Coastal Towns Near Antalya: Kemer, Side, Alanya and the Turkish Riviera

Antalya sits at the geographic centre of the Turkish Riviera — 630km of coastline with ancient ruins, mountain backdrops, and beach infrastructure ranging from free public beaches to all-inclusive mega-resorts. The coastal towns within 2.5 hours of Antalya represent some of the best day-trip and overnight extension options in Turkey. This guide covers what each town actually offers, who it suits, and how to reach it without a car.

For the beach comparison specifically, see Antalya beaches. For ancient sites, see things to do in Antalya.

West of Antalya (toward Fethiye and Kaş)

Kemer (25km west)

Type: Purpose-built resort town Transport: Dolmuş from Antalya otogar, 30–40 minutes, ₺30 Best for: Sandy beach with mountain backdrop, Phaselis ruins, Lycian Way hiking access

Kemer is the closest beach town to Antalya with a sandy beach — a distinction that matters given Antalya city’s pebble-only beaches. The town itself is unambiguously resort-oriented, with a marina, beach promenade, and hotel strip, but the setting is genuinely beautiful: the Taurus mountains rise steeply behind the town, and the water is notably clear.

What makes Kemer worth more than a beach day is access to Phaselis (5km south): an ancient Lycian/Greek/Roman coastal city with three natural harbours and beaches. Entry ₺200; you swim in the ruins’ coves. This is one of the most beautiful ancient-site settings in Turkey — the ruins are in the trees at the water’s edge, and the beaches in the site are swimmable. Arrive early (9am) before day-trip buses.

Beyond Kemer: The coastal road south of Kemer leads through increasingly spectacular scenery toward Çıralı and Olympos. No public transport beyond the main road; hire a scooter or taxi from Kemer town.

Where to stay in Kemer: Budget pensions ₺400–700/night; mid-range hotels ₺800–2,000; all-inclusive resorts ₺2,500–7,000+ for two. The pension area around the marina offers the best value.

Çıralı (70km west)

Type: Protected natural beach, no large hotels Transport: Dolmuş from Antalya to Kemer (30 min), then dolmuş to Çıralı (45 min). Total journey 2+ hours. Best for: Quiet beach holiday, sea turtle nesting, authentic small-pension atmosphere

Çıralı is the antithesis of the Lara resort strip — a 3km long natural pebble beach backed by orange groves, with no large hotels and a protected status that prevents resort development. Accommodation is exclusively in small family-run wooden pensions and bungalows (₺400–1,200/night). The beach is shared with nesting loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) — from May–October, guided turtle-watching at night (₺100–150/person) is one of the most distinctive experiences on the Riviera.

The Chimera (Yanartaş) — natural methane flames burning from rock fissures in the mountain above Çıralı — is accessible by a 45-minute uphill walk. Best visited at dusk. Entry ₺50.

The Olympos valley: The adjacent Olympos beach (15-minute walk from Çıralı) is accessed through ancient Lycian ruins — entry ₺200 — and is narrower and more dramatic than Çıralı.

Çıralı as a base: The slow pace and absence of nightlife makes Çıralı excellent for hiking (Lycian Way access), reading, and beach days. Not suitable for those wanting nightlife or easy city access.

Olympos (75km west)

Type: Backpacker/tree-house beach destination Transport: Dolmuş from Antalya otogar (direct in summer), 1.5 hours, ₺40–50 Best for: Budget travel, ruins-beach combination, young traveller scene

Olympos has been Turkey’s premier backpacker destination since the 1990s — the tree-house pensions (now mostly wooden bungalows on stilts) concentrated at the valley entrance created a distinct traveller culture. The ruins of the Lycian city Olympos are at the valley mouth; you walk through them to reach the beach.

The beach itself is narrow, dramatic (valley walls on both sides), and free. The ruins are scattered through the vegetation along the valley — walls, tombs, and Byzantine-era structures emerging from the undergrowth. Entry ₺200 covers both the ruins and beach.

Accommodation: Tree-house pensions/bungalows ₺500–1,200/night including breakfast and dinner at many. Very social atmosphere; shared dining.

Finike (125km west)

Type: Citrus-producing harbour town Transport: Bus from Antalya otogar, 2 hours, ₺70–90 Best for: Authentic small-town harbour experience, citrus season

Finike is more of a working Turkish harbour town than a tourist destination — famous for its navel oranges (portakal), with a marina and a quiet beach. Primarily interesting as an access point for the surrounding coast rather than a destination in itself. The Myra ruins (20km) and Demre (ancient Myra, with the Church of Saint Nicholas) are accessible from Finike.

East of Antalya (toward Alanya and Side)

Side (75km east)

Type: Roman ruins within a resort town Transport: Bus from Antalya otogar, 1.5 hours, ₺80–90 Best for: Ruins + sandy beach combination, accessible archaeology

Side is a Roman city now half-occupied by a resort town — the ancient walls, temple colonnades, and theatre are embedded within modern tourism infrastructure. The result is unusual: you can walk from the Temple of Apollo on the clifftop, looking out over the sea, to a beach club sunbed in 10 minutes.

The ruins: The Temple of Apollo (2nd century CE, partially restored colonnades on a clifftop) is Side’s most photogenic element and one of the most photographed ancient sites in Turkey. Entry to the temple area: included in the general archaeological zone ticket (₺150–200). The Roman theatre (seating 15,000, well-preserved) is a further 10-minute walk into town.

Side Museum: In the restored Roman baths — small but well-presented, with finds from the archaeological zone. ₺150 entry.

Beaches: Two sandy beaches flank the Side headland — East Beach (Doğu plajı) and West Beach (Batı plajı). Both are Blue Flag rated; beach clubs charge ₺150–250 for a sunbed and umbrella. West Beach tends to be slightly quieter.

Where to stay: The resort hotels east of Side town run from 3-star (₺700–1,500) to 5-star all-inclusive (₺3,000–8,000 for two). Staying in the old town rather than the resort strip gives a different experience — smaller pensions ₺400–900/night.

Manavgat and the Manavgat Falls (90km east)

Transport: Bus from Antalya, 1.5 hours, ₺90 Best for: River cruise experience, the falls

The Manavgat river empties into the sea near Side — a popular river tour involves taking a boat upstream to the Manavgat Falls (not dramatic by international waterfall standards, but pleasant). River restaurants along the bank are a local weekend outing — trout from the river, served at riverside tables. ₺150–250/person for a river meal.

Alanya (130km east)

Transport: Bus from Antalya otogar, 2–2.5 hours, ₺100–120 Best for: Medieval castle, sandy beaches, longer coastal excursion

Alanya is the second-largest tourist city on the Riviera — dominated by a spectacular Seljuk castle (13th century) on a headland rising 250m above the sea. The castle walls encircle the entire headland; the Red Tower (Kızıl Kule, 1226 CE) at the harbour is the most photographed element.

Alanya’s beaches: Cleopatra Beach (west of the headland) is a long, sandy, Blue Flag beach — the best accessible from Alanya. Damlataş Beach (east side) is narrower. Both are beach-club dominated: ₺150–300 for sunbed access.

As a day trip: The bus journey (2–2.5 hours each way) makes Alanya a full-day commitment from Antalya — leave by 8am, return by 7pm. Overnight is more relaxed.

Where to stay in Alanya: Mid-range hotels ₺800–2,000/night; all-inclusive resorts ₺2,500–7,000+ for two.

Town comparison: east and west of Antalya

Town	Distance	Type	Beach quality	Ruins	Budget/night
Kemer	25km west	Resort	Sandy ★★★★	Phaselis ★★★★★	₺400–2,000
Çıralı	70km west	Natural beach	Pebble ★★★★★	Olympos ★★★	₺400–1,200
Olympos	75km west	Backpacker	Pebble ★★★★	Olympos ★★★★	₺500–1,200
Side	75km east	Ruins + resort	Sandy ★★★★	Apollo ★★★★★	₺400–8,000
Alanya	130km east	Castle + beach	Sandy ★★★★	Castle ★★★★	₺800–7,000

Transport summary from Antalya

All of the above are accessible by public transport from Antalya otogar (bus station):

• Kemer: Dolmuş every 15–20 minutes, 30–40 min, ₺30
• Çıralı: Change at Kemer, 2+ hours total, ₺70–90
• Olympos: Direct summer dolmuş or change at Kemer, 1.5 hours, ₺40–50
• Side: Multiple daily buses, 1.5 hours, ₺80–90
• Alanya: Frequent coaches, 2–2.5 hours, ₺100–120

For specific information on the western coastal towns that lead toward Kaş and Fethiye, see Kaş guide and Fethiye coastal towns.