can wander, browse, find a restaurant you want to return to, or simply watch everyday life unfold.

Kaş isn’t free from tourism, and it can be busy in peak season, especially with Turkish visitors (it was in September when I was there), but it seemed that International visitors were rarer, and when I did spot them they seemed to be on guided tours, perhaps from nearby Kalkan.

A lovely place to enjoy the sea

Kaş offers a combination of sea, history, nature and everyday Turkish life. You can wander through the old town in the morning, take a boat trip in the afternoon and have dinner in a small restaurant in the evening. Or you can leave your plans open and see what you feel like doing.

Swimming from the bathing platforms

Because of its rocky coastline, Kaş has very few conventional beaches. There is one tiny sliver of a beach in town, and it really is tiny. Instead you’ll find bathing platforms, often attached to cafés, where you pay a small fee for a sun lounger and some shade before taking the steps down into the sea.

I loved this. There was something heavenly about descending into that warm, deep-blue water. I’ll admit I didn’t love paying to use the sea, but I accepted it as part of the cost of the holiday. If you enjoy swimming but don’t need sand, the platforms are a lovely part of the Kaş experience.

If you do want a proper beach, a short, regular bus ride will take you to one a few kilometres out of town.

bathing platforms are the best way to relax and get in the water

chilling by the sea front before bathing

Explore the coast at your own pace

If you want to do more than swim, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the scenery:

Take a boat trip along the coast, with chances to swim in beautiful bays. There are so many boats to choose from.
Join a guided kayaking excursion around Kekova, passing the remains of an ancient sunken settlement.
Go snorkelling or scuba diving with a reputable local operator.
Walk a section of the Lycian Way if you enjoy hiking.
Find a spot beside the water and watch the boats.

And if none of that appeals, you can simply enjoy the view from a café terrace or take a gentle stroll through town.

Kas harbour is lined with excursion boats

Cafés, Turkish food and little pleasures

Kaş has some lovely independent cafés serving coffee, herbal teas, fresh juices and a good range of food.

When I travel I often find one café that ticks every box, and Yaz Rüyası was that café: beautiful interior, lovely vibe, friendly staff, great coffee and healthy food. I loved their breakfast bowls. A leisurely breakfast is one of those simple pleasures that can make a trip feel special, whether you’re with someone or enjoying your own company.

There are plenty of places for lunch and dinner, from restaurants serving the full range of Turkish and international cuisine to local spots offering very good-value traditional Turkish food, including kebabs, meat stews and meze. The portions are often huge. I once ordered a few dishes thinking they’d be small plates, and there was enough to feed a family of four! If you’re eating alone, start with one or two dishes.

One of my favourite evening rituals, and one the locals clearly share, was stopping for a cup of tea in the large central square, where people gather to drink tea and chat. Afterwards, find a spot for some baklava or Turkish delight. So good!

this photo was actually taken in Istanbul but you get the idea!

If you love cats, you’ll be pleased to know there are plenty around Kaş. Many seemed well looked after, with local people putting out food for them. It was a small detail, but it added to the town’s charm.

Is Kaş good for solo female travel?

One of the biggest worries I think a lot of women have about travelling alone is feeling conspicuous. Will I feel awkward eating alone? Will everyone else be in couples? Will I spend the whole holiday wishing I’d brought someone with me? These concerns are understandable, especially if solo travel is new to you.

Although a friend joined me for this stay, I felt Kaş had enough variety that I could easily have stayed on there alone.

You can sit at a waterfront café with a book, join a small-group boat trip, book a guided excursion or strike up a conversation with other travellers. I particularly liked the large central square for this: you can buy a tea, and it’s perfectly acceptable to join a table with other people. It’s a great way to get chatting.

Equally, you can enjoy your own company without feeling you need to explain yourself. There’s something freeing about ordering exactly what you want for dinner, changing your plans on a whim, or spending an afternoon by the sea simply because you feel like it.

For me, midlife has been about discovering how enjoyable it can be to simply be alone.

I loved this little find – a small bookstore

also selling English books so you can top up your reading supply

Quick Links for Kas

Guided tours and experiences: use Viator or Get Your Guide
Top rated Day Trips: Kas: (Small Group) Day Trip to Kekova Island, Demre & Myra
Cooking Class: Kaş: Home Cooking Class with Sea View
Airport Transfers: Check Welcome Pick ups
Book airport bus transfers: Antalya Airport Transfers – Taxi, minivans & coaches |
Book your hotel: use booking.com
Money: use Wise for ease for transferring currencies
Stay Connected: get Airolo eSIM

For all my useful Travel Resources – see here.

Exploring beyond Kaş

Kaş is more than a pretty town centre. The surrounding region has historical sites and beautiful coastal landscapes, which makes it a useful base. You can visit the ancient remains at Antiphellos, explore the landscapes around Kekova, or take a bus to nearby Kalkan. Depending on your interests, you could spend your days on history, walking, swimming or boat trips, or a little of everything.

Organised excursions are a good option for solo travellers, especially for places that would otherwise need complicated transport. You get local knowledge and the chance to meet people, while keeping the rest of your time free.

Kaş is not a major transport hub, though. Some attractions need planning, and journeys around the region can involve longer road trips. A little research before you arrive will help you make the most of your time.

Getting to Kaş and the best time to visit

The nearest airports are Dalaman and Antalya, both with onward transfers or buses to Kaş. We flew into Dalaman and took a small minibus shuttle bus to Kaş, which takes about three hours and was easy to arrange. The company communicated by WhatsApp so I could confirm our arrival, and they held the bus when we were late. This cost approx. £10.

On the way back we went to Antalya, with a bus from Kaş which again was around £10.

You can also book private transfers to both airports.

I visited in the first two weeks of September, when it was still very hot but not too hot. I think the shoulder months are perfect, with warm springs and autumns: May, June, September and October.

Did Kaş feel safe as a solo woman?

During my visit I didn’t experience the persistent attention from restaurant owners that I’d encountered in Istanbul. People in Kaş seemed respectful and the town felt relaxed. It isn’t a nightclub or heavy-drinking kind of place, either: tea seemed far more popular than alcohol, which gave the evenings a calm, easygoing feel.

As anywhere, pay attention to your surroundings and choose accommodation and transport you feel comfortable with. If you’re staying up in the hills, also think about the walk back after dark.

Where to stay in Kaş

There’s a good range of hotels, guesthouses and apartments, so you can choose what suits your budget and the kind of stay you want.

If you’re considering an apartment, pay close attention to its exact location. Many Airbnb properties have amazing views, but some are a little way out of town and up very steep hills. If you don’t have a car, or if hills are difficult for you, look for somewhere in the town centre and check the route on foot before booking.

Our apartment worked well: it was in town but quiet, two minutes walk to supermarkets, had lovely views and was about a ten-minute walk from the sea.

→ Check this apartment out here.

lovely spacious living area with windows and balconies on three walls!

Is Kaş hilly? Mobility and energy limitations

The main thing I’d want you to know about Kaş is that it is very hilly. I was struggling with tendonitis in my foot during my visit, and going up and down the hills made it worse. I’d also struggled with hills in Istanbul and Cappadocia, so it was something I was particularly aware of.

If you have foot pain, balance difficulties, fatigue or other mobility limitations, think about the terrain before you book. Even if your accommodation looks close to the centre on a map, the route may involve steep slopes or uneven surfaces. Turkey is particularly hilly. Check the location carefully, ask your host about the approach, and consider how you’ll get around on days when your energy is low. Many apartments also don’t have lifts. Ours was on the third floor with no lift.

The bathing platforms involve steps down into the water, which I actually liked: walking along a beach would probably have aggravated my tendonitis, so the steps were perfect. Also, some excursions, however, may involve more walking or physical effort than you expect.

None of this means Kaş is automatically unsuitable. It means being realistic about what you can comfortably manage and choosing your activities and accommodation accordingly. For me, the hills were a real challenge at the time, but the atmosphere, cafés and beautiful sea made it easy to see why someone might want to stay longer.

→ Curious about travelling solo with a chronic health condition or limited energy? Read this post.

Would I recommend Kaş for midlife solo women?

Yes, with one important caveat about the hills.

Kaş has a lot to offer if you want character, lovely cafés, good food, beautiful sea views and a relaxed feel. It suits women who want a mix of gentle exploring and optional activities, rather than a holiday planned from morning until night.

If you have mobility or energy limitations, think carefully about where you stay and how you’ll manage the hills, steps and walking routes. Choose your base well, leave room in your plans for rest, and don’t feel you have to do everything.

Sometimes the best destination isn’t the one where you see the most. It’s the one where you can find a rhythm that feels right for you.

Quick answers about Kaş for solo women

Is Kaş good for solo female travel? I found Kaş relaxed and respectful, with independent cafés, small-group boat trips and a central square where it’s easy to chat.

Is Kaş hilly? Very. If you have foot pain or mobility difficulties, check your accommodation’s exact location, the route on foot and whether there’s a lift before you book.

Does Kaş have beaches? Very few. Most swimming is from bathing platforms attached to cafés, where you pay a small fee and take steps down into the sea. Regular buses run to beaches a few kilometres out of town.

Is Kaş a party town? No. It isn’t a nightclub or heavy-drinking kind of place, tea and coffee seemed far more popular than alcohol.

How long should I stay in Kaş? I had two weeks and could easily have spent a month or two. It’s just one of those places you can melt into,

When is the best time to visit Kaş? Kaş can be busy in peak season, especially with Turkish visitors. I visited in the first two weeks of September, when it was still very hot. I think September, October, May and June would be perfect.