Author: Anastasia
We continue the series of articles about holidays in Turkey in 2021 and talk about the popular resort - Kemer.
What could be easier than a trip to Turkey - we heard on every corner. But we were still worried, because for us this is the first time abroad!
Upon my return, I decided to sit down at the text about Kemer in order to show and prove that there really is nothing to worry about, with a little preparation. I will try to close all the main questions and add personal impressions as it was.
From the editor. The material about the resort was written by a discerning and responsible tourist - my sister, but spiced up with her and our photographs (we went to Kemer in May when we were vacationing in Side).
Why did you choose Kemer?
To begin with, I will clarify why, when asked "where is it better to go to Turkey?", We decided for ourselves - not Alania, not Side and not Belek.
+ A banal argument about holidays in Kemer: the prices for all inclusive here are slightly lower than at other resorts. In principle, it was he who determined everything 🙂 We did not choose the cheapest hotel, but Kemer turned out to be more profitable for our "wishlist".
+ Convenient location from the airport - 60 km (about an hour's drive).
+ Nature: mountains, pines, greenery - subtracted in the vastness of the network. The way it is.
+ Pebble beaches - as anyone, but as a plus for us, nothing sticks and does not rush with it to the room. And the sea is so transparent!
+ Excursions are relatively accessible. And then they did not miss.
How to get to Kemer?
These are the buses that go from Antalya to Kemer, if you get there yourself / We walk along the Kemer City embankment overlooking the mountains
Package vacation? Then everything is simple: a stone's throw from the airport we are looking for the counter of our tour operator and hand out a voucher to the guys. They will take care of the transfer. Along the way, they will also instruct when they meet with the guide, share basic information and be sure to bring them to the store for 15 minutes to “take a break from the road” (I decipher it - spend money).
On one's own? It's also easy: minibuses from Antalya bus station to Kemer run every half hour. They cost 8 liras (more expensive in dollars, they will ask for 2-3 bucks), it takes an hour and 10 minutes to go. With children and large suitcases, it is more convenient to order a KiwiTaxi transfer - it is just for such cases ($ 43- $ 55 per car).
Weather in the resort - when is the best time to relax in Kemer?
When is the best time to go overseas and sun treatments to Kemer? I compared the climate, temperature indicators with precipitation and sketched a tablet by month,
Month | |||||||||||||
Jan | Feb | March | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Saint | Oct | Nov | Dec |
where:
Green - "go"
Yellow - "do not go"
Lilac - "to go, but it's cold to swim."
The time for a powerful spf (sun protection) in Kemer starts in May and lasts until October. The sea warms up from mid-May, but for those who are always cold - from June, and cools down by November. In summer, the weather here does not skimp on degrees (up to + 35 ° С), the water temperature reaches + 29 ° С.
When is the velvet season in Turkey? In September-October - and this is the ideal period for a trip with a child. Plus, the period from May to the first half of June.
In mid-September, we were lucky for a couple of days right up to + 40 ° С, there was no smell of precipitation.
Districts and villages of Kemer
The Kemer resort in a general sense is the city of Kemer itself and the neighboring villages ("sub-resorts").
✓ We were in Kemer Center... A green tourist spot surrounded by mountains, but with a touch of civilization and established infrastructure. In the summer, all inexpensive "treshki" - and a bunch of them! - filled with youth. As well as the many places to hang out: bars, nightclubs.
The beaches are coarse, narrow, to them you need to "dive" into the passage from the embankment. Therefore, there are no hotels on the first line, in the classical sense. But there is also a sandy beach - public Moonlight (only the sand is not golden, but gray). I will say this: to the city of Kemer - for those who have a vacation on a budget (applies to both young people and people 40+) or have fun with the company.
In central Kemer, there is a very narrow beach strip and almost immediately deep / Moonlight Beach is the only one with sand
✓ Beldibi... Small settlement 15 km from Kemer. Everything is here for a tourist: cheap and not so hotels with beaches, cafes, restaurants, shops. The entrance to the sea leaves much to be desired because of the cobblestones - you will have to buy coral (10-15 lire in the store) or swim from the pier. But at the beginning of Beldibi, behind the tunnel, there is a beautiful wild beach with a sand and pebble sunset. There are no large shopping centers and supermarkets, for that in Kemer City.
Minibus Beldibi-Kemer: 4.5 lira (or $ 1).
✓ Goynuk... The village is divided by a highway into 2 parts: closer to the sea - hotels like majestic castles, closer to the mountains - nature and local life. Check out this beauty on the return transfer. By the way, the bus from the airport will get to Beldibi and Goynuk the fastest. Near the village - one of the attractions for sports-active, the eponymous canyon. The beaches are somewhere with imported sand, somewhere with pebbles, but the entrance to the water is pebble everywhere.
Minibus Goynuk-Kemer: 3.5 lira (or $ 1).
✓ Tekirova... A secluded relaxation place with spa and dive centers. A burning tour will not be included here, because the village is considered expensive, with appropriate hotels. It is good here with small children or for a quiet holiday for two. The nature is cool, but a big minus - a long transfer to Tekirova, more than 2 hours.
Minibus Tekirova-Kemer: 4.5 lira (or $ 1).
✓ The resort location of Kemer also includes smaller villages Camyuva (but livelier than the same Beldibi) and Kirish.
Minibus Camyuva-Kemer: 3.5 lira (or $ 1).
The cost of tours to Kemer - 2021
Our trip for two in September was relatively cheap - 66,000 rubles for 10 days with a flight from Moscow. Hotel - 4 * Havana.
I searched and booked a tour using online aggregators, and I liked it. Firstly, you can see all the offers of the leading tour operators - from last minute to outrageous, you just need to sort by filters. Secondly, you calmly choose a hotel for your finances. It is not a shame to myself to admit that your ceiling for the tour is 60-70 thousand rubles :)
- Travelata
- Level.Travel
- Onlinetours
I advise you to compare prices for all three, there are slight differences. For me, Travelata won, because was (and is) a promotional code for a discount.
How much does a vacation in Kemer cost in 2021:
✓ All inclusive prices in city hotels in 3 stars, i.e. the most budgetary tours - from 42,000 rubles for 7 nights for two. 10 nights - from 55,000 rubles.
✓ Decent hotels in 4-5 stars are more expensive: a week - from 70,000 rubles, 10 nights - from 90,000 for two.
✓ Family vacation with children - for four - at least 70,000 rubles for 7 days. Need a high rating? The price tag immediately jumps to 120 thousand.
Prices in Kemer in 2021
The central street in Kemer, if you walk a little further and then turn right, you can buy delicious baklava in Kemer Pastanesi (as described in the section "Food prices")
How much pocket money should I take with me? This is a frequent question, and the answer to it depends on the vacation format. So, I reveal the prices for holidays in Kemer in 2021.
We knew from the beginning that we couldn't do with the hotel and the beach - give us some activity. In total, in 10 days we dropped $ 350:
- for 2 excursions from a street agency
- 1 independent trip to Phaselis
- 3 dinners outside the hotel
- for food from the supermarket
- souvenirs and shopping (overnight!)
- 2 trips to Antalya and moving around it
- they also thought about a SIM card, but they did not take it (Turkcell operator offers 12 GB for 111 liras)
In Kemer, they accept dollars, lira, rubles, and even a card account is suitable for payment. It is more profitable to pay in Turkish currency, of course. A little more than 8 lines - about the amount and form of money with you - is described in a separate article (written by me).
Food and alcohol prices
All the sauces and flatbread peeking around the corner are free treats in Turkish cafes. In the center - pide, above - lahmajun, on the left - adana kebab
We consistently did NOT miss breakfast at the hotel, we skipped lunch from time to time, we had coffee breaks. Outside the hotel we had a full dinner several times.
Below the cost of meals in a cafe presented in lira.
For your information, 1 Turkish lira ≈ 10.5 rubles.
- Soup - 7-12 lire
- Kebab (vegetables, meat, sauce) - 25-30 lire
- Lahmajun (stuffed flatbread) - 7-10 lire
- Pasta - 25-45 lire
- Pizza - 25-30 lire
- Vegetable salad - 15-18 lire
- Dessert (soufflé or baklava) - 7-10 lire
- Coca-Cola - 4-5 lire
- Turkish coffee - 5 lira
- Efes beer - 18-20 lire
Recommendations for a cafe in Kemer.
It is clear that "all inclusive" and food and so in bulk, but I insist that at least once you went to a local institution. This is delicious. And inexpensive!
- Cafe Tavuk Dunyasi popular among the Turks themselves. Accordingly, the menu is only in Turkish and the staff, alas, does not know other languages (or pretends to be). The portions are large here.
- Cafe Lavash kebab house - it seemed to me too advertised, but you can drop in if you are near. Prices are higher than the average for the resort.
- Confectionery Kemer pastanesi - just bo-zest-ven-naya baklava! Everything else - and the choice is there - I think, is also excellent. There are no price tags, and, honestly, I don’t remember exactly how much baklava costs, but 4 types of 2 pieces came out at 26 lire.
In any cafe, in addition to the ordered one, they will bring you a flat cake, sauces, a light salad - free of charge, hospitality, everything But carefully check the receipt before paying. Although the Turks are friendly, it is a sacred thing to breed a poor tourist. Somehow we found an extra dish and a bottle of water on the bill, which we had not ordered.
First of all, in the Migros store, we bought fruits 🙂
Products in Kemer (if you really wanted to diversify your food) they bought it in chain stores like Carrefour or Migros - it's cheaper there.
Turkish lira | Rubles | |
Ice cream | 1-3 lira | 11-33 rubles |
Ayran | 1.1-1.3 lira | 12-15 rubles |
Bananas, kg | 5-7 lire | 55-80 rubles |
Grenades, kg | 5-7 lire | 55-80 rubles |
Strawberries, kg (May-June) | 15-18 lire | 160-190 rubles |
Sweet cherry, kg | 15-20 lire | 160-210 rubles |
Loaf of bread | 3 lira | 34 rubles |
Turkish delight as a gift (box 175 gr) | 5-7 lire | 55-80 rubles |
Turkish delight by weight, kg | 25 lire | 280 rubles |
Water bottle, 1.5 l | 1-2 lira | 11-22 rubles |
Local beer Efes in glass, 0.5 L | 9 lire | 100 rubles |
Bottle of red wine | 45-70 lire | 505-785 rubles |
The most delicious thing that can be brought from Turkey is super lokum (super lokum, if you look at the price tag). A thick stick of Turkish delight stuffed with roasted nuts, nougat and sprinkled with nuts. Sold by weight - on average 85-115 liras per kg, depending on the type.
And try the freshly squeezed pomegranate juice on the street / market! A glass of 0.5 will cost 6 lire. We just got hooked on this nectar.
Prices for excursions and entertainment in Kemer
What to see if a seal holiday is not about you? Catch our reviews of Kemer and its historical outskirts.
First, I will give a list of excursions and activities that we have not been to, but tourists are willing to take them apart (prices are from local agencies, the tour operator is more expensive):
- Pirate boat cruise (food and animation included) - $ 10-15 per person
- Rafting - $ 25-30
- Mount Tahtali - $ 45-50
- Goynuk Canyon - if on your own, entrance 5 lire
- Hamam - $ 10-15
- Pamukkale - $ 45
- Cappadocia - $ 45-80, as agreed, but balloon flight is NOT included (+ $ 100-250)
- Istanbul - $ 145-160
- Israel by plane - $ 275
- Nightclubs Aura Club, Inferno - admission is free for girls, but prices are inside space!
- Hookah - 6-8 euros
- Bicycle for a day - $ 5, or $ 1 per hour
- DoluSu Water Park - $ 30
Where can you go from the city?
Before the trip, we wrote out the main attractions in Kemer. Then they went around almost everyone agencycomparing prices for excursions. In one of them we were treated to free wi-fi, a kind smile and tea - which bribed us.
And here is my photo! On the first - Cirali beach after an excursion to Chimera (where the turtles run), on the second - Demre (more detailed below)
Here we took:
- Safari trip to the fire-breathing mountain Chimera with a stop at the Cirali coast - $ 20 per person.
In the program: a walk along the Olympos beach, then a 900-meter climb to the mountain of fire and dinner at a fish restaurant. Trout / chicken to choose from, but drinks at your own expense. Pss, take it with you. Of the minuses - the functions of the guide were limited only to the transfer.
- Demre Myra and a yacht tour near the sunken city of Kekova - $ 20 + arrival at the Church of St. Nicholas.
For the entrance to the temple, the guide asked for all 50 liras. We refused such a luxury, bought tickets at the box office (20 liras per person). Otherwise, we liked it. Bonus: lunch is included in the price.
On one's own we rushed:
- in Phaselis - 16 km from Kemer, tourists are waiting for the ruins of an ancient city. 7th century BC, for a second. Near the wild beach and the crystal clear Mediterranean Sea. Note: 20 Turkish people will be asked to enter the city.
- in Moonlight park - this is when it gets too hot in Kemer City, and you need to hide in the park. A huge park. With a sandy beach and sun loungers ($ 3).
- outside Lyman - for souvenir gifts on the last day, this is the main shopping street in Kemer.
- and to Antalya - skated here twice (8 lire one way). If shopping is yours, then we recommend. In addition, if you pay in lira, it turns out to be quite budgetary. Women's crosses Kinetics for 50 lire, what is it? ☺
Transport in Kemer
The entrance to the sea in Kemer, it was necessary to grab coral / Small buses (dolmushi) go around the city and between villages, cost 2.5-4 lira
They move around Kemer and between villages on Turkish minibuses (dolmushi) or buses. The fare depends on the distance (I indicated the price tag to the villages in the "Districts of Kemer" section), and within the city - about 2-3 lire... Alternatively, you can take a taxi. Of course, we "bite".
It is also common to rent a car ($ 28-30 per day) and scooters ($ 14-15). Gasoline costs 6.5-7 liras per liter (72-78 rubles!).
There is a bus to Antalya (8 liras per ticket), and a motor ship leaves the port of Marina twice a day (15 liras). By the way, here is an incredible Old Town with tiled roofs. Almost like "to see and from ...", but no, just to see.
Best hotels for vacation in Kemer
I made a list if you don't want to bother with a choice. Note that there are no super-expensive hotels like Maxx Royal. There are good ones with excellent reviews - but they also ask for the corresponding amounts. And there are normal ones - such "strong middle peasants."
The best 5 star ultra all inclusive Kemer hotels in 2021:
- 5 * Asteria Kemer Resort, Camyuva
Tour price per season - from 110,000 rubles
- 5 * L'Oceanica Beach Resort, Camyuva
Tour price per season - from 90,000 rubles
- 5 * Armas Labada, Camyuva
Tour price per season - from 85,000 rubles
- 5 * Gural Premier Tekirova, Tekirova
Tour price per season - from 200,000 rubles
- 5 * Amara Dolce Vita Luxury, Tekirova
Tour price per season - from 165,000 rubles
- 5 * Akka Hotels Alinda, Kiris
Tour price per season - from 110,000 rubles
I went through the reviews of tourists, among the inexpensive and popular ones mention the following all-inclusive hotels in Kemer:
- 4 * Armas Gul Beach, Kemer
Tour price per season - from 75,000 rubles
- 5 * Meder Resort, Kemer
Tour price per season - from 85,000 rubles
- 5 * Daima Resort, Kirish - hotel with a water park
Tour price per season - from 87,000 rubles
- 3 * Golden Sun, Beldibi
Tour price per season - from 68,000 rubles
- 4 * Astoria, Kemer
Tour price per season - from 60,000 rubles
- 3 * Сastle Park, Beldibi
Tour price per season - from 55,000 rubles
As for our Havana hotel, 4 stars are a shaky four on the verge of a three: drinks in the vending machine a la yuppie, the chlorinated smell of drinking water scared, and wi-fi was paid ($ 2 per day). Not 1 line. From the pros: 4 meals a day, including a coffee break; pleasant service and central location.
Above is just a list of hotels, but recently we wrote a separate article with descriptions and reviews of the best hotels in Kemer. Read it if necessary!
Where is the best place to relax with children in Kemer?
Pebble beach vs sandy. Which one will you choose?
Where is the best place to relax in Kemer with the kids? Family relaxation with children is in the villages: Goynuk, Tekirova, Camyuva and Kirish.
Firstly, there are more loose beaches (with sand, that is) and cleared water entrances. Secondly, the hotel base is more decent, both in quality and quantity. Thirdly, the main children's entertainment is also here.
For example:
✓ in the village of Goynuk - dinopark ($ 25, up to 6 years free),
✓ in Kirish - DoluSu water park ($ 30, up to 7 years free).
What about the hotels? The best for a "child" vacation:
- 5 * Alva Donna World Palace, Kiris
Tour price per season - from 130,000 rubles
- 5 * PGS Kiris Resort, Kiris
Tour price per season - from 115,000 rubles
- 5 * Akka Antedon, Beldibi
Tour price per season - from 130,000 rubles
- 5 * Queen's Park Tekirova Resort & Spa, Tekirova
Tour price per season - from 110,000 rubles
Tour with a child - or even two! - expensive pleasure. Therefore, we have agreed with the Travelata service about a promo code for 2000 rubles for vouchers worth more than 100,000 rubles
- AFT2000howtrip
The best beaches in Kemer
Mountains surround the whole of Kemer.
And in May, you can still see snow on the tops of some!
I will say right away that the beaches of Kemer are mostly made of pebbles.For us, such beaches are suitable - the sea is not muddy, nothing sticks to our feet. So, if you are interested in categorically sandy ones, I advise you to choose other resorts in Turkey. And the dilemma "what?" This article will help you decide - Where is the best beach vacation in Turkey?
If it's Kemer after all? Then the top of the best coasts is below:
- Moonlight Beach (Moonlight) - sandy with pebbles at the entrance to the sea. Sun loungers with umbrellas, sun loungers ($ 3 or 15 TL) or a place for a towel - choose what is best for you. This is also a suitable option for families with children in Kemer. In addition, there is a Moonlight Park with a dolphinarium, attractions, cafes and restaurants nearby.
- City Beach - here the water is clean because of the pebbles, sunbeds are free. The main thing is to have time to borrow. There are also hotel beaches (in separate zones).
- Tekirova beach - for fans of diving.
From myself: we liked the northern Phaselis bay with pearl gray sand. The beach is wild, there are not so many people, except for visiting groups of tourists. We also coveted the gorgeous hotel beaches of Kemer on the first coastline. But if you are not a guest ... alas.
The sea in Kemer is calm, and if waves appear, then in the late afternoon. The depth begins immediately after a few meters.
Confused by pebbles? You can choose Side - there is sand and a gentle long approach. Check out what else the resort wins over Kemer! |
Reviews of tourists about holidays in Kemer in 2020 - our experience
See where the depth begins? / It's just that we are in Kemer 🙂
Now let's talk about rest in Kemer, based on the reviews of tourists, and summarize the pros and cons of the resort.
Pros:
+ Proximity to the airport
+ Beautiful mountain views
+ Abundance of pine trees and coniferous aroma
+ Clean transparent sea
+ Developed infrastructure
+ Amusement wagon and small cart
+ Targeting any budget
+ In Kemer, only a very lazy Turk does not know at least a couple of words in Russian
Minuses:
- Sun beds are chock-full even in September
- Eerie humidity in the middle of summer
- Deficiency of sandy beaches (one or two and missed)
- Locals are more clingy than anywhere else
- And yes, Russians are everywhere (literally). A note for those who decided to take a break from their compatriots.