Çıralı Travel Guide and Places to Visit

Located just 70 km from the center of Antalya, Çıralı offers a glimpse of paradise on Earth, flirting with Olympos on one side and close to Kemer on the other. Its relative obscurity makes Çıralı particularly appealing to travelers. For a vacation filled with the scent of bananas and tangerines amidst the gardens, and the fresh sea air, Çıralı is an excellent choice.

Staying in Çıralı’s modest yet high-quality hotels is one of the finest luxuries for nature lovers. From your hotel in Çıralı, you can easily access numerous places. Whether you want to bike or take a scenic walk to Olympos with your camera in hand, or ask your hotel for a guide for a nature walk, everything is within reach. Adrasan is almost within walking distance from your Çıralı hotel. You could also hop on a bicycle to visit Kemer. If you didn’t bring your bike, don't worry; your hotel might offer complimentary bike services. Finding a luxurious 5-star, multi-story hotel in Çıralı is unlikely. Hotels here are generally small, two or three-story wooden buildings or bungalows, similar to those in Bodrum. This setting allows you to easily embrace nature. Çıralı hotels are not only immersed in nature but also very close to the sea, with many right on the shoreline. You can enjoy fruits picked from the trees in your hotel garden while lounging on a beach chair.

Çıralı Guide

Antalya's Yanartaş (Chimera) is a mountain where climbing the burning rocks opens a door to legends. The flames of Yanartaş, caused by natural gas seeping from the earth, are at the heart of many myths in Çıralı.

The Chimera, described as a beast with the front of a lion, the back of a serpent, and the middle of a goat, once terrorized Lycia with its fire-breathing prowess until it was defeated by the hero Bellerophon riding the winged horse, Pegasus. It's said that Bellerophon built an altar for the goddess Athena in memory of his victory, but he could not extinguish the flames, which have burned continuously for over 4000 years.

Once an important harbor city of Lycia, Olympos is now a poignant town wrapped in laurel trees. Çıralı offers one of the Mediterranean's most pristine and untouched beaches. With the beautiful blue of the sea in front and the unique backdrop of the Taurus Mountains resembling a tropical forest behind, the beach ends at the ancient Lycian ruins of Olympos. A hidden gem, the meeting point of the river and the sea is cloaked by overgrown forests, with secrets scattered along the riverbanks, reachable by a roughly five-minute walk.

While in Çıralı, experiencing something unique would be worthwhile. If you're a true nature and animal lover, there are many friendly loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) ready to be "adopted" by you.

Çıralı Beach is one of the nesting grounds for the loggerhead sea turtles. Every year, they cross oceans to lay their eggs here, but unfortunately, their species is now endangered due to human activities. If you wish to support the continuation of this charming species, consider donating to the WWF Turkey's "Adopt a Sea Turtle" campaign. With a minimum donation of 20 TL, you can adopt a baby sea turtle and support their challenging journey.
Places to Visit in Çıralı

If you are tired of the hustle and bustle of big cities and want a quiet vacation, choosing Çıralı is the right decision. Embrace the sea for a vacation close to nature. You can either lie in your hammock on the beach for hours soaking up the sun and reading your book or meet the warm waters of the Mediterranean in nearby bays. Various boat tours are organized on different routes in Çıralı.

Our first suggestion: Cennet Koyu-Porto Ceneviz-Sazak-Çoban Limanı tour. The second alternative is: Üç Adalar-Phaselis-Kleopatra tour. Another option is the tour around Kaleköy Peninsula, formerly known as Simena. Rent a canoe from Çıralı Beach and paddle towards Ceneviz Bay, discovering different bays and swimming in them.

Turkey's first long-distance hiking trail, the Ancient Lycian Way, offers you a historical journey, whether by bike or on foot. You can choose your preferred route when planning your hike: a 3.5-hour Ulupınar - Yanartaş, a 7-hour Musa Mountain, or an 8-hour Adrasan - Gelidonya Lighthouse, a 6-hour Göynük Valley, an 8-hour Tahtalı Mountain Pass, or a 5-6-hour Gedelme-Yayla Kuzdere. Don’t miss seeing the ancient city ruins along the Lycian Way.

If you think some action would be good during your nature-filled vacation, you can rappel down to waterfalls in the canyon, jump into pools, or engage in a variety of fun and thrilling activities, including swimming without climbing. You can also take an ATV safari at the foothills of the Beydağları.

One of the places you must visit is Ulupınar Village. Situated just 3 km before the Çıralı turn-off on the road from Antalya to Kumluca, you will love the scent of pine trees and the sound of water here. The village hosts numerous fish farms that await you with little surprises. While here, don't miss out on enjoying fish freshly prepared next to the ice-cold stream even in the middle of summer, and tasting other delicacies that suit your palate.

In the evening, take your drink and head to Yanartaş to enjoy the sunset. At the last minute, turn towards Karaöz, seven kilometers from Olympos' neighbor Adrasan, and visit the Gelidonya Lighthouse.

What to Do in Çıralı?

Sea, sea, sea... Even in October, when shop windows are decorated with winter clothes, you can comfortably dive into the clear waters of Çıralı, where the sea temperature still ranges between 20-25 degrees Celsius. Plus, with the sweltering summer heat over, you can lounge in the sun without getting sticky from sweat. Of course, Çıralı isn’t just about sea and sun.

Wake up to a morning rich in oxygen in Çıralı. If you start your day early, you can witness sea turtles hatching from their eggs, almost like a documentary experience. Participate in nature walks during the day. You can go on day-long or 2-3-day boat tours. You might want to explore the ruins of the ancient city of Olympos, which extend into the forest. The most intriguing remaining structure of the ancient city is the gate of a temple located about 150 meters west. You can go cycling, scuba diving, or canoeing into the blue.

At night, after dinner amidst the greenery, strap on your backpack and climb to Yanartaş. At 230 meters high, don’t forget to bring a flashlight if you’re climbing to Yanartaş. (For those who prefer not to exert themselves, vehicle access is also available.) You can gaze at the sky by the sea. Those looking for a change can go to Kemer for dinner.

What to Buy in Çıralı?

When in Çıralı, if you want to act like a local, visit the Kumluca Market on Fridays and the Kemer Market on Mondays; you can find everything from organic fruits and vegetables to textiles, often at more affordable prices than in big cities. If you want to take a souvenir of Çıralı back home, check out the gift shops in the town center where you can find local knick-knacks, figures, and cute magnets.
What to Buy in Çıralı?
If you want to immerse yourself like a local while in Çıralı, consider visiting Kumluca Market on Fridays and Kemer Market on Mondays; you can find everything from organic fruits and vegetables to textiles. Plus, compared to big cities, you can even find more reasonable prices. If you wish to take home a souvenir from Çıralı, you can pick up local trinkets, figures, and cute magnets from the gift shops in the town center.

Where to Eat in Çıralı
Çıralı is a primary and secondary natural protected area, so you won't find many luxury hotels or cafes and restaurants. Like any holiday resort, you'll encounter the quintessential pancake-making aunties. There are many restaurants where you can enjoy delicious pancakes made by the local Yörük people. The pancakes are made entirely from natural ingredients and come in familiar varieties such as with white cheese, cheddar, potatoes, and minced meat, as well as chocolate, honey, and tahini. At SILA GÖZLEME VE EV YEMEKLERİ, Ayşe and Günay Hanım make them themselves, and they are very delicious and modest. Sit under the straw umbrellas at Orange Restaurant, surrounded by orange trees (0242 825 72 93), enjoy a cheese pancake, and definitely try the frothy buttermilk referred to by tourists as 'Yörük whiskey'.

Karakuş Restaurant: Located on Çıralı beach, this restaurant offers world cuisine, and all dishes are delicious. Say hello to Zeynep or Ayfer Hanım from us. You can also have a romantic dinner at Olympos Lodge Hotel. Say hello to Ziya and Aysen Hanım from us. If you're looking for a place that prepares meat dishes as well as Nusret, then head to Baraka House and see İhsan Bey. These three places are my special recommendations. If you want to cool off during the day, try the local melon ice cream.

If you crave fish, go to Ulupınar Village, which Çıralı is part of. In the village, situated at the foothills of the Taurus Mountains, enjoy baked trout at Şelale Restaurant by the spring (0242 825 00 25; www.selalerestoran.com). Don't miss adding Azur Aida, Harman Restaurant, and Oleander Restaurant to your plan in Çıralı, where you can enjoy various hot and cold seafood dishes prepared deliciously right by the sea. If you've climbed to Yanartaş in the evening, don't forget to eat sausages cooked over a wood fire.

Editor's recommendation: Try the 'pizza quattro stagioni' at Çıralı Simge Restaurant, it's fantastic.

How to Get to Çıralı
THY (0212 444 0 849; www.thy.com.tr) offers daily direct flights from Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir; Pegasus (0212 444 0 737; www.flypgs.com) has daily direct flights from Istanbul and direct flights from Izmir on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Atlasjet (0216 444 3 387; www.atlasjet.com) provides daily direct flights from Istanbul and Izmir to Antalya. You can rent a car from Avis at the airport (0212 444 28 47; www.avis.com.tr) to reach Çıralı.

Çıralı is 70 kilometers away from Antalya, accessible via Kemer. After passing Kemer, continue for about 40 kilometers and turn left at the Çıralı junction. From there, it's another 5 kilometers to reach Çıralı.

Where to Stay in Çıralı?
Here are some of the most charming small hotels in Çıralı: https://www.boutiquesmallhotels.com/cirali-hotels