Kemer is a made-to-order resort carved from Turkey's pristine pine-shaded Mediterranean coast 35km (22 miles) southwest of Antalya (map).
Though not as large or elaborate as Mexico's Cancún, the principle at Kemer (keh-MEHR, pop. 25,000) is the same: pick a favorable seaside location with little habitation and build a modern resort town of white concrete buildings in it.
With virtually nothing to offer in the way of quaint old buildings, photogenic winding streets or archeological ruins, people come to Kemer for sun and sea.
The beaches are mostly of large pebbles and stones, although the ones near the yacht marina and Yörük Parkı (an anthropological park with a Turkish nomad theme) are of sand.
Shops and restaurants have signs, ads and menus in Russian, Arabic, German and other foreign languages for the benefit of international visitors.
Kemer can be a base for exploring nearby sites like Olimpos, Phaselis, Termessos, Perge and Aspendos, but Antalya is more centrally located and, overall, has more to offer.
Transport
Minibuses for Kemer, Phaselis, Olimpos and Çıralı depart Antalya's Otogar, and also from the bus stop on Dumlupınar Bulvarı (D400) just north of the Antalya Aquarium on the western side of the city (map). There are Seabus water shuttles between Antaya's Old (Roman) Harbor and Kemer in summer as well.
Distances & Travel Times
Kaş: 150 km (93 miles) SW, 3.25 hours
Antalya: 35 km (22 miles) N, 45 minutes
Olimpos: 45 km (28 miles) S, 45 minutes
Phaselis: 23 km (14 miles) S, 25 minutes
Termessos: 69 km (43 miles) N, 1.5 hours
—by Tom Brosnahan
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