A completely different Turkey: why Russians prefer to rest in Kemer
Year after year, Kemer breaks records in terms of attendance among domestic tourists. Back in the middle of the last century, it was difficult to imagine such a thing — Kemer was a quiet village, which was reached mainly by water. But a road was paved, and vacationers flocked there. Now the resort is developing rapidly and actively: clean beaches, yachts, shopping malls, Mediterranean cuisine and vibrant nightlife. Travelers enjoy the beauty of picturesque canyons and ancient monuments, stroll through narrow streets with cozy cafes and souvenir shops, and find extreme entertainment. Details can be found in the Izvestia article.
It's easy to breathe here
The nature in Kemer is different from the nature of traditional Turkey. The resort, comfortably located at the foot of the Taurus Mountains, is considered the greenest on the coast. It is literally surrounded by coniferous, oleander and orange groves.
There are 18 species of pine trees in Kemer, so tourists with various lung diseases often come here to be treated. This resort is also loved by tourists who find it difficult to tolerate the heat — it is not as humid here as in neighboring Antalya, because Kemer, as well as the villages of Goynyuk, Kirish, Chamyuva, Tekirova and Beldibi, which are part of its resort area, are surrounded on three sides by mountains that protect them from cyclones and heavy rains. There are about 300 sunny days a year here. However, there is a disadvantage: it is quite difficult to catch a beautiful sunset, the sun goes behind the rocks early.
The beach season lasts from mid-spring to late autumn. The beaches in Kemer are mostly pebbly, so the water in the sea is clear, pale blue in color. The depth comes pretty quickly, and going into the sea is not comfortable everywhere, so it's better to bring special shoes with you. Many hotel beaches are equipped with piers from which you can dive without fear.
Lovers of sandy beaches usually go to the famous Kemer Moonlight beach ("Moonlight"). It got its name due to the quiet bay of the same name, in which it is located. This beach is awarded the Blue Flag.
Kirish, Chamyuva and Olympos are also considered the best beaches in Kemer. However, many tourists prefer to go to the small town of Kas, which is known as the "pearl of the Mediterranean coast."
It does not look like large resort towns, the atmosphere is more like a European one — with clean and quiet streets, shops with craft goods, restaurants overlooking the bay and the azure rocky coast. Travelers stop in the city because of the nearby Kaputash Beach.
Its main advantage is the clear light turquoise water, through which fine white sand and marine life are perfectly visible. Travelers are usually advised to arrive here early in the morning, as there are a lot of vacationers there afterwards.
Almost Olympus
Kemer is 42 km from Antalya, and it takes about an hour to get from the airport to the hotels. There are many attractions near the resort.
You can touch the ancient past by visiting the picturesque Turkish town of Phaselis, decorated with picturesque ruins and bathed in the aromas of pine forest and cedar. In the IV century BC, when the city was actively flourishing, the commander Alexander the Great visited it. According to an ancient legend, when he approached the "sea city", as its inhabitants called Phaselis at that time, the townspeople greeted him with a golden crown.
Tourists are attracted by the ruins of the city fortress, a temple in honor of the goddess Athena, an aqueduct and an amphitheater.
It is also a place for a relaxing holiday by the sea — there are not many tourists here, besides it is very good to swim and breathe the healing air. Phaselis is located on a peninsula with hills, and no matter how high the wind blows, one of its three harbors will definitely be calm.
Phaselis belongs to the Olympos Beidaglary National Park, 25 km from the city there is another city with ancient ruins — Olympos, combining the charm of historical ruins with a picturesque beach.
Thanks to the excavations that have been underway since 2006, the city has become more actively visited by travelers. They inspect the ruins of the Roman temple, the northern necropolis, the bridge, the tomb of Marcus Aurelius.
The main artifact of Olympos is the floors of an apartment building with mosaics from the end of the III – beginning of the IV century AD.
Tourists usually visit both of these ancient cities in one trip, and at the same time admire the natural beauty and ride the cable car in the area of Mount Takhtaly, which in ancient times was also called Olympos. By the way, it should not be confused with Olympus in Ancient Greece, where, according to legend, the gods led by Zeus lived.
From an altitude of 2,365 m above sea level, there is a stunning view of the emerald mountains. Escaping from the heat, locals usually go to their homes in the mountains for the summer. In hot weather, you can cool down well here, the temperature does not exceed 24 degrees, and a strong wind is blowing. There's snow everywhere in winter.
After cooling down well, tourists usually go on another excursion — to visit the Chimera, a mythological creature "whose breed was from the gods, not from mortals: / A lion with its head, a dragon with its backside and a goat in the middle, / It breathed terribly with a devouring flame stormy" (Homer, "Iliad").
The legendary Yanartash Mountain is considered to be the habitat of the Chimera. According to legend, the hero Bellerophon flew here on the winged horse Pegasus and struck the monster terrorizing the locals with a bow. Since then, the Chimera has been hiding inside the mountain, sometimes spitting flames to the surface.
Here you can really see a fire that suddenly breaks out in different places both day and night. The nature of the phenomenon is actually simple: gas escapes from the bowels of the earth and catches fire due to contact with oxygen.
The climb up the mountain is quite steep and takes at least half an hour, but it is very picturesque. Guides advise you to come here at dusk, and you can also roast marshmallows on a fabulous fire, which enterprising Turks sell nearby.
Near Kemer there is an amusement park and a dolphinarium, as well as a dinopark in the village of Goynuk, where you can go with children. A half-hour drive from the city is the famous canyon of the same name, which in Etruscan means "a fertile valley in a place of sky-blue junction."
This gorge is about 6 m wide and up to 350 m high, its walls are made of multicolored rock of all possible shades — from red and green to black. Pine trees grow along the banks of the river, and the water in the reservoir is a rich blue color.
Near the entrance to the national park there is a picturesque lake, as well as cafes and picnic areas. Tourists admire the beauty of the canyon by boating or choosing "canyoning" — passing through the river with obstacles. In the narrowest parts of the canyon, you can reach the walls with your arms outstretched.
The water in the river is quite cool, but on hot days it's more of a plus. The journey ends near a waterfall where you can swim. There is also an opportunity to ride a small zipline or practice on a natural climbing wall.
A third of tourists choose Kemer
Between Kemer and Kashi is Tekirova, surrounded by palm trees, pines, eucalyptus and orange trees. From here, tourists usually go on a tour of Demre – Mira – Kekova, it begins with a visit to a unique Orthodox shrine — the Church of St. Nicholas in Demre, built in the IV century, the city used to be called Mira. The temple was destroyed in the 8th century.
There is a marble sarcophagus in the church, in which the relics of St. Nicholas were kept, it is decorated with various reliefs and ornaments with plant patterns. In May 1087, the relics of the saint were stolen from the sarcophagus and taken by Italian merchants to the city of Bari, where they were placed in a new cathedral in honor of the saint.
There are also preserved frescoes depicting scenes from the Holy Scriptures, as well as a mosaic-paved floor.
A necropolis carved into the rock, where the ancient Lycians (a people who lived on the territory of modern Turkey in the first millennium BC) were once buried, is also obligatory to visit. The tombs are decorated with bas-reliefs and columns, so from a distance it may seem like a large temple.
The ancient Lycian city of Mira is located 3 km south of Demre. A huge Greco-Roman theater with 35 rows has been preserved here, the stands of which could accommodate up to 10 thousand people. Numerous statues served as decorations on its facade.
Anna Malinina, Deputy General Director for Sales and Marketing of the tour operator Fun & Sun, noted that Turkey is still one of the most popular destinations among Russian tourists.
"In 2024, 2.2 million tourists traveled with Fun & Sun. In 2025, we plan to send 3.2 million tourists on vacation, including 1 million people to Turkey. A flight program to Turkish resorts is planned from 17 Russian cities," she explained.
As the Fun & Sun press service told Izvestia, about 30% of Russian tourists traveling to Antalya choose Kemer.
— This is a region that our tourists traditionally love. The water is clear here, and there are many pine trees. There are hotels for every taste — both with a large territory and small ones, but located close to the village of Kemer. There are restaurants and discos here, and life is generally more intense," the press service said.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
