Smuggler's Inn

Gökkaya Bay lies on Turkey's Mediterranean coast between the towns of Kaş and Demre, in Antalya Province, within the wider Kekova region that has been protected as a specially designated conservation area since 1990. Sheltered by forested hills and fed by a seabed that holds well for anchoring, the bay is a natural overnight stop for boats working their way along this part of the coast.

On a small headland at the edge of the bay, reachable only by tender, stands the open-air bar known as Smuggler's Inn. Local lore ties its name to smugglers said to have used the coves here as a hideout in rougher times, though the story survives mainly as maritime folklore rather than documented history. Whatever its true origins, the bar has long been a fixture of evenings in Gökkaya Bay, drawing visitors ashore from anchored boats for music and drinks after dark.

By day the bay offers calmer pleasures: clear water for swimming, a coastline largely free of hazards near its entrance, and views over the surrounding hills. It is this mix of daytime tranquillity and nighttime buzz that keeps the bay on the itinerary of boats exploring the region, and many gulet cruises in Turkey call in here as part of a longer route through Kekova's coves and ancient sites.