Side to Kemer is one of the longer hops you'll make on an Antalya holiday — the two resorts sit on opposite sides of the bay, roughly 120 km apart, and you're looking at about 2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes on the road depending on traffic and the season. Antalya's western approach can crawl in the summer months.
Here's the honest, short version: there's no direct public bus that runs Side straight through to Kemer. The realistic public route is a two-leg journey — get yourself to Antalya first, then change onto a Kemer-bound service. That works and it's cheap per person, but it eats the best part of a day. If you're a couple or a family, or you're carrying luggage, a direct door-to-door private transfer usually wins on both time and, once you split the fixed price between you, on money too.
Below I've laid out every sensible option — including the ones that don't involve us — so you can pick what actually suits your trip.
The quick answer — how to get from Side to Kemer
| Option | Journey time | Rough cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private transfer (direct) | ~2h–2h30 door to door | Fixed per-vehicle price, split between passengers | Couples, families, groups, luggage, day trips to Phaselis/Olympos |
| Bus via Antalya (2 legs) | ~3h30–4h+ with the change | Cheapest per person | Solo/budget travellers with time and light bags |
| Taxi (direct) | ~2h–2h30 | Expensive — metered/negotiated, per vehicle | Short-notice trips, up to 4 people with modest luggage |
| Car hire (self-drive) | ~2h–2h30 plus stops | Daily rate + fuel + parking | Independent travellers touring the coast for several days |
Note the crucial difference: buses charge per person, while a transfer, taxi or hire car is a per-vehicle cost. For a family of four the maths often flips in favour of a single private vehicle.
Distance and road conditions
You're covering roughly 120 km from Side, on the eastern side of Antalya bay, round to Kemer on the western side. The journey follows the D400 coastal highway west towards Antalya, skirts the city on its ring road and motorway sections, then heads south-west on the D400 again as it climbs into the pine-clad Taurus foothills towards Kemer.
The road is good, modern dual carriageway for most of the way. The two things that slow you down are Antalya city itself — the ring around and through the metro area is the usual pinch point, especially at rush hour — and the final mountain stretch into Kemer, which is scenic but winding and slower going. In peak summer (roughly June to September) add extra time for holiday traffic on the whole western corridor. In the cooler months it flows more freely.
Because so much of the time cost is "getting past Antalya", a direct vehicle that carries you straight through — rather than dropping you in the city to change — saves a genuine chunk of the day.
Private transfer
A pre-booked private transfer is the most straightforward way to do this route. One vehicle collects you from your Side hotel and drops you at your Kemer accommodation (or at Phaselis, Olympos, or wherever you're headed) with no changes and no waiting around for connections.
Pros: direct, door to door, one fixed price agreed when you book — no meter anxiety and no surprise at the far end. A car seats up to four comfortably with luggage; larger vans take groups of five-plus with cases. Child seats can be arranged in advance, which matters on a two-hour-plus drive with little ones. It runs at any hour, so late arrivals and early departures are covered when the buses have stopped.
Cons: as a single traveller with a small bag, you're paying for the whole vehicle, so per-head it's pricier than the bus. The value climbs sharply the more of you there are.
It's also the sensible choice if Kemer isn't your final stop — plenty of Side guests use this route to reach the ancient city and beach at Phaselis or the ruins and mountain at Olympos. A private car lets you build in those stops rather than racing for a connection.
Taxi
You can take a taxi directly from Side to Kemer — it's the same road and roughly the same time as a transfer, around 2 to 2 hours 30. The catch is cost: over 120 km, a metered or negotiated taxi fare for a long cross-region run is expensive, and it's the one mode where you're most exposed to price uncertainty on a long trip.
Pros: available on the spot, no advance booking, good for up to four people with modest luggage.
Cons: on a haul this long the fare adds up quickly. If you do take one, agree the fare or confirm the meter before you set off rather than at the destination. A taxi seats four and can't swallow the luggage of a larger group — for five-plus, or lots of cases, you'll need a bigger vehicle anyway, at which point a pre-quoted transfer is usually the better-value like-for-like.
Dolmuş and minibus
Dolmuş (shared minibuses) are the workhorses of local travel, but they're designed for short local hops — Side to Manavgat, Kemer to its nearby villages — not for a 120 km cross-bay journey. There's no single dolmuş that runs the whole way from Side to Kemer.
In practice you'd string together local services via Antalya, which is slower and more faff than taking a proper intercity bus for the long leg. If you're determined to travel this way, treat it as the bus-via-Antalya route below and confirm current routes and running times locally on the day, as they change seasonally and aren't fixed timetables you can rely on from home.
Intercity bus (via Antalya)
This is the backbone of the budget route. Since there's no direct Side–Kemer coach, you travel in two legs: Side (or nearby Manavgat) to Antalya, then a second bus from Antalya out to Kemer. Antalya's main bus station (otogar) is where the Kemer services depart.
Pros: comfortably the cheapest option per person, and buses are frequent enough on both legs that you rarely wait long. Great value if you're solo or a couple travelling light.
Cons: the change costs you time — realistically you're looking at 3 hours 30 to 4 hours or more once you factor in getting to the departure point, the connection and the final hop. You'll be handling your own luggage through the change, and services thin out in the evening, so it's not a late-night option. I won't quote you a fare or a timetable here because they shift with the season — check the current schedule and price at the bus station or with the operator before you commit your day to it.
Car hire
If you're touring the coast over several days rather than making a single one-way trip, self-drive makes real sense. The D400 is easy to drive and the freedom to stop at Phaselis, a mountain viewpoint or a quiet cove along the way is the whole appeal.
Pros: total flexibility, good value if you keep the car for several days and are visiting multiple places.
Cons: less appealing for a single point-to-point transfer — you're paying a daily rate plus fuel plus parking at both ends, and navigating Antalya's ring in summer traffic is nobody's idea of a relaxing start. Bear in mind Turkish driving norms and mountain bends on the Kemer approach if you're not used to them.
Which option is right for you?
| Traveller | Best choice |
|---|---|
| Solo, light luggage | Intercity bus via Antalya — cheapest, and you're nimble enough for the change |
| Couple | Toss-up: bus to save money, private transfer to save 1–2 hours and the hassle |
| Family with young children | Private transfer — direct, child seats arranged, no dragging kids through a bus change |
| Group of 5+ | Private transfer (van) — one vehicle, split cost often beats separate bus fares |
| Late-night arrival or departure | Private transfer — buses have stopped; it runs any hour |
| Tight budget | Intercity bus via Antalya — no contest on price if you have the time |
| Heavy luggage | Private transfer — no lugging cases through an Antalya connection |
So, when is a private transfer genuinely worth it on this route? Whenever the change in Antalya would cost you more than it's worth — that's most families, any group of four or more, anyone with real luggage, late-night travellers, and anyone who'd rather spend their holiday morning arriving in Kemer than waiting for a connection. Over 120 km with a change involved, the per-vehicle price shared between a few people is often close to the combined bus fares anyway, and you save a couple of hours. If that's you, you can get an instant quote with the price fixed up front — no meter, no surprises.
Planning to explore beyond Kemer? The same direct vehicle is ideal for reaching the ruins and beach at Phaselis — see our Phaselis ancient city and beach transfer guide. For the bigger picture, our complete Antalya airport transfer guide covers arrivals and onward travel across the whole region. You might also find these useful:
- How to get from Kemer to Side — the return leg
- Side to Kemer options at a glance
- How to get from Kemer to Antalya city
- How to get from Belek to Kemer
- How to get from Manavgat to Antalya city
- Private Antalya airport transfer
Ready to skip the connection? Book a private transfer or a driver for the day and travel Side to Kemer in one direct run.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a direct bus from Side to Kemer?
No. There's no single direct coach between the two resorts. The public route is two legs — Side (or nearby Manavgat) to Antalya, then a second bus from Antalya's bus station out to Kemer. Confirm current schedules locally, as they vary by season.
How long does it take to get from Side to Kemer?
A direct drive — private transfer or taxi — takes roughly 2 hours to 2 hours 30 across about 120 km, traffic depending. By bus with the change in Antalya, realistically allow 3 hours 30 to 4 hours or more once you factor in the connection.
What's the cheapest way to get from Side to Kemer?
The intercity bus via Antalya is cheapest per person, hands down, if you're travelling light and have the time. It becomes less clear-cut for families or groups, where a single per-vehicle transfer split between everyone can compete on price and save hours.
Is a taxi from Side to Kemer expensive?
Over 120 km, yes — it's a long, pricey run. If you take one, agree the fare or confirm the meter before departure rather than at the destination. For the same money on a trip this length, a pre-quoted private transfer usually gives you a fixed price with no uncertainty.
Can I visit Phaselis or Olympos on the way?
That's exactly where a private transfer or hire car shines. A direct vehicle lets you build in a stop at Phaselis's ruins and beach, or continue to Olympos, rather than racing for a bus connection. It's a popular add-on for Side guests heading to the Kemer side.
How do I get from Side to Kemer late at night?
A private transfer is really your only reliable option after the buses stop for the evening. It runs at any hour, so late arrivals, night flights and early departures are all covered — book ahead so a car is waiting.
Is it worth hiring a car for the Side to Kemer trip?
For a single one-way journey, not especially — you'd pay a daily rate plus fuel and parking. But if you're touring the coast for several days and want to explore Phaselis, viewpoints and coves at your own pace, self-drive is good value and enjoyable, allowing for the mountain bends near Kemer.