Olympos is an ancient city and holiday spot in the Kumluca district of Antalya, set on both banks of a wooded valley carved by a stream, within Beydaglari Coastal National Park. Once you leave the main road and descend into the valley, rows of tree-house guesthouses among the pine forest and ruins from the Lycian period greet you. The beach is reached on foot through the ancient city itself. A haunt of backpackers, students and hikers for years, this is one of the few places that keeps its bohemian feel. Antalya Airport (AYT) is about 90 kilometres and on average 1 hour 30 minutes away.
See Your Web-Only PriceWhat Is Olympos Like?
Olympos shares the same shore as its neighbour Cirali just to the north, but has a different character. While Cirali is known for its loggerhead turtles and the flames of Yanartas, Olympos is known for its ancient city and its tree-house guesthouses. The Olympos stream and the ancient city separate the two; Cirali belongs to Kemer, Olympos to Kumluca.
Many visitors first know Olympos by its tree houses, but the story of the place begins among the ruins of the ancient city. There are no large hotels or resorts here; accommodation is in the guesthouses and bungalows scattered across the valley. You wake to birdsong in the morning and hear crickets in the evening; the rhythm of the place follows the rhythm of nature.
Olympos: Ancient City and Tree-House Guesthouses
Most people associate Olympos with two things: the ancient ruins and the tree-house guesthouses scattered through the valley. Both stand within the valley and the forest, side by side with nature.
Olympos Ancient City: Lycia and Pirates
Olympos Ancient City is a Lycian port city whose foundations go back to around 300 BC. It was one of six cities holding three votes in the Lycian League, representing the eastern part of the league. What sets the city apart, though, is its pirate past: in the 1st century BC the Cilician pirate chief Zeniketes made Olympos his base, hiding his ships in its concealed harbours; in this period the eastern light-god cult of Mithras also took hold in the city. Pirate rule lasted until 67 BC, after which the city passed to Rome. Today, among ruins overgrown in the forest, you can see the theatre, the baths, the necropolis and the sarcophagi by the river mouth; the best known of these is the sarcophagus of Captain Eudemos, carved with a ship in relief.
Tree-House Guesthouses and the Bohemian Feel
Most accommodation in Olympos is in tree houses and small guesthouses. Along the road down to the beach, rows of tree houses, bungalows and guesthouses line the pine forest and the stream. Most run on half board; dinner is included in the price and eaten together at long tables. Over the years, this shared style of accommodation has helped create the relaxed atmosphere Olympos is known for, shaped by the backpackers, students and nature lovers who come here. Alongside the tree houses, tent camps are part of the area too; those who arrive with a backpack and stay at a camp carry on the long camping tradition of Olympos. Instead of large entertainment venues there are guesthouse gardens and a few bars. Olympos is also one of the first places that comes to mind for rock climbing in Turkey; the cliffs of the Beydaglari draw climbers.
A Beach Reached Through the Ancient City
The Olympos beach is reached not by a coastal road, as in most places, but on foot through the ancient city. The path leaving the guesthouses runs among the ruins, following the stream down to the pebble shore. This walk is what sets Olympos apart from an ordinary beach spot; on one side two-thousand-year-old stones, on the other pine forest and the sea.
Because the beach lies within Beydaglari National Park, it is closed to development; it is no more than pebbles, pine shade and a quiet cove. Access to the beach is through the ancient city, so a site entrance fee applies.
This shore is one of the few beaches where loggerhead turtles (caretta caretta) lay their eggs in summer. Females come up onto the sand on July nights to dig their nests; for this reason night use of the beach is limited, and shining lights on the sand or entering the nesting areas is discouraged. On the August-September nights when the hatchlings reach the sea, the beach becomes a visible part of nature conservation. The shores of Olympos and neighbouring Cirali form a coastline protected together for this nesting.
From Olympos to Yanartas and Nearby Trips
Most people staying in Olympos go to Yanartas (the Chimaera) in the evening. The natural flames that rise from the rocks and never go out are on the neighbouring Cirali side; regular tours leave from in front of the guesthouses after dinner, and the flames look more striking in the dark. By day you can walk this section of the Lycian Way; the path starts at Olympos and runs to the nearby coves and hills. Boat trips go to Adrasan and the surrounding coves, and diving is done in Adrasan's bays.
To the north, rising on the Kemer-Tekirova side, Tahtali (Mount Olympos) at 2,365 m is the symbol of the region; regarded in antiquity as the mountain of the gods and called "Olympos" in mythology, it is the peak that gives the city its name. A cable car climbs Tahtali today, offering a "sea to sky" view from sea level to the summit. Seen from the Olympos valley, this mountain is the highest point rising behind the forest.
A Day in Olympos
Mornings in Olympos are quiet. As the mist settling into the valley lifts off the ruins, hikers and those heading to the beach set off early. The shade in the guesthouse gardens is what guests look for most on hot summer days.
In the afternoon people wander the beach and the ancient city, returning to the guesthouses towards evening. Dinner is eaten at a shared table in most guesthouses; afterwards some go on the Yanartas tour while others sit and talk in the garden. The nights of Olympos are starry and still, far from city lights.
Tips for Olympos
A few details make the journey easier when you come to Olympos:
- Tip: The Olympos valley is a protected site; the guesthouses are scattered along the stream and through the forest. Our car comes to the valley entrance and as close to your guesthouse as we can get; share the property name and a location link and we'll plan the best drop-off.
- Tip: Olympos and Cirali are different places reached by different roads; state clearly in your booking which one you're staying in. Yanartas tours usually leave from the Olympos guesthouses in the evening.
- Tip: Most guesthouses run on half board; dinner may be included, so confirm it in your booking.
- Tip: If you need a child seat, note it in your booking — one seat is free, extra seats at a fair charge with us.
Antalya Airport to Olympos: Distance and Time
The distance from Antalya Airport to Olympos is about 90 kilometres, and the drive takes around 1 hour 30 minutes (varying with traffic and season). For anyone asking how far Olympos is and how long the transfer takes: about 90 km and an hour and a half. The road leaves the airport and follows the D-400 coastal route; after passing Beldibi, Goynuk, Kemer and Camyuva it turns off at the Olympos junction and descends towards the shore.
The last stretch off the main road is a narrow, winding mountain road down into the valley. As Olympos is a protected site, large vehicles are restricted, and the guesthouses are scattered through the forest and along the stream. Since our driver knows the road and where the guesthouses are, he brings you as close as we can get within the valley; no getting off on the main road to wait for a shuttle.
Our Vehicles
Most guests coming to Olympos are couples, small groups on a nature trip and backpackers. If there are two to four of you, a Mercedes Vito (Maybach First Class or Business Class) is plenty; if you're a larger group, we have Mercedes Sprinter vehicles that take up to 13. On the narrow road down into the valley, the Vito's size and road handling get through the mountain road comfortably.
Free Wi-Fi, water and one child seat are already in the car at no charge; an infant seat for babies and a booster for older children are available on request at booking.
Return Transfer from Olympos to the Airport
When the holiday ends, the way back should feel just as easy. Our Olympos airport transfer works both ways: on your departure day the driver picks you up from the nearest point we can reach to your guesthouse; we leave early, allowing for the valley road and your flight time. There is no need to call a separate company for the hotel to airport leg.
The round trip is arranged in a single booking — one WhatsApp message is enough. No prepayment: you pay the same fixed price to the driver in the vehicle on the way back too. We ask for no money upfront and no card details. You pay the driver at the end of the ride, once you're happy with the service — so you never worry "did I lose my money?", the risk is not on you. Wondering if the transfer waits if your flight is delayed? Your driver tracks the flight and waits at no extra cost. Even on late-night landings there is no night surcharge, and After a long flight you won't search the crowd for a driver: our airport greeter waits at the exit holding a name sign with your name and walks you straight to your vehicle.
How to Get From the Airport to Olympos
There are a few ways to reach Olympos:
- Private VIP transfer: Straight to the nearest point to your guesthouse, no waiting, fixed price. A meet and greet with a name sign is included, and we plan the best drop-off for the scattered guesthouses in the valley.
- Bus + minibus: There is no direct line from the airport; you first go to the city centre, then a Kumluca/Kemer-bound bus, then a dolmus from the Olympos junction. The shuttles don't go down into the valley, they leave you on the main road; tiring for travellers with luggage.
- Taxi: Available, but over a long distance the taxi fare climbs steeply on the meter with no fixed-price guarantee. With us the price is set upfront, with no hidden fees. We also do not run shared shuttles; we offer only your own private VIP transfer.
- Car rental: Flexible for exploring the area, but driving the narrow road down into the valley right after a flight is not for everyone.
Some guests also search for "Antalya airport Olympos transfer"; whichever wording you use, the service is the same. Knowing the valley road and the scattered positions of the guesthouses in the forest, we bring you as close as we can get and plan the short walk in with your luggage. With Direct Airport Transfer you start your holiday rested.
Olympos Hotels – Properties We Transfer To
We provide private transfers to the tree houses, bungalows and guesthouses in the Olympos valley, as close as we can get. Some of the main properties are listed below; if where you're staying isn't here, just message us:
Distances and Times From Olympos
Approximate distances and times from Olympos to key places:
| Place | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Antalya Airport | ~90 km | ~1 h 30 min |
| Olympos Ancient City | ~0 km | on foot |
| Yanartas (Cirali) | ~30 km | ~45 min |
| Cirali | ~10 km | ~20 min |
| Adrasan | ~25 km | ~35 min |
| Kemer | ~40 km | ~50 min |
| Kumluca | ~30 km | ~40 min |
Transfers to Areas Around Olympos
We provide the same fixed-price private transfers to the other areas along this coast:
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Contact & Price
Your Olympos transfer price depends on the vehicle type, number of passengers and date; but it is always fixed, per vehicle, and free of hidden fees. However long the road takes, the amount you pay is set in advance. We know plans can change, so you can amend or cancel your booking free of charge up to 24 hours before. Your price is fixed on the web — no night surcharge, no waiting fee, no hidden costs, no prepayment. Just tap "See Price" to book. Any questions? Message us on WhatsApp or Telegram — a real person answers, 24/7.
📞 WhatsApp / Telegram (24/7): +90 542 724 98 98
✉️ info@directairporttransfer.com
📅 Last Updated: July 2026 · This page is updated regularly.