15 Excursions from Kemer: from the ruins of Olympos to the summit of Tahtali

Kemer is convenient not only for its beach. Within a radius of about 100 kilometers around the city lie ancient ruins, an eternal flame, canyons, and the 2,365-meter peak of Tahtalı.

The town sits on the Turkish Riviera, 45 kilometers from Antalya Airport. In a week of vacation, you'll have time to walk through the ruins of Olympos, ride the cable car up, and take a boat trip to the sunken city of Kekova. Below are 15 excursions from Kemer: prices, travel time, and the honest catch of each route.

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Excursions from Kemer: what to choose

💡 In short: all routes are summarized in the table, and each one is described separately below.

• Best ruins: Olympos, Phaselis, and Myra with its Lycian tombs.
• Nature and active recreation: Göynük Canyon, the national park, and the cable car to Tahtalı.
• Sea: a boat trip to Kekova, Moonlight Beach, and diving at a shipwreck.
• Prices and opening hours: as of 09/2026, verified on the official Olympos Teleferik website and the Turkish museums portal

1. Olympos: ruins in the forest and a wild beach

© Yunus Emre Sarıgül · CC BY-SAPhoto: Yunus Emre Sarıgül, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

Olympos lies about 40 kilometers south of Kemer. The ancient city was founded more than 2,200 years ago, and today its walls hide in a dense forest by the river. Paths branch off from the main trail, and around every turn another wall or sarcophagus comes into view.

The main plus of this route comes at the end: after the ruins, you emerge at the wild beach of Olympos. The beach is pebbly, with no loungers or showers, because it is a nesting area for caretta caretta turtles.

• Cost: 10 € for foreign visitors (as of 09/2026, official Turkish museums website).
• Opening hours: summer 08:00-19:00, winter 08:30-17:30 (as of 09/2026, official museums website).
• How to get there: by bus from Kemer toward Kumluca, then a dolmuş to the entrance.
• The catch: in summer it gets very hot at midday, so bring water and go early in the morning.

2. Çıralı: a quiet village and turtles

Next to Olympos lies the village of Çıralı, and it is nothing like the rest of the Riviera. There are no big hotels here: instead, small pensions among orange trees and gözleme flatbreads by the sea.

© Dosseman · CC BY-SAPhoto: Dosseman, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

Çıralı Beach is also a protected area for caretta caretta turtles. From May to October, if you're lucky, you can see turtles hatching. The village works both as a day trip from Kemer and as a quiet alternative to a noisy hotel.

• Who it's for: those who want peace and nature instead of evening entertainment.
• Not for: fans of large hotels and beach bars.
• The catch: there's little to do in the evening, and Kemer is about 40 kilometers away.

3. Yanartaş: the eternal flame on the mountain

© William Neuheisel from DC, US · CC BYPhoto: William Neuheisel from DC, US, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

Yanartaş translates as "burning stone." Above Çıralı, about 35 kilometers from Kemer, natural gas has been seeping out of cracks in the rock for thousands of years and burns right on the surface with no visible fuel.

The climb takes about 30 minutes and is steep in places. Go in the evening: during the day the flames are barely visible, but at sunset the fires burn brightly and you get a view of the coast.

• Cost: paid entry, in the low double digits (check on site).
• How to get there: from Çıralı along the trail, then on foot.
• The catch: the climb is tough in the heat, you need comfortable shoes and a flashlight for the descent.

4. Phaselis: an ancient port with three beaches

© 1089hruskapetr · CC BYPhoto: 1089hruskapetr, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

Phaselis is just 11 kilometers from Kemer, inside Olympos Beydağları National Park. The city was founded around 700 BC and was one of the main trading ports of the Mediterranean.

Now you walk among the ruins, then head down to one of three beaches right by the ancient walls. It's a convenient half-day trip if you don't want to go far.

• Cost: paid entry, €10 for foreign visitors (as of 09/2026, Turkey's museum portal).
• Hours: until evening in summer, shorter in winter (as of 09/2026, Turkey's official museum website).
• The catch: on weekends the beaches get crowded, arrive at opening time.

5. Göynük Canyon: gorge, rafting and cold water

Göynük Canyon is just 7 kilometers north of Kemer. It's a narrow gorge with turquoise water, steep walls and a trail along the river.

© Tanya Dedyukhina · CC BYPhoto: Tanya Dedyukhina, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

There are different ways in: on foot along the trail, by boat, or with a guide on a body-rafting trip through the narrows. The water in the canyon is cold even in summer, so bring water shoes and a phone case.

• Cost: paid entry, activities like rafting and ziplining are paid separately.
• How to get there: taxi or dolmuş from central Kemer, about 15 minutes.
• The catch: at midday the trail gets crowded, and the water is genuinely freezing.
• Göynük Canyon tour on GetYourGuide

6. Tahtalı: a cable car to 2,365 meters

© Güney Özdamar · CC BY-SAPhoto: Güney Özdamar, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

If hiking isn't for you, go up Tahtalı by cable car. In 10 minutes you'll be at 2,365 meters, on the highest mountain in the region. On a clear day you can see the coast and even Antalya from the summit.

The station is between Çamyuva and Tekirova, about 15 kilometers from Kemer. At the top you can watch paragliders launching.

• Cost: $46 round trip for adults, $32 for children aged 3-11, free under 3 (as of 09/2026, Olympos Teleferik).
• Hours: daily, longer in summer, shorter in winter.
• The catch: the ticket isn't cheap, and at the summit it's 10-15 degrees colder than by the sea.
• Tahtalı cable car ticket

7. Olympos Beydağları national park

The park stretches along the coast and brings together several places from this list: Olympos, Phaselis, Yanartaş and Göynük Canyon. For walking there are marked routes, including sections of the famous Lycian Way.

© Dicle Atem · CC BY-SAPhoto: Dicle Atem, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

Before you set out, check the route map and take more water than you think you need. Part of the trail runs along an open slope with no shade.

• Who it's for: those who are ready for mountain hikes.
• Not for: a vacation with small children in the heat.
• The catch: in summer the open sections get hot, so go early in the morning.

8. Yoruk Park: a nomad museum in the center

© Emin Başar ÖZDEMİR · CC BYPhoto: Emin Başar ÖZDEMİR, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

Yoruk Park sits in the center of Kemer, between Moonlight Beach and the marina. It's an open-air museum about the life of Turkish Yoruk nomads: traditional tents, crafts, and local food you can try.

The park is small, and it's a convenient stop if you're already walking near the harbor or the beach.

• Cost: admission is almost free, just a token fee.
• How to get there: on foot from the marina or Moonlight Beach, a few minutes.
• The catch: the park is small, 30-40 minutes is enough to see it.

9. Moonlight: a park and sandy beach in the center

© Figure · CC BY-SAPhoto: Figure, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

Moonlight Park covers a large area in the center of Kemer, by Moonlight Bay. It has tennis and basketball courts, restaurants, bars, and lawns.

The main thing is right next to it: Moonlight Beach, one of the few sandy beaches in Kemer. Unlike the pebble beaches around it, the sand here is soft and you can spend the whole day with food and drinks.

• Who it's for: families and those who don't want to go far from their hotel.
• The catch: in season the beach gets crowded, and sunbeds are claimed from the morning.

10. Kekova: the sunken city

© JamesDavidShoots · CC BY-SAPhoto: JamesDavidShoots, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

The island of Kekova near the town of Demre hides the ancient city of Dolichiste, partially submerged underwater. After an earthquake in the 2nd century, most of the city ended up below the waterline.

From a boat, through the clear water, you can see walls, staircases, and the remains of buildings. Some boats have a glass bottom. Snorkeling at the ruins is prohibited.

• How to get there: a sea tour from Kemer or from Demre, often combined with Myra.
• The catch: it's a long trip, and swimming at the ruins is not allowed.
• Kekova boat trip on GetYourGuide

11. Myra and the Church of St. Nicholas

© Rab Lawrence · CC BYPhoto: Rab Lawrence, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

Ancient Myra lies in Lycia, about 99 kilometers from Kemer, and is known today as Demre. The main impression: Lycian tombs carved into the rock high above your head.

In the neighboring Church of St. Nicholas, Bishop Nicholas lived in the 4th century and became the prototype for Santa Claus. Inside, you can see his sarcophagus.

• Cost: Myra and the church require separate tickets: for foreign visitors, €13 and €17 respectively (as of 09/2026, Turkey's museum portal).
• How to get there: about two hours by car, so it makes sense to combine it with Kekova.
• The catch: a long full-day trip.

12. Market and bazaar in Kemer

The produce market in central Kemer operates on Mondays. It sells fresh fruit, spices, clothing, and souvenirs. Bargain calmly and without getting carried away.

Around the area there are also less touristy village markets: Kuzdere on Thursdays, Kumluca and Goynuk on Fridays, Tekirova on Saturdays.

• How to get there: the market is in the center, within walking distance from most hotels.
• The catch: Monday mornings are crowded, so arrive at opening time.

13. Boat trip from Kemer Marina

From Kemer Marina, excursion boats depart daily for bays along the coast. A classic day tour visits several bays that are inaccessible by land, with stops for swimming.

© Tanya Dedyukhina · CC BYPhoto: Tanya Dedyukhina, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

Depending on the boat, the price includes lunch on board, snorkeling masks, and music. For an extra fee, you can rent an entire boat. The most beautiful bays are toward Phaselis and Cirali.

• Cost: a day tour costs a two-digit amount per person, depending on lunch and route.
• Departure: Kemer Marina, usually around 10:00.
• The catch: popular boats get crowded, so choose a weekday morning.
• See boat trips from Kemer

14. Jeep safari in the Taurus Mountains

A jeep safari takes you off the asphalt and into the ridges of the Taurus Mountains, past small villages, waterfalls, and viewpoints overlooking the coast.

© Zeynel Cebeci · CC BY-SAPhoto: Zeynel Cebeci, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

Along the way, tours usually stop in a mountain village where you're served a traditional lunch. Be prepared for dust, bumpy roads, and noise: that's the whole point of the route.

• Cost: a tour costs a two-digit amount per person.
• How to get there: pickup from your hotel, duration is roughly a full day.
• The catch: the bumpy ride is not suitable for people with back pain.

15. Diving to a shipwreck

© Tanya Dedyukhina · CC BYPhoto: Tanya Dedyukhina, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

About half a kilometer from Kemer Marina, at a depth of 25 meters, lies a sunken French cargo ship. The vessel is believed to have been built around 1896 and sank during World War II.

Always book the dive with an experienced instructor, never on your own. Kemer has many schools that offer introductory dives for beginners.

• Cost: an introductory dive costs a two-digit amount, depending on the school and number of dives.
• The catch: the depth is serious for beginners, so listen to your instructor.
• Find a guided dive

It's convenient to book excursions in advance, especially the cable car and boat trips during high season. Below is a widget with tour options from Kemer.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need for excursions from Kemer?

For the main routes, allow at least three to four days. One day goes to Olympos and Cirali, the second to Goynuk Canyon and the cable car, the third to a longer trip to Myra and Kekova. Beach days and the market are easy to fit in between.

How do you get to Olympos and Phaselis without a car?

Dolmuses and buses run from Kemer toward Kumluca and Demre. Phaselis is about 11 kilometers away, Olympos about 40. If you don't want to work around the schedule, book an excursion with hotel pickup.

When is the best time to visit Kemer?

April to June and September to October are the most comfortable: warm, but without the July heat. In summer, plan ruins and hikes for early morning, and save the cable car and canyon for the hot hours.

How much does the cable car to Tahtali cost?

An adult round-trip ticket costs $46, children aged 3 to 11 pay $32, under 3 is free (as of 09/2026, Olympos Teleferik). It's 10 to 15 degrees colder at the top, so bring a sweater.

Do you need a car for excursions from Kemer?

Having your own car gives you freedom, but it's not essential. Dolmuses and taxis run to Phaselis, Goynuk Canyon, and the cable car, while for the longer trips to Myra and Kekova it's easier to take an organized excursion with transfer.

In short: what's worth booking

If you're short on time, pick two routes: Olympos with its forest and beach, plus the cable car to Tahtali. Water lovers will enjoy a boat trip to Kekova or diving at the sunken ship. Families with kids will find Moonlight Beach and Yoruk Park in the center the easiest options.

Cable car tickets and popular tours sell out in advance during the season, so book before you arrive. Excursions from Kemer on GetYourGuide and hotels in Kemer on Trip.com.