Kemer: Beaches, History and Maritime Experiences

Kemer combines beach life with history and maritime experiences. Ayışığı Beach is in the center next to the marina; other attractions include the ancient city of Idyros, an insight into Yörük culture and walking routes. For your holiday planning, the town offers a variety of options: you can focus your stay on the beach and water sports, on culture and history, or on exploring by water.

Beach, Harbor and Trips at Sea

Kemer’s beaches offer opportunities for swimming and sunbathing, as well as water sports. Central Ayışığı Beach is next to the marina, combining a beach setting with the town’s maritime character. Yacht and boat tours departing from Kemer make it possible to swim in Mediterranean coves. These boat trips can make Kemer especially appealing for your holiday.

The wreck of the warship Paris 2 is another distinctive feature off Kemer: it lies at a depth of 33 meters in front of the marina and attracts divers and underwater photographers. This also makes the town interesting to travelers whose interest in the sea goes beyond the beach. G Marina Kemer provides yacht owners with security and harbor services, as well as fuel, electricity and water. Its berths accommodate 150 yachts in the water and 150 on land.

Idyros and Kemer’s History

The ancient city of Idyros is near Ayışığı Bay, a ten-minute walk from Kemer town center. Admission is free. Idyros has a church with a floor covered in mosaics made from orange, brick-red, white and gray stones. These colors offer a specific detail to look out for during your visit. Idyros thus provides a cultural counterpoint to a day at the beach.

The Kemer Belediye Kültür Evi on Münir-Özkul-Liman-Caddesi offers a different perspective on the region’s history and everyday life. It stands on the grounds of a former gendarmerie post. Its first section is dedicated to Topçu-Yüzbaşı Mustafa Ertuğrul Aker. On display are agricultural tools, everyday objects, population registers and registry documents dating from the late Ottoman Empire to the early years of the Republic. The collection also includes items relating to Yörük culture and old photographs of Kemer. The variety of exhibits makes a visit especially appealing to travelers who want to learn about local history alongside the coast and leisure activities.

Yörük Culture and Walking Routes in Town

Close to Kemer, Yörük Park illustrates nomadic life in large goat-hair tents. The park is a ten-minute walk from the town center, and admission is charged. Visitors can sample pancakes and ayran in the nomad tent. Culture, things to see and regional food come together here. If experiences like these are what make a trip appealing to you, they can be a distinct factor in choosing Kemer.

Atatürk Park offers walking paths and opportunities for sports activities. The park is also home to Ters Ev, which is visited by domestic and international tourists. A visitor route leads from Liman Caddesi via the marina to Ayışığı Park. When choosing your holiday apartment, you can consider whether this blend of coast, history and activities suits the kind of holiday destination you are looking for.

Getting There and Other Destinations

Kemer is 40 kilometers from Antalya. From Antalya city center, Kemer can be reached by boat in 45 minutes. These two useful points of reference can help you decide where to stay if you want to connect Kemer with Antalya and a journey by water.

If you would like to explore other destinations in addition to Kemer, you can find Serik, Konakli, Gömbe, Boztepe, Yukarıkaraman, Çenger, Kızılağaç Köyü and Beymelek.

For the main travel overview: Antalya.