Olympos

From Turkey Travel Guide

[edit] History

The city of Olympos was founded in 3rd century BC, during the Hellenistic period. It was named for the Mount Olympos nearby, one of twenty with that name in those times. It was reported by Cicero to be rich in both treasure and art.

It become one of the six leading cities Lycian Federation until it was invaded by Cilician pirates. The city then came under Roman rule. In the middle ages, it was the site of forts for the Venetians, Genoese and Rhodians, but it was abandoned by the 15th century.

[edit] Navigation

Inside the Bey Mountain Coastal National Park there are several sites, including the Chimaera, Çıralı, and Olympos.

[edit] Getting there

Buses take you to the turn off to the park, and from there dolmuses travel to the sites.

[edit] Getting around

The ruins are concentrated enough to walk through, and a dolmus can take you either to the highway or another site.

[edit] See

The ruins of Olympos lie on both sides on the river, and are surrounded by a beautiful forest full of birds and other wildlife.

Nearby, the natural flames of the Chimaera are well worth visiting.

[edit] Do

The surrounding area offers opportunities for trekking, mountain biking, canoeing, rock climbing, and sea kayaking. Equipment in the village can be rented, or there are organized tours.

[edit] Eat

Most of the hotels, particularly the treehouse camps, include dinner in the price of a room.

Varuna, in the village, offers reasonably priced fish, kebabs, and pides. It also has a few rooms upstairs.

[edit] Drink

Kadir's Yörük Treehouses is home to the Bull Bar, a lively club, even if it plays outdated music.

Türkmen Tree Houses has its own Fu Bar a small disco in a hut.

[edit] Sleep

There are a couple of options for staying in treehouses. Kadir's Yörük Treehouses is the largest, with room for 200 people. At reasonable prices, you can choose between a private cabin, bungalow, or a dorm bed.

Türkmen Tree Houses has actual houses in trees. It's pretty cheap, and has a party reputation.

Caretta Caretta has rooms and treehouses. It's quieter place with better food than most.

Saban Pension is particularly woman-friendly, as it's run by a female staff. The treehouses are in a pine forest, and the food is above average.

[edit] External links