According to legend, the Roman general Mark Antony gifted Alanya and its surroundings to the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra. Alanya is said to have been the love nest of the two lovebirds, where they met in secret. Here, Cleopatra went down to the beach every day to bathe on the slope of the castle. In fact, Cleopatra had a tunnel that she used when she wanted to swim, which led directly from the castle to the beach. Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt, stopped in Alanya on every expedition that took her to the Mediterranean and went into the sea at this beach.

According to legend, the Roman general Mark Antony gifted Alanya and its surroundings to the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra. Alanya is said to have been the love nest of the two lovebirds, where they met in secret. Here, Cleopatra went down to the beach every day to bathe on the slope of the castle. In fact, Cleopatra had a tunnel that she used when she wanted to swim, which led directly from the castle to the beach. Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt, stopped in Alanya on every expedition that took her to the Mediterranean and went into the sea at this beach.

Alanya, a holiday paradise in the south of Turkey, is preferred by local and foreign tourists, especially in the summer season, with 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 geographical features, there are historical structures built by these civilizations that can still be seen today. Alanya, which was a point of attraction throughout its history from the Phrygians to the Romans, from the Anatolian Seljuk State to the Ottoman Empire, still hosts thousands of visitors from all over the world today.

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

By the way, we are often asked about shopping facilities and other various opportunities in the respective towns and cities. Since this topic is very extensive, we have set up the platform 'Insider Club' for this purpose, where you can find all kinds of information about shopping, events, activities, food & drink, and much more.

Red Tower

Kızılkule (Red Tower), one of the first structures that comes to mind when Alanya is mentioned, is one of the symbolic structures of 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 structures from the 13th century, was built by Alaaddin Keykubat I. Kızılkule, which was built to repel threats from the sea and defend the city, was built on sloping land. The east side of the tower, which has a different distance to 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 most beautiful examples of 13th-century structures with its magnificent appearance. At the door of the tower, where the entrances are from the north side, the inscription "Thanks be to Allah" attracts attention.

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

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 width of the structure is 13 meters, while stalactites and stalagmites can be seen on its ceilings.

Entrance fees for the cave, which can be visited every day of the week, are between 3-6 EUR for adults and 6-8 EUR for students.

Alanya Castle

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

The castle, which has a magnificent appearance with its 6-kilometer-long ramparts surrounding it, was used in 1221 during the reign of Alaaddin Keykubat I to protect the city from threats 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 problems with water requirements.

Entrance to the castle, which belongs to the structures from the 13th century, is 8-10 EUR.

Sapadere Canyon

Sapadere Canyon, one of the extraordinary natural beauties of Alanya, is among the places that should be visited with its remarkable structure and atmosphere. The structure 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. Among the most striking features of the structure are the walkable natural pools. It is not dangerous to visit the canyon, as platforms have been built inside the canyon for easy navigation.

For entry into the canyon, where you can explore the natural beauties of Alanya on foot, a fee of 5-8 EUR is charged.

The Arsenal (Tophane)

The Arsenal is located in the city center of Alanya near the harbor and is easily accessible on foot.
The Arsenal, located next to the shipyard within the borders of the historical peninsula, is a structure consisting of a total of 2 floors. Thanks to the 19-meter-high vaulted corridor in the Arsenal, it is possible to reach the surrounding walls.

One of the windows of the 2 rooms at the entrance door of the building faces the land; the other faces the sea. On the upper floor, there are a total of 6 rooms, three on each side. Within the boundaries of Tophane, a cistern was built 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.

Entrance to the Arsenal is free.

Phosphorus Cave

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

You can visit the Phosphorus Cave with boat tours starting from the harbor area.

Alanya Archaeological Museum

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

The museum, where artifacts from the Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods are exhibited, serves as a witness to Alanya's past for you. Entrance fees for the museum are in the range of 3-6 EUR.

Dim River

Dim Stream, where you can spend time in a cool environment during your holiday in Alanya, is among the popular natural beauties of the region. Access to the stream around the Dim Dam can be done by private vehicle, taxi, or municipal buses departing from the district center.
In the region, there are picnic areas, tea gardens, and cafeterias, where there are many facilities serving as a recreation area. The region, which is preferred especially by locals on weekends, has made a name for itself for landscape, atmosphere, and clean air.

Entrance to the facility is free, where you can also benefit from the parking lots if you arrive with your private vehicle.

Süleymaniye Mosque

The Süleymaniye Mosque in the center of the Alanya district is one of the historical buildings from the 13th century. The building on Galatasaray Street is open for worship.
The structure, which was built in the 13th century by order of Alaaddin Keykubat I, was added to by Suleiman the Magnificent in the following process and took its present form.

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

Hüseyin Azakoğlu City Museum and Urban Memory Center

The museum, where you can find detailed information about the history of Alanya, sheds light on the past of the region. Transportation to the museum, located in Şekerhane Mahallesi of the district, can be done by private vehicles, taxis, or minibuses.
The building, which serves in one of the traditional Alanya mansions, was left to the district municipality by the owners of the mansion 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 for the museum, which is the urban memory of Alanya, are between 6 and 8 EUR.

Daily Places to Visit in Alanya

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

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

Ancient City of Side

Access to the ancient city of Side, which is located on the border of Manavgat, at an average distance of 65 kilometers from Alanya, is via the Mersin - Antalya road in a westerly direction. The ancient city, which you can visit daily, hosted many civilizations from the Lydians to the Byzantines. In the area where entry is free, there are the bath, the Temple of Apollo, and historical houses that you can visit.

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

Ancient City of Selinus

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

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