A Turkish backpacker institution
Long before "glamping" became a global trend, Olympos was already known across the backpacker trail for one specific thing: its tree houses. Since the 1980s, simple pensions built from wood, some genuinely raised on stilts or platforms among tree trunks, have offered budget travelers a place to sleep, eat communally, and socialize in the middle of a pine forest just a short walk from ancient ruins and the sea. Decades on, the tree house remains the defining accommodation style of the area, even as the wider region around it has become more developed and comfortable.
What "tree house" actually means today
The name is now used loosely. A genuine handful of original-style structures still sit up on stilts among tree trunks, but the great majority of what's marketed as a "tree house" in Olympos today is a simple wooden bungalow or cabin at ground level, built from timber, often with a small veranda, and styled to evoke that original rustic aesthetic rather than literally being suspended in branches. What survives consistently across almost every property, regardless of how literal the tree-house element is, is the wooden-cabin style, forest setting, and communal atmosphere that made the area famous in the first place.
Range of comfort levels
Accommodation in Olympos today spans a genuine range. At the simplest end are basic tree houses: small wooden rooms, thin mattresses, shared bathroom blocks, and a hammock or two strung between trees outside — cheap, cheerful, and squarely aimed at backpackers and younger travelers who prioritize atmosphere and price over comfort. At the other end, a growing number of boutique tree-house pensions have emerged, offering private en-suite bathrooms, air conditioning, better bedding, and more considered design, while still keeping the wooden-cabin look and forest setting that define the style. Between these extremes sit plenty of mid-range options that add small comforts — better beds, hot water, Wi-Fi — without fully reinventing the format.
Whichever tier you choose, most pensions share certain features: shaded gardens strung with hammocks, communal seating areas, and a generally relaxed, informal management style that suits travelers who want flexibility over rigid hotel-style service.
Meals and the communal dinner tradition
A defining feature of many Olympos tree-house pensions is the half-board model: breakfast and a set evening meal included in the nightly rate, served buffet-style or family-style at long shared tables. This communal dinner tradition dates back to the area's earliest backpacker days, when travelers from around the world would sit down together each evening, and it remains one of the most distinctive social aspects of staying here — a genuine point of contrast with the more anonymous experience of a standard hotel.
Choosing where to stay: location matters
Tree-house pensions cluster mainly around Olympos village, near the entrance to the ancient city, putting guests within easy walking distance of the ruins, the beach at the end of the site, and minibus connections toward Kumluca and Antalya. Visitors who prefer a quieter, slightly more polished base — while still being close to the beach and a short drive from the ruins — often choose Çıralı instead, where accommodation leans toward small hotels and pensions rather than classic tree houses, though the overall atmosphere remains low-key and nature-focused either way. Our beach guide and ancient city guide cover what's within reach of each base.
Practical booking tips
Because Olympos remains a genuinely popular stop on backpacker and Lycian Way hiking itineraries, the best-known pensions can fill up during July and August, so booking a few weeks ahead for peak summer is worthwhile. In spring and autumn shoulder seasons, availability is generally easier and prices lower, which also happens to be one of the more pleasant times to visit overall — see our best time to visit guide for a full seasonal breakdown. Wi-Fi and air conditioning are increasingly common but not universal, so it's worth checking specifics with any property that prioritizes rustic character over modern amenities if those matter to your trip.
Getting to your pension
Most tree-house pensions arrange or can advise on pickup from the main road, since the final stretch into Olympos village is a narrow lane rather than a through-route for larger vehicles. For full transport details from Antalya airport and beyond, see our how to get there guide. Whichever pension you choose, staying at least one night is what allows you to pair the ruins and beach by day with the uphill walk to the Chimaera's flames after dark — arguably the single best reason to sleep in Olympos rather than simply visiting on a day trip. For the wider picture, return to the overview.
What guests consistently mention
Reviews and word-of-mouth about Olympos's tree houses tend to circle back to the same handful of themes: the sound of the river valley and cicadas at night, the ease of walking from your cabin straight into the ancient ruins or down to the beach, and the social pull of the shared dinner table, where solo travelers in particular often end up swapping stories with strangers from a dozen countries. It's an accommodation style built around atmosphere rather than five-star polish, and travelers who come expecting that trade-off tend to leave as some of the area's most enthusiastic repeat visitors.