Things to do in Alanya: top sights and where to go
Alanya's castle crowns a rocky peninsula above the harbour: the Red Tower and the Seljuk shipyard sit at its foot, Damlataş Cave and Cleopatra Beach on its western side, all within a 20-minute walk or a short cable-car ride. Spend the first day on the peninsula; keep Dim Cave, the Dim River and the ruins of Syedra or Sapadere Canyon for a second day by car or on a tour.
Sights
Alanya itineraries
Alanya travel guide
Before you go: the castle and old town, areas and beaches, two airports, weather and sea by month.
Alanya on your own: the essentials
- How many days
- A week by the sea; the castle and centre in a day
- When to go
- May–June and September–October
- Airports
- Gazipaşa (GZP) ≈ 40 km or Antalya (AYT) ≈ 125 km
- Where to stay
- The centre by Cleopatra Beach; Mahmutlar and Oba for quiet
- Beaches
- Sand in the centre, the warmest sea on the coast
- Transport
- City buses and dolmuş minibuses along the coast
- Visa
- Visa-free or e-Visa, depending on your passport
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Money
- Turkish lira; tours are often priced in euros
- Time zone
- UTC+3 all year
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Mobile data
- eSIM before you fly or a local SIM at the airport
Key facts
Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Alanya”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Alanya Castle”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Kızıl Kule”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Alanya Shipyard”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Damlataş Cave”Things to do in Alanya
Alanya’s highlight is its castle peninsula: the old town on the slope, the Red Tower and the Seljuk shipyard by the harbour, and Damlataş Cave by Cleopatra Beach. Around it are the Dim River with Dim Cave, Sapadere Canyon and ancient Syedra. Every place with its YesGo score is in the list above; the “Map” button shows them on a map.
| Peninsula | Castle, Old town | ½ day |
|---|---|---|
| Harbour | Red Tower, Shipyard | 2 h |
| Cleopatra Beach | Beach, Damlataş | ½ day |
| Dim River | Dim Cave, Dim River | ½ day |
| Mountains & ruins | Sapadere, Syedra | 1 day |
Rather not plan it yourself? The list above has ready itineraries, with places in a sensible order, lunch and time for each stop.
Where to stay in Alanya
Alanya stretches for tens of kilometres along the sea. The centre has Cleopatra Beach, the castle and nightlife; to the east, Oba, Tosmur and Mahmutlar are quieter with long beaches; to the west, Konaklı and Avsallar have big resorts.
| Centre | Cleopatra Beach, the castle, restaurants, nightlife | Noisy in summer |
|---|---|---|
| Oba & Tosmur | Quieter, by the Dim River, families | ≈ 10–15 min to the centre |
| Kestel | Calm, a long beach | ≈ 20 min to the centre |
| Mahmutlar | Long stays, apartments | ≈ 30 min to the centre |
| Konaklı, Avsallar | Beachfront resorts, closer to Antalya | ≈ 20–30 min to the centre |
Alanya airports and transfers
Alanya has two airports: Gazipaşa (GZP), ≈ 40 km east, and the larger Antalya Airport (AYT), ≈ 125 km west. From Gazipaşa it’s about 40 minutes to the centre; from Antalya about two hours by transfer.
| Gazipaşa (GZP) | Transfer, taxi | ≈ 40 min |
|---|---|---|
| Antalya (AYT) | Transfer | ≈ 2 h |
| Antalya (AYT) | Bus to the bus station | ≈ 2.5 h |
More direct flights land in Antalya; Gazipaşa has fewer routes. City buses and dolmuş minibuses link Alanya’s districts.
Alanya weather by month
The best month to visit Alanya for the beach is June or September–October; the season runs May to October. The sea here is the warmest on the coast: about 29 °C in August, about 25 °C in October and still about 22 °C in November. Winters are mild but rainy.
°CiLong-term averages, °C: day and night air, sea water near the shore, rain — rainy days a month. Any given year can be warmer or cooler. Tap a month for details below. | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 16° | 16° | 18° | 21° | 25° | 29° | 32° | 32° | 30° | 26° | 21° | 17° |
| Night | 8° | 8° | 10° | 13° | 17° | 21° | 24° | 24° | 21° | 17° | 12° | 9° |
| Sea | 18° | 17° | 18° | 19° | 22° | 25° | 28° | 29° | 28° | 25° | 22° | 19° |
| Rain | 11 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 10 |
Warm — 20 °C and above by dayBest time to go: May–June and September–October
- day ≈ 16°
- night ≈ 8°
- sea ≈ 18°
- rain 11 days
Mild winter, frequent rain. The castle and old town without crowds. Too cold to swim, water — about 18°.
- day ≈ 16°
- night ≈ 8°
- sea ≈ 17°
- rain 9 days
Cool and damp. A month for caves, the castle and seafront walks. Too cold to swim, water — about 17°.
- day ≈ 18°
- night ≈ 10°
- sea ≈ 18°
- rain 7 days
First warm days, green hills. Good for Sapadere Canyon. Too cold to swim, water — about 18°.
- day ≈ 21°
- night ≈ 13°
- sea ≈ 19°
- rain 5 days
About 21° by day, the sea still cool. A time for walks and the mountains. Too cold to swim, water — about 19°.
- day ≈ 25°
- night ≈ 17°
- sea ≈ 22°
- rain 3 days
The beach season starts without the heat. One of the best months. Swimmable, the water is fresh — about 22°.
- day ≈ 29°
- night ≈ 21°
- sea ≈ 25°
- rain 1 days
Warm sea and long days. Beach in the morning and evening. Warm for swimming, water — about 25°.
- day ≈ 32°
- night ≈ 24°
- sea ≈ 28°
- rain 0 days
Hot and humid, about 32°. The castle early or at sunset, the sea by day. Warm for swimming, water — about 28°.
- day ≈ 32°
- night ≈ 24°
- sea ≈ 29°
- rain 0 days
The warmest sea, about 29°. On tours, take water and a hat. Warm for swimming, water — about 29°.
- day ≈ 30°
- night ≈ 21°
- sea ≈ 28°
- rain 1 days
The heat eases, the sea is very warm. Warm for swimming, water — about 28°.
- day ≈ 26°
- night ≈ 17°
- sea ≈ 25°
- rain 5 days
About 26° by day, the sea about 25°. One of the best months for swimming. Warm for swimming, water — about 25°.
- day ≈ 21°
- night ≈ 12°
- sea ≈ 22°
- rain 7 days
About 21° by day, the sea about 22° — people still swim. Rain begins. Swimmable, the water is fresh — about 22°.
- day ≈ 17°
- night ≈ 9°
- sea ≈ 19°
- rain 10 days
Cool and rainy. A quiet seafront and sunsets by the Red Tower. Too cold to swim, water — about 19°.
Alanya’s sea is a degree warmer than Antalya’s and stays warm longer in autumn.
Alanya beaches
The main beach is Cleopatra Beach: fine sand under the castle with a gentle slope. East of the centre is long Keykubat Beach, then the beaches of Oba, Tosmur and Mahmutlar. City beaches are free; loungers cost extra.
- Cleopatra Beach — ≈ 2 km of fine sand under the castle; Damlataş Cave is at its start.
- Keykubat — a long sandy beach east of the harbour.
- The east — Oba, Tosmur and Mahmutlar: sand with pebbles, quieter.
- With kids — the gentle slope at Cleopatra and Keykubat beaches.
Alanya attraction ticket prices
The seafront, beaches and old-town streets are free. You pay for the castle, the Red Tower, the shipyard and the Damlataş and Dim caves. The castle and tower are covered by the Museum Pass Mediterranean.
| Alanya Shipyard | 39 | 30 min | Price being verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damlataş Cave | 38 | 30 min | ≈ 225 TL, children less |
| Red Tower | 38 | 45 min | Paid, price being verified |
| Alanya Castle | 35 | 2 h 30 min | Walls free, İç Kale ≈ €12 |
| Dim Cave | 26 | 1 h | 300 TL, children 7–12 150 TL |
| Syedra | 22 | 1 h 30 min | €7 for foreigners, under-8s free |
| Sapadere Canyon | 21 | 2 h | ≈ 225 TL, being verified |
Free — 3 places: Alanya Old Town (Tophane), Cleopatra Beach, Dim River.
The Museum Pass Mediterranean is valid in state museums and archaeological sites in the region. Dim Cave and the canyons need their own ticket.
Day trips from Alanya
From Alanya people visit neighbouring Side and Manavgat Waterfall, Antalya, or take a boat along the peninsula’s cliffs to the sea caves. Pamukkale and Cappadocia are far — only on a 1–2-day tour.
- Boat around the peninsula — the Lovers’ and Pirates’ caves, Cleopatra Beach from the sea; 2–3 h.
- Side & Manavgat — an ancient city and a waterfall; ≈ 1 h.
- Antalya — Kaleiçi and the Düden Waterfalls; ≈ 2 h.
- Sapadere — a mountain canyon with waterfalls; ≈ 1 h, half a day.
- Pamukkale — travertines; ≈ 6 h each way, best with an overnight stay.
Tips
- Take the bus or cable car up to the castle and walk down through the old town.
- The Red Tower and the shipyard are next to each other — see them together, ideally in the morning.
- Visit Damlataş Cave on a hot afternoon: it is cool and humid inside all year.
- Take the peninsula boat trip late in the day for soft light on the cliffs.
FAQ
Is Alanya worth visiting?
Yes: a Seljuk castle above a sandy city beach, the warmest sea on the Turkish Riviera and plenty of nightlife. For quieter ancient sites, combine it with Side an hour away.
What to do in Alanya with kids?
Cleopatra Beach with its gentle slope, a boat trip to the sea caves, the cable car up to the castle, Damlataş Cave and the Dim River with its riverside restaurants.
What to do in Alanya when it rains?
Visit Damlataş and Dim caves, the Alanya Museum and the Red Tower’s exhibits, or take a short trip to Antalya’s museum and old town.
What is the weather like in Alanya in October?
About 26 °C by day and 17 °C at night, with the sea around 25 °C — one of the best months for the beach. Rain becomes more likely at the end of the month.
How far is Alanya from the airport?
Gazipaşa Airport (GZP) is about 40 minutes away; Antalya Airport (AYT) about two hours by transfer, but it has many more flights.
How far is Alanya from Side?
About 60 km — roughly an hour by car or bus along the coast road.
Is Alanya good for nightlife?
Yes — the bars and clubs around the harbour and the centre are among the liveliest on the coast in summer; the eastern districts are much quieter.
Is Alanya safe?
It is a busy resort town and generally safe; take the usual precautions with valuables and use metered taxis.
Sources and fact-check
- Wikipedia, “Alanya”; “Alanya Castle”; “Kızıl Kule”; “Alanya Shipyard”; “Damlataş Cave”
- Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Türkiye, muze.gov.tr — Alanya Castle, Museum Pass Mediterranean
- Gazipaşa-Alanya and Antalya airports — official websites