Beach Guide
Patara Beach is Turkey's longest sandy beach at 18 km — a vast, wild expanse of golden sand backed by dunes and the ancient Lycian city of Patara. It's a protected national park and loggerhead turtle nesting site, meaning zero development. The drive from Kemer takes about 2.5 hours (140 km), passing Kaş and Kalkan. It's a full-day commitment, but standing on 18 km of empty sand with ancient ruins behind you is one of the most extraordinary beach experiences in the Mediterranean.
Getting there: take the D400 west for 140 km past Kaş and Kalkan. At Kalkan, follow signs for 'Patara' — turn left (south) off the D400. Drive 15 km through Patara village and the ancient city ruins to the beach. Total: 2.5 hours. Large free car park. National park entry: ~€3–5 per person. The beach is a 5-minute walk from the car park through the ancient ruins — you pass the Patara theatre and parliament building to reach the sand.
The beach: 18 km of soft golden sand, shallow water, gentle waves. The sheer scale is breathtaking — walk 10 minutes and you're alone, even in August. The eastern end has dunes up to 20 metres high. The water is shallow for the first 50–100 metres — excellent for families and wading. Loggerhead turtles nest here (June–September). The beach faces west — sunsets are spectacular. Facilities: a small café at the beach entrance (drinks and basic snacks). No sunbeds, no development — bring everything. There are basic toilets near the entrance.
Practical tips: leave Kemer by 07:30 to arrive by 10:00. Bring an umbrella or beach tent — there is ZERO natural shade. Sun protection is essential. Bring plenty of water and food — the café is basic and expensive. The ruins (theatre, parliament building, Roman arch) are between the car park and beach — allow 45 minutes to explore them. After the beach, Kalkan (15 km back) is perfect for a rooftop dinner watching the sunset. Combine with Kaputaş Beach (30 km) for two iconic beaches in one epic day. The drive back to Kemer at dusk, with the golden light on the Mediterranean, is unforgettable.
140 km, approximately 2.5 hours from Kemer via the D400 past Kaş and Kalkan. The road is excellent throughout. Leave by 07:30 for a full beach day. The drive itself is spectacular — coastal views the entire way.
Yes — it's Turkey's longest sandy beach. At 18 km, it's one of the longest in the Mediterranean. The scale is difficult to comprehend until you're standing on it. You can walk for hours and still not reach the end.
Yes — Patara includes both the beach and the ancient city (ruins between car park and sand). Kaputaş Beach is 30 km away. Kalkan is 15 km for dinner. Kaş is 30 km. Make it a full-day road trip along Turkey's most beautiful coastal highway.