Drive just half an hour away from Kemer’s lights and you’ll find skies dark enough above the Taurus plateaus to see the Milky Way with the naked eye. Summer nights are warm, skies are often clear, and the Perseid meteor shower in August makes a Kemer holiday especially good for stargazing. This guide covers where to stargaze around Kemer, when to go and how to prepare.
Where to stargaze
The plateaus
The plateaus behind Kemer are higher and away from coastal light pollution. The Gedelme Plateau, at 700 metres, is one of the easiest to reach from the centre.
Çıralı and Olympos
Çıralı has no large hotels and little light at night, which is good news for both sea turtles and the sky. After dark, the flames of Yanartaş under a starry sky are unforgettable. See our Olympos and Çıralı guide.
Saklıkent and the TÜBİTAK National Observatory
North of Antalya, at Saklıkent, the TÜBİTAK National Observatory sits at about 2,500 metres on Bakırlıtepe. It holds public sky-watching events from time to time; check the observatory’s announcements for dates and conditions.
When to go
- New moon: Moonless nights give the darkest skies. Plan around the lunar calendar.
- Perseid meteor shower: Peaks every year in mid-August, right in the summer holiday season.
- Geminid meteor shower: Mid-December, on clear, cold winter nights.
- Summer: The brightest part of the Milky Way is visible in the southern sky on summer evenings.
Preparation and tips
- Let your eyes adjust: It takes 20–30 minutes; avoid phone screens or use red light.
- Dress warmly: Nights on the plateaus are cool even in summer.
- Apps: Sky-map apps make it easy to find constellations and planets.
- Binoculars: Even simple binoculars show the Moon’s craters and star clusters.
- Safety: Drive carefully on mountain roads at night; don’t go to remote places alone, and tell someone where you’re going.
- Respect nature: No fires; summer forest fire risk is very high.
A night under the stars, a room in Kemer centre
Kemer Royal Beach Hotel is in Kemer town centre, about 250 metres from the sea. Stargaze on the plateau and come back to your room in the centre; every room has a balcony. See our rooms or check availability.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to stargaze near Kemer?
The plateaus away from coastal lights, such as Gedelme, and Çıralı, where there is little light at night.
When is the Perseid meteor shower?
It peaks every year in mid-August; the best viewing is after midnight when the Moon has set.
Can you see the Milky Way from Kemer?
It is hard to see under the lights of the centre. On the plateaus and in dark areas, on moonless summer nights, it is visible to the naked eye.