Olympos Ancient City — Ruins, Beach & Visitor Guide
A Lycian port city scattered through a green valley, with a path that leads from the ruins straight onto a pebble beach.
Olympos Ancient City: entrance fee €10 (foreign visitor rate; Museum Pass valid), opening hours 08:00–19:00 (ticket office closes 18:30). Suggested time: 2–3 hours including the beach. Best time to visit: Early morning or late afternoon — the valley is very hot at midday.
One of the six great cities of the Lycian League in the 2nd century BC, Olympos was built along both banks of a narrow valley opening to the sea. Its Roman theatre, baths, monumental tomb gate, Byzantine basilica and medieval harbour fort now lie scattered through a forest of laurel, fig and oleander, which turns every ruin into a small discovery.
The stream running down the middle of the valley dries up by late summer and becomes a shallow pool in spring. At the end of the path the city meets the sea at a pebble beach that is also a nesting site for loggerhead sea turtles, which is why it closes at night and has no sunbeds or parasols.
Olympos Ancient City entrance fee and opening hours (2026)
| Entrance fee | €10 (foreign visitor rate; Museum Pass valid) |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 08:00–19:00 (ticket office closes 18:30) |
| Suggested time | 2–3 hours including the beach |
| Best time to visit | Early morning or late afternoon — the valley is very hot at midday |
Fees for foreign visitors are from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism fee list; opening hours from muze.gov.tr. Check again shortly before your visit.
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How do I get to Olympos Ancient City?
It is roughly 90 km south-west of Antalya on the D400; after the Olympos junction a narrow, winding 11 km road drops into the valley. Allow 50 minutes from Kemer and about 2.5 hours from Side and Manavgat. By bus, take the Antalya–Kumluca service, get off at the Olympos junction and continue by minibus; in summer a regular shuttle runs between the junction and the valley.
Distances and driving times to Olympos Ancient City
| From Antalya Airport (AYT) | 98 km · about 1 h 33 min by car |
|---|---|
| From Side | 157 km · about 2 h 16 min by car |
| From Manavgat | 157 km · about 2 h 13 min by car |
| From Alanya | 217 km · about 2 h 57 min by car |
Road distances and driving times calculated on the OpenStreetMap road network (OSRM), without traffic or stops. Compare all attractions →
Tips for visiting Olympos Ancient City
- Your ticket allows re-entry on the same day — see the ruins in the morning and come back to the beach later.
- The path is earth and loose stone, so wear closed shoes and pack flip-flops separately for the beach.
- Add Yanartaş the same day: it is a 20-minute drive to Çıralı to watch the flames at sunset.
Where is Olympos Ancient City?
Tours & tickets
Olympos Ancient City — frequently asked questions
Do you pay separately for Olympos beach?
No, the ancient city ticket covers the beach. It is open to everyone but closes after sunset because it is a turtle nesting site.
How long does it take to see the ruins?
An hour and a half covers the main path and the highlights — theatre, baths, basilica. Add a swim and you are looking at three hours.
Are Olympos and Çıralı the same place?
They are two ends of the same bay. Olympos is the ancient city and guesthouse area on the valley side, Çıralı the village to the north; a 3–4 km walk along the beach links them.
How far is Olympos Ancient City from Side?
Olympos Ancient City is 157 km from Side by road — about 2 h 16 min by car without stops.
How far is Olympos Ancient City from Antalya Airport?
Olympos Ancient City is 98 km from Antalya Airport (AYT) by road — about 1 h 33 min by car without stops.
