If you’re dreaming of a place where turquoise waters meet lush green forests, it’s time to set your sights on Kemer. This coastal gem offers more than just the sea; it’s a rich blend of nature, history and a vibrant holiday lifestyle. By day, it’s an open-air playground. By night, it’s a lively resort town. Whether you prefer sunbathing on the beach, hiking in the mountains or exploring ancient ruins, Kemer has something for every type of traveller. Here, the stones of ancient cities, the whispers of the Taurus Mountains and the rhythm of the Mediterranean will all speak to you in their own way.
️ Reminder: To explore Kemer step by step with your digital tour guide, don’t forget to download Piri Guide!
Where is Kemer?
Kemer is a district of Antalya, located around 40 kilometres from the city centre along Turkey’s stunning Mediterranean coast. Nestled at the foot of the Western Taurus Mountains and stretching across 52 kilometres of coastline, it is one of the country’s top travel destinations.
How to Get to Kemer?
Reaching Kemer is easier than you might think. There are direct bus routes from many cities across Turkey. A trip from Istanbul takes around 12 hours by bus, while from Ankara it’s about 9.
A quicker option is to fly into Antalya Airport. From there, hop on a Havaş shuttle to the Antalya Bus Terminal, where minibuses regularly depart for Kemer. If you’re renting a car, the scenic coastal drive is a joy in itself.
Best Season to Visit Kemer?
Kemer is beautiful year-round, but summers can get quite hot—especially in July, when both temperature and tourist numbers peak. For a more relaxed visit with milder weather, try April–May or September–October. You’ll still get plenty of sunshine and can enjoy the sea without the summer crowds.
Where to Stay in Kemer?
Since 2013, Akra Kemer has been redefining luxury holidays. Think modern rooms, incredible comfort and unforgettable dining experiences. From sumptuous buffets to à la carte delights, the hotel’s restaurants and bars offer a blend of local and international flavours.
It’s perfect for families and couples, with indoor and outdoor pools, and perhaps best of all, a private Blue Flag beach that brings the Mediterranean right to your feet.
And here’s something cyclists will love: Akra Kemer is an eco-conscious, cyclist-friendly hotel. Guests can rent bikes, park them safely and use a 24/7 on-site repair station stocked with tools free of charge.
Must-Visit Places in Kemer
We’ve made a list of must-visit places in Kemer. Yet, we should remind you that you can find more on Piri Guide mobile app. Piri Guide detects your location, offers you the best travel routes, and starts telling you the hidden stories of wherever you are. All you have to do is to get your headphones or earbuds and follow the path at your own pace. Then, don’t set out for your trip before downloading the digital travel guide! 
Seljuk Hunting Lodge
Hunting has always been really important for the Turks who came to Anatolia from Central Asia. They used the animals they hunted for everything from food to clothing, household goods to war tools. They also saw hunting as a kind of war practice. It was a way for them to stay fit, both physically and mentally. So, it’s no surprise there’s a hunting lodge here.
There are three hunting lodges belonging to the Seljuks in Antalya. The only hunting pavilion built to the west of the city is the one in Kemer. Actually, this structure is the only Seljuk structure in western Antalya. It’s thought to be the first of the three Seljuk shikarhanes in Antalya. There’s no inscription, and it doesn’t appear in any written sources, so we don’t know who built it.
Göynük Canyon
Göynük Canyon is 4.5 kilometres long and is thought to have formed 2 million years ago. The canyon started taking tourists in 2009. You can also go for a swim in the areas marked as beaches. You can jump into the freezing water and feel the heat of Antalya. There are loads of other activities you can do in the area, as well as swimming and walking. For example, you can zipline in the area we’re in. You can also try out some extreme sports, like rafting or body rafting. The canyon where it starts is about 2-2.5 kilometres away.
As you walk towards the entrance of the canyon, you’ll see signs pointing you in the direction of ‘Göynük Plateau’. There are different trekking routes of different lengths from the canyon to the plateau and Hisarçandır Village. These routes are also part of the Lycian Way. If you love walking, you should definitely try these trekking routes.
Beldibi Cave
Beldibi Cave is a habitat dating back to the Palaeolithic Age. Beldibi Cave was discovered in the 1950s and excavated a few times in the 1960s. The finds from these digs show that the cave was used by people from the late Palaeolithic Age. The people living here were hunter-gatherers. Put simply, they were on the lookout for food and moved when the weather was suitable.
Beldibi Cave is home to some amazing wall paintings made thousands of years ago. What’s more, these are the oldest examples in Anatolia! There are pictures of people, mountain goats and deer on the cave walls. If you look closely, you can see them on the outside of the building.
Ancient City of Phaselis
Phaselis is one of the most beautiful ancient cities of the Mediterranean. It’s not a huge city and there are still parts that haven’t been dug up. Phaselis Ancient City is located on a small peninsula. It’s thought that it used to be a small fishing village. Sailors from Rhodes discovered it in the 7th century BC. Apparently, the sailors met a shepherd here and told him that they had loads of bread and dried fish on their ships. In return, he asked for this peninsula. The shepherd picked the dried fish, and so the Rhodians made one of the most profitable exchanges ever. They set up a colony here, got busy building the city and made a lot of money.
It was such an important city that Alexander the Great spent the winter there after taking it from the Persians. Apparently, the chief goddess of Phaselis was Athena Polias. I’m talking about Athena of the city. The temple dedicated to her is thought to be located on the top of the city. Apparently, they’ve got a really special gift inside the temple – it’s the Spear of Achilleus, which was given to Athena by Alexander the Great.
Yanartaş
It wasn’t until a few years ago that the mystery of Yanartaş was finally solved. This is a natural thing, and it’s not the only one of its kind. You find similar ones in different places around the world. Flammable gases, especially methane, can get trapped in the soil or between rocks, and they can spontaneously ignite and burn for hundreds or even thousands of years. But there’s one key thing that sets Yanartaş apart from the rest. So, it looks like the methane here is of non-biological origin, rather than being of biological origin. Basically, it’s not formed by living things, but by a bunch of different chemical processes.
Long ago, this place was a really important cult centre. There was a temple dedicated to Hephaistos, the god of fire and crafts like blacksmithing. I guess it’s no surprise that the god of fire was worshipped in a place where flames come out of the stones, right? There’s also a bath from the Roman Period and a church from the Byzantine Period. So, Yanartaş stays sacred until the Anatolian Seljuks.
If you’re planning on visiting Antalya before going to Kemer, be sure to check out our Antalya travel guide.
