Kemer is a famous Turkish resort located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. People come here for the warm sea, clean air, gentle sun – everything that creates an atmosphere of boundless happiness. What to see in Kemer, and what is there to do here, besides going to the beach and swimming pool?
Kemer is a small city. However, it is located in a good location, so in its vicinity you can find natural parks, Taurus Mountains, the slopes of which are suitable for trekking, ruins of ancient cities, interesting entertainment centers and much more. Curious tourists can spend their entire vacation exploring the Kemer resort area.
Sights of Kemer
Yuruk Ethnographic Park
The Yuruk Open-Air Museum is a place where you can learn more about the history, customs and traditions of the Turkic Yuruk tribe, which lives in the vicinity of modern Kemer. There are tents here, which recreate the atmosphere typical of the houses of Turkish nomads. In the Yuruk Museum you can see original household items, decorative elements, one of which was carpets created by craftsmen from the Yuruk tribe. And in our time you can watch the work of craftsmen who make bright, beautiful carpets on ancient machines and immediately sell them to tourists. In the ethnographic park there is a tent where traditional treats of the Yuruk people are served. Delicious dishes are washed down with a cup of strong coffee.
Ruins of Phaselis
Phaselis is a once beautiful ancient Greek city, built on the territory of Lycia in Asia Minor, which now belongs to Turkey. The city, of which only ruins remain now, was founded around 690 BC by settlers from the Greek island of Rhodes. It is located on a small peninsula in the Mediterranean Sea at the foot of the Taurus mountain range, 53 km northwest of Antalya and only 18 km from Kemer.
Since 1811, archaeologists have been working here, who managed to find out that Phaselis was a rich city with three ports, whose inhabitants traded with the Persians, Egyptians, and Greeks. From here, wine and rose oil were exported on ships. Scientists have discovered the remains of a wide street, a theater, baths, walls surrounding the harbor, an aqueduct, and the ruins of Byzantine buildings. After 411 BC, Phaselis was in the hands of the Persians. Alexander the Great spent the winter here in 334-333 BC.
The ruins of the city of Phaselis are now surrounded by a natural park, famous for its clean beaches and picturesque
Cumhuriyet Square
Cumhuriyet Square, which in Turkish means “Republic Square“, is considered the heart of Kemer. It was laid out on the site of the old Kemer bus station in 2006. It covers an area of about 7 thousand square meters. Around its perimeter are 18 pools filled with water with elegant bridges. In the center of one of the reservoirs is a platform on which is placed the monument to Kemal Ataturk. The sculptor depicted the first president of Turkey with a dove in his hand. Behind the statue of Ataturk, you can see a structure consisting of seven dark columns and a light ring. In the center of the square there is also a fountain with a large illuminated bowl. There are also spinning fountains that shoot directly from the tiled paving stones.
The most interesting sight of Republic Square is the tall snow-white clock tower. It houses a nightclub and a good restaurant, visitors to which can comfortably sit on the observation deck located directly under the clock.
Kemer Dolphinarium
Many tourists come to Turkish resorts with children. To keep the kids entertained, the host pays great attention to organizing various water and entertainment theme parks, zoos and aquariums. There is a dolphinarium in Kemer, which can be found on the territory of Moonlight Park. 800 spectators can watch the performance, which takes place twice a day, at the same time.
What program awaits guests of the dolphinarium:
- First, an employee of this institution talks about dolphins and the need for their protection;
- Then two dolphins and a sea lion perform for the public in a deep pool;
- After that, you can swim with the animals or take pictures for an additional fee.
The dolphinarium sells unusual souvenirs: paintings created by the sea lion Phileas. There are also many traditional items (soft toys, magnets, etc.) that will be a great gift for your family and friends.
Tahtali Cable Car
A few dozen kilometers from Kemer is Mount Tahtali, to the top of which you can climb directly from the Mediterranean coast on the second longest cable car in the world. Its length is 4350 meters. It was built in 2007 by the joint efforts of the Swiss and Turks.
When planning a trip to the upper platform of the funicular, located at an altitude of 2365 meters above sea level, where there is a restaurant and a number of shops with souvenirs, you should consider that from about October to April Tahtali will greet you with snowy slopes and quite cool weather. Therefore, you need to bring warm clothes to be able to see Kemer and its surroundings from the observation deck. The funicular cabin is designed for 80 people. It lifts tourists to the top of the mountain in 10 minutes.
Ancient city of Olympos
The village of Olympos, surrounded by fragrant orange groves, has long been known to tourists for its original hotels – the so-called “tree houses”. One of the main attractions of this settlement are the ruins of the ancient Lycian city of Olympos. You can get to them along the only road that connects the village of Olympos with the village of Çıralı.
The ancient city of Olympos was founded in the 2nd century BC and quickly became one of the most significant economic centers of the region. In the 1st century BC, the settlement was devastated by pirates from neighboring Cilicia, and soon after that Olympos became part of the Roman Empire. In the Middle Ages, the city successively belonged to the Byzantines, Venetians and Genoa, until it was finally abandoned in the 15th century.
The remains of Roman baths and fortifications built in the 11th-12th centuries have survived to this day. Also in the dense forest you can see the ruins of residential buildings and temples.
Tekirova Ecological Nature Park
When choosing Kemer for your vacation, do not limit yourself to walking around the city and taking sea baths. There are many interesting places in the vicinity of Kemer that are worth visiting during your vacation in Turkey. For example, both adults and children will surely like the ecological park, which was opened in 2005 in the village of Tekirova. It is a botanical garden, on the territory of which there is a terrarium containing amphibians and reptiles that live in Turkey and neighboring countries. The head of the ecopark is the famous scientist Selami Tomruk, who has been studying exotic snakes for many years.
In 2005, this park was conceived as a center for the maintenance and study of reptiles. However, people became interested in the work of the center and were willing to pay to visit it. Since then, all the proceeds from ticket sales have gone to the development of the ecological park. In addition to snakes, giant turtles, frogs of various species, more pleasant representatives of the fauna also live here: birds, rabbits, etc.
Yanartash Fire Mountain
The unusual Yanartash Mountain, from the depths of which fire constantly erupts, is located on the outskirts of the village of Çıralı. According to legend, the terrible monster Chimera met its death here from the arrow of the hero Bellerophon. His body was buried on the mountain, and since then a fire has been burning there constantly. In fact, there is a deposit of natural methane gas near the surface of the mountain, which ignites brightly when it comes into contact with air. From the outside, it seems that numerous torches are burning on the slope of Yanartash. This has been going on for many hundreds of years.
The place that is considered the grave of the Chimera is a popular tourist attraction. A special path has been laid to it, on which locals charge a fee for viewing such a unique natural phenomenon.
This part of the mountain looks most impressive at dusk or at night.
Cıralı Village
Cıralı Village is a great alternative to the noisy Kemer. It is located on the territory of the reserve, so the construction of high-rise hotels with many rooms is prohibited here. The village of Cirali consists of only a few streets. For tourists, there is everything you need: cozy restaurants, cute guesthouses, a long beach where you can see loggerhead turtles, a pine forest in the vicinity of the village, several orange groves and a number of wonderful historical monuments. For example, very close is Mount Yanartash, which is called fiery because of the columns of burning gas that erupt from its slope.
At the end of the beach you can see the ruins of the ancient city of Olympos, and in the center of the village – a snow-white mosque with a high minaret. Hiking enthusiasts also come to Cirali. Interesting routes have been developed here, laid along the slopes of neighboring mountains.
Dinopark in Goynuk
If you are vacationing in Kemer with children, then you should definitely visit Dinopark, located in the village of Goynuk. The park, where life-size dinosaur models are installed in the middle of the forest, opened in 2012. Some figures of prehistoric animals are interactive: they wag their tails and growl at visitors, scaring children and amusing adults. Kids are invited to feel like archaeologists and, armed with brushes, free the dinosaur skeleton from the sand.
After the work is done, you can set a record in jumping on a trampoline or watch a 7D film about dinosaurs in a small cinema. Dinopark also has a planetarium and a room of fear.
The price of the entrance ticket to Dinopark includes five tokens, which can be used to pay for a movie screening or lunch in a cafe.
