Phaselis Kemer, Turkey – Ancient History by the Sea!

Arriving for a holiday in Turkey, no matter from where (London, Paris or Berlin), every traveler primarily wants to relax on the beach, take a dip in the sea, and only when the tension accumulated over several months of nonstop work gradually fades away does the thought of excursions and cultural activities begin to creep in. In this article, we will tell you about a little-known place near Kemer – Phaselis, what it is renowned for and how it attracts tourists. But first, let’s start at the beginning…

Contents

General Information
The Ancient City
Infrastructure
Beaches
Boats
How to Get There
Admission Price
Useful Tips and Observations

General Information

So, if you are vacationing in Turkey in Antalya, Kemer or the village of Tekirova, then Phaselis should definitely be included in your personal list of must-visit spots – even if it’s just to take a break from a lazy vacation… An interesting expression – “a vacation from vacation!” And yet, sooner or later, it will be needed by everyone, unless you are on a short 4–5 day trip.

Phaselis is the ruins of an ancient city, and its name translates as “Seaside Town”. In fact, the correct pronunciation is Phaselis – and you will find such inscriptions in English on the signs there.

If you are not a first-time visitor to Turkey, you might have noticed that figures like Cleopatra, Alexander the Great, and other popular ancient heroes managed to tour almost the entire country during their short lives (like packaged tourists on horseback), and Phaselis in Kemer wasn’t left out. We do not claim that this is untrue – we only introduce a touch of skepticism to help you assess the ruins with a clear head and understand that even a guide is human and needs to attract tourists somehow.

Phaselis was founded in the 7th century BC by the people of Rhodes (the inhabitants of the island of Rhodes) with its main purpose being the supply of timber to the Mediterranean countries. Over time, the city evolved, flourished and changed hands until it eventually came under Roman control.

From the 7th to the 13th century, it developed rapidly, but gradually the major ports of Antalya and Alanya took the lead over Phaselis, leaving it far behind, which resulted in the exodus of its residents and its gradual abandonment and ruin.

The Ancient City

What makes this place valuable for tourists is not so much the partially ruined structures as the opportunity to touch history, enjoy the indescribable beauty of the coastal town’s landscapes, and breathe in the fresh sea breeze.

A leisurely tour of the ancient capital of Mediterranean timber will take no more than 2 hours, during which tourists can see:

The Temple of Heron;
The Necropolis;
The remains of the city fortress;
The Amphitheater;
Hadrian’s Gate;
Several bathhouse (or hammam) buildings;
Water reservoirs;
The Temple of Athena, Pallas, and Hermes;
The Aqueduct.

Most of the listed structures are not very well preserved – to be precise, almost none of them remain intact – but you can still take a few photos and shoot a video for memories.

There are many foreign tourists around – roughly as many as there are English speakers. To give you an idea, if you combine tourists speaking different languages, they make up exactly half of all visitors coming to Phaselis from Antalya, Kemer, Tekirova, and Geynük; the other half speaks English.

Around the city, you will find informational signs in English detailing various buildings. There is also a general information board. Nearly all of ancient Phaselis is sheltered in the shade of trees, keeping the area pleasantly cool.

Among the legends recounted by tour guides on excursions, the following stand out:

The spear of the ancient hero Achilles is said to be kept here;
Alexander the Great is purportedly buried here;
Cleopatra once visited this place.

Infrastructure

On the territory of the ruined city, to the great delight of tourists, all the necessary infrastructure is available – including showers and toilets. In addition, local vendors often visit the area selling food and souvenirs, as the high season brings a large influx of tourists, providing ample opportunities for trade.

If you plan to spend the whole day here, make sure to bring some Turkish Lira with you, as there are no currency exchange points. However, there is a small café where payments are accepted in Lira, and even the entrance to the ruins is charged in Lira (no dollars).

Be prepared for ups and downs, as there are many stairs, and some buildings have steep steps at the entrance. In the ruins of the bathhouses you can find remnants of elevated floors – as in ancient times, a form of underfloor heating was used (the baths were heated from below). Here and there, you can still see masonry, while in other places only traces of former luxury remain. You will have to walk a lot – because history demands that tourists suffer (although that’s not really the case)!

Not far from the ruins of the ancient city, there are two beaches – one is the more crowded, while the other is a bit wilder.

Beaches

The main attraction is undoubtedly the ruins, but you shouldn’t miss the chance to take a dip in the Mediterranean Sea with very few other vacationers around.

Reaching the first beach is not difficult – it is located almost directly opposite the ruins. There is no infrastructure here – just sand, water, and sunshine. No deck chairs, umbrellas, or similar paraphernalia. Occasionally, a food vendor may arrive, but when the beach is empty, there are no vendors.

This is the second reason why it is worth spending a little extra time and making your own way to Phaselis (the first being the unrestricted time for exploring the site). And, of course, don’t forget your swimsuit! Later, don’t say we didn’t warn you!

The second beach is located beyond Hadrian’s Gate, and it is a typical Turkish beach – noisy, moderately unclean, and cramped. There is nothing particularly different about it compared to other beaches, except for its more limited infrastructure. At least that was the case in 2024; perhaps something might change in 2025.

In general, Phaselis can be compared to a country resort where Turks come for a weekend break – so there are quite a lot of them here.

Boats

The third form of entertainment is visiting a pirate ship or yacht. Of course, those who have vacationed in Turkey know that you can purchase a pirate schooner tour in Kemer or Antalya, and it may also include a visit to Phaselis (everything is interconnected here). Alternatively, you can first stroll in the park, take a swim, and then purchase a boat tour directly in Phaselis. There are quite a few boats in the northern harbor; ticket prices start from around 15 dollars. You will be taken to the ship by a boat, accompanied by a real “pirate” (a Turkish entertainer in costume).

On board, you get the standard package – a foam disco, a bar, an opportunity to sunbathe, and so on. Reviews of such entertainment are quite mixed; some people enjoy it, while others do not.

How to Get There

Excursions to Phaselis are sold both as part of a package with other attractions (for example, the pirate ship tour) and separately. In any case, you should understand that the tour program will be quite packed, and there will be limited time to explore the sights (if you opt for the package tour). We recommend either booking a separate excursion or planning an independent trip to the ruins.

The map is provided below.

How to get to the ancient city without hiring a guide? It’s simple! When boarding the bus, just say “Phaselis Antique” – if the driver nods, it means the minibus goes all the way to the ancient ruins. The cost of the trip is:

From Çamyuva – 8–10 dollars.
From Tekirova – 6 dollars.
From Kemer – 8 dollars.
From Antalya – 20 dollars.

The bus stops near the White Tower (when in Kemer); before boarding, be sure to confirm that the bus goes to Phaselis (remember, Phaselis Antique). The bus should head in the direction of Tekirova.

The return route is very similar to the way there. Exit through the main gate, proceed to the road, and wait for the return minibus.

To avoid waiting, you can arrange a taxi in advance – then the round trip from Kemer will cost about 50 dollars for the car.

The distance is minimal – it takes approximately 25 minutes by car from Kemer to Phaselis.

Admission Price

The entrance fee is 6 Lira – and this is important! The ticket office accepts only Lira, as indicated on the sign. However, you might try your luck as some tourists have been allowed to pay in dollars, but who knows if you’ll be as fortunate? Besides, it is more economical to pay in the local currency over the long run.

Useful Tips and Observations

Here are several tips that can significantly ease your upcoming trip:

After purchasing your ticket, you do not immediately enter the ancient city – there is about a kilometer’s walk, so be prepared and wear comfortable shoes.
If you’re up for a bit of an adventure, try arriving before half past eight, when there is no security yet, so you might gain free entry – although we’re not sure if it’s worth the risk.
It is best to explore Phaselis in the morning or in the evening; during the midday interval, a huge crowd of package tourists arrives and it can get quite cramped.
Note that not all of the beach is sandy – one of the beaches is pebbly.
Bring some water with you – trust us, you’ll need it.

So, whether you choose Phaselis or a spa in Kemer is up to you – we have provided a detailed description of what to expect from an excursion to the ancient city of Phaselis. And one more thing – don’t forget your camera!