Demre is a town and its neighboring district in the Antalya Province on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, named after the river Demre.


Demre is the Lycian village of Myra, the home of Saint Nicholas of Myra, the real man later progressed into the figure of Santa Claus. The district was recognized as Kale until it renamed in 2005. An active Christian community of Greeks lived in Demre (Myra) until the 1920s when they were forced to move to Greece after the Population exchange between Greece and Turkey.The abandoned Greek villages in the region are a striking reminder of this exodus.

Abandoned Greek houses can still see at Demre and the areas of Kalkan, Kas and Kaya, which is a Greek ghost town.A small community of Turkish farmers moved into the region when the Greek Christians were forced to go to Greece.The area is famous with tourists today mainly Christian pilgrims who visit the tomb of Saint Nicholas.