Olympos & Chimaera

## Overview Olympos & Chimaera is a 2nd-century BC Lycian port later occupied by pirates and Romans, paired with the eternal Chimaera flames burning from the mountainside since antiquity. This is one of the essential sights in Antalya and rewards visitors who arrive with a little context and a full water bottle. ## A short history Standing on the site today, it is easy to forget that Olympos & Chimaera has survived earthquakes, empires and centuries of neglect. What you see is the accumulated work — and loss — of Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman hands. Nineteenth-century travellers wrote of overgrown ruins reclaimed by pine forest; modern excavations, most of them Turkish-led since the 1940s, have brought the site back to life while preserving its patina. ## What to see, section by section - **the ruined harbour basilica and Roman baths.** A highlight of any visit, and worth pausing for photographs and a moment of quiet. - **the Lycian sarcophagi in the forest.** A highlight of any visit, and worth pausing for photographs and a moment of quiet. - **Olympos Beach (a pebble Blue-Flag cove).** A highlight of any visit, and worth pausing for photographs and a moment of quiet. - **the 30-minute uphill hike to the Chimaera flames.** A highlight of any visit, and worth pausing for photographs and a moment of quiet. - **the tree-house hostels of Çıralı village.** A highlight of any visit, and worth pausing for photographs and a moment of quiet. Give yourself at least 90 minutes to walk between these areas without rushing; two to three hours if you photograph seriously. ## Best time to visit April–june and september–october; visit chimaera after 20:00 when the flames outshine daylight. Shoulder-season months (April–May and September–October) combine mild weather with thinner crowds, and the low-angled light in those months flatters every marble surface. ## Photo spots The most rewarding frames are the Chimaera flames after sunset with a long exposure, and the harbour arch framing the beach. Bring a wide-angle lens if you have one, and consider a polarizer to cut the Mediterranean glare. ## Tickets and hours - **Hours:** Olympos ruins 08:00–19:00; Chimaera hike 24/7 (best after dark). - **Admission:** Olympos €6 (Museum Pass included); Chimaera €4; parking €3. The Museum Pass Antalya is almost always worth it if you are visiting two or more sites — it pays for itself quickly and lets you skip the ticket queue. ## How to get there 80 km south-west of Antalya on the D400 toward Kumluca; rental car (75 min) is easiest, or a Kemer-based Olympos day tour that ends at the Chimaera flames after dark. If time is short, a private guided tour with hotel pickup removes every logistical headache — see our related tours below. ## Insider tips - Bring a headlamp for the Chimaera return descent — the path has no lighting. - Combine with a Çıralı beach dinner; loggerhead turtles nest here in July. - Wear water shoes for the pebble beach at Olympos.