Kemer, Turkey - Beaches, Ancient Wonders and the Charm of Nature

After Antalya we headed to Kemer, which is located 45 kilometers away. In this post, I will talk about the beaches of Kemer, the places worth visiting, the must-see sights and the beauty of its nature. Kemer’s holiday area covers both the district and the city center. Once a small fishing village, Kemer is even mentioned in Homer’s Iliad. According to legend, a creature with the body of a goat, the tail of a dragon and the head of a lion once lived here called Chimera. That is where the name Kemer comes from.

What sets Kemer apart from other resorts is the towering mountains stretching along the coast. They are so massive that wherever we looked, whether from the beach, hotel or town center they were always in sight. We had booked our apartment in advance. We were greeted with ready-made salad, bread and Turkish desserts. I really liked this warm welcome. It was a perfect start to our Kemer vacation.

Here you almost feel like you are not even in Turkey. The mountains in the background give a different atmosphere. But we should not forget that this is just one corner of Turkey. There are so many vacation spots in this country, each with its unique vibe and climate. You really cannot generalize before seeing them all. Still I really liked Kemer.

After a short rest, we went outside and reached one of the main streets of Kemer. In the evening these streets are full of life with plenty of restaurants around. The mountains surround the area and the weather is amazing. Then we headed straight for the beach.

There are many beach options in Kemer, but most of them are pebbled. So, you walk on stones, not on sand. The central beach covers a large part of the shoreline. In the peak season, it gets extremely crowded. The sunbeds are full and there is barely a spot left on the beach. This was definitely not our kind of place. There were big pebbles instead of sand. The water was murky and the crowd was overwhelming.

The view was beautiful, the mountains were stunning and the infrastructure was decent. Maybe it felt like this because of the crowd. So, we decided to look for other beaches. But I have to say, some vacationers might actually enjoy this pebbled beach, especially with those classic water shoes. I on the other hand, like walking barefoot. The pebbles even give a nice foot massage.

We started looking for a better beach. Just a ten-minute drive from where we stayed, we found a beach that was completely different from the crowded ones. It was a wide, empty beach. You could even have a barbecue here if you wanted. There was nobody around except for a few people camping with their tents. The mountains in the background were still breathtaking. The water was much clearer here and swimming was way more enjoyable compared to the crowded beaches.

I have already explained why I love quiet beaches. No crowd, no noise. Perfect for those seeking peace. In some areas, there are campsites where people come with their caravans or tents to have a barbecue and spend time with family. If you want to sunbathe, swim and relax, you should definitely come here.

The second place we visited was Moonlight beach. There are small bungalows here, but they come with extra charges. This place is like a beach club right by the sea. The sunbeds and all the little details create a nice atmosphere. You feel as if you are in Mexico, not in Turkey. Yes, it was crowded again, but the mountain view made the atmosphere special. We met up with our friends here, whom we had met in Alanya. We enjoyed some beers on the beach and even ordered a hookah. It was a perfect relaxation day.

The front-row beach beds cost 1500 lira and that is just for the bed, no food included. We took the ones a bit behind for 1200 lira. We grabbed a beer ordered a hookah and just enjoyed the vibe. Of course, this is not a place you would visit every day. It would be too expensive. But coming here once a week is ideal for some fun.

Later we walked a bit to the right. There was a path through the pine trees and the crowd started thinning out. We were aiming for a calm, peaceful beach. Ahead, there was an abandoned hotel called Club Med. The entrance was closed, with security. But we found a trail on the map. We parked there and decided to hike down to the beach. We walked through trees and bushes, trying to reach the shore. We basically jumped into an adventure out of nowhere.

To be honest, it was quite a tough path. If you do not want an adventure like this, you can always go swim at the crowded beach. That is actually why most people prefer those busy places. Luckily it was worth it. Looking at the part we reached, there were barely any people. The abandoned hotel was still there. You cannot go through it, but you can walk around it.

Here the water was crystal clear and there was no crowd. Rocks standing side by side, yachts anchored nearby, mountains in the background. I can officially say we found the best beach in Kemer. The shoreline stretches on and on, with nobody in sight. You can come here by car, taxi or even rent a bike. We walked and it took about 10 to 15 minutes. It was hot and a bit exhausting, but totally worth it.

One of the most popular places in Kemer is Göynük canyon. We paid 500 lira per person for entrance. After passing by the canoe rental area, we reached the big lake. You can go ziplining here or swim in the lake.

A tip: if you buy the ticket with canoeing or canyoning included, they take you to the top of the canyon with a big jeep. That is what we did. We hopped in the jeep and went up. The weather was a bit cloudy with little sun. Some people preferred walking up. You can do that too, but we took the jeep.

The scenery along the way was amazing. The actual canyon starts about 1.5 kilometers further, so you need to walk from the lake. The best part of the canyon is there. You can sit at the café by the lake, have a meal or go for a swim.

There are two options here. If you do canyoning, you wear a life jacket and swim through the canyon yourself. Or like us, you can join a boat tour. We chose the boat tour. We put on our helmets, got on the boat. There were five of us.

The canyon was really beautiful. I especially liked the rocks trapped inside the canyon. They had fallen but got stuck and stayed there. It was a stunning view. Even some massive rocks had cracked over time but never fell. It was almost a little scary. At the end of the tour, only the canyoning groups could go further. On the way back, we stopped at a small waterfall.

Then we went to the café and ordered gözleme and two teas. There were not many options on the menu, but enough for a snack. By the way the water in the canyon was freezing, but the lake water felt normal. Even I went for a swim. The prices here are all in euros. One gözleme costs seven euros. The portion was not big, but food cooked on an open grill always tastes better outdoors. They also sell plenty of souvenirs here. A small tip: if you come here, buy the jeep and activities together, whether canyoning or canoeing. Otherwise you will have to walk the long, hot road and still pay for the activities later. Buying souvenirs for loved ones is also a good idea. They sell decorations and magnets here.

Our next stop was the legendary Phaselis. It has been known as one of the most beautiful spots on the Mediterranean coast throughout history. It is on the regular route of boats departing from Kemer. Even scenes from the Hollywood film Odyssey were shot here. The entrance fee is 180 lira per person, cash only.

At the entrance to the city, we saw the ancient Roman aqueduct facing the sea. Aqueducts were channels supplying water to cities. Now, they are a favorite spot for tourists and locals. The beach is right next to it, a small sandy spot. The water is unbelievably clear. This is the cleanest and warmest water we have seen so far. You can even find ancient ruins on the seabed here. As you walk along the shore, you notice scattered stones that look like remnants of ancient columns.

You can spend the whole day on this beach. Some people have picnics in the shade. It is a great place if you have plenty of time. We continued on to other coves.

Phaselis was founded in the 7th century BC by colonists from Rhodes. They offered dried fish to the locals in exchange for land. Later, it became one of the key cities of Lycia. In 42 AD, it came under Roman rule and flourished for three centuries. Most of the ruins we see today are from the Roman and Byzantine periods.

We passed through ancient ruins and reached two more coves, one on the right, one on the left. The water was equally clear, but there were more people here. The first cove was definitely quieter and better. But the view here was also unique.

Locals were having picnics along the coast. Most tourists stick to hotel beaches or pools, but locals know these spots. We walked towards the sea but decided not to swim here. The black sand and lack of sunbeds made it less appealing. Still, the water was crystal clear.

No ancient city is complete without an amphitheater. This one belongs to the Roman era. And behind it rises the famous mountain. We turned onto a cobblestone road – seven kilometers of it.

We then headed to the cable car. Some visitors take tour buses from Pegasus or Coral Travel to reach the summit. At the entrance, we were greeted by satyrs from Greek mythology: half-human, half-goat forest creatures. The cable car only has two cabins, but they are huge, each holding 80 people. We paid 44 dollars per person.

We grabbed a window spot for the best view. The cabin is spacious and you can walk around easily. The rising mountains offer incredible views. In about twelve minutes, you reach 2365 meters. The scenery is magical. The only downside is the reflection on the cabin windows, which limits the view a bit.

At the summit, we saw statues of Zeus and his wife. And for adrenaline lovers, there is even a bungee jumping platform. But actually the best views are during the cable car ride. The height sensation fades at the summit because of the fog. You can see the entire coastline from here and with a small telescope, the view gets even better.

There is also a café at the top, so we grabbed some ice cream. Then we went back to the hotel.

Most tourists stay at hotels here, so we decided to try it too. We stayed at Viking Star Hotel, a reasonably priced five-star hotel. On Mondays, a massive market sets up right across the hotel. The biggest market in Kemer.

They have everything here: carpets, spices, Turkish teas... Some with menthol mixes that clear your throat and freshen your breath. Spices, cheeses, fruits like strawberries, peaches, plums, bananas, grapes, figs, cherries and watermelons. The olives were delicious, juicy and fresh. Watermelons cost seven lira per kilo and small melons around twenty lira. And of course, the endless offers of tea, a classic Turkish market tradition. At the hotel, we made ourselves burgers at lunch, the buffet lets you make your own. The food selection here was really generous.

Next stop was Çıralı. We set off to see its beach and the ancient ruins of Olympos. The entrance fee was 180 lira per person. Olympos was founded by pirates in the 3rd century BC. Later, it came under Roman control, with baths and churches built. Walking among the ruins, the grand entrance of the Roman church was impressive. The amphitheater was stunning. Thousands of years ago, people sat here and watched performances.

Finally, we went down to the beach. The best we have seen so far, a long beach, crystal-clear water, ancient ruins in the background. Climbing up to the castle for the view was a treat. You could see the whole city from up there.

If you come to Kemer, be sure to spend a day here. We jumped into the sea, soaking wet from the heat. The rocks gave a natural foot massage and the water was cool and clear. There are no buildings on the beach, a completely natural setting. You can find showers, toilets or drinking water at the village entrance.

And then came the Burning Stone. Also known as Chimera, this place is famous for its natural flames coming out of the mountain. The entrance is thirty lira per person and they even give you marshmallows. The path is well maintained and you hike about a kilometer through the trees. At the end real flames emerge from the ground. Fueled by natural gas, this phenomenon has been burning for thousands of years.

We roasted our marshmallows and enjoyed the experience. It was really amazing.

On our way back, we caught the hotel’s Wednesday night party: music, dancing, a giant cake by the pool. A real celebration.

So, there is a lot to discover in Kemer: beaches, ancient cities, natural wonders, quiet villages... Everyone can find a holiday that suits them here.