Patara→Evrenseki

Patara and Evrenseki sit at opposite ends of a long, beautiful stretch of Turkey's southern coast. One is a quiet farming village beside Turkey's longest uninterrupted sand beach and the ruins of a great Lycian city. The other is a lively resort district in the Manavgat area, a short way from Side's ancient harbour. The transfer between them is a point-to-point journey of about 199 km, and the drive takes around 209 minutes, which is a little under three and a half hours with no stops.

That is a proper journey, not a quick hop between hotels. This page explains what to expect from the moment your driver arrives in Gelemiş village to the moment you reach your door in Evrenseki. It also covers what each area has to offer when you get there, and how to plan the days either side of the transfer. Turkey Transfer (antalyatransfer.taxi) runs this route as a private transfer. The vehicle is yours alone, with no other passengers collected along the way and no scheduled stops that are not your own.

Patara is not a resort town in the usual sense. The village is properly called Gelemiş, and it is small, spread out and mostly made up of independent hotels and pensions rather than chain resorts. Your driver comes to the door of your accommodation. The hotels and pensions we regularly serve include Golden Lighthouse Hotel, Ince Hotel, Dardanos Hotel, Delfin, Ferah Otel, Beyoğlu, Apollon, Denge Pansiyon, Golden Pension 3 and Leton Apart Otel, along with many other places in the village. If your place is not on that list, give us its name when you book and we will find it.

The last stretch of road through Gelemiş is narrow. At busy checkout times in July and August, allow a few extra minutes for the car to reach you. Some pensions near the beach are a short walk from the point where a car can park. In that case your driver helps with the bags, so you do not need to drag luggage along a sandy lane.

A drive of about 209 minutes sets the shape of the day. Most guests choose one of three patterns:

• An early start. You leave soon after breakfast and reach Evrenseki before the middle of the afternoon. This works well in summer, when you can also check in, find your room and still have the evening on the Side coast.
• A late-morning start. You enjoy a last walk on the beach or a final coffee in the village, then leave around the time many hotels hold their checkout. You arrive in the late afternoon.
• A slow day. You ask your driver to add one or two longer stops, such as a lunch in Kaş or a walk around the old harbour at Kalkan. In this case you should allow for the extra time when you plan your arrival.

If your Evrenseki hotel has a fixed check-in time, check it before you choose. In peak season, rooms are often not ready until mid-afternoon. An early arrival then means leaving your bags at reception and heading to the pool or beach.

The journey follows the Lycian coast eastwards and then the Antalya coast onwards towards Side. It is a drive of changing scenery rather than one long motorway. Pine-covered mountains drop steeply into the sea in some places. In others the road opens into broad coastal plains full of greenhouses and orange orchards. There are bays, small islands and long views out to open water.

The road goes through or beside well-known towns on its way. In the first part of the journey you pass Kalkan, with its yacht-filled marina and old town, and then Kaş, the harbour town that serves as the base for boat trips to sunken Kekova. From there the road moves towards Demre, the home of Saint Nicholas's church at ancient Myra, and then through the citrus country around Finike and Kumluca. After that the coast road turns towards the Kemer area and the foothills of the Taurus Mountains, before the road reaches the Antalya basin.

Once the route passes Antalya, the landscape changes. The mountains move back from the shore, and the road runs east across the flat, fertile plain through Aksu, Serik and Manavgat towards Side. This is where you leave Lycia behind and arrive in the Pamphylian coastal plain, which is the setting for Evrenseki.

Under normal conditions the drive takes around 209 minutes. That figure assumes steady traffic and no long stops, and it is a good number to plan around. It can stretch in a few situations:

• Summer weekends and mid-July to late August. Roads near Kaş, Kemer and Antalya carry more coaches, rental cars and day-trip traffic. The stretch through Antalya itself is usually the slowest part of the day.
• Late afternoon. Local traffic builds as people leave work or return from the beach. If you can pass through the Antalya area before about four in the afternoon, the journey is usually calmer.
• Roadworks and weather. Winter rain can slow the mountain sections. Summer road repairs sometimes reduce a section to one lane.

Your driver knows the coast well and adjusts to conditions as they appear. If you have a flight or a booked activity at the other end, tell us when you book so we can build a safe margin into the plan.

On a journey of this length a break is not a luxury. A natural halfway point is somewhere around Kaş or Demre, where there are cafés, toilets and places to stretch your legs. A later stop near Kemer or the edge of Antalya also works well. You can ask for a pause at any time, for a coffee, a photograph at a viewpoint or a short walk by the sea.

If you travel with small children, plan one proper stop of around twenty minutes in the middle of the drive. It makes the second half far easier for everyone in the car.

Because the route follows the coast, you can turn the transfer into a sightseeing day without losing much time. Agree any stop with your driver when you book, since extra time at a stop may change the plan for the day.

• Kalkan. The white-washed old town above the marina is a pleasant place for a first coffee. It is only a short drive from Patara, so it is easy to fit in at the start of the day.
• Kaş. A relaxed harbour town with a small square, good cafés and views towards the Greek island of Meis. It is the natural lunch stop for many guests.
• Demre and Myra. The church associated with Saint Nicholas and the rock-cut tombs of ancient Myra are among the best-known sites in Lycia. They suit anyone who liked the Patara story of Saint Nicholas and wants to see the next chapter. Saklıkent Gorge, Xanthos, Letoon, Tlos and Pınara are all famous in the Patara area. They lie inland and are better kept for a separate day from Patara, not for the transfer day. Xanthos and Letoon, both UNESCO World Heritage sites, are about ten minutes from Patara. If you want to see them before you leave, a short early visit fits in well and your driver can wait or collect you from there.

Evrenseki lies in the Manavgat district, on the coast just beside Side. It sits between the Manavgat River area and the Side peninsula, close to neighbouring resort districts such as Kumköy, Çolaklı and Kızılağaç. The beach is long and sandy, and the shoreline is lined with hotels that range from small family places to large resort complexes. The old town of Side, with its famous ancient theatre and the Temple of Apollo on the seafront, is only a short drive from most Evrenseki hotels.

Your driver takes you to the entrance of your hotel or apartment. Most resorts in the area have a driveway or a drop-off area at reception, and the driver can help with luggage there. A few things make arrival smoother:

• Give the exact hotel name and address when you book. Several resorts in the Side area have similar names, and neighbouring districts can have hotels of the same name.
• Save the hotel phone number. If your arrival is late, the hotel can keep the room and the reception desk open.
• Check the room-ready time. If you arrive before check-in, ask the hotel to hold your bags. Most resorts also let guests use the beach or pool in the meantime.
• Keep your documents together. All-inclusive hotels usually ask for passports and a booking confirmation at check-in, and an easy-to-reach folder saves time at the end of a long drive.

If you are staying in a villa or an apartment rather than a hotel, agree on the arrival time with your host and share a map pin if you can. Small residential streets can be hard to find on a first visit.

Evrenseki is known for its lively resort atmosphere, with a wide choice of hotels, restaurants, bars and shops along the main road and close to the beach. It suits groups, couples and families who want everything within reach and prefer a resort holiday with plenty of evening activity. The sea here is warm in summer, and the beach is long enough that finding a quiet spot is usually possible, even in high season.

To one side are Kumköy and Çolaklı, which have a similar resort character with large hotels on a long strip of sand. They are often chosen by families who want a hotel with a big pool, a kids' club and activities, and who do not mind a short drive for sightseeing. Both are suitable if your priority is a relaxed beach holiday with plenty of facilities on site.

The historic centre of Side, on a small peninsula, is the best-known part of this coast. The old town is full of ancient columns, market streets and small restaurants, with harbour views. It is popular for evening walks and for guests who want to combine a beach holiday with ancient history. Staying in Side itself puts you within walking distance of the ruins, but the streets are busy in summer.

If you want a quiet, scenic holiday after the calm of Patara, choose a smaller hotel on the edge of Evrenseki or Kumköy. If you want nightlife and a large choice of restaurants, stay closer to the centre of the resort. If history is your priority, stay in or near Side. The transfer from Patara reaches any of these areas, so give us your exact hotel and we will take you to the door.

The beach at Evrenseki and the coast around it is a long band of sand with gently sloping access to the water. Many hotels have a section of beach with sunbeds, umbrellas and a beach bar. Water sports such as parasailing, banana boats and jet skis are available in season. The water is warm from early summer into autumn, which makes this stretch suitable for long beach holidays.

Patara's beach is wild and protected, while this beach is organised and busy. Many travellers enjoy having both in the same holiday, and the contrast is part of the appeal of this route.

Side's main attractions are close together. The large Roman theatre, which holds many thousands of spectators, stands near the entrance to the old town. The Temple of Apollo, with its upright columns beside the water, is one of the most photographed views on the coast, especially at sunset. The old harbour, the agora and the museum in the former Roman bath complete a short walking tour. Allow a few hours to see them without hurrying.

Evrenseki has a large number of restaurants serving Turkish grills, seafood, pide and international dishes. All-inclusive hotels provide meals on site, but many guests step out for at least one meal in the village or in Side. Try grilled fish by the water, or a mezze table with fresh bread and local olive oil. In the evening the main street fills with shoppers and diners, and the atmosphere is relaxed and social.

An evening in Side is one of the high points of this coast. The old town's lanes are lit, the harbour restaurants are busy, and the Temple of Apollo glows against the sky. It makes sense to book a taxi back to your hotel, or to plan the return in advance, so you do not need to think about parking or the late walk.

A journey of more than three hours is a long time for children, so a little planning helps:

• Child seats. Infant and child seats are available on request when you book. Please tell us the age and weight of each child so we can prepare the right seat.
• Timing. A departure after breakfast, or just before the afternoon rest, often lets younger children sleep through part of the drive.
• Snacks, water and entertainment. Bring plenty of water, light snacks and a tablet or book. Keep a change of clothes in hand luggage.

Evrenseki and the wider Side area suit families well. The beaches have shallow water, many hotels have children's pools and clubs, and there are plenty of easy outings, such as the Manavgat boat trip, a visit to the Side theatre and relaxed ice-cream walks along the promenade.

Not every transfer fits a daytime schedule. A few common cases:

• Early departure. If you want to leave Patara at dawn, for example to catch a flight from Antalya later the same day, tell us the time when you book. The road is quiet at that hour, which can shorten the drive a little, though you should still plan around the stated 209 minutes.
• Late arrival. If your plans bring you to Patara late in the evening and you then continue to Evrenseki overnight, make sure the hotel knows the expected arrival hour and has a night reception.
• Night driving on the mountain sections. The coast road is well used, but the bends make a night journey more tiring than the same route by day. For most travellers a daytime transfer is more comfortable and lets you enjoy the views.

Whatever time you choose, your driver confirms the pickup details with you before the day of travel.

Many guests book the return transfer at the same time as the outward one. When you plan the end of your holiday in Evrenseki, a few simple points help:

• Antalya Airport (AYT). From Evrenseki, the airport lies to the west, on the way back along the same plain you crossed on the way in. It is much closer than Patara, so the airport run is far shorter than the transfer described on this page.
• When to leave. For international flights, aim to reach the terminal in good time for check-in and security. In July and August the airport is very busy, so allow extra time for queues and for traffic on the approach roads.
• Early flights. If your flight is early in the morning, tell your driver the flight time and your driver will agree a pickup time with you in advance. Night roads are usually quiet.
• Other pickups. If you are heading back to Dalaman for a flight or to Patara, the journey is the same long drive in reverse, with the same planning advice as above.

The Side area is a convenient base for some of the most important ancient sites in southern Turkey. Several of these are easy to combine with a private driver:

• Aspendos. Home to one of the best-preserved Roman theatres in the world, in the countryside inland from the coast.
• Perge. An ancient city with a stadium, colonnaded street and gateways, near Antalya.
• Köprülü Canyon. A national park with a river, rafting and mountain scenery. It is a full day out.
• Alanya. To the east, with a hilltop castle, a historic shipyard and long beaches.
• Belek. A short drive west along the coast, known for its golf courses and large resort hotels. Longer trips and tours from Evrenseki are often more rewarding if you travel with a private driver, since you can adjust timing around the heat of the day.

April and May bring mild weather, green hillsides and wildflowers along the coast. Roads are quieter, and the sea is still cool. Sightseeing is pleasant, and stops at Myra, Kaş and Antalya are comfortable without summer heat. Patara's turtles begin nesting towards the end of this period.

June to August is the hot, busy season. Temperatures are high, the sea is warm, and the coast is full of visitors. Start early to avoid the worst heat, drink plenty of water, and expect heavier traffic around Kaş, Kemer and Antalya. The beaches at both ends of the journey are at their liveliest.

September and October are often the best months for this route. The sea remains warm, crowds thin out, and the light is soft. Patara's turtle season is ending, and Side's evenings are comfortable for walking. The drive is easier, and stops are more relaxed.

Winter is mild but wetter. Many seasonal restaurants and beach clubs close, and the drive may be slower in rain. Check that your Evrenseki hotel is open.

To book the transfer from Patara to Evrenseki, send us the following details:

• Your pickup address in Gelemiş and the name of your hotel or pension.
• The exact hotel name and area in Evrenseki.
• The date and your preferred departure time.
• The number of passengers, the number of bags and any large items such as pushchairs or sports equipment.
• The age and weight of any child who needs a seat.

Once your booking is confirmed, you will know your vehicle and driver before the day. Your driver collects you at the agreed time, helps with the bags and takes you from Patara's quiet village lanes to the lively Side coast in around 209 minutes of driving, plus any stops you choose. For a journey of about 199 km, a private vehicle with room to stretch out, a driver who knows the road and a schedule built around your plans is a comfortable way to cross this part of Turkey.