# Cleopatra Beach, Alanya > Cleopatra Beach (Kleopatra Plajı) is Alanya’s main public beach: roughly 2–2.5 km of sand on the west side of the castle peninsula, running north-west from Damlataş Cave. Entry is free and open around the clock; only sunbeds and umbrellas cost money. Swimming season is May to October. Give it 2–3 hours — it’s a 10–15 minute walk from the centre. Web page: https://yesgo.io/turkey/alanya/alanya-cleopatra-beach - City: [Alanya](https://yesgo.io/turkey/alanya), Turkey - YesGo score: 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 3 h - Opening hours: Open 24 hours; sunbeds, showers and lifeguards during the day in swimming season - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free — Turkish law keeps the shoreline open to everyone - Sunbed and umbrella: Paid; each café or rental section sets its own price - Length: ≈ 2–2.5 km - Blue Flag: Reported by Turkish media; this season’s list being checked - Showers and changing cabins: Along the beach, in season - Sea: Mediterranean - Neighbourhood: Saray, west side of the peninsula, past Damlataş Cave - Swimming season: May–October - Coordinates: 36.54830, 31.98000 - Facts checked: 30.10.2026 ## Key facts - **Free** — entry — the Turkish shoreline is open to the public by law (source: Turkish Coastal Law No. 3621 (Kıyı Kanunu)) - **≈ 2–2.5 km** — of sand along the west side of the peninsula (source: CNN Türk and Milliyet (≈ 2 km); Polish Wikipedia (≈ 2.5 km)) - **From Damlataş** — the sand starts right past the cave and runs north-west (source: CNN Türk; Polish Wikipedia) - **Every 50 m** — a beach kiosk selling snacks and drinks (source: CNN Türk) - **A legend** — says Mark Antony gave this coast to Cleopatra — hence the name (source: Turkish Wikipedia: Kleopatra Plajı; English Wikipedia: Alanya) - **Kleopatra Plajı** — the Turkish name — type this into your maps app (source: Wikidata Q49321623; Turkish Wikipedia) - **Mediterranean** — the sea off the beach (source: Wikidata; English Wikipedia: Alanya) - **1948** — Damlataş Cave was found at the beach’s southern end (source: English Wikipedia: Damlataş Cave; English Wikipedia: Alanya) - **22–23 °C** — inside Damlataş Cave all year — a break from the midday heat (source: English Wikipedia: Damlataş Cave; English Wikipedia: Alanya) - **Coracesium** — Alanya’s ancient name in Cleopatra’s time (source: English Wikipedia: Coracesium; Russian Wikipedia: Alanya) - **Not Marmaris** — Cleopatra Island (Sedir), with the imported-sand legend, is a different place (source: Russian Wikipedia: Alanya; Polish Wikipedia on the beach repeats the legend) ## Is Cleopatra Beach free? Yes. Under Turkey’s Coastal Law the shoreline belongs to everyone, so there is **no entry fee** and no gate. Bring a towel and lie on the sand anywhere you like, day or night. What you pay for is **sunbeds and umbrellas**. The beach is split into sections run by cafés and rental stands, each with its own price, which changes through the season — we don’t print numbers that go stale, and the figures in guides differ several-fold. Before you sit down, ask the price and whether the sunbed comes with a café order — each section has its own rules. Beach kiosks sit roughly every 50 metres, selling snacks, drinks and ice cream. In season you can rent boats, jet skis and pedal boats, or go parasailing behind a speedboat. Showers and changing cabins line the beach and work in season. For toilets, use the cafés. > **It gets deep quickly** The seabed shelves faster here than on the shallow beaches of Side or Belek — a few steps in and you’re out of your depth. Keep small children right at the water’s edge, and don’t swim out in waves when there’s no lifeguard. At midday the sand burns: wear flip-flops. ## How to get to Cleopatra Beach from the castle 1. From the upper station at the castle, ride the Teleferik cable car down — the lower station sits by Damlataş Beach, at the southern tip of Cleopatra Beach. 2. Prefer not to take the cable car? Walk or take the city bus down Kale Caddesi to the harbour and the [Red Tower](https://yesgo.io/turkey/alanya/alanya-red-tower), then walk 10–15 minutes west along Damlataş Caddesi. 3. Pass the entrance to [Damlataş Cave](https://yesgo.io/turkey/alanya/damlatas-cave) — Cleopatra Beach’s sand starts right behind it. 4. Keep walking north-west for more space: the first few hundred metres by the cave are the busiest. 5. From Konaklı, Mahmutlar and other resort districts, buses and dolmuş minibuses run along Atatürk Bulvarı towards the centre; hop off by the beach and walk down any side street. ## Is Cleopatra Beach worth it? If you’re in Alanya, yes — it’s the town’s best beach and it’s right in the centre. You get a long sweep of sand, clear water, a promenade for the evening and the castle rock as a backdrop, all within walking distance of the cave, the cable car and the harbour. It isn’t a secluded cove. In July and August it’s busy, the sea gets deep fast, and there’s no natural shade. If you want quiet, come early in the morning or walk to the far north-western end. Staying in Side or Antalya? It isn’t worth a special trip just for the beach — combine it with [Alanya Castle](https://yesgo.io/turkey/alanya/alanya-castle) and Damlataş Cave to make the day count. ## What you’ll find on the beach - A wide strip of pale sand — with some stones and rock slabs at the water’s edge in places, so water shoes help. - A seafront promenade with a cycle lane running the full length. - Cafés and sunbed rentals, plus water sports in season. - Damlataş Cave at the southern end — cool even in July. - The cable car up to Alanya Castle, with the whole beach laid out below. - Sunsets straight over the sea — the beach faces west. ## Why is it called Cleopatra Beach? The name comes from a **legend**, not a record. Local tradition says Mark Antony gave this stretch of coast — ancient Coracesium — to Cleopatra, and that she swam here. Encyclopedias hedge: the name may refer to a visit by her or to the coast being part of her holdings. You may also hear that Antony shipped sand from North Africa for her. That story belongs to Cleopatra Island (Sedir) in the Gulf of Gökova near Marmaris, hundreds of kilometres to the west, though it’s often retold about Alanya. Alanya itself grew into a resort after the 1950s, when Damlataş Cave opened to visitors. ## Best time to go The swimming season runs **May to October**, with July and August the busiest months. June and September are the sweet spot: the sea is warm, the sand isn’t scorching and there’s more space. In November only the hardy swim — the water is still mild, but rain and wind are common and many cafés close. The promenade is good for a walk all year. In summer, go before 11:00 or after 16:00. There’s no shade except umbrellas at midday, and the sunset alone is worth coming back for. ## Beach checklist - [ ] Sunscreen and a hat — almost no shade - [ ] Flip-flops or water shoes — hot sand, stones at the edge - [ ] Cash in lira for a sunbed and the café - [ ] Water bottle - [ ] Swimwear on — there are cabins, but sometimes a queue - [ ] Damlataş Cave pencilled in for the hottest hour ## Cleopatra Beach vs Damlataş and Keykubat | | Cleopatra | Damlataş | Keykubat | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Where | West side of the peninsula | By the cave, under the castle | East side of the centre | | Size | Long, ≈ 2–2.5 km | Short, in a cove | Long | | Entry | Free | Free | Free | | Sunset | Over the sea, facing you | Behind the headland | Behind you | | Nearby | Cave, cable car | Cave, harbour | Hotels and cafés | If you pick one beach in Alanya, make it Cleopatra: longer, roomier and with the castle view. Damlataş works for a quick dip when you’re already in the centre. ## Don’t mix it up There’s one famous public Cleopatra Beach, and it’s in Alanya. Cleopatra Island, with the imported-sand story, is Sedir near Marmaris. Cleopatra’s Pool, the warm-water antique pool, is at Pamukkale. Hotels called Cleopatra in Kemer or Egypt are unrelated. ## Alanya by the water: compare and choose Every waterside place in Alanya rated by YesGo. - [Alanya Shipyard](https://yesgo.io/turkey/alanya/alanya-shipyard) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Price being verified - [Damlataş Cave](https://yesgo.io/turkey/alanya/damlatas-cave) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · ≈ 225 TL, children less - [Cleopatra Beach](https://yesgo.io/turkey/alanya/alanya-cleopatra-beach) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Free entry, sunbeds extra - [Dim Cave](https://yesgo.io/turkey/alanya/dim-cave) — YesGo score 26/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · 300 TL, children 7–12 150 TL - [Dim River](https://yesgo.io/turkey/alanya/dim-river) — YesGo score 26/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · Free, you pay only for food - [Sapadere Canyon](https://yesgo.io/turkey/alanya/sapadere-canyon) — YesGo score 21/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · ≈ 225 TL, being verified ## Beach, cave and castle in a day A morning on the sand, the cool cave at midday, the cable car up to the castle and a walk down to the harbour. 1. [Cleopatra Beach](https://yesgo.io/turkey/alanya/alanya-cleopatra-beach) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Free entry, sunbeds extra 2. [Damlataş Cave](https://yesgo.io/turkey/alanya/damlatas-cave) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · ≈ 225 TL, children less 3. [Alanya Castle](https://yesgo.io/turkey/alanya/alanya-castle) — YesGo score 35/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · Walls free, İç Kale ≈ €12 4. [Red Tower](https://yesgo.io/turkey/alanya/alanya-red-tower) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Paid, price being verified 5. [Alanya Shipyard](https://yesgo.io/turkey/alanya/alanya-shipyard) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Price being verified ## Tips - Before taking a sunbed, ask the price and whether it comes with a café order — sections differ. - Want space? Walk north-west from the cave; the crowds thin out fast. - Escape the midday heat in Damlataş Cave — it stays cool all year. - The best view of the beach is from above, on the cable car to Alanya Castle. - Come back to the promenade in the evening: the sun sets straight into the sea. ## Questions ### Is Cleopatra Beach in Alanya free? Yes. Entry is free — Turkish law keeps the shoreline public. You only pay for sunbeds and umbrellas; each section sets its own terms, so ask before you sit down. ### How long is Cleopatra Beach? About 2–2.5 km — Turkish media give roughly 2 km, Polish Wikipedia about 2.5 km. It starts right past Damlataş Cave and runs north-west along the promenade. ### How much are sunbeds on Cleopatra Beach? Each café or rental section sets its own price, and it changes through the season. Ask before you sit down. ### How do I get to Cleopatra Beach? From the centre, walk 10–15 minutes west along Damlataş Caddesi past Damlataş Cave. From the castle, take the Teleferik cable car down. From Konaklı or Mahmutlar, take a bus or dolmuş along Atatürk Bulvarı. ### Is Cleopatra Beach sandy? Yes, it’s a sandy beach, with some stones and rock slabs at the water’s edge in places. The seabed drops off fairly quickly. ### Is Cleopatra Beach good for kids? Yes, with care: the sand is great for playing, but the water gets deep quickly, so keep little ones at the edge and bring shade. ### Is Cleopatra Beach a Blue Flag beach? Turkish media describe it as one, but the award is renewed every season and we couldn’t confirm it on this season’s list — look for the flag on the beach. ### When is the best time to visit Cleopatra Beach? June and September: warm sea, fewer people. July and August are hottest and busiest; in summer go before 11:00 or after 16:00. ### Why is it called Cleopatra Beach? By legend, Mark Antony gave this coast to Cleopatra and she swam here. There’s no record of it — it’s a story, not history. ### Is Cleopatra Beach the same as Cleopatra Island in Marmaris? No. Cleopatra Island (Sedir) is in the Gulf of Gökova near Marmaris, hundreds of kilometres west of Alanya. ## How we checked Free entry follows from Turkey’s Coastal Law and is confirmed by CNN Türk. Sources disagree on length — CNN Türk and Milliyet give about 2 km, Polish Wikipedia about 2.5 km — so we show ≈ 2–2.5 km. Turkish Wikipedia, Milliyet and CNN Türk call it a Blue Flag beach, but those are older reports; a 2 June 2026 report says six public beaches in Alanya won the flag this season without naming them, and the programme’s own list didn’t load — so it is marked “checking”. Sunbed prices in guides and reviews differ several-fold and vary by section, so we give none. We found no official cable car timetable or fares, so the page doesn’t quote them. The Antony gift is shown as legend; the imported-sand story is attributed to Sedir Island, following Russian Wikipedia. ## Sources - Wikidata Q49321623: Kleopatra Plajı — coordinates and name - Turkish Wikipedia: Kleopatra Plajı - Polish Wikipedia: Plaża Kleopatry - English Wikipedia: Alanya, Damlataş Cave, Coracesium - Russian Wikipedia: Alanya - Turkish Coastal Law No. 3621 (Kıyı Kanunu) - CNN Türk: “Kleopatra Plajı Nerede? Ücretli mi? Nasıl Gidilir?”, 2021 - Milliyet: reports on Cleopatra Beach - Yeni Birlik newspaper: Blue Flag in Alanya, 02.06.2026 --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.