Beach
Çıralı Beach
The long, natural sand and pebble beach lies in front of Çıralı village. In summer, Loggerhead sea turtles lay their eggs here. During nesting season, the beach is closed at night; tents and noise are forbidden.
Turkey
Olympos & Çıralı
CityNatureBeach
Olympos and Çıralı lie in a bay on the coast southwest of Antalya. You come for the ancient city of Olympos in the river valley, the eternal flames of the Chimaira, and the long beach where sea turtles nest.
by Felix Gillen
Olympos and Çıralı lie in a bay on the coast southwest of Antalya. You come for the ancient city of Olympos in the river valley, the eternal flames of the Chimaira, and the long beach where sea turtles nest. Çıralı is a village with guesthouses behind the beach; the ruins lie in a river valley close to the beach.
Sights in Olympos & Çıralı
Discover the most important sights and attractions
Attraction
The Ruins of Olympos
The ruins of the Lycian city lie in a river valley near the beach. Visible are Roman baths, Byzantine church remains, a necropolis, and Roman-era harbour streets. Olympos was one of the Lycian League's six key cities.
Attraction
Tahtalı Cable Car (Olympos Teleferik)
The cable car has been operating since 2007 up Tahtalı Dağı, the ancient Mount Olympos, at 2,365 m. The route is about 4.35 km long; the 80-person cabin ride takes approximately 10 minutes. At the top, you have a panoramic view over the coast. The valley station is located near Tekirova towards Kemer.
Chimaera (Yanartaş)
On the mountainside above Çıralı, small flames emerge from the rock at several spots; in Turkish, the place is called Yanartaş, burning stone. Already in antiquity, the site was known and considered a cult place near the city of Olympos; among the flames, marble remnants and the ruins of a small medieval church still lie. You can reach the lower of the two fire fields, about one kilometer apart, from Çıralı on foot in about 30 minutes uphill; an entrance fee is charged here. Both fields are located on the Lycian Way.
Restaurants in Olympos & Çıralı
Family-friendly eatery just behind the bridge to Çıralı. From the open kitchen come Gözleme, Pide, Mantı, Kebap, and grilled dishes.
Restaurant right on Çıralı beach. Serving meze, grilled fish, and oven-baked flatbread.
Restaurant and bar in Çıralı, near the bridge to Olympos Valley, with a fireplace. The menu offers seafood, such as calamari.
Food and Drink
In Çıralı, many guests eat in their pension. On the beach and main road, there are some places with Gözleme, grilled dishes, and fish.
Gözleme
Thin baked flatbreads with various fillings. In Çıralı, get them fresh from an open kitchen.
The Grilled Fish
The beach eateries grill fish and serve Meze and oven-baked flatbread alongside.
Trout from Ulupınar
In Ulupınar, a village in the hinterland, visitors enjoy trout in the shade of trees.
Heritage & History
Lycian OlymposOlympos was one of the six cities with three votes in the Lycian League. In the 1st century BC, it was associated with piracy: The Romans besieged the fortress of the pirate Zeniketes, who killed himself and his family rather than surrender. Olympos was subsequently expelled from the League.Roman and Byzantine TracesUnder Roman rule, Olympos grew into a city with a planned street network and baths. In the center are the remains of nine early Byzantine churches, and a necropolis with tombs on the north side.The ChimaeraAbove Çıralı, gas, mainly methane, emerges from the rock on the slopes of Yanartaş and burns continuously. Ancient authors like Pliny already described the flames. They are most impressive after sunset.
Arrival & On the Way
Getting HereThe nearest airport is Antalya. From there, you can reach Çıralı by rental car or transfer.On SiteChimaira: The path up is stony and involves steps; sturdy footwear and a lamp for the return in the dark will help.Cable Car: The Tahtalı Cable Car's base station is located near Tekirova towards Kemer and is accessible by car.Beach RulesÇıralı was the first beach in the Kemer district to introduce a nightly access ban to protect sea turtles. During breeding season, the beach is closed from 8 PM to 8 AM; camping and noise are prohibited. Therefore, plan your beach visit before dusk and Chimaira afterwards.
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