Things to Do in Kemer, Turkey (2026): A Local’s Guide

Kemer has one of the most beautiful settings on the Turkish coast — pine-covered Taurus Mountains plunging straight down to a clear blue sea, with ancient Lycian ruins tucked among the bays. It’s a relaxed resort town, but with a cable car to a 2,365 m summit, a Roman city you can swim beside, canyons to hike and islands to sail to, there’s far more to do than just lie on the beach. If you’re staying in Kemer (or Beldibi, Göynük, Kiriş, Çamyuva or Tekirova), here’s an honest local guide to what’s worth your time.

Kemer town, with its marina and Moonlight Beach, is the lively centre. North and south along the coast run the resort villages — Beldibi and Göynük to the north, Kiriş, Çamyuva and Tekirova to the south — all linked by cheap, frequent dolmuş minibuses. The ancient city of Phaselis sits between Tekirova and Kemer, the Tahtalı cable car is just inland, and further south lie Çıralı and Olympos. The centre is walkable; for everything else, the dolmuş or a tour is the easy way around.

Kemer’s signature experience: one of the longest cable cars in the world climbs from near sea level to the 2,365 m summit of Mount Tahtalı (ancient Olympos) in about 10 minutes. The view from the top — pine ridges falling away to the turquoise Mediterranean — is unforgettable, and there’s a café and viewing platforms at the summit. Go on a clear day, and take a layer: it’s much cooler (and sometimes snowy) up top even in summer.

Check Tahtalı Cable Car Tours — from $78 →

Explore Phaselis Ancient City

Just north of Tekirova lies one of the most magical ruins on the coast. Phaselis was a wealthy Lycian and Roman port city, and today its theatre, aqueduct, paved main street and three ancient harbours sit right on a gorgeous pine-fringed beach. The unique part: you can swim in the same bay where Roman ships once docked, then dry off on 2,000-year-old stones. Bring swimwear and water shoes, and read our full Phaselis ancient city guide for tickets and tips.

Inland from Göynük, this dramatic gorge has sheer worn rock walls and cool turquoise pools fed by mountain water. It’s a popular spot for an easy hike and a picnic, and the adventure park there adds canyoning, an over-water zipline and waterfall scrambles for the more active. A refreshing, scenic half-day, and a welcome cool-down when the coast is baking.

Kemer’s main town beach is pebbly but clean and backed by the mountains, with sunbeds and water sports for hire. For soft golden sand, head to Moonlight Beach (Ayışığı) by the marina — calm, shallow and great for families. Phaselis has beautiful little swimming coves among the ruins, and further south the long pebble beaches of Çıralı and Olympos are wilder and more laid-back. Most public beaches are free, with charges only for sunbeds and umbrellas.

The marina is the heart of town — yachts, waterfront restaurants and the departure point for boat trips. A short walk away is Yörük Park (Folklorik Yörük Parkı), an open-air museum on a forested headland that recreates the life of the region’s nomadic Yörük people, with traditional tents, kilims and great views over the marina. In the centre, Republic Square (Cumhuriyet Meydanı) with its white clock tower is the spot for an evening stroll, ice cream and people-watching.

Kemer is excellent for families. DinoPark in Göynük is Turkey’s first dinosaur park, with life-sized animatronic models, pools and play areas that kids love. Dolusu Aquapark is one of the largest water parks on the coast, with 20-plus slides and a wave pool, and the Moonlight Park complex by the beach has its own water park and dolphinarium. Plenty to fill a few days if you’re travelling with children.

Get on the water: boat trips

A boat trip is a Kemer essential. The star is the day cruise to Suluada — the “Maldives of Turkey”, a tiny island with white sand and turquoise water — while other boats sail the coast’s bays and caves, often passing the ruins of Phaselis from the sea. See our complete Suluada boat trip guide for what to expect and how to choose your boat.

See the Suluada Boat Trip — from $16 →

Day trips & adventure from Kemer

When you’re ready to roam further, a jeep safari into the Taurus Mountains brings off-road fun and village stops; the eternal flames of Chimaera (Yanartaş) near Çıralı are magical after dark; and the Kekova sunken city with Demre (the church of St Nicholas) and Myra makes a great history day. We’ve rounded up the best of them with prices in our guide to the best excursions from Kemer.

When the sun sets, the marina and seafront come alive with restaurants and bars, and the Moonlight Park area buzzes with live music and beach clubs. Kemer’s nightlife ranges from relaxed waterfront wine bars to lively clubs in summer — as gentle or as late as you like. The town’s bazaar streets are also good for an evening browse and some haggling.

You can enjoy Kemer’s main sights — the cable car, Phaselis, the beaches and a boat trip — in 2–3 days, but a week lets you add Göynük Canyon, day trips and lazy beach time. The season runs May to October; June and September give you warm sea and great weather with fewer crowds than the July–August peak.

Is Kemer worth visiting?
Yes — its mountain-and-sea setting is one of the prettiest on the coast, with the Tahtalı cable car, ancient Phaselis and great boat trips all close by.

What is Kemer famous for?
The Tahtalı (Olympos) cable car, the Suluada boat trip, the ruins of Phaselis, and its beautiful pine-backed beaches.

Is Kemer good for families?
Very — Moonlight Beach, DinoPark, water parks and gentle boat trips make it a great family base.

Are Kemer’s beaches sandy?
The main town beach is pebbly; for sand, head to Moonlight Beach near the marina.

Do you need a car in Kemer?
No — the centre is walkable and dolmuş minibuses are cheap. A car or tours only help for trips further out.