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Olympos/Cirali

Olympos/Cirali Turkey Travel Guide

Olympos/Cirali, Turkey

Olympos/Cirali is a coastal settlement area near Kemer on Turkey’s Antalya coast. South of Kemer within Beydaglari Coastal National Park, it combines shoreline, woodland and nearby hills, making it well suited to beach time, walking and other outdoor activities. The long stretch of coast includes Cirali Beach and Olympos Beach, with the ruins area and a small river mouth between them.

Olympos/Cirali is known for its mix of beach, ruins and nature, making it a practical base for quiet holidays and walking-focused itineraries. The ancient city of Olympos was an important Lycian city and later came under Roman rule, and visitors can walk through its ruins among trees, stone tombs, walls and the remains of public buildings. The area is also known for the Chimaera at Yanartas, where natural gas flames burn from rock vents on a hillside, and for its beach, which is a protected nesting area for loggerhead sea turtles.

Access is mainly by road from the Antalya-Kumluca highway, followed by a local approach road to Cirali or Olympos. Visitors coming from Kemer usually arrive by road, while Antalya Airport is the main air gateway for most travelers. From the main highway, local access continues into the settlement area rather than directly from a major transport hub.

Olympos/Cirali on the map

Olympos/Cirali: Attractions, interesting places for excursions

Tahtali Mountain, Olympos Teleferik Cable Car, Ancient City of Olympos, Olympos Beach

Olympos/Cirali attractions, beaches and coastal sights

Pine-shaded ruins, a long beach, and hillside flames after dark

Olympos/Cirali

Main sights and local character

The main places to visit in Olympos/Cirali are the ancient city of Olympos, Cirali Beach, Olympos Beach and the Chimaera at Yanartas. The ruins of Olympos are one of the area’s key attractions, with paths running through trees past tombs, walls and the remains of public buildings. The two beaches form one long shoreline, divided by the small river mouth and the ruins area, while the Chimaera is a separate hillside site known for its natural flames.

The area has a quiet, low-rise feel, with pensions, bungalows and small guesthouses rather than large resort hotels. Walking is one of the easiest ways to experience it, since the beach, ruins and local lanes all sit within the same visitor area. The wider landscape is shaped by the national park setting, and the Lycian Way passes through, making Olympos/Cirali especially relevant for walkers exploring the coast.

Beyond sightseeing, visitors spend time swimming, sunbathing, hiking and taking boat trips. Dining centers on small family-run restaurants, beach cafes and restaurants attached to accommodation. Nightlife is limited, and the area is better known for quiet evenings than for bars and clubs.

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Practical tips for visiting

Is Olympos/Cirali worth visiting? For travelers looking for a quieter coastal base than the larger resort areas around Kemer, it offers a strong combination of beach access, archaeological remains and walking routes in a protected natural setting. The main things to do are swimming, sunbathing, walking through the ruins of Olympos, hiking up to the Chimaera in the evening, taking boat trips and using the area as a stop on the Lycian Way.

The best time to visit is when both beach use and walking are practical, especially in spring, early summer and autumn. Mornings work well for the beach and the ruins, while the hike to the Chimaera is especially popular in the evening, when the flames are easier to see. Peak summer midday heat can make walking more difficult, and the area is less suited to beach-focused trips in winter.

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