When heading off for a vacation in Kemer (Turkey), most tourists wonder which beaches in Kemer are the best, whether any of them are sandy or if they’re all pebbly, how deep the sea is near the shore, how quickly the depth increases, and a host of other questions. In this article, we will do our best to provide comprehensive answers. So, Kemer, Turkey, beaches…
Main Beach in Kemer
At first glance, looking at photos of Kemer – the town and its beaches – it seems as if the settlement boasts one enormous beach stretching along the coast. In reality, it’s not so: there are two beaches within the town limits:
- Central Beach.
- “Moonlight”.
Both offer free entry, though each has areas that require payment.
Let’s start with the most popular – the Central beach, located to the left of the yacht marina, Turkiz Marina. In fact, in Kemer you can orient yourself by virtually any landmark using this marina, as it is hard to miss.
Beach information
Length (m): 500
Cover Type: Fine pebbles with artificial sandy zones
Water Temp (°C): 26
Cleanliness (1-10): 8
Crowdedness (1-10): 8
Infrastructure: Well-developed (showers, toilets, cafes, sunbeds)
Best Season: June–September
Waves Level: Low–Moderate
Lifeguards Available? yes
Children Friendly? yes
Reviews
Photos
The public Kemer beach stretches for several hundred meters. However, despite the long shoreline, it often gets very crowded. So if you want to secure a more appealing spot, we recommend arriving as early as possible—otherwise you might have to settle for what’s left.
The beach is covered with fine pebbles, although some hotels along the seafront have created sandy zones by artificially depositing sand on the shore, much to the delight of children. However, don’t be fooled – the entry into the water is rocky (more precisely, pebbly).
The pebbles in the water won’t cut your feet, but we advise children to wear special water shoes or simply use the floating platforms when entering the water. The depth does not start immediately; it gradually increases, becoming noticeable after 3–4 meters, so those vacationing with children will need to keep a closer watch.
By the way, for those seeking a beach awarded the Blue Flag (a mark given to the best beaches by a special international commission), you have found it. Yes, Kemer’s municipal beach has been awarded the Blue Flag.
You can enjoy your time here either for free or for a fee, with the paid option offering slightly more comfort than the budget setup. So, if you consider yourself part of the first group and don’t mind lying on the rocks with just a towel, no one will say a word against you – just keep in mind that the sun can be deceptive, and prolonged exposure may have detrimental effects on both adults and children.
The second category of beach-going – the paid option – involves purchasing a pass for the use of a sunbed, umbrella, and a designated spot near one of the food establishments. For a one-time fee, you get the aforementioned amenities for the entire day.
A significant downside is that the sunbeds are placed very close to each other, but that’s business – everyone wants to make a profit.
By the way, if you order any food or drinks at the café that owns the sunbeds, you can use them free of charge.
In addition to sunbeds and umbrellas, all the beaches in Kemer (as shown in the photos below) are equipped with vertical showers and toilets, and importantly, there are trash bins installed along the entire perimeter, which are regularly emptied by the staff. Overall, the cleanliness is impressive—it almost looks as if everything is being combed through with a rake.
If three words – Kemer, sea, and beach – aren’t enough and you want to diversify your vacation with additional entertainment, there’s plenty to choose from. Traditional banana boat rides and paragliding flights may have become a bit overdone for some, but diving in crystal-clear sea water is just perfect, especially since the fine pebbles help maintain water transparency and a crystal-clear sea! Divers and snorkelers will truly appreciate it.
Food won’t be an issue either, as the main beach offers a huge selection. However, most travelers arrive in Kemer on package tours, so buying food or groceries in local cafés or small shops might not be relevant for them. Nevertheless, there is an abundance of cafés, restaurants, bars, souvenir shops, and similar establishments.
“Moonlight”
Beach information
Length (m): 400
Cover Type: Imported sand with pebbly sections
Water Temp (°C): 26
Cleanliness (1-10): 8
Crowdedness (1-10): 6
Infrastructure: Good (VIP zones, showers, toilets, sunbeds)
Best Season: June–September
Waves Level: Low–Moderate
Lifeguards Available? yes
Children Friendly? yes
Reviews
Photos
If you move to the right of the yacht marina, you’ll come across Moonlight Beach, or simply “Moonlight”. It has also been awarded the Blue Flag, just like its predecessor, and the concept of accommodating tourists is quite similar to that of the municipal beach. Entry is free, but there are some spots—so-called VIP zones or something of that nature—for which you need to pay.
Moonlight Beach in Kemer is sandy, and the sand here is all imported, while the entry into the water remains pebbly. Along its entire length there are several areas that are nominally free but belong to various hotels, with all the sunbeds painted in the hotel’s own color. The staff carefully monitors the area to ensure that non-guests (identified by the absence of a wristband or by having a wristband from another hotel) do not occupy the beach equipment belonging to the hotel; if this happens, they are politely yet firmly asked to vacate.
For hotel guests, sunbeds and umbrellas are naturally free.
A similar situation exists at the municipal beach.
As for the crowd, there are slightly fewer people here, especially in the far right section of the beach, but it cannot be said that the number of visitors is significantly lower – tourists love the sea, the beach, and a relaxed atmosphere.
The price for sunbeds ranges from $5 to $15, depending on the location—similar pricing applies on the main beach.
By the laws of Turkey, all land belongs to the municipality, and you are entitled to set up anywhere on Moonlight Beach as long as you do not use the sunbeds for free. So if you are asked to leave the premises of a hotel, you can confidently call the security chief to clarify what is allowed and what is not.
Adjacent to the beach, there is a beautiful park bearing the same name. In the park, there are numerous restaurants and cafés, creating the impression of a large open-air dining courtyard. Additionally, there is a trampoline available, costing between 8 to 10 Turkish Lira, depending on the season. Use of the trampoline is limited when there is a large crowd, but when it’s quiet, no one will stop you—jump as much as you want.
During the high season, inflatable slides are set up right in the sea, and there are offers to ride on speedboats, water disks, banana boats, and many other attractions. The standard set of entertainment options is vast, and detailing each one is not really necessary.
Kalista
Beach information
Length (m): 300
Cover Type: Sand
Water Temp (°C): 26
Cleanliness (1-10): 8
Crowdedness (1-10): 5
Infrastructure: Moderate (limited infrastructure)
Best Season: June–September
Waves Level: Low
Lifeguards Available? yes
Children Friendly? yes
Reviews
Photos
If you continue further along Moonlight Beach, you will reach the Kalista area, which is even marked with signs. It would be hard to say that it differs significantly from Moonlight, since essentially everything is the same here: sand, water, paid sunbeds, and the Blue Flag (indeed, all of Kemer’s best beaches have this distinguishing mark).
The main difference with Kalista is that there are fewer vacationers, as most prefer to stay at the main beach or near their own hotels, most of which are located in the town center. While there are hotels in Kalista as well, they are not as numerous.
Other Beaches in the Kemer Area
Kemer is a small town, but while the town’s coastline is well maintained, what about the nearby beaches? The following deserve attention:
- Kirish.
- Olympos.
- Beldibi.
Kirish
Beach information
Length (m): 2000
Cover Type: Pebbles
Water Temp (°C): 26
Cleanliness (1-10): 7
Crowdedness (1-10): 5
Infrastructure: Basic (few cafes, limited services)
Best Season: June–September
Waves Level: Low–Moderate
Lifeguards Available? no
Children Friendly? no
Reviews
Photos
The small settlement of Kirish is located a few kilometers from Kemer on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The beach stretches for just over two kilometers and presents quite an interesting sight. Now that all the land is municipal, this has created certain challenges for the owners of upscale five-star hotels that previously had private beaches in front of their establishments. Now, people not affiliated with the hotel can relax on the beach—as long as they do not use the beach equipment. This means the clientele is quite diverse, ranging from budget travelers to those who spend a lot on their vacations. Essentially, everyone bathes and sunbathes side by side, although the quality of the in-hotel service, of course, differs.
The beach in Kirish is pebbly, featuring both fine and coarse pebbles. The entry into the water is gradual; near the shore, the pebbles are small, but as the depth increases, they grow larger, raising the risk of slipping. Therefore, we recommend wearing special water shoes while swimming.
The sea is clean, but marine life is sparse. Occasionally, schools of fish swim by, startling tourists with their sudden approaches, but they are not dangerous.]
There are fewer people in Kirish than in Kemer, which is understandable given the smaller size of the settlement. If you are looking for seclusion, a wild beach is located near the entrance to the village where there are very few visitors and practically no infrastructure—as one would expect outside a town center. The beach is a bit grittier since there are no hotels to maintain it. A detailed review will follow later.
This spot is ideal for capturing great photos for your personal archive or recording videos.
The entertainment options are standard, just like everywhere else—it’s all a matter of personal taste.
The nature in the surroundings of Kirish is magnificent, offering a lush burst of greenery juxtaposed with the silence of rocky cliffs—a truly impressive sight.
Olympos
Olympos Beach is located deep within the ancient town of Olympos, of which only ruins remain. It borders Chirali Beach near the settlement, and it is definitely worth a visit—even if just to get in touch with a piece of ancient civilization. We won’t delve too deeply into the history of Olympos here, as the focus of this article is somewhat different, but it is worth noting that entry is charged, since the beach is directly associated with the historical monument.
The beach forms a small cove with breathtaking landscapes. The bottom is a mix of fine pebbles interspersed with larger stones, yet walking barefoot is not too unpleasant. The sea is as pristine as it is everywhere in Turkey. Among the recreational activities, you can snorkel near a rock that is accessible by renting a kayak. The particularly daring even jump off that very rock, which is about 9 meters high.
If you cross the chilly stream that separates Olympos from Chirali Beach, you can wander around an area where turtles come to lay their eggs. All nesting sites are strictly protected from vandalism and curious tourists—you can take photos, but touching is not allowed, nor is it advisable.
Municipal Beach in Beldibi
If you are vacationing in Beldibi or find yourself here by chance, we recommend visiting the wild Beldibi Beach, which stands out from Kemer and its municipal coastline. It is located outside the settlement, and to reach it, you must turn off the main road to the sea when you pass the last hotel (or the first one if coming from the airport side).
This beach is a stretch of land surrounded by cliffs and breathtaking pine landscapes—a truly captivating sight. The seabed here, like everywhere else, is rocky, but it is teeming with marine life while receiving fewer tourists. Although the beach is wild, there is not a complete absence of infrastructure.
It’s worth exploring the area among the rocks, observing the marine creatures, and even catching small crabs—just be careful with your fingers as they can bite painfully.
Nudist Beach
For those who enjoy naturist vacations in Kemer, there is a designated nudist beach. No, we’re not going to claim that nudism has been officially legalized in the country—it is still officially prohibited—but in the northern part of Kemer there is a small “liberty” area, a zone for naked tourists. Near the Gül Beach and Rose Beach hotels, there is a five-meter hill behind which, stretching for about 200 meters, is Kemer’s nudist corner.
Everything here is as usual, except for the visitors—they, as you have understood, are naked.
Which beach to choose, and which one is the most beautiful, we leave to the readers. Below is a map featuring the beaches mentioned. Choose, compare, evaluate, and be sure to leave your feedback on what you liked and what you didn’t.
