Kemer and Side sit on opposite shoulders of the Gulf of Antalya, so getting between them means going right across (or through) the city — about 120 km, roughly 2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes depending on traffic and the season. It's one of the longer resort-to-resort hops in the region, and there's no direct public bus that ties the two ends together.
The short, honest answer: if you're travelling solo or as a couple on a budget and don't mind a change, take a bus into Antalya and swap onto a Side/Manavgat service — cheap and perfectly doable. If you're a family, a group, running late in the day, or you just want one clean door-to-door ride with no changes, a private transfer usually wins on this route because the public option involves a break in the journey.
This is a day-trip many Kemer guests make to see Side's ancient city and the Temple of Apollo. Below is the full picture so you can pick what actually fits your trip.
The quick answer — how to get from Kemer to Side
| Option | Journey time | Rough cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private transfer (door-to-door) | About 2–2.5 hrs, direct | Fixed per-vehicle price; splits well across a group | Families, groups, day-trippers, late returns, no changes |
| Bus via Antalya (change) | About 3–4 hrs with the change and waits | Cheapest, paid per person | Solo/couple on a budget, no fixed schedule to keep |
| Taxi (direct) | About 2–2.5 hrs | Expensive metered fare over 120 km | Small groups wanting direct without pre-booking |
| Car hire (self-drive) | About 2–2.5 hrs | Daily rate + fuel + parking | Those wanting to explore beyond Side |
Costs are qualitative on purpose — always confirm current bus fares and taxi rates locally before you set off. A private transfer is quoted and fixed at the time of booking, so you know the price before you travel.
Distance and road conditions
The route is roughly 120 km. From Kemer you first run north along the coastal road towards Antalya — a scenic stretch hugging the mountains and the sea, but winding in places, so it's not a fast piece of road. You then skirt or pass through Antalya city, where traffic is the main variable: at peak times, the ring roads and city approaches can add real minutes. Beyond Antalya you pick up the D400 coastal highway heading east towards Side and Manavgat, which is a faster, more open dual-carriageway for much of the way.
In high summer, expect the whole corridor — the Kemer coast road, the Antalya bypass and the D400 east — to be busier, and allow closer to the upper end of the 2–2.5 hour estimate. Out of season and off-peak, it flows more freely. There are no difficult mountain passes on the main route, but the Kemer end is genuinely bendy, so a little longer than the flat kilometres suggest.
Private transfer
This is the only truly direct, single-leg option across the bay. A driver collects you from your Kemer hotel and takes you straight to your Side address (or the ancient city), with no change in Antalya and no waiting for connections. The price is per vehicle and fixed when you book, so a family or a group of friends splits one fare rather than paying per head.
Pros: door-to-door; no changes; fixed price agreed in advance; child seats can be requested; works late at night when buses have stopped; and for a day trip a driver can wait or return for you.
Cons: more than a bus ticket for one or two budget travellers. The maths shifts the moment you're three or four people, when the per-vehicle price often lands close to — or below — several separate bus fares plus the hassle of a change. Get an instant quote for your dates and party size.
Bus via Antalya (with a change)
There's no single direct bus from Kemer to Side, so the public route is two legs: a bus from Kemer into Antalya (typically arriving at the city's main bus station, the otogar), then a connecting bus or minibus east towards Manavgat/Side. It's comfortably the cheapest way to travel and it runs frequently in daytime, but the change adds time and the total can stretch to 3–4 hours once you factor waiting.
Pros: lowest cost, paid per person; frequent daytime services on both legs.
Cons: a change in Antalya with luggage; slower overall; you're carrying bags between services; and evening options thin out. I won't quote line numbers, fares or exact timetables here because they change — confirm the current schedule and price at Kemer's bus point and at Antalya otogar on the day. Great for flexible solo travellers and couples; less appealing with heavy cases or young children.
Taxi (direct)
A taxi will take you the whole way door-to-door, but at roughly 120 km this is a long, expensive metered ride and one of the pricier ways to make the trip. A standard taxi seats four and luggage space is limited, so it doesn't suit larger groups or lots of cases.
Pros: direct, available on the spot, no advance booking.
Cons: costly over this distance; the fare isn't fixed in advance the way a transfer is; four-passenger and limited-luggage ceiling. If you want direct comfort at a known price, a pre-booked private transfer generally makes more sense than a long metered taxi here. Always agree the basis of the fare before setting off.
Car hire (self-drive)
Renting a car gives you freedom to break the journey, stop along the coast, and explore Side, Manavgat and beyond at your own pace. The drive itself is straightforward — coast road to Antalya, then the D400 east.
Pros: total flexibility; good value if you're touring for several days; no reliance on schedules.
Cons: you'll deal with Antalya city traffic, parking at both ends, and fuel on top of the daily rate. For a single day trip to see the ancient city, hiring purely for the transfer is usually more faff than it's worth compared with being driven.
Which option is right for you?
| Traveller | Best choice |
|---|---|
| Solo, light luggage | Bus via Antalya — cheapest, and the change is manageable with one bag |
| Couple | Bus via Antalya on a budget; private transfer if you'd rather skip the change |
| Family with young children | Private transfer — child seats, no changes, one fixed price |
| Group of 5+ | Private transfer (larger vehicle) — one fare beats several bus tickets plus the swap |
| Late-night travel | Private transfer — buses stop; this is the reliable option |
| Tight budget | Bus via Antalya — no contest on price if you have the time |
| Heavy luggage | Private transfer — carting cases through a change in Antalya is no fun |
When a private transfer is genuinely worth it here
On this particular route the honest tipping point is the change. Because there's no direct public bus, the cheap option always involves swapping services in Antalya — fine for a flexible solo traveller, tiring for a family with cases and kids. So a private transfer earns its price when you're three or more people (the fare splits), when you're carrying real luggage, when you're travelling with children who need a seat, when you're heading back late after a day at the ancient city, or when you simply want one fixed price and no thinking. For a couple watching the pennies with time to spare, the bus is still the smart call. If a private ride sounds right for your group, get an instant quote and you'll have the price locked before you travel.
Planning the classic Kemer day trip? See our guide to the Side ancient city and Temple of Apollo transfer. For the bigger picture, our complete Antalya airport transfer guide covers arrivals and every resort. You may also find these useful: Kemer to Antalya city (the first leg of the public route), Side to Kemer (the return trip), Kemer to Side by minibus and transfer, and Belek to Kemer.
Book a private transfer or a driver for the day and cross the bay in one clean ride — no changes, no timetable, price fixed before you go.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get from Kemer to Side?
Direct — by private transfer or taxi — it's roughly 2 to 2.5 hours to cover the 120 km, depending on Antalya traffic and the season. By public bus it's longer, often 3–4 hours once you include the change in Antalya and waiting time.
Is there a direct bus from Kemer to Side?
No. The public route is two legs: a bus from Kemer into Antalya's main bus station, then a connecting service east towards Manavgat/Side. It's the cheapest way to travel but involves a change. Confirm current schedules and fares locally, as they vary.
How far is Kemer from Side?
About 120 km. Because the two resorts sit on opposite sides of the Gulf of Antalya, you travel through or around Antalya city, then east along the D400 coastal highway to reach Side.
What's the cheapest way to get from Kemer to Side?
The bus via Antalya, paid per person, is comfortably the cheapest option if you have the time and don't mind changing services. For a family or group, though, a per-vehicle private transfer can work out similar or better once you add up individual tickets.
Is a private transfer worth it for a Kemer to Side day trip?
Often yes, especially for families, groups, or anyone returning late. Because the public route requires a change in Antalya, a direct door-to-door transfer saves real time and hassle, and a driver can bring you back after you've explored the ancient city. The price is fixed when you book.
Can I do Kemer to Side by taxi?
You can, and it's direct, but over 120 km it's a long and expensive metered ride. A taxi also seats only four with limited luggage room. For a known price and larger parties, a pre-booked private transfer is usually the better value.
Do late-night services run between Kemer and Side?
Public buses wind down in the evening, so late travel across the bay is unreliable by bus. A pre-booked private transfer is the dependable choice after hours, since it doesn't depend on any timetable.
Is it easy to drive from Kemer to Side myself?
The drive is straightforward — the coastal road to Antalya, then the D400 east — with no difficult mountain passes on the main route. The main challenges are Antalya city traffic and parking at both ends. Hire makes sense if you're touring for several days; for a single day trip, being driven is usually simpler.