Karain Mağarası

About Karain Mağarası

Karain Cave is one of the largest natural caves in Turkey and, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the largest cave in the country known to have been lived in by people. It lies 430 to 450 metres above sea level within the boundaries of Yağca, about 30 km northwest of Antalya and 5 to 6 km from the old Antalya to Burdur road; the Ministry gives its distance from Antalya as 27 km. Excavations have been carried out here since 1946, and they show that the area was already used as a place of settlement around 500,000 years ago. That makes Karain an important Palaeolithic centre for the history of Anatolia and the Near East. The plant and animal remains found in the cave have also played a big part in reconstructing the ancient environment of the western Mediterranean. Together with the other caves around it, Karain is being put forward for the UNESCO World Heritage List as a mixed site, for both its natural and its cultural value. The cave is open every day. When checked in November 2026 the Ministry listed hours of 08:00 to 17:00, with the ticket office closing at 16:30; hours change by season. MüzeKart is valid for Turkish citizens.