Chimaera (Yanartaş)
Yanartaş
Natural gas seeping from cracks in a hillside has burned continuously for thousands of years. Legend links it to the Chimaera, the fire-breathing monster of Greek myth.
Yanartaş is on the hillside above Çıralı village. Dozens of rock cracks continuously release natural gas, mostly methane, which ignites on its own. The flames never go out, and ancient sailors once used them as navigation markers. From the car park, the walk up a stone staircase takes about 20–30 minutes. The flames are most striking after dark, so bring a headlamp. Admission is low, and the site is open from dusk into the night. It is about 7 km from Olympos and can be reached on foot or by taxi from Olympos or Çıralı.
Opening hours
Approx. 08:00–23:00 (check on site)
Nearby sights
- Olympos Ancient City
- Olympos Teleferik (Tahtalı Mountain)
- Phaselis
- Kemer Town & Marina
- Tünektepe Cable Car
- Konyaaltı Beach
- Antalya Aquarium
- Antalya Museum