Yörük Park is an open-air cultural site in Kemer that introduces the nomadic Yörük way of life, which continued for centuries in the Taurus Mountains. With black goat-hair tents, traditional crafts and local food, it is a good way to see the cultural heritage behind Kemer’s beach holidays. This guide explains who the Yörük are, what you can see at the park and tips for your visit.
Who are the Yörük?
The Yörük are Turkmen communities who for centuries lived from livestock and moved with the seasons, spending winters on the warm coastal plains and summers on the cool mountain plateaus. Antalya and the Taurus Mountains were an important part of these migration routes. Most Yörük families have since settled, but their culture lives on in their weaving, their food and their highland traditions.
What to see at Yörük Park
- Black tents: Traditional tents woven from goat hair, the symbol of Yörük life, with the everyday objects used inside them.
- Crafts: Carpets, kilims and weavings with motifs passed down by Yörük women from generation to generation.
- Local food: Gözleme cooked on a griddle, ayran and local produce.
- Views: Close to the shore, with sea and mountain views together.
Experiencing Yörük culture
- Try gözleme: Thin dough cooked on a sac griddle, the best-known Yörük dish.
- Look closely at the weavings: Kilim motifs tell the story of each region and family.
- Visit the plateaus: To see highland life today, head inland, for example to the Gedelme Plateau and its 2,700-year-old plane tree.
Visiting tips
- Check opening hours and entry conditions before you go.
- In summer, late afternoon is cooler and the light is best.
- Children enjoy seeing nomadic life in the open air.
- Combine your visit with Moonlight Park and Beach, close by.
Culture routes in Kemer
Combine Yörük Park with Kemer’s other cultural sights: the 2,700-year-old ancient city of Phaselis, prehistoric Beldibi Cave and the Yanartaş flames near Çıralı. For more ideas, see places to visit in Kemer.
Stay in Kemer centre
Kemer Royal Beach Hotel is in Kemer town centre, about 250 metres from the sea, within walking distance or a short drive of the town’s cultural sights. See our rooms or check availability.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Yörük Park?
In Kemer, close to the shore and near Moonlight Park, as an open-air cultural site.
What can you eat at Yörük Park?
Local food such as gözleme cooked on a griddle and ayran.
Why did the Yörük migrate?
To find pasture for their animals: winters on the warm coastal plains, summers on the cool plateaus.