Ancient City of Olympos
Ancient City of Olympos in Olympos-Cirali, Turkey
Ancient Olympos is located in the Olympos - Cirali area, southwest of central Kemer, within the Beydaglari Coastal National Park. The ruins lie in the river valley at the mouth of the river, which opens onto a pebble beach. Thanks to this setting, a walk through the archaeological zone is usually combined with access to the sea.
The city was founded in the Hellenistic period and was already part of the Lycian League in the 2nd century BC. During the Roman and Byzantine periods, Olympos retained its importance as a local center and port, and then gradually lost its former role and was abandoned. Today, it is one of the notable ancient monuments on the coast in the vicinity of Kemer.
On the site, fragments of fortress walls, gates, towers, remains of a bridge, paved street sections, a small theater, baths, basilicas, and ruins of residential and public buildings have been preserved. In the necropolis, you can see sarcophagi and inscriptions, and among the most famous finds is often mentioned the sarcophagus of Captain Eudemos with the image of a ship.
Olympos is of interest to those who want to combine a walk through ancient ruins with a nature route. The monuments here are not concentrated on a single site, but are spread throughout the overgrown valley, so the visit is perceived as a walking route among archaeological remains, forest vegetation, and access to the beach.
Ancient City of Olympos on the map
Ancient City of Olympos - ruins in a valley by the sea
Here, ancient ruins connect with a route to the beach.
Ruins in a river valley with access to the beach and a Lycian necropolis
Exploring Olympos takes place along trails and paths through dense vegetation on both sides of the riverbed. Visitors usually walk from the entrance through the ruins of the city structures toward the sea, viewing sections of walls, vaulted buildings, remains of public structures, and early Christian churches along the way. The archaeological zone is quite large, so it is worth allowing enough time for the walk and choosing comfortable footwear.
Some of the most notable structures on the site are the small Roman theater, baths, bridge ruins, and the necropolis with stone sarcophagi. Many of the structures have survived only in fragments, but the layout of the ancient city is clearly readable: passages, street sections, and individual architectural elements are visible. This place is more suitable for independent, unhurried exploration than for a brief visit as a single stop.
After the archaeological zone, you can reach Olympos Beach at the mouth of the river. Nearby is Yanartas near Cirali, a section of hillside with natural flames, which is usually visited separately, most often toward the evening. Such a route allows you to combine ancient ruins, the coast, and a short climb into the mountains in one day.
Olympos is usually reached from Kemer or Antalya via the highway toward Cirali and Olympos, and then descending to the entrance of the archaeological zone by local transport, taxi, or car.
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