Kemer Travel Guide: Villages, Sights and Transfer Times

Kemer is both a town and the name people use for the whole coastline between Antalya and the Olympos area. A single main road runs along the shore, squeezed between pine-covered mountains and the sea. That setting is the region's signature: green slopes right behind the beach, clear water and pebble or mixed sand-and-pebble beaches rather than the long sandy strips you find east of Antalya.

Driving south from Antalya you pass the villages in this order: Beldibi, Göynük, Kemer town, Kiriş, Çamyuva, Tekirova, and then, after a turn off the main road, Çıralı and Olympos. Each has its own character, so it is worth knowing the difference before you book a hotel.

• Beldibi – the closest to Antalya (≈ 38 km / 48 min from the airport). A narrow strip of hotels between the road and the sea, with the mountains very close. Good if you want a shorter transfer and a calm stay.
• Göynük – (≈ 45 km / 60 min) a mix of large resort hotels and a small village centre, known for the canyon in the hills behind it.
• Kemer town – (≈ 58 km / 70 min) the heart of the region, with the marina, a pedestrian shopping street, restaurants, nightlife and the Moonlight Beach and park area right next to the marina.
• Kiriş – (≈ 62 km / 75 min) just south of Kemer, mostly resort hotels on a long bay, quieter than town but close to it.
• Çamyuva – (≈ 64 km / 77 min) a village with orchards, a relaxed feel and hotels spread along the beach.
• Tekirova – (≈ 70 km / 85 min) the southernmost of the main resorts, surrounded by forest and close to Phaselis and the Tahtalı cable car.
• Çıralı – (≈ 85 km / 100 min) a low-key beach village with small guesthouses and boutique hotels, next to the ruins of Olympos.

Phaselis is an ancient harbour city on a small peninsula near Tekirova. You walk along an old paved main street between the ruins and reach pine-shaded bays where you can swim, so bring swimwear as well as walking shoes.

Olympos and Çıralı sit at either end of the same long beach. The ruins of Olympos lie in a green valley along a stream that runs down to the sea, a very different experience from a classic open-air site.

The Chimaera (Yanartaş) is a hillside above Çıralı where natural gas seeps from the rock and burns as small flames. Many people walk up the path in the late afternoon and stay until dusk, when the flames are easiest to see; take a torch for the way down.

Göynük canyon is a narrow gorge with a stream in the hills behind Göynük, popular for walking and cooling off on hot days.

Tahtalı mountain rises above the coast to about 2,365 m, and a cable car takes visitors to the summit for wide views over the sea and mountains. Read our Tahtalı cable car guide for planning tips.

Kemer town itself is also an outing: an evening stroll around the marina and along the shopping street is a classic for guests from the quieter villages.

• Couples and nightlife lovers – Kemer town or Kiriş, so restaurants and bars are within walking distance or a short ride.
• Families – Kiriş, Çamyuva, Göynük or Tekirova, where most large resort hotels with beach access are located.
• Short transfer – Beldibi or Göynük, the first villages you reach from Antalya.
• Nature and history – Tekirova or Çıralı, close to Phaselis, Olympos, the Chimaera and the cable car.
• Peace and small hotels – Çıralı, which has stayed low-rise and green.

If you are still deciding between this coast and the golf and sandy-beach resorts east of Antalya, see Kemer or Belek: which to choose.

All of the Kemer villages are reached via the coastal road that runs west around Antalya and then south. Typical drive times from Antalya Airport (AYT):

• Beldibi ≈ 38 km / 48 min
• Göynük ≈ 45 km / 60 min
• Kemer ≈ 58 km / 70 min
• Kiriş ≈ 62 km / 75 min
• Çamyuva ≈ 64 km / 77 min
• Tekirova ≈ 70 km / 85 min
• Çıralı ≈ 85 km / 100 min

These times are typical; traffic in high season and through the city can add time. A private transfer takes you straight from the arrivals hall to your hotel door: your driver meets you with a name sign, tracks your flight and waits for free if it is delayed. The price is fixed per vehicle, not per person, and agreed before the trip, with no night surcharge and no luggage fee. You can check the live prices on the Antalya Airport to Kemer route page.

The main coastal road links every village, so day trips are easy to plan. For a group or family heading to Phaselis, the cable car or an evening at the Chimaera, a private vehicle with your own driver avoids changing between local transport and lets you set the pace. Our fleet covers Minivans for up to 6 people, VIP Mercedes-Benz Vito for up to 7 and Mercedes Sprinter for groups of 8 to 16, and child seats are free on request.

Many visitors also go into Antalya for a day: the old town of Kaleiçi and its harbour are around an hour from Kemer, depending on traffic.

• Pack water shoes: many beaches are pebbly and the water gets deep quickly.
• The mountains create cooler evenings than in Antalya city, especially in spring and autumn, so bring a light layer.
• For Çıralı, check exactly where your guesthouse is: the village is spread along a long beach.
• Book your return transfer together with your arrival; it saves a message later. For timing, see when to leave your hotel for the airport.
• You can book 24/7 via WhatsApp or the booking form and pay in the vehicle, with no prepayment.