Alanya, the love nest that was given away

Alanya, the love nest that was given away

According to the legend, the Roman general Markus Antonius gave Alanya and its surroundings to the Egyptian queen Cleopatra. Alanya was said to have been the love nest of the two lovebirds, where they are said to have met secretly. Here Cleopatra went down to the beach every day to bathe on the hillside of the castle. In fact, Cleopatra had a tunnel that she used when she wanted to swim that led straight from the castle to the beach. Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt, stopped in Alanya on every expedition that took her to the Mediterranean Sea and went into the sea on this beach.

According to the legend, the Roman general Markus Antonius gave Alanya and its surroundings to the Egyptian queen Cleopatra. Alanya was said to have been the love nest of the two lovebirds, where they are said to have met secretly. Here Cleopatra went down to the beach every day to bathe on the hillside of the castle. In fact, Cleopatra had a tunnel that she used when she wanted to swim that led straight from the castle to the beach. Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt, stopped in Alanya on every expedition that took her to the Mediterranean Sea and went into the sea on this beach.

Alanya, a holiday paradise in southern Turkey, is favored by local and foreign tourists especially in the summer season for its natural beauties, historical buildings and warm climate. In Alanya, which has been used as a city by many civilizations throughout history due to its location and geographic features, there are historical structures built by those civilizations that can still be seen today. A magnet throughout its history from the Phrygians to the Romans, from the Anatolian Seljuk state to the Ottoman Empire, Alanya still hosts thousands of visitors from all over the world.

While among the sights in Alanya there are mainly historical buildings, among the natural beauties of the region there are also very interesting places that I have listed below.

Incidentally, we are very often asked about shopping facilities and other diverse options in the respective towns and cities. Since this topic is very extensive, we have set up the 'Insider Club' platform where you can find all sorts of information about shopping, events, activities, food & drink and much more.

Red Tower

Kızılkule, one of the first structures that comes to mind when mentioning Alanya, is one of the most iconic structures in the region. You can visit the tower, which is a remarkable structure in the district center around the historical peninsula with its architecture and location.

The tower, which is one of the 13th-century structures, was built by I. Alaaddin Keykubat. Kızılkule, built to ward off sea threats and defend the city, was built on a sloping land. The east side of the tower, which has a different distance from the ground on both sides, is 33 meters; The west side is 3 meters shorter than the east side.

The tower, in which rectangular limestone and spolia products were used, is one of the finest examples of 13th-century architecture with its magnificent appearance. On the door of the tower, where the entrances are from the north side, the inscription “Thanks to Allah” draws attention.

Entrance fees to Kızılkule, one of the structures that attract the attention of local and foreign tourists visiting Alanya, range from 5-10 TL; No fees are charged from students.

The dim cave

Dim Cave, which is one of the must-visit natural beauties in Alanya, is located about 13 kilometers from the city center. You can reach the cave in Kestel region by private vehicle by following Ahmet Tokuş Boulevard to Dim River.

There are 4 galleries in the cave which is approximately 232 meters above sea level. The cave, which is very interesting in shape and appearance, is one of the most important natural wonders of the region. With a total length of 360 meters, the building is 13 meters wide, while stalactites and stalagmites can be seen on its ceilings.

Entrance fees to the cave, which can be visited every day of the week, range from 5-10 TL for adults and 10-15 TL for students.

Alanya Castle

The castle, located within the borders of the historical peninsula in the center of Alanya district, is one of the most important historical structures in the region. The castle is about 5-10 minutes walk from the city center.

The castle, which has a magnificent appearance with its 6 kilometers of ramparts surrounding it, was used in 1221 during the reign of Alaaddin Keykubat I to defend the city from threats from BC

to protect from the sea. During the same period, various restoration works were carried out and the castle was further strengthened. A cistern was built inside the building to avoid water demand problems.

Entry to the castle, which is one of the 13th-century structures, is 15-20 TL.

Sapadere Gorge

One of the outstanding natural beauties of Alanya, Sapadere Canyon is one of the places to visit with its remarkable structure and atmosphere. The building is located in the village of Sapadere, 45 kilometers from the city center.

In the canyon, which is about 15 kilometers from the sea, there are small natural pools. One of the most striking features of the building is the walk-in natural pool. It is not dangerous to visit the gorge as platforms have been built inside the gorge for easy navigation.

There is a fee of 10-15 TL to enter the gorge, where you can explore the natural beauties of Alanya on foot.

Armory

The Armory is located in Alanya city center near the port and is easily accessible on foot.
The Armory, located next to the Shipyard within the boundaries of the Historical Peninsula, is a structure that consists of a total of 2 floors. Thanks to the 19 meter high arched corridor in the armory, it is possible to get to the surrounding walls.

One of the windows of the 2 rooms at the front door of the building is on land; the other faces the sea. Upstairs there are a total of 6 rooms, three each. A cistern was built within the boundaries of Tophane to meet the water needs of the soldiers and officials. The structure played an important role in defending the Mediterranean against external threats during its time.

One of the most important historical buildings of Alanya

Entry to the Armory is free.

Phosphorus cave

You can visit Phosphorus Cave, which is very close to Damlataş Cave, which is one of the main natural beauties of Alanya, with boat tours from the port.
The cave, which has a very interesting structure, is famous for emitting phosphorescent light. The lights, which can be seen more clearly especially late at night, are also reflected in the cave's sea. You can visit the cave which looks like a natural pool for free and enjoy the cool Mediterranean waters in the clear sea in front.

You can visit Phosphorus Cave with boat tours that depart from the port area.

Alanya Archaeological Museum

The Museum of Archeology, which sheds light on the history of Alanya, is located in Saray Mahallesi, which is within the boundaries of the district. Access to the museum can be reached on foot.
There are 15 exhibition rooms in the museum displaying the artifacts and documents of the civilizations living in the region. The museum, which has artifacts from many civilizations from the Bronze Age to the Phrygians, has been welcoming visitors since 1967.

The museum, which houses artifacts from the Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods, serves as a witness to Alanya's past. Entrance fees to the museum range from 5-10 TL.

Dim river

Dim Stream, where you can spend time in a cool environment during your vacation in Alanya, is among the popular natural beauties of the region. Access to the creek around the Dim Dam can be done by private vehicle, taxi or city buses departing from the district center.
In the region there are picnic areas, tea gardens and cafeterias, where many facilities that serve as a recreation area are located. Mostly favored by locals on weekends, the region has made a name for itself for its scenery, atmosphere and clean air.

Entry to the facility is free, where you can also benefit from the parking if you arrive by your private vehicle.

Suleymaniye Mosque

Suleymaniye Mosque in the center of Alanya district is one of the historical buildings from 13th century. The building on Galatasaray Street is open for worship.
The edifice, built in the 13th century by order of Alaaddin Keykubat I, was added to Suleiman the Magnificent's edifice in the following process and given its current form.

The mosque is an example of 16th-century architecture with its architectural features and decorations. It is also referred to as Kale, Alaaddin or Orta Hisar Mosque by the locals. The mosque, which is free to enter, is still open for worship today.

Huseyin Azakoglu City Museum and Urban Memory Center

The museum, where you can find detailed information about the history of Alanya, highlights the Ver

history of the region. Transportation to the museum, located in Şekerhane Mahallesi district, can be done by private vehicles, taxis or minibuses.
The building, which serves in one of the traditional Alanya mansions, was donated to the district municipality by the owners of the manor for cultural purposes. The mansion, which is remarkable with its architectural features and appearance, has a large archive on the history of Alanya. Entrance fees to the museum, which is the memory of the city of Alanya, range from 5 to 10 TL.

Alanya daily places to visit

Due to its location, Alanya is also close to popular tourist destinations in the region. In Alanya, where you can reach many important destinations in Antalya province, there are many points where you can spend time daily.Manavgat Waterfall
You can reach Manavgat Waterfall, which is about 60 kilometers from Alanya city center, by continuing the Mersin - Antalya road in the west direction. Located on the Manavgat River, the waterfall is formed by the water falling from the river and gushing from the cliffs. You can visit the natural waterfall, which attracts attention with its enchanting beauty, every day for free.

You can view hotels on our Antalya Manavgat Hotels page to plan your vacation in Manavgat, which offers comfortable and quality accommodation options.

Ancient city of Side

Access to the ancient city of Side, located on the border of Manavgat, at an average distance of 65 kilometers from Alanya, is via the Mersin - Antalya road in the west direction. The ancient city, which you can visit daily, was home to many civilizations from the Lydians to the Byzantines. The area where entry is free includes the Bath, Temple of Apollo and historical houses for you to visit.

You can check out the hotels on our Antalya Side Hotels page to plan your vacation in Side, which offers comfortable and quality accommodation options.

Ancient city of Selinus

The ancient city of Selinus, which is about 45 kilometers from Alanya, is within the borders of Gazipaşa district. Follow the Antalya - Mersin main road to the Gazipaşa intersection and from here you can explore the works of ancient times via Ugur Mumcu Street. You can visit the region daily with free entry.

Admission prices as of: 2020