Antalya Airport to Patara Transfer

From the airport the D400 runs west along the coast past Kemer, close to the ancient sites at Phaselis and Olympos, then climbs over a pass above 500 metres before dropping to the greenhouse plain around Kumluca and the orange orchards of Finike. Demre follows, with the ruins of ancient Myra and the Church of St Nicholas just off the road, then Kaş and Kalkan before the road finally turns off toward Patara — almost the full length of the ancient Lycian coast in one transfer, ending at what was once one of Lycia's leading cities.

Patara's beach is the longest stretch of sand on Turkey's Mediterranean coast, backing onto dunes and, just behind them, the ruins of ancient Patara — once the region's main port and, in its Bouleuterion, the meeting hall of the Lycian League's assembly. Saint Nicholas is said to have been born here, before he became better known as the bishop of nearby Myra, and one of the world's oldest known lighthouses, built under Nero, still stands close to the shore after a recent restoration. Loggerhead turtles nest on the beach through the summer, so building has always been kept to a minimum; the closest thing to a village, Gelemiş, is a scatter of pensions and family restaurants rather than a resort strip.

Your driver waits in arrivals with a name board and takes the flight number you give at booking, so a late landing after the long run down the coast costs nothing extra. If your address in Gelemiş or around Patara is easy to miss, send a pin or the exact location when you book so the driver can find it directly. Baby, child and booster seats are free on request, bottled water is on board, and on a drive this long, a stop for coffee, lunch, or simply to stretch your legs is easy to arrange — just ask.