Alanya is one of the most famous and popular travel destinations in Turkey. The mild Mediterranean climate, unique natural features and great historical heritage attract a huge number of tourists from all over the world.

Today, many people are well aware of the beautiful sandy beaches, luxurious sprawling palm trees and majestic mountains of this city. The infrastructure is well developed here - numerous restaurants and bars, large shopping malls and small boutiques, a huge selection of entertainment for every taste. It is also important that the prices here are much lower than in other resort cities of this hospitable country.

In the distant past, the settlement where Alanya is now located was a colony of Greece, after which it became part of different empires more than once, until it became famous throughout the world as a magnificent resort, and one of the best. Despite the fact that Alanya in Turkey is well known to our compatriots, not everyone knows where to go during a trip to get acquainted with its sights. We will try to fill this gap and "walk" through the memorable places of this wonderful city.

Local tour operators, we must give them their due, organize interesting excursions for foreign guests. However, many are interested in where to go in Alanya (Turkey) on their own. We will definitely help this category of tourists with the choice of route.

Location of the city

The resort of Alanya is located southeast of Antalya, at a distance of more than one hundred and thirty kilometers. The resort includes the city of Alanya itself and several villages: Konakli, Incekum, Mahmutlar and Avsallar. This is the warmest region of the country. The average annual air temperature here does not fall below +20 °C. In Antalya, for example, this figure is +18 °C, and in Nice - +16 °C.

A bit of history

For the first time, a settlement located on the territory of modern Alanya was mentioned during the reign of the Ahmedin Empire. Then the future resort repeatedly passed from the Greeks to the Cilician pirates, from Byzantium to Ancient Rome, from the Armenians to the Arabs, from the Ottomans to the Seljuks. This series of captures is completed by Kemal Ataturk, who annexed Alania to the new state - Turkey. Then (1935) the current name of the city appeared.

Already in the sixties of the last century, tourism became the main source of income for this region. If we compare Alanya with other Turkish resorts, for example, with the elite Belek, we can say that holidays here are more focused on people with a modest income. For this reason, young couples and youth companies prefer to relax here.

The best city tours

We want to warn you right away that it is impossible to visit all the excursions offered by local tour operators. Therefore, for you, we have prepared a list of just a few points where you should definitely go in Alanya. This does not mean that other places are less interesting, but, as they say, you can’t embrace the immensity. Many tourists in their reviews note that it is much more informative to devote more time to one attraction than to quickly “run through” all at once, without really remembering or seeing anything. We recommend starting your acquaintance with this glorious city with a sightseeing tour. You need to take it from tour operators. The travel agency will provide you with a comfortable air-conditioned bus. The trip will take place almost all over the city. Experienced guides will introduce you to the main attractions - the fortress, the Red Tower, the mosque of Suleiman the Magnificent, the Archaeological Museum. You will be shown famous caves, where you will surely be amazed by the most beautiful stalagmites and stalactites.

Rafting and diving

The descent along the river will appeal to true extreme people who are not afraid to challenge nature. This is rafting on rubber boats along a mountain raging stream. The organizers of the event send a group of brave men to Köprülü Canyon and prepare a river section several kilometers long for rafting. You will pass steep rapids and take a relaxing swim along a relatively calm riverbed.

From all over the world, lovers of ancient artifacts and deep dives come to Alanya. The waters of Alanya are an ideal place for divers, as there are several interesting sunken objects here. For example, an airplane that is overgrown with shells at a depth of twenty-five meters, or an ancient sarcophagus. Its age, according to scientists, is about two thousand years. If you are not particularly versed in diving, you will quickly be taught all the intricacies of this lesson. There are many diving clubs in Alanya for these purposes. They provide instructors and equipment.

Excursions with children

How to spend time as adults, we figured it out. And where to go in Alanya with children? To begin with, we suggest you visit excursions that will be of interest to young travelers, of course, if they are not quite small. All children, without exception, love Turkish hotels with animation, swimming pools and water slides for the smallest tourists. But it will be useful for them to know that there are many interesting things outside the hotel complexes.

The greatest interest among children - teenagers and toddlers - is the real pirate yacht "Viking". It is important to know that this is not the place where you can go in Alanya (Turkey) on your own. It is very difficult to get on board this ship on your own, as the owners of the attraction work only with official representatives of tour operators. Therefore, you will have to fork out for the purchase of a special tour. But on the yacht, you and your baby will get a lot of impressions. There, managers and animators will turn your child's vacation into an unforgettable adventure.

Where to go in Alanya with a child on your own

A family vacation in Turkey is hard to imagine without visiting a water park. Such attractions are now trying to open in all resorts. The Sealanya Seapark water park is universal: in addition to the complex itself, there is a dolphinarium and a wonderful Slow River attraction that surrounds it. Having plunged to the very bottom of the central pool, you can see columns, grottoes, shells and dilapidated amphorae. Small fish swim by. Children under four years old visit the attraction for free.

Dolphinarium

If you don’t know where to go in Alanya on your own, so that it would be interesting for a child, visit the Dolphinarium. Every day there are shows with sea lions, seals and dolphins, with which the child can play during the break. Tickets should be taken care of in advance, since there is no shortage of spectators here.

Where to go, what to see in Alanya on your own

Due to the compactness of this Turkish resort, you can see its sights on your own without overpaying for excursions with professional guides. Most of the interesting and memorable places are located within the city or on the coast; a taxi will take you to the rest for a nominal fee. We list some of the most visited attractions.

Archaeological Museum

It is located next to the collection of this museum is so large that all the exhibits do not fit in the building. Some of them are exhibited in the open air. The City Archaeological Museum was founded in 1967. Since then, its collection has been replenished annually with interesting exhibits. This is due to the fact that constant excavations are underway in Turkey. In this regard, scientists believe that many artifacts will soon replenish the museum's collections.

Today, antiquities are presented in fourteen halls: among them are exhibits that date back to the Bronze Age, historical monuments from Ancient Rome, Ancient Greece, Byzantium and other states. Museum workers are extremely proud of the writings, the most ancient fragments of monuments. There is also a tombstone, which belongs to the 1st century BC, and a rare handwritten Koran.

red tower

If you ask the locals: “Where can you go in Alanya on your own?”, then with a probability of 95% you will be directed to the Red Fortress, which is the symbol of Alanya. This building is so highly revered in these places that the image of the tower can be seen on the coat of arms of Alanya and on one of the banknotes of the national currency. The tower was built on the city's embankment in 1226 to protect the inhabitants from pirate raids. It must be admitted that she successfully coped with this task. This building is almost monolithic, the height of a five-story building. From the top observation deck offers stunning views of the entire city and the bay. On the first floor of the fortress today the ethnographic museum welcomes visitors.

Lighthouse

Very close to the Red Fortress there is another city attraction - a functioning lighthouse. It was made in France in 1880 and then transported to the Ottoman Empire. This building is of interest not only to the guests of the city, but also local residents often come here. The newlyweds, who take wonderful photos against its background, have chosen this place.

Suleymaniye Mosque

For Muslims, there is no question of where to go in Alanya (Turkey). The magnificent Suleymaniye Mosque is practically adjacent to the Red Tower. It was built in 1231, but even today it is active, services are regularly held in it. The peculiarity of the mosque is its unique acoustics and luxurious interior decoration.

caves

Without a doubt, lovers and connoisseurs of caves will quickly decide where to go in Alanya. There are several of them, and each one is special.

1. Damlatas. It is located right in the center of the city. The name translates as "Stone tear". The cave inside is filled with incredibly beautiful stalagmites and stalactites. Humidity here is always kept at about 60%. The air is ionized and saturated with carbon dioxide, which has a beneficial effect on the health of asthma patients. Locals claim that even rheumatic pains subside here.

2. Dim. This natural monument is not located in the city itself, but 12 km from it, but all cave lovers who come to rest in Alanya must visit it, because it is the second largest cave in Turkey. In addition, it is also the oldest, and according to tourists, the most picturesque.

3. Cave of lovers. You can get to it only by water, for which you need to rent a boat or catamaran in Alanya. It is believed that you need to go through this cave and jump off a cliff into the blue sea waters in order to find eternal love. Now the government has banned jumping into the abyss, but this cave is still the most popular among young people.

4. Phosphoric. It is located in the west of Alanya, but it is located in such a way that you can also get into it only by water. It got its name because of the light glow of the vaults in the dark. According to one version, this is due to the fact that there is a small amount of phosphorus in the rocks. According to another version, the glow is explained more simply: reflections from the water fall on its walls.

Reservoir

If you have already wandered around the city enough and the heat has become exhausting, take bus number 10 and head to the reservoir located on the Dim Chay River. You will make a mistake if, having been in Alanya, you do not see these wonderful places.

The river originates in the mountains of the Western Taurus, then it flows past Alanya and then flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The Dim Dam was completed in 2004. Just below the level of the dam, Turkish builders have created a real tourist paradise. Numerous restaurants located above the water, bridges between small waterfalls, small cozy backwaters where you can relax and hide from the sweltering heat.

Water Planet Waterpark

This fabulous water facility is located on the territory of the hotel thirty kilometers from Alanya. You can get here by regular bus. Water Planet is a real paradise for the whole family: a huge number of amazing water rides, slides, play areas for kids, cafes and restaurants that provide a children's menu.

Turkey is one of the favorite resorts of our compatriots. Where not only families with children like to come, but also young people. In Turkey, you can enjoy not only the sea, but also sightseeing. Consider what attractions are available in the resort town of Alanya.

Sights of Alanya

Alanya is one of the ancient cities of the Turkish coast with a rich history. The city was founded by Greek colonists in the II century. BC er, after some time it began to serve as a haven for pirates. Further, the city was captured by the Romans and presented to the Egyptian queen Cleopatra.

Also, Alanya was part of Byzantium and only in 1571 the city passed into the possession of the Ottomans.
Over the years, the city has preserved a large number of attractions.

In Alanya, you can see not only ancient fortresses and mosques, but also visit modern museums, go for a walk to the ruins or see the caves that nature has created.

The most famous sights of Alanya:

Car rental in Alanya

What to see in Alanya on your own?

On your own in Alanya, you can go on the following excursions:

Order an inexpensive transfer - taxi in Alanya

Best excursions

The best excursions in Alanya include:

• fortress of Alanya;
• red tower;
• shipyard;
• Damlatash cave.

Excursions to visit with a child

Traveling with a child, you can visit the following interesting places:

• Dolphinarium Sealania. At the dolphinarium you can see a performance and also swim with them if you want to get to know them better.
• Water Planet water park. The water park is located about 30 km from Alanya. The water park has 24 slides that both adults and children can ride.
• Aquapark Damlatash is located very close to the waterfront of Alanya. There are not many slides in the water park, but believe me, there will be enough to have fun.

Unusual sights

Unusual sights include:

• The cave of lovers‒ There is a legend that lovers met in this cave. And one more thing, if you jump from the cape of the cave into the sea with your loved one, holding each other by the hand, then your love will last forever.
• Pirate cave. Once this cave served as a hiding place for pirates. Unfortunately, it is now flooded and can only be visited by boat.
• Iotape. Here you can see the ruins of an ancient ancient city. Roman baths, city walls and a fortress are partially preserved here.
• Tomb of Askeba Turbesi. Not far from the Suleymaniye Mosque is the burial place of Sultan Askebe Turbesi. The tomb was built of stone, but the dome and interior walls were covered with brick. There is an assumption that earlier the tomb was covered with faience. Only a part of the decorations and inscriptions have survived to this day.
• Phosphorus cave. It is named so due to the fact that it glows in the dark. The fact is that the rock contains a large amount of phosphorus, which allows the cave to shine unusually. The only way to enter the cave is by water. The Phosphorus Cave is considered an unusual wonder of nature.

The cheapest tickets from Moscow to Antalya and back

TOURIST ANSWERS:

Alanya is one of the most popular Turkish resorts among our compatriots. For us, Alanya is, for the most part, nothing more than luxurious beaches, hot sun and first-class hotels. The beaches here are really steep, with fine yellow sand and azure waters. Almost all of Alanya lies on a 250 m high rocky promontory protruding into the sea. However, few people know that Alanya was founded in the second century BC. Then it was a famous port, which in 67, still BC, joined the Roman Empire. The city often changed its name, then it was Korakesion, then Kolonoros, then Alaye.
In general, the story is long and interesting.

But the most interesting thing in Alanya, in my opinion, is its entertaining past. The city houses numerous historical monuments that are a must-see during your visit to Alanya.

Archaeological Museum (Alanya arkeoloji muzesi)

The museum was built in the late 60s of the last century and consists of 14 exhibition halls. The museum's collections are divided into eras. What is not here! Gizmos of the Bronze Age, clay Byzantine and ancient Roman products, tomb steles, marble artifacts, inscriptions, mosaics of the 7th-5th centuries BC. A valuable exhibit is a stone with an inscription in the Phoenician language, 625 BC. It's just mind-boggling!
Tourists usually linger for a long time near the bronze statue of Hercules, which dates back to the 2nd century BC. A statue half a meter high was found in a mountain village near Alanya more than half a century ago. It is believed that this figure is a trophy from a ship robbed by pirates. But the statue, of course, impresses with its grace. Even the face of Hercules is unrealistically realistic, pardon the tautology. And there is also a hall in this museum with vessels for the ashes of the Byzantine and Roman periods. Limestone vessels in the shape of a sarcophagus with interesting lids and various drawings on the walls - plants, horsemen, faces of men and women, inscriptions. These vessels, as you already understood, are for burials, because in a mountainous region it was sometimes difficult to dig up the ground, it was easier to burn the body and place it in such a sarcophagus. Well, different religious ones are also inherent in this. What else is in this museum: coins, weapons from the Ottoman era, a handwritten Koran, ancient clothes, carpets, jewelry, local embroidery, wood carvings, grape presses and much more. The museum is very informative and interesting. The museum is located near the coast, on Saray Mahallesi, almost in the center of the city.

Tersane Shipyard

This building is located next to the Red Tower, by the sea. The structure is impressively massive - 56 by 44 meters, with five aisles in the form of an ara and deep galleries 40 meters deep. A completely monumental building from the Seljuk era was erected here in the first half of the 13th century. Moreover, this structure was built quite quickly, somewhere in a year. When the shipyard was completed, the ruler Aladdin Keykubat, under whom all this happened, finally realized his old dream of becoming the "sultan of the two seas", and at the same time this building prevented a potential attack by enemies from the eastern side. On the left you can see a small mosque and outbuildings. Today, this shipyard is a marina for small boats and a very popular tourist attraction, especially in the evenings. It is best to admire this ancient structure from the sea, from a boat or yacht, which many tourists do.

Kyzylkule Tower

The city owes the construction of this tower to the same Aladdin Keykubat. The tower was built for defensive purposes, in the city harbor. Kyzylkule in Turkish means "Red Tower", because it was built of red brick. This tower is now a symbol of Alanya and is even depicted on the flag of the city. The walls of the octagonal building are about 8 km long. The tower is 29 meters in diameter and about 33 meters high. All in all, a powerful and impressive build. It was built in 1226, and it took about 12 years to build it. Up to 2,000 people can fit inside the building at the same time. On top of the tower there are loopholes, from which warriors poured hot oil or tar onto opponents. The design is amazing in that, despite the fact that it has five floors, the light passing through the top of the tower penetrates right up to the first floor. You can climb into the territory of the Red Tower from the western side, through the entrance next to the fortress walls. Climb up the stairs - 85 steps, get ready! But from the top offers a magnificent view of the city and the sea. The Turkish flag flies at the top. Oh yes, there is an Ethnographic Museum on the first floor.

Alanya Fortress (Alanya Kalesi)

One of the largest in Turkey and the best preserved. It consists of 140 towers and walls with beautiful ornaments. The walls are made of rough cobblestones. The length of the wall is about 6 km. Inside you can see the reservoirs. Arched gates with preserved ancient runes are well preserved. Once upon a time there were a winter palace, a military building, residential buildings, a mosque, trading shops and even places for execution on the territory. In general, life inside this fortress was in full swing. The Red Tower, by the way, is part of this building.

Suleymaniye Mosque

The Byzantine fortress on the mountain was built in 1231 on the territory of the fortress of Alanya. True, it was destroyed and rebuilt in the 16th century. A square stone mosque with one minaret is often called either the Aladdin Mosque or the Fortress Mosque. Under the dome of the mosque, you can see 15 small ones - this was done to improve acoustics. The wooden gates of the mosque are fine examples of art from the Ottoman Empire. The complex also includes a palace, schools and military buildings.

Tomb of Askebe Turbesi

The tomb of the Sultan is also located inside the fortress of Alanya, a hundred meters from the Suleymaniye Mosque. The square-shaped tomb is made of stone, the dome and walls inside are covered with brick. Inside you can see two halls - in one the Sultan rests, in the other there are three more tombs. Perhaps once the grave looked much more luxurious, perhaps it was covered with faience. Today, only some inscriptions and parts of decorations can be seen on it. Nearby is a cylindrical minaret made of brick, or rather, part of it, up to the balcony.

Helpful answer?

Alanya is one of the largest cities on the Antalya coast and no less popular resort. Being here on vacation, you should visit the city itself, see its iconic places, join, so to speak, history, give "food for thought". History can be seen in the city center, as well as near the main promenade.

Among the most iconic sights is the red tower (Kizil Kule). It is perfectly visible both from land and from the sea. This is the symbol of Alanya. I saw a similar symbol in Greek Thessaloniki, but the tower is white. True, it became white only after the transition of the city from the Turks to the Greeks. During the existence of the Ottoman Empire in Thessaloniki, the tower was also red and it housed a prison. Here in Turkey, the tower symbolizes the dominance of the Turks on the seas. It was built after the capture of Alanya by the Seljuks and was an excellent defense of the bay of the city.

Alanya is associated with the name of Queen Cleopatra. In the city there is a beach of the same name, the sand on which was brought from Egypt. The beach is open to the public. This is really a sandy beach. You can also get to the beach by traveling along the coast of the city on a tourist boat. Usually it is stopped close to the shore and you can swim in clear emerald-colored water. True, there is a belief that Cleopatra has never been to the beach.

Another antiquity is Cleopatra's castle or the fortress of Alanya. The fortress walls are quite long. They "descend" from the mountain towards the Mediterranean Sea. It is better to climb the mountain to see all the beauties of the city from a height of 250 meters above sea level and see in more detail the fortifications. Fragments of building structures, as well as the Byzantine fortress named after St. George, have been preserved here. The fortress was built by the Seljuk Turks in the 13th century. Now it is a monument of architecture in the open air.

Even on the territory of Alanya there are two famous caves - pirates and lovers. True, to see them you need to transfer to a boat or a boat. You can't see them from the shore. Some fabulous, in my opinion, stories are connected with the caves. So, in the cave, the pirates hid the stolen goods, as well as the kidnapped girls.

As for the cave of lovers, there is a belief that if a man passes through it from one entrance to another, he thereby proves his love and this love for life. Legend, myth or truth - who knows, but people believe.

Do not be too lazy to visit another attraction of the city - the Damlatas cave. It was discovered in the last century, but it has existed for a very long time, as evidenced by the size of stalactites and stalagmites. Located 100 meters from the coast.

Again, there is a myth here. Allegedly, the pirates hid the kidnapped girls here and at the same time thought that after they were here, they would become even more beautiful. Maybe because the air in the cave is healing. The natural entrance to the cave has been preserved. The temperature here is about 22 degrees and very high humidity. Damlatash air perfectly cures bronchitis, asthma and other respiratory diseases. It even has its own doctor who can recommend the best course of treatment. Everything is at the service of vacationers.

Alanya is a city-museum. There is no need to visit exhibition halls, museums. Everything related to ancient history in plain sight. Therefore, you can travel around the city on your own, admiring the beauties of nature, vibrant landscapes and monuments of ancient architecture. Alanya is an opportunity to combine beach holidays and hiking.

Being a person who is in love with the Mediterranean with all my heart, I gladly accepted the offer to go in May with the whole family on vacation to Alanya. Prices for holidays there are much cheaper than in most countries of the Eurozone. From friends we heard many interesting stories about the city and its sights. Looking ahead a little, I will say that the impressions that remained from the trip cannot be compared with other people's stories, they turned out to be much brighter and more interesting.

Short video about Alanya

How to get there

We went the simplest way, followed by most Russians, by ordering a ticket through a travel agency (by the way, you can see them). But there are many other ways to get to Alanya. For them, sea and land types of vehicles are used. It is very easy to do this, because Alanya is the largest resort city on the southern coast of the Mediterranean Sea in Turkey. On this site there is a special one where you can see the current prices for the flight.

By plane

Light modes of transport are also popular - quads and motorcycles. But they are only suitable for couples traveling without children. The rental price is 30-40 USD. You can rent a bike. For this, Call a bike rental points are made in Alanya. Payment and unlocking of the bike is carried out through a special machine where a credit card is inserted. The cost of daily rent is 10 TRY, but 150 TRY is blocked on the card. This is to prevent theft of the bike.

Be sure to rent a car in Alanya to visit the surrounding villages and attractions. To do this, it is not necessary to travel far - they are all within 45-50 km from the city. True, you need to allocate at least 3-4 days for trips, you won’t be able to see everything in one day.

The traffic on the streets of Alanya is heavy, but all drivers drive carefully, unlike in Kemer, where we almost had an accident. Roads are in good condition, even in mountainous areas. During all the trips, we saw the traffic police with a radar only once - at the entrance to Alanya. But we were driving at the allowed speed, so we were not stopped.

Alanya - holidays with children

Children are treated very cordially here - in hotels, employees try their best to help with accommodation in the room, and during breakfasts and lunches in the dining room. In hotels with 4-5 stars, there are always animators for children and even special children's rooms, where, for a fee, parents can leave them when they go on a trip to the mountains. If private apartments are chosen, you can independently arrange a pastime for children during a holiday in Alanya.

Trips to water parks will delight little travelers. In addition, there are many free children's playgrounds and mini-training machines on the embankment. At the entrance to the city on the road from Antalya, there is a popular amusement park. A ticket for 5 different carousels costs 40 TRY or 10 EUR.