Kemer→Patara

Kemer is all pine slopes, marina lights and busy resort evenings. Patara is almost the opposite: a quiet village, a vast stretch of sand and a ruined Lycian capital half buried in dunes. Between the two lie 117 km of coast and mountain, and the drive takes about 2 hours (123 minutes) in normal conditions. With Turkey Transfer you cover that distance in one private vehicle, door to door, with no bus station, no change of minibus and no argument over a taxi meter.

This page walks through the whole trip. It covers the road and the scenery, what happens at pickup and at drop-off, the different corners of Patara and who each one suits, and how to plan the return. It also covers a few day trips worth the effort and the seasons when this coast is at its best. Read it before you book. It will help you choose a pickup time, decide whether to stop on the way and understand what to expect when you arrive.

Leaving Kemer, you head away from the pine-covered Taurus slopes and take the coast road south-west. Kemer sits about 55 km from Antalya city, and its mountains drop almost straight into the Mediterranean. That same drama continues as you move on. The sea stays on your left for most of the journey, and the landscape keeps changing.

The route passes through Kumluca and Finike. This is the stretch where the character of the coast shifts. Antalya's citrus groves and greenhouse country give way to rocky headlands, small bays and the first real signs of ancient Lycia. Lycia was the old name for this south-western corner of Anatolia, and its cities, rock tombs and stone-paved paths are scattered through the hills on both sides of the road.

The numbers tell you something about the road itself. A distance of 117 km in 123 minutes means an average pace well below motorway speed. This is a coast road with bends, climbs, village crossings and stretches behind slower vehicles. It is a drive to enjoy from the back seat rather than to rush. Your driver knows where the road is smooth and where it twists, and drives accordingly. Passengers who tend to feel travel sickness should sit in the front or at a window, and should tell the driver early if they want a pause.

Near Demre, the route passes the Church of St. Nicholas and the rock-cut tombs of ancient Myra, both right beside the road. The tombs are cut into a cliff face and are one of the most recognisable sights on the whole Lycian coast. Farther along, as you approach Kaş, the mountains drop straight into the sea and the colour of the water becomes noticeably deeper and more turquoise. Beyond that comes the famous cove of Kaputaş Beach, a small beach wedged into a narrow gap between cliffs. Then the road continues towards Patara, where you can see the theatre and assembly hall of the ancient city rising from the dunes, along with waymarks of the Lycian Way, the long-distance walking trail that crosses this region.

The stated duration of 123 minutes is the figure for normal traffic. Treat it as a planning number and not a promise to the minute.

• Early morning: The coast road is at its quietest. A departure before mid-morning is the most relaxed way to do the trip, and you arrive in Patara with the whole afternoon ahead of you.
• Midday in July and August: Expect more traffic through the larger towns and more slow vehicles on the climbs. Allow extra time if you have a fixed commitment at the other end, such as a villa key handover.
• Evening: Light traffic returns, but the road is winding and the sun sets earlier in autumn and winter. If you dislike driving after dark, plan your pickup so that you arrive before dusk.
• Stops: If you ask for a photo stop at Demre or Kaputaş, add the time of the stop to the 123 minutes. Ten to twenty minutes is typical for a viewpoint, and longer if you want to walk around the Myra tombs.

When you book, give us your honest target arrival time. We will help you work backwards to a sensible pickup in Kemer.

Many travellers treat the transfer as a plain A-to-B trip, and that is perfectly fine. If you have the time and the energy, three places along the road are worth a request.

Demre and the Church of St. Nicholas. The church is associated with Saint Nicholas, the fourth-century bishop of Myra who later became the origin of the Santa Claus tradition. It is a short, easy stop. The nearby rock tombs of Myra are visible from the road, and the ancient theatre of Myra is close by. Allow time for a short walk and a few photographs.

Kaputaş Beach. This is the famous turquoise cove between Kaş and Kalkan. Steps lead down from the road to a small beach. In peak summer the cove is crowded and the stairs are busy, so an early start helps. In spring and autumn it is a calmer place and a good place to stretch your legs after a long ride.

Kemer is not a single point. The name covers a string of neighbourhoods along the coast, and your pickup time should reflect where you stay.

• Kemer centre is built around the marina. Gulet boats line up there every morning for day trips, and the old streets fill with small fish restaurants at night. Narrow lanes in the centre can be slow with traffic, so a meeting point at the hotel entrance or on the nearest main road may be easier for the driver.
• Göynük lies just north of the centre, with a long pebble beach and a cluster of family-run and all-inclusive hotels set back from the water. Crystal Aura Beach Resort and Crystal De Luxe Resort & Spa are both here, and we know these hotels well.
• Kiriş is a smaller, quieter cove tucked under the mountain, with Rox Royal Hotel among its best-known properties.
• Çamyuva and Beldibi lie further north and are known for wider beaches and a calmer pace.
• Tekirova lies to the south and is the closest base to the ruins of Phaselis.

Because Tekirova is on the southern side, guests staying there start the trip a little closer to the Patara direction. Guests in Beldibi and Çamyuva start from the other end. Tell us the exact name of your hotel or apartment when you book, and we adjust the pickup time to match.

Patara is small. The village centre, usually called Gelemiş, is a single main street with pensions, small hotels, restaurants and shops, and the surrounding lanes are quiet and often narrow. Some accommodation sits down side lanes where a larger vehicle cannot turn easily. In that case the driver stops at the nearest convenient point and helps you with the bags for the final stretch. If you travel with a minibus-size group, send us the exact address, a map pin or the name of the property, so that the driver knows the best approach.

Please remember a few practical points.

• Keep the phone number of your accommodation to hand, in case the driver needs to call ahead.
• If you stay in a villa outside the village, share a map pin and not only a name. Rural lanes may not appear under the name you expect.

Patara is compact, but the experience differs depending on where you sleep.

The village centre (Gelemiş). This is the practical choice. You walk to restaurants, shops and cafes, and you can reach the ruins and the beach road without a car. It suits independent travellers, couples and groups of friends who like to wander in the evening. It also suits anyone who wants a short walk to dinner.

Near the ancient city entrance. A few places sit closer to the archaeological area. They are good for travellers who want to visit the ruins early, before the heat builds, and who like a quieter setting.

Along the road towards the beach. Accommodation along this road puts you nearer the sand. It suits beach-focused holidays and families who want shorter walks with towels, umbrellas and children. Expect to share the area with day visitors in high season.

Farm and villa stays in the hills and orchards around the village. These are best for travellers who want privacy and quiet, and who plan to move around by car or by arranged transfer. For these stays, a private transfer is particularly useful, because there is rarely a bus or taxi rank nearby.

Patara stretches over about 18 kilometres of golden sand, making it one of the longest beaches in Turkey. Dunes back much of it, and the sea shelves gently, which makes the water attractive for swimmers who like to walk out slowly. It is wide and open, with a very different feel from the pebble beaches around Kemer.

It is also a protected nesting site for loggerhead sea turtles. Because of that, the beach has rules, and some rules apply at night. The main aim is to keep lights, noise and equipment away from nesting areas. Respect any signs and instructions you find, and ask your accommodation about current beach rules when you arrive. If you plan an evening walk on the sand, check first whether it is allowed in the season you visit.

Practical beach notes for first-time visitors:

• There is little natural shade on the sand. Bring a hat, sunscreen and an umbrella, or use what the beach facilities provide.
• Wind can pick up in the afternoon, and the sand can feel hot underfoot at midday in summer. Light sandals help.

Patara was once the capital of the Lycian League, an early federation of Lycian cities that is often cited as an ancient example of representative government. That history gives the site real weight. It is not a small ruin in a field, but a former port city whose remains lie spread among dunes and scrub.

Look for the restored assembly building, which was the meeting place of the league, and the columns that stand along the old main street. The theatre sits on a hillside and is visible from afar. A walk through the site takes you past a monumental arch, baths, tombs and the remains of the harbour, which has silted up over the centuries and is now a reedy plain. Tradition also links the area to Saint Nicholas, who is said to have been born in Patara before he became bishop of Myra, which connects this stop to Demre on your drive.

Visit early in the day if you can. The site has limited shade and the heat builds quickly in summer. Wear comfortable shoes for uneven ground, and bring water. Many visitors combine the ruins and the beach on the same day, since the road to the beach continues beyond the ancient city.

After the lively evenings of Kemer, Patara feels very quiet. That is the charm. Evenings revolve around small restaurants in and near the village centre, where you sit outside under the trees and eat slowly. Expect simple, fresh Turkish and Aegean-style cooking, with grilled fish and meat, meze, salads and local vegetables. Many places are family run, and the pace is relaxed.

A few habits fit this village well.

• Eat early in the evening if you travel with small children, since kitchens and tables are easy to find before the late rush.
• Try breakfast at your guesthouse. Small places often serve a spread of cheese, olives, tomatoes, eggs, honey and bread.
• If you want a livelier night out, Kalkan and Kaş are both within reach by car or by dolmuş, the local minibus, and your transfer can be arranged for the evening.

The transfer itself is easy for families, because the vehicle is private and nobody else shares it. Child seats are available on request, so tell us the age of each child when you book and we prepare the right seat. Please do not wait until pickup to mention this.

Two hours is a long time for small passengers, so plan the journey around them.

• Start after a good breakfast and let children rest or nap in the car.
• Bring snacks, water, a charged tablet or book and a small blanket.
• If someone feels car sick, tell the driver and sit at the front or by a window.
• Pack swimwear and a change of clothes in the hand luggage. The beach may be your first stop.

Patara suits families well. The gently sloping sand, the wide open space and the quiet village atmosphere let children play with fewer worries about crowds. Remember sun protection, since the beach has little shade. Strollers do not roll well in soft sand, so a carrier or a small beach wagon is easier. If you need a stroller carried in the vehicle, mention it when you book.

Not every journey fits a daytime schedule, and this coast road deserves care in the dark.

If you want to leave Kemer late in the evening, keep in mind that the trip takes about 2 hours. A departure at nine in the evening means arrival close to eleven, and many small guesthouses in Patara close reception early. Tell your accommodation in advance that you arrive late, and ask how check-in works. If you travel after dark, you will not see the scenery described above, so consider leaving earlier in the day.

If you need an early start, such as a morning departure from Kemer to reach a boat trip or a hiking day, tell us when you book. Early pickups are easy to arrange, and the road is quiet at that hour.

If you land late at Antalya Airport, you may want to continue to Patara the same night or sleep first in Kemer. The airport lies about 55 km from Kemer along the D-400, and it takes 50 to 70 minutes. Add the 123 minutes from Kemer to Patara, and a late arrival becomes a long night. For many families, a night in Kemer and an onward transfer the next morning is the more comfortable plan.

Plan the way back with the same care as the way out. Because Patara is far from the main airport, give yourself a generous margin.

If your return leg goes through Kemer, remember the two parts of the journey. The drive from Patara to Kemer takes about 2 hours, or 123 minutes, in normal traffic. The run from Kemer to Antalya Airport adds another 50 to 70 minutes, and in summer it can run longer on evenings when the road passes through Antalya city. A private transfer lets you ask for a pickup that fits your flight, not a bus timetable.

A simple way to plan a departure flight:

1. Decide the time you want to arrive at the airport. For an international flight, many travellers aim for about three hours before departure.
2. Subtract the journey time, using the ranges above.
3. Subtract a safety margin for traffic, a bathroom stop and a late start.
4. Set the pickup time at that moment, and tell your driver the flight time so that the driver can check it.

For an early morning flight, this often means a pickup in the middle of the night. That is normal for us and a better choice than a rushed ride. For an afternoon flight, a morning pickup gives you time for a final breakfast and a relaxed drive. Give us your flight number and time when you book your return, and we help you work out a sensible plan.

Patara makes a good base for exploring western Lycia. Here are the trips travellers most often add.

• Xanthos and Letoon. These ancient sites lie inland from Patara and both belong to the UNESCO World Heritage list. Xanthos was a major Lycian city, and Letoon was a religious sanctuary. They fit well into one morning.
• Saklıkent Gorge. A deep gorge in the hills where visitors walk in cold water between steep rock walls. It is popular in summer for its cool air.
• Kalkan. A hillside town with a pretty harbour and many restaurants, close to Patara by road.
• Kaş. A relaxed harbour town with diving, small boutiques and a fine position facing the Greek island of Meis.
• Kaputaş Beach. Easy to combine with a drive between Kalkan and Kaş.
• Demre, Myra and Kekova. On your way back towards Antalya, you can see the Church of St. Nicholas, the tombs of Myra and the sunken ruins visible from boats around Kekova.

We arrange these as sightseeing transfers on request. Tell us the places you want to see and the time you can spare, and we help you shape a sensible day.

The Mediterranean climate here brings long sunny periods. Summers are hot, often 35 degrees Celsius or more, and winters are mild. The sea season generally runs from April to November.

Spring (April to May). Flowers cover the hills, the air is fresh and the beach is quiet. Water can still be cool. This is an excellent time for the ruins and the Lycian Way.

Summer (June to September). Hot, bright and busy. The beach is at its liveliest, and the sea is warm. Start early for sightseeing, rest in the afternoon and eat late. Air conditioning in the vehicle is a real comfort on the coast road. Turtles nest on the beach during the warmer months, so expect rules that protect them.

Autumn (October to November). Warm sea, softer light and fewer visitors. Many travellers consider this the best season for walking and for ancient sites. Daylight shortens, so plan your arrival before dusk.

Winter (December to March). Mild but quiet. Some small restaurants and guesthouses in Patara close or reduce hours, so check before you travel. The scenery is green and the roads are calm. Rain can occur, so bring a light jacket.

Booking is simple. Enter your pickup address in Kemer, your drop-off in Patara, the date, the time and the number of passengers. Add the age of any child who needs a seat and mention any extra luggage, a stop at Demre or Kaputaş, or a late pickup. We prepare the vehicle and the driver for your plan.

On the day, your driver collects you at your door, loads the bags and takes the coast road to Patara. You sit back, enjoy the scenery and arrive at your address, ready for the beach, the ruins and a quiet evening in the village. If your plans change, contact us as early as possible so that we can adjust your reservation.

A private transfer from Kemer to Patara turns a long and tiring day into part of the holiday. You leave the pine forests and the marina behind, pass Myra and Kaputaş, and reach one of the longest and quietest beaches on the Lycian coast.