Olympos

Olympos is a small village in Lycia on Turkey's Mediterranean coast, famous for its namesake ancient Lycian and Roman ruins set in a forested canyon leading to the sea. The signature accommodation is 'tree houses' - wooden cabins on stilts nestled in the trees - making it a memorable budget destination. Nearby Çıralı village offers quieter beaches and access to the eternal flames of Mount Chimaera, while hikers will appreciate the Lycian Way long-distance trail passing through.

Olympos and Çıralı are 80 km south of Antalya, a 90-minute drive along the main D400 highway. Buses run hourly heading west to Finike and Demre, dropping passengers at the head of the access roads. Dolmuşes (shared minibuses) wind down the final 10 km to the main settlements, running hourly in summer but sparse in winter. The nearest major airport is Antalya Airport.

Olympos and Çıralı have separate access roads, requiring 20 km to travel between them by vehicle. However, a 2-3 km walk along the beach connects the two settlements. Note that to access the beach path through the ruins area, you may need to pay the ruins admission fee, unless entering outside official hours.

Tree houses are the signature accommodation in Olympos - wooden rooms on stilts ranging from two-person cabins to entire hostels. Most close up November through March. Bayram's Tree Houses (Olimpos Sk 31, B&B double 2500 TL) and Saban Tree Houses (Olimpos Sk 25, B&B double 2500 TL) are popular options with good reviews. Orange Camping offers a clean well-run campsite opposite Bayram's. Çıralı village also has accommodation options.

There are no free-standing restaurants in Olympos itself; accommodations typically serve food to non-residents. Çıralı has a cluster of eateries at its south end including Karakuş restaurant, Yörük Cafe, Likya Cafe, and Simge Gourmet Kitchen. Accommodation bars serve drinks to non-guests.

The main attraction is the Olympos ruins (Adult €10, Daily 08:00-20:30), a substantial Lycian city from 300 BCE through Roman times, with notable mosaics and tombs near the former harbour. Boat trips launch from north end of Çıralı beach. Hikers can explore the Lycian Way, a long-distance trail passing through the village. Nearby Suluada is a 1.2-km rocky islet off Cape Gelidonya with a 'blue grotto' - a common destination for boat trips.

The peak season is summer when dolmuşes run hourly and all facilities are open. Most treehouse accommodations close November through March. The Flames of Mount Chimaera are best seen just after sunset when hikers descend in darkness - bring a torch. Spring and autumn offer milder temperatures for hiking the Lycian Way.

As of October 2024, Olympos, Çıralı, and the approach road off the main D400 highway have 4G coverage from Türk Telekom. There is no signal from Turkcell or Vodafone in the area. 5G has not yet rolled out in Turkey.

In Olympos, Migros and Carrefour supermarkets are halfway down the access road. Olympos Supermarket near Bayram's and the ford is open daily 08:00-23:00. In Çıralı, Bereket Market is open daily 08:30-22:00.

Kemer and its associated villages are larger resorts north towards Antalya, featuring a cable car ascending Mount Tahtalı accessed from Tekirova. Finike is a resort village along the coast to the west, with ruins of Limyra and other ancient towns. The Lycian Way hiking trail continues west to Fethiye and east towards Antalya.