Yanartaş — known to the ancient Greeks as the Chimaera — is a scatter of natural flames that burn from the rocky slopes of a mountainside above the village of Çıralı, near Olympos. It's an open-air, ticketed site reached by a short but genuinely uphill walk, and it's at its most magical at dusk. It sits roughly 80 km southwest of Antalya, about 75–85 minutes by road, with a winding final stretch down to the coast.
The short answer on how to get there: this is one of those places where a private door-to-door transfer earns its keep. The flames are best after dark, the last road is twisty, and you'll want to walk back down in fading light — not the moment to be squinting at a hire-car sat-nav on unlit bends. Book your own vehicle and driver, and the whole evening becomes effortless.
What is Yanartaş — and why go?
Yanartaş means "burning rock", and that's exactly what it is: dozens of small, natural flames that emerge from vents in the mountainside and have, remarkably, kept burning for a very long time. The fire comes from gas seeping up through the rock and igniting on contact with the air, so the flames flicker year-round in the open. In antiquity people linked this eerie fire to the myth of the Chimaera, the fire-breathing creature said to have been slain by the hero Bellerophon — which is why you'll see the site called the Chimaera on maps and signs.
Why visit? Because there's genuinely nothing else quite like it on the Turkish Riviera. By daylight the flames are faint and easy to miss; after dark they glow orange against the black hillside, and the whole slope takes on a quietly otherworldly feel. It's a short, memorable stop rather than an all-day attraction — and it pairs beautifully with the ruins and beach just below.
How to get there and drive times
Yanartaş lies above Çıralı, close to Olympos, about 80 km southwest of Antalya — roughly a 75–85 minute drive depending on traffic and season. The motorway carries you most of the way; it's the last stretch, winding down off the main road towards the coast, that slows things and demands a bit of care in the dark. From the coastal resorts the timings shift, but the character of the journey is the same: easy motorway, then a scenic, twisty descent.
You have three broad options. A rushed coach tour usually visits at set hours and hurries you along on someone else's timetable — awkward when the whole point is to be there at dusk. A hire car gives freedom but leaves you driving unfamiliar mountain bends after dark, then walking down by torchlight tired. A private transfer with your own driver is the middle path most people wish they'd chosen: door to door from your hotel, no parking to find, and a driver who waits at the car park while you walk up, watch the flames and come back down at your own pace. If you're arriving fresh off a flight, our complete airport transfer guide covers the airport side of things.
What to combine it nearby
The beauty of Çıralı is that three very different things sit within a short hop of each other. Just below Yanartaş are the ancient ruins of Olympos, scattered romantically through greenery and a stream valley — a lovely, unhurried wander. And running along the shore is Çıralı beach itself, a long, quiet pebble-and-sand strand that's a protected turtle-nesting site, perfect for a swim or a late lunch before the flames.
A classic plan: arrive in the afternoon for the beach or the ruins, eat at one of the village restaurants, then head up to Yanartaş as the light fades. Further along the coast you'll also find Phaselis, the ancient city with its own coves and beaches, and the resort of Kemer — both easy to fold into a wider day out with a private driver setting the pace.
Best time and practical tips
Go for dusk. The flames are visible by day but truly come alive as darkness falls, so aim to start the uphill walk in the last of the light and be up top as it turns dark. Bring a torch or use your phone light for the walk back down, and wear proper shoes — the path is stony and uneven, and it's a real, if short, climb. A light layer is wise too; the mountainside cools once the sun goes.
It's a small ticketed, open-air site, so there's no roof over your head and no fixed "closing scene" — you linger as long as you like. As seasons and management change opening times and the small entrance fee, always check the current hours and fees before you set off. And because it's an outdoor natural site, a bit of drizzle won't put the flames out, but slippery rocks make good footwear matter even more.
Who it suits
Couples adore it — there's a genuinely romantic, campfire-under-the-stars quality to sitting by the flames after dark. History and mythology buffs get the double bill of the Chimaera legend and the Olympos ruins next door. Families enjoy it too, though the uphill walk in the dark means it suits surefooted children rather than tiny ones; if you're travelling with little ones we can fit free child and infant seats on request so the transport side is sorted.
A quick word on how we help: we're a licensed private transport service, not a tour-guide company, so we don't run the walk itself — we get you comfortably from your hotel door to the site and back, at a fixed price agreed when you book, with a driver who happily waits while you explore. That waiting is the real luxury here, given the timing and the road. If you'd rather build a bigger coastal day — say pairing the flames with a boat trip earlier on — our sister site sideboattrips.com covers Green Canyon and coastal boat tours, and we'll handle all the driving between.
Ready to make the evening effortless? Book a private transfer or a driver for the day at bookridenow.com/en, get an instant fixed-price quote, and leave the winding roads to us.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Yanartaş from Antalya?
Yanartaş sits above Çıralı, roughly 80 km southwest of Antalya — about a 75–85 minute drive depending on traffic and season. Most of the journey is easy motorway, with a winding final descent towards the coast. A private door-to-door transfer is the simplest option, especially as you'll be returning after dark.
What's the best time of day to visit the Chimaera flames?
Dusk and after dark, without question. The flames are faint in daylight but glow vividly once night falls, so aim to walk up in the last of the light. Bring a torch for the way back down.
Is there a walk to reach the flames?
Yes — from the car park it's a short but real uphill walk on a stony, uneven path. It's manageable for most people at a steady pace, but wear proper shoes rather than flip-flops, and take a light to see the trail in the dark.
How long should I spend there?
Most visitors spend around an hour or so at the flames themselves, including the walk up and down. It works best as part of a wider evening — combine it with the Olympos ruins and Çıralı beach earlier, then finish with the flames at dusk.
Is Yanartaş worth visiting?
For most people, yes — there's genuinely nothing else like it nearby: natural flames burning from a dark mountainside, wrapped in ancient myth. It's a short stop rather than a full day out, so pairing it with Olympos and the beach makes the trip really worthwhile.
Is it suitable for children?
It can be, for surefooted children who can handle a short uphill walk in the dark. It's less ideal for toddlers because of the stony path and low light. We can provide free child or infant seats on request for the transfer itself.
How much does it cost to enter, and what are the opening hours?
It's a small ticketed, open-air site, but entrance fees and hours change with the season and management, so we don't quote figures that might be out of date. Always check the current fees and opening times before you set off. For your transfer, you'll get an instant fixed-price quote at bookridenow.com/en.
Can I combine Yanartaş with other sights?
Absolutely — the ancient ruins of Olympos and the quiet, turtle-nesting Çıralı beach are right below the flames, making an ideal afternoon-into-evening plan. Phaselis and Kemer further along the coast pair well too. With a private driver for the day, you set the pace and skip all the parking and navigation.