Phaselis near Kemer: Ancient Ruins and Bays, by Boat or on Your Own
Updated October 22, 2026 · 6 min read
The short answer
Phaselis is the ancient city on the coast between Kemer and Tekirova, roughly 15 km from Kemer according to travel sites. Its ruins sit among pine trees around three small bays, and it is a stop on many Kemer boat trips. There is no tour in our selection that is only about the ruins, so there are two simple choices: take a boat that swims in Phaselis Bay, or go by land on your own with a separate ticket.
If you want swimming and a relaxed day, book a boat. If the ruins are the point, go by land and give them an hour or two.
What there is to see
Phaselis was founded by Greek settlers from Rhodes and is known for having three harbours, which is why the bays here are so sheltered. On the ground you find a paved main street, remains of an aqueduct from Roman times and a small theatre, all in a forest that runs down to the water. It is a place for wandering, not for a guided monument circuit, and the open parts of the site are exposed to the sun.
Four boat trips that stop at Phaselis
| Tour | Price | Rating · reviews | Duration | What the listing says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pirate Party Boat Trip with Lunch incl. Transfer | €15 | 4.2 · 108 | 8 hours | Cruise to Phaselis Bay, stop to explore the ruins |
| Boat Tour to Caves and Bays with Lunch | €12 | 3.9 · 211 | 5.5 - 6.5 hours | Pirate Cave, quiet bays of Phaselis Village, swim in Heaven Bay |
| Relax Phaselis Bay Small Group Cruise with BBQ Lunch | €36.10 | 4.6 · 49 | 6 - 8 hours | Swim in clear water, explore ancient ruins, BBQ lunch on board |
| Kemer Boat Tours with Lunch and Foam Party | €15.97 | 4.6 · 6 | 5.5 - 9 hours | Three bays; swim near the ancient city or visit the ruins |
The boats differ in mood far more than in route, which is covered in our guide to party or quiet boat trips. The one thing to check for Phaselis is whether you can get off at the ruins. The small-group cruise swims in the bay but, as the listing describes it, does not land you on the beach, and the ruins carry their own entrance fee. Ask the operator whether the ticket is part of the price and how much time you get ashore.
Visiting on land
A visit on your own needs a separate ticket at the gate. One traveller report from mid-2025 mentions about €10 per adult, and other travel sites give opening hours of roughly 8:30 am to 7:30 pm in summer and an earlier close in winter. Fees and hours change, so confirm both before you go.
There is also one private day tour that covers Phaselis on land: the Phaselis, Olympos and Yanartaş private tour from Antalya takes 7 hours, costs from €168 per person and is new, with no reviews yet. Entrance fees are not included, and the listing says the driver does not accompany you inside archaeological sites.
Without a tour you need your own transport. If you would rather drive yourself, you can compare rental cars for Kemer and combine the ruins with a swim at the nearby bays. Parking and local bus options we have not checked, so ask your hotel.
When to go
Go early or late. The ruins have little shade, and midday in July and August is hot. A morning visit also puts you at the bay before the boats arrive. If you take a boat, a hat and water matter more than the ticket, because the swim stops are in full sun.
Who should skip it
- Anyone who needs a flat, step-free route. The ruins are an archaeological site in a forest, and none of the listings states that access is easy. Ask before you go.
- Anyone who wants a guided history lesson. The boat listings above do not describe a guided tour of the ruins, so read up beforehand.
- Anyone short on time. A boat trip uses most of a day; a short land visit fits into a morning.
For another ancient site from Kemer, the long Kekova, Demre and Myra day trip covers more ruins, and the Olympos cable car goes up the same mountain that Phaselis sits below. All boat trips are on one page.
Our recommendation
For most visitors: take a boat that stops at the bay, and the Relax Phaselis Bay Small Group Cruise with BBQ Lunch is the one built around Phaselis. It costs €36.10, about three times the cheapest boat, and has 49 reviews, so the evidence is thinner than for the larger boats. If you want the ruins properly, go by land on a quiet morning.
