Alanya
Alanya is a popular tourist destination located 135 km(83 miles) east of Antalya. It takes approximately 2 hours to get there by car, and a bit longer if taking a bus. If you haven’t been to Alanya yet, it’s high time you discover it.
The beautiful Mediterranean blue sea, with the incredible Toros Mountains in the back, turns this place into a magical scenery. You can either relax at a white sand beach, and enjoy your time sunbathing, or you can go on a culture tour and visit the historical spots around Alanya. For those who are more adventurous, you can also do some paragliding and have a glimpse of the beautiful Alanya under your feet. I will talk about all these in detail, but first, let's talk about how to get to Alanya.
How to get to Alanya?
As it is located around 2 hours away from Antalya, you can easily get there by car or bus. Every 30 minutes, a bus departs from Antalya towards Alanya so it’s easy to find a bus no matter what time you are leaving. You can either buy a ticket online or buy one at the otogar (bus terminal) itself. If you don’t have an electronic card, you will have to pay by cash, so keep some cash on hand.
Things To Do in Alanya
Kızıl Kule (Red Tower)
Taking place at the pier, the Red Tower is the most prominent landmark of Alanya. Your visit would never be complete without adding this place to your list. You can visit the inside of the Tower, which consists of 3 separate stairs, presenting you with an incredible view of the city on top. Taking its name from its color, the Red Tower is even better looking when the sun starts to set, and the golden light shines on the ancient bricks. Read more about the Red Tower.
Shipyard (Tershane)
The shipyard is located close to the Red Tower, so you can easily combine those two together. Inside the shipyard, you can visit old ships, and have a nice view of the mediterranean sea, filling the old shipyard. As it is half underground, and touching the sea, it has a very nice and magical atmosphere.
Cable Car (Teleferik)
You can’t come to Alanya, and not take the Teleferik, bringing you to the top of the hill, where the incredible Castle of Alanya lies. If you aren’t a big fan of using a cable car, you can for sure also get to the top on foot or by car, but having a view of the beautiful beach lying under your feet is something you’d like to experience. The cable car is open from 9:30 am until 11 pm.
Castle of Alanya (Alanya Kalesi)
Being the milestone of Alanya, the castle is an incredible piece of architecture stretching over the hill. The Castle of Alanya is located on the top of the hill, which you can access either by cable car, car, or on foot. The walls of the castle are illuminated at night which once more elevates its beauty of it. Read more about the Castle of Alanya
Damlataş Beach
Picture a beach with perfectly white pebbles and light blue water. Sounds perfect, right? Being located on the east side of Kleopatra Beach, Damlataş Beach is 3 km long. The best part of this beach is its view of the Castle of Alanya, along with the Teleferik stretching to the top of the hill. There are nice cafes and eateries close to the beach, so you can treat yourself to something nice to eat nearby.
Damlataş Cave (Damlataş Mağarası)
The Damlataş cave is located near the Teleferik and Damlataş Beach. Its formation dates back to 15,000 years ago, making it a very touristy spot, worth visiting. You can easily combine your visit to the cave with the other historical places nearby, as it is located in a central location.
Kleopatra Beach
Apart from Damlataş Beach, Kleopatra Beach has sand rather than pebbles. It is located on the west side of Alanya and is 2 km long in total. Being popular for its azure and clean water, it is the perfect place to be on a hot summer day, where you can cool off and enjoy your day.
Tophane Neighborhood (Tophane Mahallesi)
If you like visiting old little towns, this place is definitely for you. This cute district is located between the Red Tower and The Castle of Alanya. While wandering through the narrow streets, on one side you will enjoy the awesome view of Alanya, and on the other, you will encounter nice little boutique cafes where you can have a drink or something to eat as well. Thanks to its incredible view, it also has become a highly preferred location to have breakfast with the view of the rising sun. I would recommend you to not miss out on exploring this place before leaving Alanya.
Main Center (İskele Caddesi- Hükümet Caddesi - Barlar Sokağı)
The İskele, Hükümet, and Bar Street are the central spots of Alanya. There you can find tons of restaurants, cafes, souvenir shops, whatever you’d like. Especially during the evening, this place becomes even more appealing. When city lights are turned on, the streets decorated fully with lights create an incredible atmosphere. For those who like nightlife, there is also a street only dedicated to bars and music clubs, called Barlar Sokağı (Bar Street). All these streets are located parallel to the pier, which makes it a nice place to have your meal, do your shopping, and end your day with a little evening walk beside the water.
Get a Quote