Çıralı — Quiet Beach Village & Eternal Flames
Çıralı is the calm sister of Olympos: a single street of family pensions and bungalows set back from a 3 km protected beach where loggerhead turtles nest. No discos, no big hotels — by law nothing taller than the citrus trees. Above the village, twenty natural flames have burned out of the rock for over 2,500 years.
Çıralı vs Olympos — what's the difference?
| Çıralı | Olympos | |
|---|---|---|
| Vibe | Quiet families, couples, slow travel | Backpacker, treehouses, social |
| Crowd | 30+, light drinkers | 20–35, party-friendly evenings |
| Beach access | Direct — pensions are 100–500 m from sand | Walk through the ruins, 15–20 min |
| Buildings | By law: only single-story bungalows in orchards | Treehouse hostels on a single road |
| Price/night (double) | £35–£70 | £18–£35 |
| Best for | 2–4 night stay, beach + walking | 1–2 nights, social atmosphere |
The two are connected by a 4 km walk along the beach — easy in either direction and the simplest "Lycian Way day stage" anyone can do.
The Yanartaş eternal flames
A 3 km uphill walk (or short drive) above Çıralı village brings you to the slopes of Mount Chimera, where ~20 natural-gas vents have burned permanently out of the rock for at least 2,500 years. Homer's chimera was inspired by them. Best at dusk: walk up before sunset, watch the flames glow red as it darkens, head back with a head torch. Allow 2–3 hours round trip. Entrance ~£1.50.
The flames burn brighter in winter (cooler temperatures keep the gas concentrated). Summer flames are present but less dramatic.
The beach
Çıralı beach is 3 km of pebble-and-coarse-sand from the river mouth in the south to the rocks at the northern end. Caretta (loggerhead) turtles nest along it from May to October — by law the beach is dark at night, no beach bars, no bright lights. Specific rules:
- No bonfires, no umbrellas left overnight
- Stay off marked nest cages
- No torches on the beach after dark — disorients hatchlings
- If you find a stranded hatchling, don't carry it — leave it to find the sea by moonlight
Where to stay
Çıralı pensions all run on a similar model: small bungalows in citrus orchards, half-board (breakfast + dinner), set back 100 m to 500 m from the beach. Notable options:
- Myland Nature Hotel — yoga retreat, no children under 12, vegetarian options. £55–£90/night.
- Arcadia Hotel — small bungalows, excellent breakfast, 2-min walk to beach. £45–£70.
- Olympos Lodge — upscale bungalows in landscaped gardens, beach access. £80–£140.
- Hotel Canada — long-running family pension, simple rooms, very friendly. £35–£55.
- Botanik Pansiyon — orange-tree garden, private bungalows, excellent value. £40–£60.
Book 2–3 weeks ahead in May–June and September; in July–August book 4+ weeks ahead.
Food and walking
All Çıralı pensions serve dinner — most do half-board by default. A few independent restaurants line the road behind the beach: Karakuş Restaurant for grilled fish, Mehmet'in Yeri for traditional meze, and Cucina Lounge for Italian-leaning options.
Days are easy: walk the beach to Olympos, swim, walk up to Yanartaş in the evening, repeat. Many people stay 2–3 nights and end up extending.
The Lycian Way through Çıralı
Çıralı sits between two Lycian Way stages:
- Stage in (from south): Olympos → Çıralı, 5 km along the beach, 1.5 hr, easy. The simplest stage on the entire trail.
- Stage out (to north): Çıralı → Yanartaş → Beycik, 16 km, strenuous. The trail climbs from the village past the eternal flames and over a ridge to Beycik. This is the start of the harder eastern half — see Eastern Route.
How to get there
| From | How | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antalya airport (AYT) | Pre-booked transfer | 1 h 15 min | £55–£80 |
| Antalya airport | Tram + dolmuş via otogar | 2 h 30 min | £8–£12 |
| Antalya centre | Dolmuş from otogar (every 30 min) | 2 h | £7–£10 |
| Olympos | Walk along the beach | 1.5 h | Free |
| Kemer | Dolmuş | 40 min | £3–£4 |
Note: Çıralı dolmuş drops you at the highway turn-off — it's another 7 km down to the village. Pensions usually pick you up free if you WhatsApp ahead.
When to visit
| Month | Weather | Sea | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| April–May | 22–26 °C | cool | Best for walking, quiet pensions |
| June | 30 °C | warm | Sweet spot — sea + cool evenings |
| July–August | 34 °C | warm | Hot days, busy beach, turtle season |
| September | 30 °C | warmest | Sea at peak, fewer tourists |
| October | 24 °C | cooling | Beach + walking, last warm month |
| Nov–March | 14–18 °C, rain | — | Most pensions closed |
Frequently asked questions
Should I stay in Çıralı or Olympos?
Çıralı for couples, families, slow travel, beach access. Olympos for backpackers, treehouses, evening atmosphere. If unsure, book one night in each — they're 5 km apart by beach. See the Olympos guide.
Are there cards / ATMs in Çıralı?
No ATM in the village. Bring Turkish lira cash from Antalya or Kemer. Most pensions accept cards but only for the room — extras like drinks and snacks are cash. Closest ATMs are in Kemer (35 km).
Can I see turtles?
Nesting season is May–August (eggs laid at night), hatching is August–October (babies emerge at night). DEKAMER (the local turtle conservation NGO) runs evening walks during peak hatch nights — ask at any pension. You'll see tracks in the morning even outside organised walks.
Is Çıralı good with children?
Excellent — the beach is calm, traffic-free, dark at night (good sleep), and pensions are family-run. Most have small pools. Yanartaş is doable for kids over 6.