Things to do in Kemer: top sights and where to go
Kemer is a resort town 40 km south-west of Antalya, squeezed between the Taurus mountains and the sea: the marina, the clock tower and Moonlight Park are 10–15 minutes apart on foot. The ruins of Phaselis and the cable car up Mount Tahtalı are 20–30 minutes away by road, Göynük Canyon 15. Keep a second day for Olympos and the Chimaera flames, about an hour south.
Sights
Kemer itineraries
Kemer travel guide
Before you go: villages and beaches, getting there from the airport, weather and sea by month, sights nearby.
Kemer on your own: the essentials
- How many days
- A week by the sea with 2–3 day trips
- When to go
- May–June and September–October
- Airport
- Antalya (AYT), ≈ 55 km — about an hour
- Where to stay
- Kemer town for walks; the villages for quiet coves
- Beaches
- Pebbles and clear water, mountains right behind
- Transport
- Dolmuş minibuses between villages; metered taxis
- Visa
- Visa-free or e-Visa, depending on your passport
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Money
- Turkish lira; tours are often priced in euros
- Time zone
- UTC+3 all year
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Mobile data
- eSIM before you fly or a local SIM at the airport
Key facts
Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Tahtalı Dağı”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Phaselis”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Chimaera (Yanartaş)”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Lycian Way”Sourcei
Blue Flag — beaches of TurkeyThings to do in Kemer
Kemer town has a seafront with the Clock Tower, a yacht marina and Moonlight Park with its beach. The highlights lie around it: ancient Phaselis, the Tahtalı cable car, Göynük Canyon, the Chimaera flames and Olympos. Every place with its YesGo score is in the list above; the “Map” button shows them on a map.
| Town | Clock Tower, Marina, Moonlight Park | ½ day |
|---|---|---|
| Tekirova | Phaselis, Tahtalı | 1 day |
| Göynük | Göynük Canyon | ½ day |
| Çıralı | Chimaera, Olympos | ½ day + evening |
| Coves | Paradise Bay, Suluada | 1 day |
Rather not plan it yourself? The list above has ready itineraries, with places in a sensible order, lunch and time for each stop.
Where to stay in Kemer
“Kemer” covers the whole coast from Beldibi to Tekirova — a town and several villages along the mountain road. The town is better for walking and cafés; the villages are quieter, with prettier coves. The further south, the further from the airport.
| Beldibi | Closest to Antalya, big resorts | Narrow shore under the mountains |
|---|---|---|
| Göynük | Families; canyon and beach close by | ≈ 10 min to town |
| Kemer town | Seafront, cafés, marina, evening walks | Busy in summer |
| Kiriş & Çamyuva | Quiet, pine woods, a calm holiday | Few shops |
| Tekirova | Near Phaselis, Tahtalı and coves | ≈ 1 h 15 min from the airport |
Antalya airport to Kemer
The nearest airport is Antalya (AYT), ≈ 55 km from Kemer town along a mountain road by the sea. A transfer or taxi is easiest, about an hour. The cheaper way is a bus to Antalya bus station and a dolmuş from there.
| Beldibi, Göynük | Transfer, taxi | ≈ 45–50 min |
|---|---|---|
| Kemer town | Transfer, taxi | ≈ 1 h |
| Kiriş, Tekirova | Transfer | ≈ 1 h 15 min |
| Via Antalya | Bus + dolmuş | ≈ 2 h |
Dolmuş minibuses run between the villages and to Antalya; stops are along the main road and you pay the driver.
Kemer weather by month
The best time to visit Kemer for the beach is late May to October, most comfortable in June and September–October. July and August are about 33 °C by day with the sea around 28 °C; in October the sea is still about 24 °C. The mountains bring cool evenings — and more winter rain than in Antalya.
°CiLong-term averages, °C: day and night air, sea water near the shore, rain — rainy days a month. Any given year can be warmer or cooler. Tap a month for details below. | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 15° | 16° | 18° | 21° | 25° | 30° | 33° | 33° | 30° | 26° | 21° | 17° |
| Night | 6° | 7° | 8° | 11° | 15° | 19° | 22° | 22° | 19° | 15° | 10° | 7° |
| Sea | 17° | 17° | 17° | 18° | 21° | 24° | 27° | 28° | 27° | 24° | 21° | 18° |
| Rain | 11 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 11 |
Warm — 20 °C and above by dayBest time to go: May–June and September–October
- day ≈ 15°
- night ≈ 6°
- sea ≈ 17°
- rain 11 days
Mild but rainy winter, snow on the peaks. Quiet seafront walks and an empty Phaselis. Too cold to swim, water — about 17°.
- day ≈ 16°
- night ≈ 7°
- sea ≈ 17°
- rain 10 days
Cool and damp. A time for mountains and ruins when the sun comes out. Too cold to swim, water — about 17°.
- day ≈ 18°
- night ≈ 8°
- sea ≈ 17°
- rain 8 days
First warm days, everything in bloom. Good for Göynük Canyon and the Lycian Way. Too cold to swim, water — about 17°.
- day ≈ 21°
- night ≈ 11°
- sea ≈ 18°
- rain 6 days
About 21° by day, the sea still cool. The best time for hiking and Tahtalı. Too cold to swim, water — about 18°.
- day ≈ 25°
- night ≈ 15°
- sea ≈ 21°
- rain 3 days
The season starts without the heat. One of the best months for sea and mountains. Swimmable, the water is fresh — about 21°.
- day ≈ 30°
- night ≈ 19°
- sea ≈ 24°
- rain 1 days
Warm sea and long days. Beach in the morning and evening. Warm for swimming, water — about 24°.
- day ≈ 33°
- night ≈ 22°
- sea ≈ 27°
- rain 0 days
Hot, about 33°. Tours early in the morning; the sea and pine shade by day. Warm for swimming, water — about 27°.
- day ≈ 33°
- night ≈ 22°
- sea ≈ 28°
- rain 0 days
The warmest sea. It’s cool on top of Tahtalı — bring a layer. Warm for swimming, water — about 28°.
- day ≈ 30°
- night ≈ 19°
- sea ≈ 27°
- rain 1 days
The heat eases, the sea stays warm. Good for both beach and mountains. Warm for swimming, water — about 27°.
- day ≈ 26°
- night ≈ 15°
- sea ≈ 24°
- rain 5 days
About 26° by day, the sea about 24°. Comfortable for coves and boat trips. Warm for swimming, water — about 24°.
- day ≈ 21°
- night ≈ 10°
- sea ≈ 21°
- rain 7 days
Rain begins, about 21° by day. A month for walks and trips to Antalya. Swimmable, the water is fresh — about 21°.
- day ≈ 17°
- night ≈ 7°
- sea ≈ 18°
- rain 11 days
Cool and rainy. A quiet seafront, the marina and views of snowy peaks. Too cold to swim, water — about 18°.
Temperatures are close to Antalya’s, but winter is wetter because of the mountains.
Kemer beaches
Kemer’s beaches are pebble or mixed sand and pebble, with clear water that often deepens quickly. The town’s Moonlight beach has sand and a gentle slope. The prettiest coves — Paradise Bay and Suluada island — are reached by boat.
- Moonlight Park — the town beach in a park, fine pebbles and sand; easy with kids.
- Paradise Bay — turquoise water under cliffs; by boat from the marina.
- Suluada — white rocks and a freshwater spring; by boat from Adrasan.
- Çıralı — a long wild beach by Olympos where sea turtles nest.
- Water shoes — useful on pebbles and rocks.
Kemer attraction ticket prices
The seafront, marina and town beach are free. You pay for Phaselis and Olympos, the Tahtalı cable car, the canyon and the Chimaera. The cable car is the most expensive ticket.
| Paradise Bay (Cennet Koyu) | 30 | 1 h | Free; boat trip from Kemer from ≈ €20 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phaselis | 29 | 1 h 30 min | €10, under-8s free |
| Chimaera flames (Yanartaş) | 25 | 1 h 15 min | 75–165 TL, sources differ |
| Göynük Canyon | 24 | 2 h 30 min | Canyon safari €25, boat €30 |
| Mount Tahtalı | 21 | 2 h | ≈ 2,440 TL ($50) return |
| Olympos | 21 | 2 h | €10, under 8 free |
| Suluada Island | 16 | 4 h | Free entry, tour ≈ €27–35 |
Free — 3 places: Kemer Clock Tower, Kemer Marina, Moonlight Park.
Phaselis and Olympos are covered by the Museum Pass Mediterranean. The cable car and the canyon are private and need their own ticket.
Day trips from Kemer
From Kemer it’s easy to visit Antalya and the ancient sites around it, or the coves by boat. Pamukkale and Myra with Kekova are full-day trips.
- Antalya — Kaleiçi old town and the Düden Waterfalls; ≈ 1 h.
- Demre, Myra & Kekova — rock tombs, St Nicholas Church and the sunken city; ≈ 2 h, a full day.
- Pamukkale — travertines and Hierapolis; ≈ 4.5 h each way.
- Perge & Aspendos — a Roman city and theatre; half a day via Antalya.
- Boat trip — Paradise Bay, the Pirate Cave and swim stops; from the marina.
Tips
- Go up Tahtalı in the morning: clouds often roll in later and hide the view.
- The Chimaera flames look best at dusk — a 20–30-minute walk up the path; bring a torch.
- Göynük Canyon’s water is cold even in summer — wetsuits are rented on site.
- Pick a small boat for a cove trip: the big “pirate” boats are loud and linger at every stop.
FAQ
Is Kemer worth visiting?
Yes, if you want beaches with mountains right behind them: clear water, pine forests, ancient Phaselis and Olympos, and the Tahtalı cable car — all within half an hour. For city life, combine it with Antalya, an hour away.
What are the best things to do in Kemer with kids?
Moonlight Park beach with its gentle slope, a boat trip to the coves, Göynük Canyon for older children, and the Tahtalı cable car. The marina and seafront are pleasant for evening walks.
What is there to do in Kemer at night?
Walk the seafront and the marina, eat in the town’s restaurants, and in summer visit the bars and clubs near Moonlight Park. For something different, see the Chimaera flames at dusk.
What is the weather like in Kemer in October?
About 26 °C by day and 15 °C at night, with the sea around 24 °C — fine for swimming all month. Rain becomes more frequent towards the end of October.
How far is Kemer from Antalya Airport?
About 55 km — roughly an hour by transfer or taxi to Kemer town; about 45 minutes to Beldibi and Göynük and 1 hour 15 minutes to Tekirova.
Is Kemer safe?
It is a quiet resort area and generally safe; take the usual precautions with valuables and agree taxi prices or use the meter.
Can you do a day trip from Kemer to Pamukkale?
Yes, it’s a long but common day trip — about 4.5 hours each way. Myra and Kekova, about 2 hours away, make an easier full day.
Sources and fact-check
- Wikipedia, “Kemer”; “Tahtalı Dağı”; “Phaselis”; “Chimaera (Yanartaş)”; “Lycian Way”
- Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Türkiye, muze.gov.tr — Phaselis, Olympos, Museum Pass Mediterranean
- Antalya Airport — official website
- Blue Flag — beaches of Turkey