VISITING OLYMPOS ANCIENT CITY ON TURKEY’S SOUTHERN COAST
I have to admit that prior to visiting Turkey-up until about 3 weeks into my first visit, I had no idea what (Turkey’s) Olympos was, where it was, and what its significance was in ancient history. But it became one of my top places that I saw in Turkey - I was blown away.
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OLYMPOS OVERVIEW
Most people will visit Olympos as a day trip from Antalya as it is only about an hour and a half drive south of the city-but I definitely recommend staying overnight (at least) to explore the surrounding ancient ruins and to walk up and spend a while at night on top of Mount Chimera to see the eternal burning flames.
Some people would break up the journey to or from Antalya out towards Fethiye by stopping in Olympos and spending a night.
The ancient city is unbelievably impressive-it is absolutely incredible what these old city streets have withstood over centuries. At the end of the main stretch of the city you come out to this beautiful beach surrounded by towering cliffs sprinkled with ruins among them on three sides, and my favorite bright blue Mediterranean water on the fourth.
Olympos has always been said to be a hippy-ish backpacker spot, but when I was there, it felt like there was a whole variety of Turkish visitors-young, old, families, and locals by themselves. It was a great, relaxed mix during my visit.
Olympos Beach, one of my favorites in the entire world.
Olympos Beach is one of my favorite beaches in this entire word. I sat and floated in the water by myself for a while imagining big war ships passing by and all that those cliffs a probably seen over so many time periods.
The entrance fee to get into the ancient city and beach will cost just under $7.
TÜRKIYE MUSEUM PASSES
If you are planning on spending a good amount of your time in Türkiye visiting ruins, historical sites, museums-all of that good stuff, getting a museum pass card is a great idea to consider. If you think that you will spend over 3500₺ ($125 USD) on all museums and archaeological sites, the museum card allows you free entrance for everything over 15 days all around the country for that 3500₺. There are also specific museum card options as well, like the Istanbul pass, Cappadocia pass, Mediterranean pass, and Aegean pass
You can learn more and purchase a pass HERE.
There are really no words to explain the church and how insane it feels to walk the halls inside, if you are interested in history and the history in this region of the world especially, this is one of the best little spots that you can visit.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF OLYMPOS
The approximate date of Olympos’ founding is still unknown to this day, but an inscription found on one of the stone coffins is said to have been dated back to the 4th century BC…
The city that is secluded way in the woods along some of the most beautiful coastline in Turkey was once one of the most economically important and densily populated cities in the Lycian League.
It is also unknown when Olympos joined the Lycian League - but Lycian coins found in the ruins date back to the end of the 2nd century BC- So it is assumed that the city joined in the 130s. 130s. Hello. Think about that.
It is said that a pirate that ruled a small pirate kingdom in Lycia named Zeniketes took control over Olympos because of its port location for a bit, and apparently him and his followers would do some sketchy sacrifices and rituals in Olympos-again the energy from the history in the city is pretty crazy. Too much to comprehend.
In 78 BC Olympos was over taken by the Romans and Zeniketes lit himself and his home on fire. Fun stuff.
One of the Romans that over threw Zekenite’s rule under commander Publius Servilius Isauricus was none other than Julius Caesar. Me so casually walking down ancient stone streets where Julius Caesar once (apparently) walked…
Young children running down the same streets, next to the same ruins that children did thousands of years ago as well.
The city was apart of the Roman Republic, then the population decreased up until the early 15th century when Olympos was deserted.
HOW TO GET TO OLYMPOS
From Antalya/North:
I definitely recommend renting a car in Turkey, especially to get out to Olympos and the surrounding historical sites - but it is for sure do-able if you do not have a car.
From Antalya, it is easily possible to jump on a ~ 2 hour bus ride from the main bus station - Antalya Otogar - that you can catch tram or Uber to. The bus station is split into two terminals, the second terminal is for local buses.
The bus will probably just be a little dolmus mini bus. A ticket will cost you apparently $0.50 USD, or 15 Lira, and during the peak season the dolmus will run every hour.
From Kas, Ölüdeniz/Anywhere West:
If you are making your way to Olympos from the East like I was from Kas, the journey will be a bit longer-but unbelievably gorgeous. I am so glad that we took a car because along the coast there are the most stunning ta little beaches along the coastal road.
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FLAMING ROCKS OF CHIMAERA (YANARTAŞ)
Fueled by the methane gas in the mountains, the Flaming Rocks of Chimaera (Yanartaş) have been burning for over 2500 years. All of those hundreds of years ago, sailors would use the fires as land markers while out at sea in the dark. No wonder there was some weird rituals and culty stuff happening there. Right below the fires, apparently lay the remains of the Temple of Hephaestus: the Greek god connected to fire, and the “chief god of Olympos” in the ancient Roman Period.
The ‘hike’ up Chimaera to see the flames is extremely easy, and only took 10 minutes, maybe less. There are a bunch of little fire pits to see, I 100% say go. It is so worth it to sit there for a while and stare at the stars, while imagining everyone that sat there on those same stones before you.
It will cost 25 Lira (or $0.75 USD) to walk up Chimaera, as of autumn 2023.
WHERE TO STAY IN OLYMPOS
Because Olympus is so historically important and naturally beautiful, the site is protected under some conservation laws, so you won't tind any big developments or luxury hotels-but small little cabins, treehouses and homestays.
Back in the late 90's when Olympos wasn't anything but a site of ancient ruins in the middle of the woods, a man named Kadir Kaya built these cute tree houses for backpackers to stay while traveling along the Lycian Way.
It gained lots of worldwide media attention which really blew the spot up, but now it is much more relaxed. It is a bit furtner from the beach though.
You can book Kadir’s Treehouses HERE.
I stayed at Bayram's Treehouses; and it was so sweet! Simple but you aot everything that you need, and the food is fabulous. The energy is nice and relaxed with people from all around the world. It's affordable and in great for location, I 110% reccomend staying here.
You can book Bayram’s Treehouses HERE.
Another popular option is Sheriff Olympos Pansiyon, a beautiful, cool little hostel built around an orange garden that is similar to most of the other accomodation options in Olympos.
You can book Sheriff Olympos Pansiyon HERE.
THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT OLYMPOS/SOUTHERN TURKEY
Of course as Turkey's summers get so unbelievably hot, (and crowded) I always say that shoulder seasons are the best time to visit (the spring/fall) especially the fall, because the water is still so warm from September to November. In the fall it was still busy during the week with visitors- but it seemed that a majority were Turkish.
If you do visit Olympos during the summer season it isn't even that big a downside when talking about heat because the Mediterranean is so perfect in Olympos to cool down on the hot days.
Southern Turkey's winters are cooler and mild, and the off seasons will be quiet - because Olympos' beach is such a big part of the experience. Overall, I would too definitely say to visit Olympos during mid August - late October.
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If you are visiting the Lycian region on the Turkish Riviera, Olympos is a 110% must visit-a for real once in a lifetime experience.
Except I will go back.
