We visited Olimpos, located between Antalya and Muğla, a paradise of the Mediterranean where all the colors of nature blend with its rich greenery and vibrant blues. In the southern part of Turkey, surrounded by pine forests, Olimpos offers a breathtaking view of the crystal-clear sea, resembling a beautiful painting.
With its peaceful and tranquil atmosphere, it’s impossible not to feel time slow down as you surrender yourself to the rhythm of the waves. If you’re looking to escape the hustle of city life and enjoy a calm vacation, there are countless reasons to visit this heavenly destination, which offers beauty not only in the summer but throughout the entire year.
Olympos Must-Visit Spots
Chimera – Yanartaş
Olympos’ eternal flame, Yanartaş, according to mythology, is where Bellerophon, after battling the fire-breathing, lion-headed Chimera, kills the creature and throws it into the mountain. Since then, the flames have burned continuously. Additionally, an event that inspired the Olympic Games also originated here. Zeus held a competition among his sons on Mount Olympus. Heracles won the contest, and Yanartaş’ flame was used to light the Olympic torch.
To witness this captivating sight, you’ll walk for about 25-30 minutes along a stone path through lush vegetation. We recommend heading up close to sunset so you can experience Yanartaş at its most beautiful. If you’re visiting in the summer, avoid heading up between 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM due to the heat. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes like sneakers or sandals.
2024 entrance fee: 45 TL (Museum card is not valid.)
Olympos Ancient City
Olympos Ancient City, located along the path that leads to the beach, is nestled on both sides of the Olympos River. As you walk through the ruins, you’ll feel the ancient history surrounding you. The city, which is intertwined with nature and the river, offers a unique journey through time. Most of the ruins here date back to the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods.
While exploring, you will come across well-preserved structures such as the Roman temple, monumental tombs, a mosaic building, the Captain Eudomos sarcophagus, the Genoese Castle, port monumental tombs, the Alkeltis sarcophagus, city walls, a theater, and baths.
How to get to Olympos Ancient City:
If you’re driving, you can park your car at the entrance parking lot for 100 TL. There is no other parking available, so this is the only option.
Alternatively, you can reach Olympos by public transportation. From Antalya’s main bus station, you can take minibuses heading towards Kumluca or Kaş and get off at the Olympos junction.
You can also visit the site with organized tours.
Fees:
Parking: 100 TL
Entrance fee: 60 TL
Museum card is valid.
Olympos Beach
In Antalya, there are many coves and beaches that have left a mark on our minds, but Olympos Beach is always a special one for us, a place we make sure to visit every season. If you’re looking to have a perfect beach holiday and fully enjoy the sea, Olympos Beach, surrounded by lush green pine trees with its clear and peaceful waters, is just the place for you. Especially for young and middle-aged travelers, I would highly recommend this spot. One of its most important features is that the sea is calm, sheltered, and usually without waves.
Musa Mountain
As mentioned in our Adrasan article, I cannot think of Olimpos and Adrasan separately because whenever I plan to visit Olimpos, my route always passes through Adrasan, and whenever I go to Adrasan, I never leave without seeing Olimpos.
Musa Mountain, which adds beauty to both Olimpos and Adrasan, is located right in the middle of these two places. Olimpos is not only visited by vacationers. This mountain, which is on the list of places to see for hikers and climbing enthusiasts, is an important part of the Lycian Way and a challenging route that rises suddenly to altitudes of 1500 meters. When you complete the route and reach the summit, you will see ancient ruins, including the well-preserved remnants of Olimpos Ancient City, and the most notable among them are the water cisterns. The cisterns, which resemble buried pots, are 7-8 meters deep, and their mouth openings are nearly 2 meters wide. It doesn’t end there – from the summit, you can see the coastline stretching from Çıralı to Kemer, and on clear days, all the way to Antalya. If you want to experience both adventure and enjoyment, don’t end your holiday in Olimpos without climbing here.
Adrasan Bay
This stunning bay, separated by Musa Mountain and Olimpos, is one of the must-see places with its nature and unique beauty. Adrasan, one of the important stops of the Lycian Way, captivates vacationers with its wide beach stretching for 2 kilometers and its crystal-clear sea. Surrounded by pine forests, this tranquil bay is especially ideal for families with children due to its shallow waters. Adrasan Bay is one of the most famous bays in Antalya and one of the unique beaches in the region. If you want to explore other amazing beaches of the Mediterranean, you can enrich your holiday by reading our content about Adrasan >>.Olympos Cafe & Restaurants
Ulupınar Village
Famous for its cool Ulupınar stream coming from the Taurus Mountains, this village has dozens of trout restaurants built on the water. We tried three of them, and while their prices were similar, there were differences in the taste. However, it wasn’t just the taste that impressed us, but the cool atmosphere. Since we visited in July and the temperature was around 40°C, resting and having a meal by the cold stream was truly wonderful. To see the prices and our recommended restaurants, click here>>
