Kemer is where the Taurus mountains tumble straight into a clear blue sea, giving it a fresher, more scenic feel than the flat eastern resorts. About 55 km west of Antalya, it is a favourite for families and nature lovers, with a cable car to a 2,365-metre summit, ancient ruins you can swim beside, canyons, a lively marina and pine-backed beaches. Here are the best things to do in Kemer.
The Tahtalı cable car
The star attraction is the Tahtalı (Olympos) cable car, which climbs to the 2,365-metre summit of Mount Tahtalı for one of the finest panoramas in Turkey, taking in the whole Gulf of Antalya, the coastline and the mountains. On a clear day it is breathtaking, and paragliders launch from the top. It is cooler up there, so take a layer even in summer. This is the sight visitors remember most from Kemer.
Phaselis ancient city
Just south of Kemer near Tekirova, Phaselis is a beautiful ancient harbour city set among pines between three small bays. You can walk the ruined main street, see the theatre and aqueduct, and then swim off the ancient harbour beaches, a rare and lovely combination of history and clear water. It is one of the most atmospheric sites on the coast.
Göynük Canyon
Near Göynük, the canyon of the same name is a narrow gorge of turquoise pools and towering rock walls, where you can walk in along boardwalks and, for the adventurous, book canyoning trips with guides. It is a refreshing, scenic escape from the beach and popular with active families.
The marina, town and Moonlight Beach
Kemer town centres on a smart marina lined with restaurants, bars and shops, with yachts and gulets moored up and boat trips departing. Moonlight Beach (Ay Işığı) is the main town beach, a Blue Flag pebble beach with clear water and full facilities. The pedestrianised centre is pleasant for an evening stroll, dinner and a drink.
Boat trips and the clear-water coast
The water around Kemer is some of the clearest near Antalya, which makes boat trips especially rewarding. Day trips visit hidden coves, Phaselis and swimming spots along the pine-clad coast, and pirate-themed boats are popular with families. The beaches here are pebble rather than sand, but the clarity of the water more than compensates.
Yörük Park and local culture
For a taste of local heritage, the Yörük Park open-air museum near Kemer recreates the traditional nomadic Yörük way of life, with tents, crafts and displays in a scenic clifftop setting. It is a gentle, cultural stop that pairs well with a coastal walk.
Olympos and the Chimaera nearby
South along the coast from Kemer lie Olympos and Çıralı, famous for two things: the atmospheric ancient ruins scattered through the trees down to a quiet beach, and the Chimaera (Yanartaş), where natural gas has burned from the mountainside for thousands of years. Visiting the eternal flames after dark, when they glow most vividly, is unforgettable, and the laid-back treehouse pensions of Olympos are a world away from the big resorts. It makes a wonderful day or overnight trip from Kemer.
Water sports and diving
The clear water around Kemer is ideal for water sports. Scuba diving is popular here, with dive schools running trips to reefs, caves and even underwater wrecks, and you will also find snorkelling, sea kayaking, parasailing and boat tours. The combination of clean, clear water and dramatic underwater scenery makes Kemer one of the better spots near Antalya for getting under the surface, whether you are a first-timer or a certified diver.
Best time to visit Kemer
Kemer is at its best in the warm months, with summer prime for the beaches, boat trips and water sports, and the shoulder seasons of spring and autumn wonderful for the cable car, canyon walks and ruins without the peak heat. The mountains can be cooler than the coast, so pack a layer for the cable-car summit whenever you visit. See the best time to visit Antalya for a month-by-month view.
Who Kemer suits and when to go
Kemer is ideal for families and nature lovers who want mountains, clear water and activities alongside the beach, in a fresher setting than the flat eastern resorts. Spring and autumn are wonderful for the cable car, canyon and ruins, while summer is prime for the beaches and boat trips. See our guide to the best time to visit Antalya to plan.
Kemer town, marina and shopping
Kemer town is compact and walkable, built around its smart marina where yachts and gulets moor and boat trips depart. The pedestrianised centre has restaurants, cafes, bars and shops, plus a bazaar for souvenirs, leather and textiles where haggling is expected. In the evening it is pleasant and relatively relaxed, good for a stroll, dinner by the water and a drink, without the full-on nightlife of Alanya. A little tourist train and the palm-lined streets give it an easygoing holiday feel that families in particular enjoy.
The nearby resorts and villages
The Kemer district takes in a string of smaller resort villages worth knowing about. Göynük is the gateway to its famous canyon, Tekirova sits beside the ruins of Phaselis, and Çamyuva and Kiriş offer quieter beach bases. Each has its own character while sharing the same clear water and mountain scenery, so you can pick a livelier or calmer spot within easy reach of Kemer's attractions. This variety makes the Kemer coast flexible for different kinds of holiday, from active family trips to quiet couples' escapes.
Where to stay and family activities
Kemer has everything from big all-inclusive resorts to smaller family hotels and pensions, many backed by the mountains and fronting the pebble beaches. For families, the mix of beach, boat trips, the cable car, the canyon and nearby ruins keeps a range of ages entertained, and dinosaur and adventure parks and water sports add to the list. The fresher mountain-and-sea setting, clear water and abundance of activities are exactly why Kemer appeals to families and nature lovers looking for more than a flat beach strip.
Food and dining in Kemer
Kemer offers a good spread of dining, from resort restaurants to the marina and town-centre eateries serving fresh fish, Turkish grills and international dishes. A local speciality worth seeking out is the trout served at the riverside restaurants up at Ulupinar, on the road toward Olympos, where you dine on platforms among the trees beside cool mountain streams, a memorable setting for a long lunch. In town, the pedestrianised centre has plenty of relaxed places to eat and drink in the evening, and as always it is worth trying authentic local food rather than sticking only to the hotel buffet.
Practical tips for a Kemer holiday
A few practical notes help you enjoy Kemer. The beaches are pebble rather than sand, so water shoes are genuinely useful, and the mountain setting means it can be a touch cooler and fresher than the flat eastern resorts, with a layer worth packing for the cable-car summit and cooler evenings. The town is walkable, but the canyon, Phaselis and the Olympos coast are spread out, so plan transport for day trips, whether by car with a driver or organised tours. Carry water and sun protection for the exposed sites and boat trips, and some cash in lira for markets and smaller cafes, and you are set for a varied, active holiday.
Diving and boat trip tips
The clear water around Kemer makes it one of the better spots near Antalya for getting under the surface. If you fancy trying scuba diving, the local dive schools run beginner discover-diving sessions as well as trips for certified divers to reefs, caves and wrecks, all in notably clear water. For boat trips, the pirate-themed boats are a hit with children, while quieter cruises focus on swimming stops in coves and visits to Phaselis. Booking through a reputable operator, checking what is included, and bringing sun protection, water and a towel make for a smooth day on the water.
Is Kemer right for you?
Kemer is ideal if you want mountains, clear water and plenty of activities alongside your beach time, in a fresher, greener setting than the flat eastern resorts. Families and nature lovers are especially well served, with the cable car, canyon, ancient ruins, boat trips and diving all close by. The trade-off is pebble rather than sandy beaches, so if soft sand is essential you might prefer the eastern resorts, but if you value scenery, clear water and things to do, Kemer is hard to beat. Its scenic 50-minute transfer along the coast road is a pleasant introduction to this beautiful stretch of the Riviera.
How to get to Kemer
Kemer is about 55 km west of Antalya Airport, roughly a 50-minute drive on a scenic coastal road that curves along the foot of the mountains. A private transfer is the easy, comfortable way to arrive, at a fixed price with a driver who knows the winding coast road. See prices on our Kemer transfer page and the full destinations page.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best things to do in Kemer?
Ride the Tahtalı cable car to a 2,365-metre summit for huge views, explore and swim at the ancient harbour city of Phaselis, walk Göynük Canyon's turquoise pools, enjoy the marina and Moonlight Beach, and take a boat trip along the exceptionally clear-water coast. Yörük Park offers a cultural stop too.
How far is Kemer from Antalya Airport?
Kemer is about 55 km west of Antalya Airport, roughly a 50-minute drive on a scenic coastal road along the foot of the mountains. A private transfer is the comfortable way to arrive, at a fixed price with a driver who knows the winding route.
What is the Tahtalı cable car?
The Tahtalı (Olympos) cable car climbs from near Kemer to the 2,365-metre summit of Mount Tahtalı, giving one of the finest panoramas in Turkey over the Gulf of Antalya, the coast and the mountains. It is cooler at the top, so take a layer, and you may see paragliders launching from the summit.
Are Kemer's beaches sandy?
Kemer's beaches are mostly pebble and shingle rather than sand, including the main Moonlight Beach in town. The trade-off is exceptionally clear water and a backdrop of pine-clad mountains, which makes the swimming and boat trips here especially rewarding. Water shoes help on the pebbles.
Is Kemer good for families?
Yes. It combines beaches and boat trips with mountains, the cable car, Göynük Canyon and the ruins at Phaselis, so families with a range of ages find plenty to do. Its fresher, greener setting appeals to those who want more than a flat beach resort.
What is there to do near Kemer?
Close by are the ancient city of Phaselis with its swimmable harbour beaches, Göynük Canyon for walks and canyoning, the quiet resorts of Tekirova and Göynük, and further along the coast the Olympos and Çıralı area with the eternal Chimaera flames. A car and driver makes combining them easy.
How many days do you need in Kemer?
Three to four days lets you ride the Tahtalı cable car, explore Phaselis, walk Göynük Canyon and enjoy the beaches and a boat trip without rushing. A week gives time to add a diving session, the Olympos and Çıralı area with the Chimaera flames, and quieter days by the sea. Kemer's range of activities easily fills a longer stay.
Book your Antalya Airport transfer
Fixed price, English-speaking driver, free child seats, free 60-minute wait. Straight from arrivals to your hotel door.