Kemer’s greatest gift to the traveler is its position. The town sits at the meeting of the mountains and the sea, roughly halfway between Antalya and the wild Lycian coast, and within an easy day-trip radius lie some of the most beautiful and historic places in Turkey: the ancient city of Phaselis, the cable car and summit of Mount Tahtalı, the Göynük canyon, the wild valley of Olympos with its eternal flame, the sunken city of Kekova, and the white shores of Lake Salda. The town itself is a resort, and a good one; but the region around it is the reason a Kemer base is so valuable. This guide covers the best day trips from Kemer, ranked by the balance of effort and reward, with the practical details that turn a good idea into a good day.
The Day-Trip Landscape
Kemer sits on the D400 coastal highway between Antalya to the northeast and the Lycian coast to the southwest. The day trips radiate in three directions: south along the coast (Phaselis, Olympos, Kekova, Kas, Patara), inland into the mountains (Mount Tahtalı, the villages, the springs), and northeast toward Antalya and beyond (the city, and the lake district for the ambitious).
Getting around: a car is the best enabler — most of these places are 20 to 90 minutes away by road. Without wheels, the organized tours from Kemer and the public dolmuş cover the main sights. If you plan two or more day trips, a car for a day or two usually pays for itself.
1. Phaselis — Ruins on a Three-Beached Peninsula
Why go: the classic Kemer day trip and one of the most beautiful ancient sites on the coast. Phaselis is a Lycian-Greek-Roman city spread over a small peninsula with three beaches, its theatre, aqueduct, agora, and streets running down to coves of perfect water. You wander the ruins and swim between ancient walls.
What it involves: a short drive south of Kemer (about 20 kilometers, 20–30 minutes), a modest entrance fee, and the site itself — wander the ruins, swim at the three beaches, and picnic under the pines. Compact enough for a half-day or a full lazy one.
Practical notes: the site is shady in places and hot in summer — go early. The beaches are pebbly; water shoes help. This is the easiest “ancient site plus swim” on the list.
Effort: easy. Time: half to full day. Cost: entrance fee plus fuel.
2. Mount Tahtalı — the Cable Car and the Summit
Why go: the signature view of the region. One of the longest cable cars in Europe climbs from the foothills to nearly 2,400 meters, and the summit platform looks out over the whole coast — the Mediterranean curving away below, the Taurus mountains inland, and the resorts strung along the bay. On clear days the view runs for a hundred kilometers.
What it involves: a short drive to the cable car’s lower station, a ten-minute ride up, and time at the top — the summit paths, the cold air, and the photographs. The cable car is close to Kemer, so it makes an easy half-day, and the sunset or early-morning light is the best.
Practical notes: it is popular and not cheap, and the summit is cold even when the coast is hot — take a jacket. Go early for clear views and short queues, or late for the sunset.
Effort: easy — the cable car does the work. Time: half a day. Cost: the most expensive single item on this list.
3. The Göynük Canyon
Why go: the green counterpoint to the beach. A short drive north of Kemer, the canyon of Göynük offers a walk along a turquoise river through a dramatic gorge — shade, water, and green after the sun and the salt, with swimming spots along the way.
What it involves: a 15–20 minute drive, a small entrance fee, and the walk through the gorge — easy and beautiful, with the river at your side. Allow a half-day and take shoes that can get wet.
Practical notes: it gets busy in summer — go early. The upper valley, beyond the main section, is quieter, with deeper pools and more wild.
Effort: easy walking. Time: half a day. Cost: a small entrance fee plus fuel.
4. The Olympos Valley and the Eternal Flame
Why go: the wildest and most atmospheric day trip from the area. The Olympos valley — a national park with the ruins of the ancient city of Olympos and a river running through it — sits a drive south of Kemer, and above it burns the eternal flame of Chimaera, the fire that the ancients knew.
What it involves: a drive of about 45 minutes to an hour south, then the valley: the ruins in the afternoon, and the climb to the flame as the light fails. The flame, burning from the rock on the mountainside, is one of the most memorable sights on the coast.
Practical notes: allow a full day. Bring a torch for the flame descent, wear sturdy shoes, and take water. The valley’s beach and treehouse culture are worth a look even if you do not stay.
Effort: moderate (the flame path is a climb). Time: full day. Cost: entrance fees plus fuel.
5. The Sunken City of Kekova
Why go: the most famous boat trip of the Lycian coast. Kekova is a small island off the coast, and along its northern shore lies a sunken ancient city — the remains of a settlement that slid into the sea after earthquakes, visible through clear water from a boat.
What it involves: a drive of about 1.5 hours southwest toward the harbors, then a boat trip around the island over the sunken city, with swimming stops in the beautiful bays. Some trips combine Kekova with Demre and the Church of Saint Nicholas, or the rock tombs of Myra.
Practical notes: a long day from Kemer. The sunken city is best seen from close to the waterline; bring snorkel gear for the stops.
Effort: easy — the boat does the work. Time: full day. Cost: the drive plus the boat trip.
6. Kas — the Pretty Coastal Town
Why go: the most charming town on the Lycian coast, and a complete change of pace from the resort — a compact, pedestrian-friendly center of whitewashed houses, a small harbour, excellent cafés and restaurants, and a genuinely relaxed atmosphere.
What it involves: a drive of about 1.5 to 2 hours southwest. Spend the day browsing the streets and the shops, eat lunch by the harbour, and swim at the little beach or the nearby coves.
Practical notes: Kas is more developed than Kemer’s quieter neighbors and is a great place for a treat lunch. It makes an easy half-day or a full day with a swim.
Effort: easy. Time: half to full day. Cost: fuel and food.
7. Antalya — the Big City
Why go: the region’s metropolis, an easy drive away, with the old town of Kaleiçi — the narrow lanes, the historic houses, the harbour — as its jewel, along with the museums, the food, and the sheer scale of a real Turkish city.
What it involves: a drive of about 40–60 minutes northeast. Spend the day in Kaleiçi, the marina, and the museums, and eat well in the old town. It is the culture-and-city day trip from the beach.
Practical notes: Antalya’s traffic and parking reward arriving early and walking; the old town is best on foot.
Effort: easy. Time: full day. Cost: fuel and food.
8. Lake Salda — Turkey’s White Beaches
Why go: for something completely different: a mountain lake whose white, mineral-rich shores look astonishingly like the Caribbean — the comparison so strong that NASA studied Salda’s geology for lessons about a Martian lake.
What it involves: the longest drive on the list — about two to two and a half hours inland. The reward is a full day at a lake that is genuinely beautiful, with swimming spots and walks along the white terraces.
Practical notes: the white terraces are fragile — stick to the marked paths. A long day, best by car, best in spring and autumn.
Effort: long drive, easy once there. Time: full day. Cost: fuel.
Building Your Day-Trip Plan
- One day: Phaselis for the closest and easiest, or Mount Tahtalı for the signature view.
- Two days: add the Olympos valley and the flame, or the Göynük canyon.
- Three days or more: Kekova, Kas, Antalya, and — for the ambitious — Lake Salda.
- No car: the organized tours from Kemer cover Phaselis, Olympos, Kekova, and the canyon; the cable car has its own shuttle.
- Best seasons: spring and autumn for everything; summer for the beaches and the coast, with early starts.
The Takeaway
Kemer is the ideal base for the best of the Turkish Mediterranean. The day trips radiate in every direction — the ancient city and coves of Phaselis, the summit of Mount Tahtalı, the canyon of Göynük, the wild valley and flame of Olympos, the sunken city of Kekova, and the charm of Kas and Antalya. None of them are far, all of them are different, and together they turn a resort holiday into a tour of the region. Rent a car, pick your priorities, and let the D400 do the rest — then come home to the seafront, the dinner, and the sunset that make Kemer the perfect place to return to.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best day trips from Kemer?
Phaselis, the Mount Tahtalı cable car, the Göynük canyon, the Olympos valley and the eternal flame, and the sunken city of Kekova.
Do I need a car for day trips from Kemer?
Not strictly — organized tours cover the main sights — but a car unlocks the best combination of flexibility, and pays for itself over two or more trips.
How far is Phaselis from Kemer?
About 20 kilometers, a short drive of 20–30 minutes south.
Can I do the Olympos flame as a day trip from Kemer?
Yes — the valley is about 45 minutes to an hour away, and the ruins plus the flame at dusk make a full, memorable day.
Which day trip is best for swimming?
Phaselis for swimming among the ruins, and the Kekova bays for clear-water stops from the boat.
What is the best day trip for the views?
Mount Tahtalı — the cable car to the summit gives the image of the region.
All Over Information
The All Over Information editorial team researches and writes practical English-language guides to Turkey. Facts are checked against official and local sources before publication, prices are published as dated ranges rather than quotes, and guides are revised when things change. We accept no sponsored posts, paid placements or paid links.
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