Alanya is a resort town two hours east of Antalya, built on a peninsula. The main thing that separates it from Antalya is the price: the hotel, the restaurant and the excursion are all somewhat cheaper. The second difference is the season — the sea here stays warm into November. Below I have written both the beach programme and the one away from the beach.
Alanya castle and the Red Tower
The castle stands on the rocky peninsula that juts into the sea and is visible from everywhere in town. The walls left from the Seljuk period run for several kilometres, and from the top you see the bays on both sides at once. You can go up by bus or by cable car; walking up is hard work in the heat.
The Red Tower on the shore is an octagonal brick keep and the symbol of the town. The shipyard beside it is where ships were built in the Middle Ages, and it has an entrance from the sea. You can see both in an hour, and in the evening they are both lit up.
Beaches and the cave in Alanya
Cleopatra beach is the town’s main shore; the sand is coarse-grained and light in colour, and getting into the water is easy. The beaches on the other side of the peninsula are quieter. Several have Blue Flag status, which means the water quality is checked regularly.
The Damlataş cave is right next to the beach and is known for air said to be good for the airways. The cave is small; twenty minutes is enough. The boat tours that visit the caves from the sea leave from the harbour and take half a day.
The Dim river and Sapadere canyon
The Dim river is twenty minutes from town, and the restaurants there are built directly over the water. The tables sit on wooden platforms with cold mountain water running under your feet. In the summer heat this is the easiest way to escape the town.
Sapadere canyon is an hour away, crossed on wooden walkways, with a waterfall at the end. The road climbs into the mountains, and the view makes the journey itself worthwhile. These two can be fitted into one day, and booking the canyon and river tour in advance settles the transport question.
Read more: An Antalya travel guide: Kaleiçi, the coastal districts and day trips
Transport and budget in Alanya
The nearest airport is Gazipaşa, forty minutes from town. From Antalya airport the journey is two hours and the transfer has to be booked in advance. The town dolmuş minibuses are cheap and connect all the hotels along the shore.
| All-inclusive hotel | About 50–120 euros a night for two |
| Town hotel | Cheaper, walking distance to the centre |
| Dinner in a restaurant | 10–20 euros a head |
| Boat tour | Half a day, options with lunch included |
When you pick a hotel, pay attention to the distance from the shore: some all-inclusive places are a long way from the centre and getting into town in the evening becomes a chore, and comparing hotels by how close they are to the centre and the shore heads that mistake off. There are direct options from Baku and options via Istanbul, so keep an eye on flight prices towards Antalya ahead of time. Official tourism information is on Türkiye’s tourism portal.
The season in Alanya
May–June and September–October are the best-balanced stretch: the weather is 25–30 degrees, the sea is warm and the crowds are thin. In July and August the temperature passes thirty-five, the shore is packed and prices are at their highest. In November the sea is still swimmable while some of the hotels are already starting to close. Winter is mild, the town quietens down and it becomes cheap for anyone staying a long time.
In short
Alanya is the cheaper version of Antalya with a longer season, and on top of that it has a programme away from the beach in the castle and the canyon. Go up to the castle in the morning, save the Dim river for a hot day, choose the hotel by how close it is to the centre, and avoid August if you can. If you want to link the Mediterranean coast into one route, you can look at tour options along the Turkish coast. For the route, fill in the application form.
Note: prices and the hotel season vary, so check the dates before booking.
