Alanya Castle and Cable Car
The Seljuk fortress on the headland above the harbour: a cable car lift, a long walk along the walls, the old inner citadel and the best view of the whole Alanya coast. The one sight every visit is built around.
Antalya Province, Turkey
Alanya
Alanya is the castle town of the Turkish Mediterranean: a rocky headland crowned by a thirteenth-century Seljuk fortress, a harbour guarded by an octagonal Red Tower, a famous sandy beach named for Cleopatra and the Taurus Mountains rising steeply behind.
This guide books it properly. Start with the castle and the cable car, then explore Damlatas Cave, the old shipyard and the harbour walk. Spend a day on a pirate boat, a catamaran or a sunset cruise, or sail east to the quiet bays near Gazipasa. Head into the hills for Dim Cave and the cold Dim River, Sapadere Canyon and the mountain villages, add a quad safari, a horse ride, a Turkish bath or a tandem paragliding flight over Cleopatra Beach, and finish with the ruins of Syedra, Iotape and Antiochia ad Cragum. Ten hotels in the beach district and along the coast cover every style of stay, and six guides explain when to go, where to stay, what to eat and how to plan three days.
Don't miss
Alanya Castle and Cable Car
The Seljuk fortress on the headland above the harbour: a cable car lift, a long walk along the walls, the old inner citadel and the best view of the whole Alanya coast. The one sight every visit is built around.
Cleopatra Beach
Two kilometres of pale sand and clear water beneath the castle rock, Alanya's best-known beach. Legend says Mark Antony gave it to Cleopatra, and on a summer evening you can see why anyone would.
Dim Cave and Dim River
A large cave in the Taurus foothills, then a cold, clear river lined with shaded trout restaurants. A cool, easy break from the beach, and one of the most popular half-day trips east of Alanya.
Alanya Pirate Boat Trip
A full day on a pirate-themed wooden galleon: sea caves under the castle, swim stops in turquoise bays, lunch and soft drinks on board and a foam party on deck. Loud, fun and the classic family boat day in Alanya.
Things to do in Alanya
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Damlatas Cave
A small, humid stalactite cave at the foot of the castle rock, found by accident during harbour works and still visited for its warm, mineral-rich air. Short, cool and easy to pair with the cable car and the beach.
Cleopatra Beach
Two kilometres of pale sand and clear water beneath the castle rock, Alanya's best-known beach. Legend says Mark Antony gave it to Cleopatra, and on a summer evening you can see why anyone would.
Alanya Old Harbour, Red Tower and Shipyard Walk
A guided private stroll around the old harbour: the octagonal Red Tower, the Seljuk shipyard with its arched bays, the Ottoman houses and the back lanes beneath the castle, with the stories that signs do not tell.
Dim Cave and Dim River
A large cave in the Taurus foothills, then a cold, clear river lined with shaded trout restaurants. A cool, easy break from the beach, and one of the most popular half-day trips east of Alanya.
Sapadere Canyon
A narrow, forested canyon in the hills north of Alanya, with boardwalks over a rushing stream, waterfalls, a viewing terrace and a mountain lunch. A green, shaded day out when the coast is too hot.
Taurus Mountain Villages and Green Valley Tour
A day in the hills behind Alanya: terraced villages, a green valley, a mountain lunch and a look at the farming life that surrounds the resort coast. A slower, more local side of the region.
Alanya Pirate Boat Trip
A full day on a pirate-themed wooden galleon: sea caves under the castle, swim stops in turquoise bays, lunch and soft drinks on board and a foam party on deck. Loud, fun and the classic family boat day in Alanya.
Alanya Catamaran Boat Tour
A calmer day on the water: a sleek sailing catamaran with trampolines for sunbathing, swim and snorkel stops in clear bays and lunch on board, with fewer crowds and less noise than the pirate boats.
Alanya Sunset Cruise with Dinner
An evening boat with a swim stop, a dinner on deck and the castle glowing in the last light, finishing with a foam party. A lively way to spend your last hours of sun.
Gazipasa Bays Cruise
A boat trip east of Alanya to quieter, wilder bays near Gazipasa: a sea cave, a royal bay and a blue lagoon, with swim stops in clear water and far fewer crowds than the town harbour.
Tandem Paragliding over Cleopatra Beach
Run off a mountain slope above Alanya with a licensed pilot and glide down for about twenty minutes over the coast, the castle rock and Cleopatra Beach. No experience needed, just a head for heights.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
Kleopatra Beach Hotel
Cleopatra Beach area
An all-inclusive option in the Cleopatra Beach area, close to the sand, the promenade and the cable car, so the castle, the harbour and the evening strolls are all within easy reach.
Check rates →Kleopatra Ada Beach Hotel
Cleopatra Beach area
A beach-area hotel in the Cleopatra district, a good fit for travellers who want sand, sea and the castle within a short walk and a lively evening promenade at their door.
Check rates →Kleopatra Royal Palm Hotel
Cleopatra Beach area
A well-placed hotel near Cleopatra Beach for travellers who want a classic resort-town stay with the beach, the castle cable car and the old harbour all close by.
Check rates →Alanya Risus Park Hotel
Alanya coast
A resort-style option on the Alanya coast for travellers who want a hotel base with space to relax, with the town, the beach and the day trips within reach by taxi or minibus.
Check rates →Hotel XO Alanya
Alanya
A straightforward hotel in Alanya for travellers who want a comfortable bed, a base for beach days and tours, and the freedom to eat and explore in the town without a resort schedule.
Check rates →Sultan Sipahi Resort Hotel
Alanya coast
A resort-style hotel on the Alanya coast for travellers who want a full-service holiday with meals and facilities on site and the sights and tours a short transfer away.
Check rates →Bera Hotel Alanya
Alanya
A halal all-inclusive hotel in Alanya for travellers who want an alcohol-free, family-oriented stay with meals included and the sights and tours within reach.
Check rates →Senza Sunset Beach Hotel
Alanya coast
A beach-oriented hotel on the Alanya coast, a good pick for travellers who want sand and sea close to the door and a relaxed holiday with day trips arranged from the lobby.
Check rates →Alanya Beach Hotel
Alanya
A beach-area hotel in Alanya for travellers who want a simple, practical stay close to the sea, with the sights, boats and restaurants of the town reachable on foot or by a short ride.
Check rates →Sunny Hill Alya Hotel
Alanya coast
A hotel on the Alanya coast for travellers who want a pleasant base with a relaxed pace, a short ride from the castle, the harbour and the beaches.
Check rates →Alanya guides
First Time in Alanya: What to Book, Where to Go and How Many Days
A practical first-timer guide to Alanya: how many days you need, what to see first, how to get around, when to go and what to book ahead.
Where to Stay in Alanya: Best Areas and Hotels
A guide to the best areas to stay in Alanya, from the Cleopatra Beach district to resort stretches along the coast, with advice on how to choose a hotel.
Alanya in Three Days: A Practical Itinerary
A three-day plan for Alanya that combines the castle, the beach, a boat trip, a day in the hills and a restful evening, with tips on timing and transport.
Eating and Drinking in Alanya: What to Try and Where to Go
A guide to food in Alanya: fresh fish by the harbour, village lunches, Turkish breakfasts, street snacks and the drinks to try, with tips on eating well.
Best Time to Visit Alanya: Seasons, Weather and Crowds
A seasonal guide to Alanya: when the sea is warmest, when the sights are least crowded, what winter is like and how to plan around the heat.
Boat Trips and Sea Caves in Alanya: How to Choose
A guide to boat trips from Alanya: pirate boats, catamarans, sunset cruises and the Gazipasa bays, with tips on choosing the right one and what to bring.
