Mt Tahtalı — Olympos Cable Car & 2,365 m Summit
Mt Tahtalı (called Tahtalı Dağı in Turkish, sometimes Mount Olympos on older maps) rises straight out of the Mediterranean to 2,365 m, about 45 km southwest of Antalya as the crow flies. The Swiss-built Olympos Teleferik cable car runs 4,350 m up the mountain in 10 minutes — one of the longest passenger aerial tramways in the world. Strong walkers hike it; everyone else takes the gondola.
The cable car (Olympos Teleferik)
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Bottom station | Tahtalı, near Tekirova / Çamyuva (726 m) |
| Top station | 2,365 m summit |
| Ride time | 10 min each way |
| Capacity | 80 per cabin, every 25 min |
| Fares | Check the current fare on the operator's website or at the station (cash or card) |
| Operating hours | Daily from 09:00; closing 15:00 (November–March), 17:00 (April–May, October), 18:00 (June–September); last ride up 30 minutes before closing. This is the operator's timetable: check it before you travel, and on the day for weather closures |
| Operating season | Year-round; closes in high winds |
What's at the top
- 360° viewing platform — see Antalya and its bay (the city is about 45 km away as the crow flies), the Mediterranean (visibility 100+ km on clear days), the Lycian coast stretching away to the southwest
- Restaurant — buffet lunch (€12–€20), surprisingly decent
- Gift shop & small museum on the cable car history
- Snow — the summit is snow-covered from November and often into June; some skiing in good years
- Sunset rides — special evening service in summer (book ahead)
Hiking up Mt Tahtalı
The Lycian Way does not go to the summit: its mountain alternative, Beycik → Yaylakuzdere, goes round Tahtalı's eastern and northern slopes and tops out at about 1,600 m. There is no summit detour or cable car on that stage; the summit is a separate climb.
From Beycik village (the trekker's route)
- Distance: 6 km up, ~5 km back
- Elevation gain: 1,500 m
- Time: 4–5 hrs up, 2–3 hrs down
- Difficulty: Strenuous; loose rock above 2,000 m
- Marking: Lycian Way red-and-white paint to the col, then a side trail to the summit
- Best time: May–June, September; snow on the summit from November, often into June
Round trip: hike up, cable car down
Many walkers hike up, eat at the summit restaurant, and ride the cable car down to the bottom station — then taxi back to Beycik. Buy a one-way ticket down at the summit station (check the current fare on the operator's website). This saves the knees a brutal 1,500 m descent.
Mt Tahtalı on the Lycian Way
Tahtalı is the centrepiece of the eastern Lycian Way:
- Stage in: Çıralı → Yanartaş → Beycik (16.7 km, 1,056 m of ascent, strenuous) — climbs from sea level to the village at 700 m
- Stage out: Beycik → Yaylakuzdere (25.4 km, 1,743 m of ascent, about 9 hours; very strenuous) — the mountain alternative on the Lyra Yolu paths round the eastern and northern slopes of Tahtalı, to a high point of about 1,600 m; it does not go over the summit. The forest route continues 7.5 km to Gedelme.
See the Eastern Route page for the full Kaş → Antalya plan.
Getting to the cable car bottom station
| From | How | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antalya centre | Pre-booked tour or taxi | about 1 h 25 min | €15 (tour) / €35 (taxi) |
| Kemer | Dolmuş along the D400 to the main entrance, then the operator's hourly shuttle or a taxi up the 7 km access road | 1 h or more | €3 + shuttle or taxi |
| Olympos / Çıralı | Dolmuş along the D400 to the main entrance, then the operator's hourly shuttle or a taxi up the 7 km access road | 1.5 h or more | €3 + shuttle or taxi |
| Antalya airport (AYT) | Direct shuttle (some operators) | about 1 h 35 min | €25–€40 |
Most large hotels in Antalya, Kemer and Belek run organised day trips to the cable car, with the gondola ticket included. If you prefer to go independent, dolmuş is fine but slower: it stops at the main entrance on the D400, and the operator's hourly shuttle or a taxi covers the last 7 km.
What to bring (cable car visit)
- A jacket — even in summer, the summit is 15 °C cooler than the coast
- Sunglasses — UV is intense at altitude
- Cash + card — both work at the ticket office
- Camera — the view is the whole point
- Water — bottled water at the top is €3 vs €0.50 at sea level
Frequently asked questions
How long do I need at Mt Tahtalı?
90 minutes to 2 hours at the summit is plenty — the platform, photos, a coffee, then back down. Add 1.5 hours of round trip on the cable car. Total half-day from a coastal hotel.
Is the cable car safe?
Yes — it's a Doppelmayr Swiss-built system, modern and very well maintained. The bigger risk is being stuck at the top for hours when wind closes operations mid-day; check forecast before you ride up.
Can I ski here?
Sometimes — the summit is snow-covered from November and often into June. There's no proper resort, but locals ski-tour the upper slopes. Ski pass not needed; cable car ticket is the only access.
Is hiking up worth it vs the cable car?
Only if you're a serious walker with mountain experience. The cable car gives you 95 % of the view at 5 % of the effort. Walking it is a notable achievement, but skip if you have weak knees or limited time.
What's the difference from Mt Olympos?
Tahtalı is the Turkish name; "Olympos" is the ancient Greek name — the Lycians named several mountains "Olympos". The cable car operator uses both names ("Olympos Teleferik").