Where is Alanya? Alanya - a Turkish resort with an amazing past

Today we are starting a series of articles about the beautiful Turkish Mediterranean resort city of Alanya or Alanya (Turkish Alanya).

Sights of Alanya

A little history..

First, some facts and history. The city is located in the southeast of, more than 130 kilometers from it. As a resort area, it includes several more villages: Incekum, Konakli, Avsallar and Mahmutlar. It is considered the warmest city in all of Turkey (average annual temperature is +20 degrees). For comparison, the average annual temperature in Antalya is +18, in Nice - +16.

The first mention of a settlement in this place dates back to the Ahmedin Empire. Then the future Alanya passed from the Greeks to the Cilician pirates, from Ancient Rome to Byzantium, from the Arabs to the Armenians, from the Seljuks to the Ottomans. And finally, the city is recaptured by Kemal Ataturk and Alanya is annexed into the new state - Turkey. At the same time, a new name for the city appeared - Alanya (in 1935).

Since the 60s of the 20th century, tourism has become the main source of income for this region. Unlike (Turkey), holidays in Alanya are designed more for people with modest incomes. That’s why young married couples also prefer to relax here.

An interesting observation: there are a lot of elderly Germans in Alanya. In their homeland, when retirement age approaches, they sell almost all their property, put the money in the bank and, together with the pension, transfer it all to Turkey (Alanya). Here you can buy or rent rooms in 3* or 4* hotels for a long time. And with regular payments from their savings they live freely and relax in an amazingly beautiful resort.

As you can see, the history of Alanya is rich in events and, of course, traces of ancient civilizations are found literally at every step. And despite the good wide beaches and lots of entertainment,In Alania There is What lookcurious tourist.

Sightseeing of Alanya city.

If you are not ready for feats - climbing the surrounding mountains, visiting secluded beaches or extreme rafting on mountain rivers, then it is best to stay in the city and calmly walk through its main attractions. And there are quite a lot of them.

1. Red Fortress or Kyzyl-Kule –
the most striking symbol of Alanya. It is so highly revered in this region that the image of the tower was placed on the coat of arms of Alanya. Her image can also be found on one of the Turkish lira bills.

It was built on the Alanya embankment back in 1226 to protect the city from increasingly frequent pirate raids. Which (the tower) dealt with quite successfully.

Kyzyl-Kule is an almost monolithic structure, the height of an almost five-story building. From the top platform of the tower there is a magnificent view of the bay and the city. There is an ethnographic museum on the ground floor of the fortress.

2. Near the Red Tower there is a workingLighthouse –
another attraction of Alanya. In 1880, it was made in France and only then transported to the Ottoman Empire (now to Turkey, Alanya).

The lighthouse arouses interest not only among visitors, but also local residents often come to the lighthouse. Newlyweds especially love to take pictures against the backdrop of it and the spray of the sea.

3.Suleymaniye Mosque. It is located next to the Red Fortress, almost adjacent to it. It was built in 1231. The mosque is still in operation and services are held there. It is possible to enter the mosque territory. The peculiarity of the mosque building is its excellent acoustics. In addition to the name Suleymaniye, the mosque is also called in honor of Sultan Aladdin or Fortress (due to its proximity to Kyzyl-Kul).

4. Tersane Shipyardlocated next to . It was built around the same time as the fortress (in 1228). It is still active. The shipyard is one of those attractionswhat is better to see in Alanya on your own - no excursions or large group gatherings. From here you can hire any boat or yacht and explore the nearest unusual caves, feed the “piranhas” or swim in the open sea.

5. Walking In Alania Can look
an amazing place where everyone is welcometourists – Damlatas cave, Whatonce again confirmed by the enthusiasticreviewson travel sites. The name of the cave is translated from Turkish as “Stone Tear”. The entire cave inside is filled with stalactites and stalagmites. Air humidity always fluctuates around 60%, it is also saturated with carbon dioxide and ionized, which is very useful for people with asthma. They say you can even relieve rheumatic pain here.

If anyone has been to the Crimean caves (Krasnaya or, especially, Mramornaya), then they will not feel delight. Damlatash, compared to them, is small, dark and trampled by everyone. But if this is your first cave in your life, do not be lazy to pay about 6 liras per adult for the entrance and enjoy the special beauty of the underground world of the cave.

The cave is located very close to Sultan Aladdin Street. You can walk from the embankment. If you are a little tired, then take bus number 10 at the pier. There is a huge sign next to the cave so you won't get lost.

Those who like to climb caves will certainly be interested in three more famous caves in Alanya: Dim, Lovers and Phosphorus.

Dim Cave(Turkish Dim Magarasi) is located in the northeast of Alanya, 12 kilometers from it. This is the second largest cave in Turkey, the oldest and, according to many who visited it, the most beautiful.

You can get to it by bus #101, to the University stop (tourist Akdeniz), then about 4 kilometers on foot. If you don’t really want to crawl up the mountain on foot, you can rent a car or take a taxi (in 2017, a round trip from Alanya to the cave and waiting for the customer near the entrance to the cave will cost $20). Entrance fee is 15 liras. Photo and video shooting is permitted.

It is believed that the couple visitedlovers' caveand having passed through it (it is end-to-end, its length is more than 70 meters), and then, holding hands, jumping from a cliff, he will find eternal love.

What many loving couples do is jump into the sea from a cave together. Although more often young men in love prove their love for a girl this way.The cave is located near the Alanya embankment, next to the Red Fortress and the shipyard. You can only get there from the sea.

Phosphorus cavenamed because its arches glow a little in the dark. According to one version, this happens because there is a small amount of phosphorus in the rocks of the cave. According to another version: the cave glows from the inside because reflections from the water fall on its walls. By the way, you can only get there by sea.

6. Now you’ve already wandered around the city, it’s become incredibly hot and nothing makes you happy anymore. In this case, take the same bus number 10 (which you used to get to) and head to the reservoir, which is located on the riverDim— Tea(Dim Çay).
Having visitedIn Alania, it's just a sin not looksuch wonderful placesWhatprovides you withTürkiye. The river originates high in the Western Taurus mountains, flows past Alanya and flows into the Mediterranean Sea. In 2004, the Dim dam was erected on the river, which now feeds the entire city and nearby small villages. A little below the level of the dam, on a gentle stretch of the river, the Turks have organized a small tourist paradise. Many restaurants located right above the water; bridges washed by nearby small waterfalls; cozy small creeks where you can relax from the sweltering heat. Everything attracts not only tourists but also local residents.

All, Whatwe have listed in the article aboutAlanya Can lookif there are no restless kids near you. But you will also find interesting places for such tourists. For example:

Water Planet water park. It is located on the territory of the Water Planet Deluxe Hotel & Aquapark 5*, in the town of Okurcalar (30 km from Alanya). You can get to the park by bus or by staying at the hotel itself.

Water Planet is a paradise for families with children: an incredible number of different slides, play areas for children, restaurants and cafes with a children's menu.

Be sure to plan one day of your vacation
for a visitpark "Sialanya"» . It is located in the small village of Turkler, twenty minutes away by minibus.

People come here primarily because of the large dolphinarium, where in addition to shows with sea animals, you will be allowed to swim with dolphins. There are many different attractions in the park. The most memorable among them attraction "Lazy River".

As you can see, Alanya is rich in various interesting attractions. The main feature of this particular resort city is the presence of extraordinary and mysterious caves.

We planned an independent winter trip to Turkey spontaneously. The budget was limited, Egypt was turbulent, and we were not fans of Arab importunity. Therefore, we chose Turkey. In winter, tours here are sold mainly only for the New Year holidays, so we decided to book a hotel ourselves and buy tickets to Antalya. Hotel prices in the low season differ significantly from summer; the cost of a double room in a good five starts from $50 per night. We chose the AlaiyeResort & SPA hotel in Avsallar, in the Alanya region. So, the first question arose before us:

How to get there from the airport?

This can be done in several ways - the simplest, but also the most expensive, is to order a taxi. A transfer to Alanya will cost 90 euros, you can bargain.

The second way is to take a taxi to the Antalya-Alanya highway, it takes 10 minutes to get there, the whole pleasure costs 10 dollars. All taxis here are official, yellow with black checkers; there is no concept of private taxis. Each car is equipped with a taximeter, so you must pay strictly according to the meter. Taxi drivers try to speak not only English and German, but also Russian. On the road you will have to wait for a regular bus to Alanya, it runs approximately once every 40 minutes. The trip will cost 16 Turkish lira.

We liked the third option the most. In Turkey, the service for delivering tourists to various regions is quite developed. The most famous passenger transportation companies are Cartie and Transfer 7/24 We found the latter’s website on the Internet and filled out an electronic application, tempted by the inexpensive price. The cost of the route to Alanya is only 25 Turkish lira, you need to indicate your last name, first name and flight number. A representative of the company will meet you at the airport exit with a sign indicating the name of the company, and will take you to your car.

Weather

The first thing that surprises you about winter Turkey is that summer continues here. Everything around is green, the sun is shining, oranges are golden in the citrus orchards - in general, the season is in full swing. However, after 5 pm you begin to understand that this impression is deceptive, since the humid air and the wind rushing between the sea and the Toros penetrates to the very bones. You need to take clothes according to the cabbage principle - so that in the sunny weather you can strip down to a T-shirt, at sunset you can pull on a jacket, and by the evening you can fit into a warm jacket, shivering slightly.

Sea

But the sea in December will seem like a warm bath to walruses - the water temperature is about 18-19 degrees. The main thing is to go into it, because it looks deserted and quiet, not like summer. To get moral support, it is better to swim in Alanya itself, on Cleopatra Beach - it is quite crowded there, and considering that most of the tourists in winter are Scandinavians, it is not so cold to enter the sea, where families of Swedes and Norwegians are already frolicking. The main thing is not to think about what time of year it really is.

Our routes

Among the planned activities, we planned a long leisurely walk around Alanya, with a search for unusual places and an independent climb to the fortress and a trip to Side.

Getting to Alanya from Avsallar is quite easy. However, all the villages of the Antalya region have good transport links. Connected by the international route Antalya - Alanya, each of the villages has its own bus route - dolmus, which allows you to quickly and comfortably get to any place. The buses connecting the villages with each other are small, but quite comfortable. Regular routes over longer distances involve large, comfortable buses, with service in the form of hot and cold drinks.

We set off on the road on a small dolmus from Avsallar to Alanya. The road to the center takes about 40 minutes; you can get off the bus at the very beginning of the city, where the long Cleopatra beaches begin with a promenade - a promenade stretching to Ataturk Street.

You can also get to the final stop in the very center of the city. There is a small station where buses arrive from all over the Alanya region - from Konakli, Avsallar, Okurcalar and Mahmutlar. By the way, do not confuse this station with the bus station - in Turkish it is called Otogar, and is located a few kilometers away, in the western part of the city - long-distance buses depart from there to Istanbul, Bursa, Pamukkale, Izmir.

Walk to Alanya Fortress

The best time for a walk is a sunny winter day, since a walk, in an amicable way, involves an independent ascent, or, as in our case, only a descent. You can climb the fortress by taxi for 10 liras, or by city bus No. 4. From the bus station, go to the beginning of the climb quite close - you need to go down, cross the central Ataturk Street and move towards the sea, to the foot of the cape to the west. From there you can start hiking or take a bus that will take you to the very top of the mountain, right to the entrance to the museum. The fortress is called Kale in Turkish, look for this word on the bus sign.

The bus ride is quite extreme, but you must look out the window, because with every turn of the serpentine road new views of Alanya open up. The climb takes very little time - 10-15 minutes. The bus constantly stops, dropping off local residents, since the lower part of the mountain is given over to residential buildings. The main thing is not to get carried away by the views and not to leave ahead of time. Wait for the final bus stop.

It is difficult to say what is preferable: to indulge in sightseeing, which is replete with ancient buildings and monuments of both the Byzantine and Ottoman periods, or to simply enjoy a walk. Be that as it may, the entrance to the museum complex itself costs 10 liras, inside there are 2 small fortresses Ehmedek and Ickale. In front of the turnstile there is a miniature market with souvenirs comfortably located.

Right from this bazaar you can start your own descent, moving down the highway. However, it is much more interesting to go straight down the mountain, along wild paths. A little lower (a couple of flights of serpentine) a road begins with a lot of cafes and restaurants. If you want local flavor, you can have breakfast with gozleme with Turkish tea or beer - but it’s better to immediately ask if there is alcohol. The places for the Turks are cheaper, but traditions are respected there, and only tea or ayran are offered as drinks.

A little before reaching the hot spots, there is an old Muslim cemetery, a mosque with a minaret, ancient residential buildings and an ancient mint. You can examine each object, read the signs, and take photographs. And along the road there are shopping arcades with folk crafts - very beautiful scarves, bedspreads with oriental patterns and colorful knitted socks.

Approximately from the middle of the descent, after the arch with the Turkish flag, a comfortable promenade with wooden flooring and railings begins. This and the road leads to the foot of the mountain from the side of the Damlatash cave. From here there are breathtaking views of the eastern part of Alanya with the shipyard and the Red Tower. There are also private villas and ordinary residential buildings here.

Alanya port

If you choose the eastern descent from the fortress, the road will lead directly to the harbor, to the foot of the Red Tower. Entrance to the museum costs 4 lira. Like all museum complexes, the Red Tower is open until 17:00.

Alanya port is very beautiful; yachts are moored here, which are a work of art in themselves. A pirate yacht with a skull and crossbones, a carved ship with a horned Viking head, and even romantic Scarlet Sails.

Damlatas Cave

Descending from the western side and passing the residential area, you will come to Damlatas Cave and the beach. A visit to the cave is definitely worth it. The name translates as “dripping stone”, due to the water oozing from the stalactites. The air temperature in the cave is always the same. It itself is very small, equipped with special benches for asthmatics. Its air has healing properties, and many are recommended for a 21-day course of treatment. But even a healthy person will be pleased to visit it - unlike the large Dim Cave, located 12 kilometers to the east, Damlatash is cozy and not at all scary. Entrance costs 4.5 liras.

Archaeological Museum

Moving a little away from the sea - literally crossing the road - we discovered a tiny archaeological museum. The ticket price is 3 lira, and the exhibits are quite interesting. Actually, there are two exhibitions here - archaeological finds from the period of ancient Rome and Byzantium, which were discovered quite recently just in the Alanya region, and the ethnographic part of the collection. For some reason, the subject of special pride and even the symbol of the museum in terms of archeology are the vessels for ashes used for burials. But the crown of the ethnographic exhibition is the handwritten text of the Koran. The museum houses a bronze statue of Hercules.

Ulash

Before entering Alanya there is a very beautiful picnic spot - Ulash. It is located right by the sea, there is a specially equipped barbecue area with fireplaces and wooden benches. You can buy meat for barbecue in advance at any butcher shop, where it will be prepared for frying, cut and spices will be added. There is also a restaurant with stunning views. On weekends it is very crowded - the barbecue areas are occupied by local families, but the restaurant is more aimed at tourists. In addition to gastronomic pleasures, this place is famous for its excellent fishing. It is better to get here by car.

Trip to Side and Manavgat

Our hotel was advantageously located exactly in the middle, between two large cities - Alanya and Manavgat. One day we decided to go to the Side museum complex. There are no direct routes to the Amphitheater itself; you need to take a bus to Manavgat, get to the final stop and then change to a small minibus. Manavgat itself is not a tourist city at all; its main attraction is the river of the same name - indeed, it is stunningly beautiful, emerald in color, with carved yachts, it runs through the entire city and flows into the sea. In the upper reaches of the river there is a famous waterfall.

The entire central street is given over to trade - there are many branded stores and private shops. Shopping here is perhaps more interesting than in Alanya, since there are much fewer tourists here. On the way to Side, the minibus crosses the entire city, making stops, so if you want to take a walk around Manavgat, you can get off at any stop and wander around the local shops. However, you should not deviate from the main street - firstly, it will be difficult to find a road with minibuses later, and secondly, further from the highway the usual residential and business areas begin.

The city seemed very traditional to us - a significant part of the women are covered with long Turkish cloaks and scarves, and the huge mosque in the city center is more popular than its sisters in tourist towns. Perhaps Manavgat is the only island of Turkish flavor, interesting for its everyday life.

Side

The minibus stops right in front of the gates of the ancient theater. The museum complex begins immediately behind them. The museum itself displays finds from the Roman period - sarcophagi, statues and wall reliefs. Inscriptions and amphorae from ancient Greece have been preserved here. To get to the exhibition, your visit must be planned for the first half of the day, since the entrance to the museum is only open until 13:00. But if you are late, don’t be upset, since the entire territory consists of antiquities.

A cobblestone street, surrounded by old buildings, goes towards the sea. An enterprising nation has turned it into one endless bazaar and a whole series of restaurants. The street leads to a pier with a lighthouse and a snow-white colonnade. If you go to the end of the pier and stand facing the columns, you can do the favorite pastime of all tourists - affectionately “touch” the top of the monument with your palm, or depict a raging Atilla trampling the columns with his foot.

Shopping in Alanya

New Year's Eve is also a good time for shopping. It is better to spend the whole day storming stores. The fact is that Christmas sales begin here in December, and most stores have an insidious promotion - “Buy 2 things, get the third one free.” On the one hand, it turns out to be very profitable, on the other hand, you spend a lot of time looking for that very third thing.

When going shopping in Alanya, you should immediately keep in mind that the most interesting thing here is not the tourist bazaar, but the branded stores - LCWaikiki, Collezione, Mavi, Levi's, Colins. They are located in the central part of the city, on both sides of Ataturk Street, and on numerous streets leading down to the port. All prices here are fixed, in Turkish lira.

A 25-meter long street runs parallel to the central road, also given over to trade. But here the shops are aimed at locals. Although it is in such places that it is very interesting to look for home textiles and children's clothing.

Another option is to take bus number 2 from the bus station to the largest shopping center in the city - Alanium.

Food

You can take a break from shopping without leaving the center. There are many bars on Ataturk Street itself. By the way, if you are tired and just want to drink, it is better to do it in a cafe. You can sit here and order cold water or tea. The ubiquitous McDonald's and Burger King are also located on the main street. But, for the sake of exoticism, it is better to try Turkish fast food - you can eat a very tasty lamb donner next to McDonald's, in a Turkish establishment. But for a full lunch, it makes sense to go towards the harbor - all kinds of restaurants are concentrated there. There is Mexican, European and Turkish cuisine.

Prices vary - a light snack in a cafe will cost about 10 - 15 liras, and a full lunch from 30 to 50 liras, but they serve a lot of food, and some of the snacks are already included in the price. This is a large freshly baked flatbread - pide, served straight from the oven on a wooden board and the usual sauces (adjika, yogurt with herbs), as well as fresh vegetables.

If you have a small tooth, order from the menu carefully - each dish comes with a side dish; if you ask for additional dishes separately, they can be duplicated and take up the entire table.

That's all for now, hopefully described by me here Alanya attractions and Side were interesting to you, and the recommendations were useful! Finally, a few more tips.

Feel free to rely on public transport - it is very comfortable, runs frequently and on schedule, and is very inexpensive.

Exchange some of your money into Turkish lira at a bank or official exchange office - the rate there is the most favorable.

December is not the worst time to travel; it’s sunny enough, you can lounge on the beach or by the pool, and the weather is much more comfortable for walks and excursions than the summer heat.

Report courtesy of Vera Guler
email: beliakova-vera (at) mail.ru

P.S. When vacationing in Alanya or Side in the summer, we highly recommend renting a car and going to Pamukkale.

Alanya was initially a Greek colony, then came under the wing of various empires until it became entrenched in the minds of our compatriots as a Turkish resort. Moreover, one of the best, with a rich cultural heritage.

We will have a fascinating walk through ancient fortresses, picturesque caves, museums and ruins.

Alanya has plenty of places for children, and local tour operators organize many educational excursions.

A separate topic is independent wandering around the outskirts of Alanya.

Let's go to Turkey: what is worth visiting in Alanya

Alanya is a fairly compact city.

The local transport system cannot be called extensive.

You will travel around Alanya and its surroundings using three types of transport:

• buses;
• dolmushi minibuses;
• Taxi.

Dolmushi and buses run along the central streets. The old town is completely closed to cars.

It is better to get to distant attractions by taxi or take a walk.
A trip by bus or minibus will cost about 1 dollar, a taxi costs from 10 dollars.

Top 5 best excursions

It is impossible to visit all excursions offered by local tour operators. Therefore, we have compiled a list of five points for a mandatory visit. Go.

Three excursions you need to take with your child

Children love Turkish hotels equipped with animation, water slides and swimming pools for the little ones. But even outside the hotel complexes, life is in full swing.

For holidays with children, the all-inclusive system is more convenient.

Here is a list of the most interesting places you can see with your child:

What to see in Alanya on your own

The compactness of Alanya allows you to travel independently without overpaying for excursions with guides and a standard set of attractions.

Most interesting places are located within the city limits or on the coast; the rest can be reached by taxi.

Five places everyone should see

The name of the Dalmash cave in translation from Turkish sounds like “stone tear”. It is filled with stalactites and stalagmites.
Due to its high humidity and low pressure, staying in it is beneficial for people with respiratory diseases, such as bronchitis or asthma.

Three unusual sights

With a population of about 200 thousand people. Located on the Mediterranean coast, 120 km from. The city was founded by the Greeks two hundred years BC; initially there was a base for pirates and smugglers - almost like in.

For quite a long time, the Greek “coastal brotherhood” kept all merchant shipping in the Mediterranean Sea at bay. Around 67 BC. The Roman Senate decided to destroy the pirate freemen, and sent a huge fleet to Corakession.

The cleansing of the area continued for more than two months, after which Mark Antony made a chic gesture and donated the city (and at the same time the whole of Cilicia) to Cleopatra. As a bonus, Mark Antony ordered a gorgeous beach to be built for Cleopatra, which has been preserved to this day. The Egyptian queen turned out to be a practical lady; on her instructions, local cedar forests were cut down for ship construction.

For the next ten centuries the region was dominated by the Byzantines, who were displaced by the Arabs in the seventh century. Six hundred years later, the Seljuks appeared, drove out the Arabs and gave the city a new name - Alaya. It was under them that one of the city’s landmarks was built. Finally, in 1571, the Ottomans appeared - the last and current owners.

The name Alanya appeared in the 30s of the last century. Alanya is curious because, despite the importance of tourism for the region, the city is one of the agricultural centers.

Sights of Alanya

A cliff divides Alanya into two parts, with the old town at the top. The length of the wall is 8 kilometers. In the space between the port and the thoroughfare you can find a market quarter. The main component of the old city is.

In the center is Ahmediye, a tiny village clustered around the shopping arcades of Suleymaniye. Here you can also see the Aksebe mausoleum and the internal fortress.

One of the most curious natural attractions is, whose approximate age is 15 thousand years. Nearby are the sea grottoes of Fosforlu Magara (the rocks glow in the dark) and Kizlar Magarasi - this grotto was once used by pirates as a prison.

It is worth mentioning the Xialanya Marine Park, which is the largest in.

The length of Alanya beaches is 12 km in both directions. In addition, the resort area of ​​the city includes

Where is: next to Damlatas Cave. Detailed information about the beach can be read in a separate article.

2.2. Park in the center of Alanya

Alanya is one of the greenest resorts in Turkey. And the main role in this is given to parks, which give special comfort and harmony to the city. In the very center of Alanya there is a beautiful park - one of the favorites of both local residents and tourists.

Where is: next to Damlatas Cave

2.3. Damlatas Cave

In the very center of the city there is an amazing Damlatas cave. It was discovered quite recently when an explosion occurred at the quarry. Then the entrance to a cave with stalactites and stalagmites opened. The cave will be interesting to visit for tourists with children and all nature lovers. The cave is open every day from 10.00 to 18.00. The ticket costs 6 liras.

Where is: 100 meters from the sea. You can watch a video from the cave and find out more details at and book a sightseeing tour with a visit to the cave -.

2.4. Archaeological Museum

If you are tired of a beach holiday, you can always diversify your vacation and go to a museum. The pride of the archaeological museum is a collection of coins and vessels, a statue of Heralkos and ancient stones with inscriptions.

Where is: between the Damlatas cave and the water park.

2.5. Alanya embankment

One of the best places for walking is the Alanya embankment. Ships, yachts and even fishermen's boats moor here. It will be interesting to look at the skillfully stylized pirate ships. You can ride many of them and take memorable photos.

Where is: next to the fortress and tower of Kyzyl Kule. Read about how we walked along the embankment and what interesting things we saw there.

2.6. Damlatas Water Park and Water Planet

Not far from the embankment there is a small water park called Damlatas. Most recently, the park was renovated and more slides were installed - children have fun here. It’s better to come in the morning, when there are no queues for the slides. Water park is open from 9.00 to 18.00 every day. A day ticket costs 40 liras.

Where is: next to the Damlatash cave behind. Details

IN Water Planet water park It’s a long way to go, so it’s easier to just take an excursion with a round-trip transfer. The cost of such a trip will be 32 euros, you can see the details and book.

2.7. Kyzyl Kule - red tower

One of the main attractions and unspoken symbol of Alanya is the Kyzyl Kule watchtower. It was erected at the beginning of the 13th century to protect the harbor. Entrance to the tower is open from 9.00 to 19.00 from April to October, from 8.00 to 17.00 from November to March. The ticket costs 4.5 lira.

Where is: on the embankment at the port. You can see the tower with our eyes and watch the video at.

2.8. Park near Kyzyl Kule

In the center of Alanya there is a city park, where it is nice to visit after a walk around the city to enjoy nature in peace and quiet. The park is surrounded by greenery, there are benches with gazebos everywhere, there are small ponds and fountains, and even a mini-town for cats. A wonderful place, definitely worth a visit.

Where is: opposite the Ataturk monument. You will find detailed information in.

2.9. Alanya Port

The picturesque harbor is the main port of Alanya, where you can buy a boat tour on the sea, look for souvenirs to take home and try fresh mussels with lemon in one of the restaurants on the waterfront.

Where is: on the embankment on the way to the Kyzyl Kule tower.

2.10. Alanya Fortress

The main attraction of Alanya is impossible not to notice - huge defensive structures tower over the city and are visible from any point. Alanya Fortress was built in the 13th century and has not yet lost its former grandeur. Inside the fortress there is a mint, a mosque, a monastery, the winter palace of the Sultan and about 400 underground rivers.

Where is: in the city center on the top of the mountain, next to the lighthouse. The fortress can be reached by public transport (stop at the foot of the fortress, the bus goes straight to the top) or on foot.

For detailed information and a review of visiting the fortress (as well as stunning photos from the observation deck!), see.

2.11. Ulash Beach

Ulash Beach is a good place for those who like a relaxing holiday. It is not as crowded as Cleopatra Beach, but the water is incredibly turquoise and there are equipped picnic areas.

Where is: 5 km west of Alanya

3. Surroundings of Alanya

3.1. Dim Cave

The second largest cave in Turkey is located near Alanya. Previously, hunters took refuge in this cave, but now tourists from all over the world come here to see the unusually beautiful halls with stalactites.

Dim Cave is open from 9.00 to 20.00, the entrance fee is 9.5 liras.

Where is: 12 km northeast of Alanya. You can get to the cave by car or by bus 101, and then walk (I wrote how to get to the cave, you can also watch the video there).

3.2. Pirate Cave

There are many stories associated with the Pirates Cave. According to one version, pirates hid looted gold here, which they then transported to the city along a narrow corridor. The corridor could not be found due to numerous collapses, but the beautiful legend is still preserved.

Where is: The cave can only be entered by water, by booking a tour or renting a boat.

4. What else to do in Alanya

But the interesting things about Alanya and its surroundings don’t end there! What else can you do in Alanya?

• ride a tourist tram;
• take bus 101 and travel across the entire coast;
• book a boat excursion along the coast (from $19);
• stroll through the historical center of Alanya;
• go to and buy amazingly tasty and cheap fruits;
• go on a sightseeing tour of the city (for example);
• see the ruins of the ancient port city of Aitap and the city of Syedra;
• go to the Alara Khan caravanserai;
• go to the stunning Sapadere Canyon for the whole day, enjoy the waterfall and delicious food ()
• take a walk

5. Ready-made and unusual excursions