Side-Turkey.

Long before red suits and reindeer, there was a real man: a bishop named Nicholas who lived and worked in the Lycian port city of Myra, today's Demre in Antalya province. The Church of St Nicholas, known in Turkish as Noel Baba, stands over the place where he served and was buried. If you have ever wondered where the Santa Claus legend actually comes from, this quiet basilica on the Turkish Riviera is the honest answer. Here is the real story, and how it fits into a day trip from Side or Antalya.

Who was the real St Nicholas?

Nicholas was born after the year 260 in Patara, a Greek-speaking harbour town in the Roman province of Lycia, in what is now southwestern Turkey. He came from a Christian family and went on to become bishop of nearby Myra. He appears on lists of bishops connected to the Council of Nicaea in 325, and he died on 6 December, sometime after the year 333. There was no martyrdom in the dramatic sense; sources describe a bishop who died of old age, remembered above all for his generosity.

The most famous legend explains the gift-giving. A poor man had three daughters and no money for their dowries. According to the tradition, Nicholas secretly delivered bags of gold to save them from a desperate fate. Some versions describe the gold tossed through a window, which later grew into the stocking-by-the-fire custom. That single act of quiet, anonymous kindness is the seed of everything we now associate with Santa.

From Myra to Santa Claus

After his death, Nicholas became one of the most venerated saints in Christianity, and his feast day on 6 December was celebrated across Europe for centuries. In the Netherlands he became known as Sinterklaas, and it is from that Dutch name, carried to the New World and amplified by later writers and advertisers, that the English Santa Claus emerged. In Turkey he is simply Noel Baba, Father Christmas. So the cheerful figure children wait for each December traces back, by a long and winding road, to this small town on the Mediterranean.

The church you actually visit in Demre

The building you see today was constructed in the sixth century over an older fourth-century church where Nicholas had served. The Byzantine emperor Justinian I supported reconstruction work. Over the Middle Ages the church was flooded and gradually buried under silt, and in the 1860s the Russian Tsar Nicholas I funded an excavation and restoration that added a tower and altered parts of the structure. Archaeological work resumed in 1988 and revealed chapels, frescoes depicting the saint's life and miracles, and a damaged sarcophagus thought to be his original tomb.

That detail matters, because his remains are no longer here. In 1087 sailors and merchants from Bari in Italy took the relics from Myra and carried them to Bari, where the Basilica di San Nicola was built to house them. So in Demre you stand at the original burial site and the heart of the story, while the bones rest in Italy. The church is recognised as the St Nicholas Memorial Museum and sits on UNESCO's tentative list for World Heritage status.

Visiting respectfully

This is a working historical and religious site, so modest dress and a quiet manner are appreciated. Entrance fees and opening hours change, so please check the official museum site or confirm details at booking rather than relying on numbers you read online.

Quick Facts

• Duration: A long full day, early morning start and evening return, confirmed at booking.
• Pick-up: Hotel pick-up from Side, Manavgat & nearby resorts; time confirmed at booking.
• Includes: Comfortable transfer and guided visit to Demre, Myra and Kekova; specifics confirmed at booking.
• Excludes: Site entrance fees, lunch and personal spending unless stated; check official site / confirm at booking.
• Family Friendly: Yes, the St Nicholas story is genuinely engaging for children, though it is a long travel day.
• Best Season: Spring and autumn are most comfortable; the site is open year-round.
• Difficulty: Easy walking, mostly flat ground inside the church; long total day.

Related Excursions

• Tours from Side
• Tours from Antalya
• Tours from Alanya
• Tours from Kemer
• Tours from Belek
• More travel guides on our blog

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Church of St Nicholas the same as Santa Claus?

Yes, in the sense that the historical St Nicholas, bishop of Myra, is the real person the Santa Claus legend grew from. Demre is his town and burial place.

Are St Nicholas's bones still in Demre?

No. His relics were taken to Bari in Italy in 1087. In Demre you visit the original church, his empty sarcophagus and the site where he was buried.

Why is he called Noel Baba in Turkey?

Noel Baba simply means Father Christmas in Turkish. It is the local name for the same St Nicholas the rest of the world knows as Santa Claus.

Can I visit the church on a tour from Side?

Yes. The Demre, Myra and Kekova day trip departs from Side, Manavgat and nearby resorts with hotel pick-up; times are confirmed at booking.

What else do I see on the same day?

Most trips combine the church with the Lycian rock-cut tombs and Roman theatre at ancient Myra, and a boat over the Sunken City at Kekova near Kalekoy castle.

How much is the entrance fee?

Fees and opening hours change, so we do not quote numbers here. Please check the official museum site or confirm at booking.

Is it suitable for children?

Yes. The Santa Claus connection makes it memorable for kids, but remember it is a long full day of travel.

When is the best time to go?

Spring and autumn offer the most comfortable weather, though the church is open all year.

Ready to walk in the footsteps of the real Santa Claus? Book this trip direct with the Murat Atalay team via WhatsApp or info@side-turkey.com. Booking direct removes agency and OTA commission, and comes with our best-price guarantee.