Are you planning a trip to Alanya, Turkey? Get to know the most important attractions in the area.
1. Alanya Fortress
Alanya Fortress is the city’s most popular attraction, and it is located on the Kale hill that divides Alanya’s beaches into two parts.
The hill rising to a height of about 250 meters also offers visitors the best scenic spot in the city. Excellent sea views and an unobstructed view of the city’s most popular beach Kleopatra open from the fortress.
Built in the 13th century, the fortress is now an open-air museum, and visitors can explore the wall and towers in addition to the courtyard. Over the years, the fortress has protected the city, but according to the stories, it has also served as a fighting arena, when people have been thrown from the wall directly into the sea.
A three and a half kilometer long winding road leads to the fortress on the top of the hill, which most people travel by bus or rental car.
However, walking has been made easy, because during the journey there are few cafes or shops where you can stop to rest. In the summer heat, fewer and fewer people choose to walk, because in the scorching sun, going up can be tough.
2. Red tower Kizil Kule
Located in the old harbor of Alanya Kizil Kule i.e. the Red Tower is part of the Alanya fortress located on the nearby Kale hill. Built in 1226, the name of the tower comes from the color of the building’s red bricks.
The tower has played a significant role in the history of Alanya, as it has been used to defend the city. Numerous holes and openings can still be seen in its body, from which, for example, boiling water or hot olive oil was poured over the conquerors.
The round tower is easy to notice due to its special appearance, and the 33-meter attraction is familiar to most visitors to Alanya due to its central location.
3. Damlatas-tippukiviluola
The Damlatas stalactite cave, discovered in 1948, offers cooling on a hot summer day, because the underground cave always has the same temperature: 22.5 degrees.
Hulppea stalactite cave was accidentally discovered during mining operations, and it has become a popular attraction. Impressive stalactites, moist mineral-rich air and a peaceful atmosphere attract plenty of visitors.
Tippukiviluola is a popular health destination, as its air is said to help asthma, for example. The exact 95% humidity combined with the minerals in the rocks brings a lot of visitors to the cave.
There are several benches in Tippukiviluola where you can sit, for example, just to breathe in peace.
4. Cleopatra Beach
Kleopatra beach, located on the western side of Kale hill, is a two-kilometer-long lively beach. Alanya’s most popular beach has grown together with Damlatas beach.
There are plenty of services: beach chairs and umbrellas, as well as bars and restaurants. There are also changing booths and showers on the beach.
Despite its popularity, it is possible to find a quiet place on Kleopatra beach where you can enjoy the warm sun and soft sand. You can try many kinds of activities on and near the beach, such as paragliding.
5. Koysirata Alanya Cable Car
Opened in 2017, the cable car Alanya Teleferik is an easy route to the fortress to the top of Kale hill. Of course, you can get on board even if you don’t plan to visit the fortress, because it’s also a fun way to see the city from above.
The length of the track is 900 meters, and the trip takes about ten minutes each way. The cable car is an experience for both children and adults.
From Koysira the departure station is near Damlatas beach. A full-price return ticket costs around six euros.
If you plan to travel by cable car, carry your passport or other identification.
6. Alanya Archaeological Museum
Alanya is better known for its beaches than for its cultural or historical attractions. If you want to get to know the history of the city, you should stop by the Alanya Archaeological Museum near Damlatas beach.
Compared to the archeological museums of Antalya or Side, Alanya’s version is quite small. Time for the visit can be reserved for about an hour.
In the museum you can get to know, for example, sculptures, dishes, jewelry and clothes. Part of the museum operates in the courtyard of the building’s garden, where you can also spot peacocks.
The entrance ticket to the museum costs only a couple of euros. So it’s not a big financial investment, even if you just go to have a quick look at the best pieces.
Outside the summer season, the museum is closed on Mondays.
7. Tersane – Alanya’s historic shipyard
There is another historically significant building next to the Red Tower. Tersane, or Alanya’s Old Shipyard, was built in the early 13th century, and today it is the only remaining Seljuk-era shipyard in Turkey.
The shipyard building serves as a museum that can be visited daily. The building can be recognized by five arch-shaped openings that open directly to the sea. The facade is more than 50 meters long.
In the museum, you can learn about the history of Turkish shipping and see secret tunnels and warehouses. The museum also sells tickets that include a visit to both the Red Tower and the shipyard.
Next to the shipyard is a small Tersane beach, where there is only a narrow strip of beach sand. If it’s early in traffic, you can find space for your own towel in this agreement.
8. Alanya lighthouse
The Alanya lighthouse is located near the Red Tower and Kale hill. The lighthouse was built in France in the 1880s and transported from there to Turkey.
The lighthouse cannot be visited inside, but it is a popular place for walking and photography. Many people want to go and capture the turquoise of the light-toned lighthouse against the Mediterranean.
The handsome lighthouse is less than 20 meters high, and the Turkish flag flies on its top, as is the local custom. Sit here to eat some snacks and watch the ships go by.
9. Alanya sea caves
Alanya is known for its many caves – you can decide for yourself whether you prefer to visit the inland stalactite caves or the coastal sea caves or perhaps both.
In Alanya, there are many boat trips that take you to the caves. The most famous caves on the coast are the lovers’ cave (asics), pirate cave (corsairs) and the phosphorus cave.
Phosphorus cave gets its name from the glow that seems to be reflected on the bottom of the water and on the walls of the cave. It is possible to visit the cave by boat.
According to legends, the pirate cave was once used by pirates and also served as a secret route to the fortress.
The lovers’ cave, located next to the fortress hill, cuts through the hill and ends in the sea. According to local belief, swimming from the cave brings luck in love.
10. Water park Aquapark
Alanya water park Aquapark is centrally located near Kleopatra beach and many hotels.
The Aquapark has, among other things, 22 different water slides, a wave pool and a water activity similar to rafting. The water park also has pools for small children.
It is worth noting that the park can be crowded during the most popular holiday months of the summer. The Aquapark is no longer shiny as it was new, but it already shows a bit of the patina of time.
Water park is open from May to October. Tickets cost about 17 euros for adults and about 13 euros for children.
Alanya also has hotels aimed at families with children, with their own water parks. These are especially suitable for families traveling with school-aged children: the children can have fun with each other in the water park while the parents relax in the pool.
11. Dim-joki restaurants
Dimcayi or Dim River, located a little outside of Alanya, and the restaurants along it are a very popular place for leisure, especially on weekends.
Locals gather at the Dim River to meet their friends, swim and have lunch. The restaurants are funnily built on the water like piers and they serve traditional Turkish food.
The popularity of the Dim river is partly based on the fact that, even in hot weather, the air there is fresher than in Alanya. The cool water of the river refreshes the whole place nicely. There are small water slides on the river for children.
In addition to a rental car, you can also easily get to Dimjoki by taxi or bus. Alanya is about a twenty-minute drive away. A stop at the Dim river is also part of the program of many guided tours.
12. Dim Cave
When visiting the Dim river, you should also stop by the cave of the same name, which is located a good ten kilometers from Alanya, near the river and its restaurants.
Tippukiviluola has a 360 meter long section that is open to visitors. The cave is wonderfully lit to guarantee an atmospheric experience. Tourists are especially impressed by the fact that there is also a small lake in the ancient cave.
The temperature in the cave stays at 18 degrees, so you can head here to cool off on the hottest days of summer.
Full price tickets To Dim Cave cost 100 Turkish lira, or about four euros. Discounted tickets are sold for children and students.
>> Read more tips to Alanya from Rantapallo’s travel guide!
Rantapallo editor-in-chief Inka is always ready for an adventure. If he can choose for himself, he prefers to go on an active trip to the ends of the earth.
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Source: www.rantapallo.fi
