Great interest of travelers has always been aroused by resorts that make it possible to combine a beach holiday with exciting sightseeing trips. The sights of Alanya (Turkey) are very diverse and allow you to get acquainted with the history of the city, enjoy its natural beauty, look at unique caves and arrange rich tours of the sea. It is noteworthy that the resort is developing quite rapidly, and every year more and more opportunities for tourists appear on its territory. Which objects of Alanya are best to see first and what to expect from them, we describe in detail in our article.
Red Tower
One of the most ancient sights of Alanya is the Red Tower, which today has become a symbol and business card of the city. The fortress was built in the early 13th century by the Seljuk Sultan Aladdin Keykubat as a defensive object of the fortress of Alanya. The name of the tower is associated with the shade of the stones lining it. Next to the old building, there is a small museum of shipbuilding, where models of ships and some construction items are displayed.
The Red Tower is also an observation platform from where you can see the lush and vibrant landscapes of picturesque Alanya. The steps leading to the very top of the structure are quite steep and high (about half a meter), so you need to be extremely careful here. In general, this is one of the attractions of Alanya that you should definitely see during your holiday in the resort. It is easy to do this yourself, without buying a tour.
- Address: Çarşı Mahallesi, Iskele Cd. No: 102, 07400 Alanya, Turkey.
- Opening hours: daily from 09: 00 to 19: 00.
- Admission fee: the price of a ticket to the tower is 6 TL, a single ticket “tower + museum” costs 8 TL.
Ropeway (Alanya Teleferik)
What to see in Alanya besides the Red Tower? One of the most exciting activities can be a cable car ride up the mountain to the ancient castle of Alanya. The ski lift departs from the station located near Cleopatra Beach. The trip takes no more than 5 minutes: during this time you will have time to enjoy the seascapes and unforgettable views of the city.
At the top, you get to the northern part of the fortress, connected to the main buildings by special paths. The main tourist attraction, the outer walls of the castle, can be reached in 15 minutes by yourself (the distance is no more than 1 km). On the mountain there are recreation areas, there is a cafe where drinks and ice cream are sold. Previously, this part of the castle was hidden from travelers, and almost no one visited it, but with the advent of the cable car, it became quite popular.
- Address: Saray Mahallesi, Güzelyalı Cd. 8-12, 07400 Alanya, Turkey.
- Opening hours: from Monday to Friday, the funicular runs from 09: 30 to 18: 00. Saturday and Sunday – from 09: 30 to 19: 00.
- Cost of the trip: the price of an adult round-trip ticket is 20 TL, for children-10 TL.
Alanya Kalesi Fortress
If you decide what to see on your own among the sights of Alanya, then do not miss the main city fortress. The large-scale structure was built in 1226 on a hill at an altitude of 250 m above sea level. The area of the historical complex is almost 10 hectares, and its walls stretch for a distance of about 7 km. You can explore the free part of the fortress on your own, where there are ancient stone cisterns and a functioning mosque.
In the paid attractions section, you will find the ancient citadel and Ekhmedek Fortress. The Byzantine-era Church of St. George is also located here, but due to its dilapidated state, it is forbidden to approach it too closely. However, the main advantages of this attraction of Alanya are not so much in its ancient buildings, but in the spectacular views that open from the very top of the fortress.
- Address: Hisariçi Mahallesi, 07400 Alanya, Turkey.
- Opening hours: daily from 08: 00 to 17: 00.
- Visit fee: 20 TL.
Alanya Shipyard
Another attraction worth seeing in Alanya in Turkey is the shipyard, located near the walls of the city fortress. This is the only shipyard in the country that has survived to this day in such good condition. Once upon a time, small wooden ships were built here, which later sailed all over the Mediterranean Sea.
Today, there are five arched workshops left of the building, and part of the construction props has been preserved, which you can study yourself in the museum operating here. Among its exhibits are shipwrecks, anchors and ancient tools: the objects give a clear picture of how ships were built in the Middle Ages. It will be interesting for both adults and children to visit the museum. The shipyard is surrounded by a beautiful bay where you can swim.
- Address: Tophane Mahallesi, Tersane Sk. No: 9, 07400 Alanya, Turkey.
- Opening hours: daily from 09: 00 to 19: 00.
- Cost of visit: 5 TL, but it will be more economical to purchase a single ticket that includes entrance to other attractions (Red Tower + Shipyard = 8 TL, Red Tower + shipyard+ Damlatash Cave = 12 TL).
The harbor
If you are thinking about what to see in Alanya on your own, then be sure to include the city’s harbor in your sightseeing list. The lively bay, filled with pirate-style yachts and ships, is located close to the fortress and is a great place to explore. Here you can always go on a boat tour for an additional fee. During the day it will be a picturesque boat trip, and in the evening you will have a real party on the deck with a foam disco and free drinks. There is also an excursion steam train that takes tourists through the main streets of the resort.
Parallel to the harbor stretches a chain of various restaurants and bars, where you can spend a pleasant evening admiring the sunset and the monumental views of the fortress. There is also a shopping street nearby that sells souvenirs, textiles, gold and other popular Turkish goods. The harbor is located right in the center of Alanya, you can visit it yourself at any time. It will be interesting both day and night.
Alanya Gardens
The authorities of Alanya strive to develop the resort, so every year something new appears in the city. Most recently, a culture and recreation park called Gardens of Alanya was built here. The attraction is located high on a hill and pleases with a beautiful and comfortable arrangement. The park’s grounds are decorated with gardens and fountains, and you will find a lot of amenities in the form of cafes, barbecue areas, children’s playgrounds and a concert amphitheater. On the territory there are several viewing platforms that unfold before the eyes of all the beauty of Alanya: the sea, the mountains, the lively city.
Many tourists still do not know about the new place, and when deciding what to see in Alanya on their own, they simply lose sight of it. The landmark of the park is a huge inscription ALANYA with a red heart, set high on the hill. You can get to the property by city bus number 8. The entrance to the Gardens of Alanya is open at any time, admission is free.
Dimcay River
Among the attractions of Alanya in Turkey, there are also interesting natural sites. The Dimchai River is famous for its large reservoir, which was built here in 2008. Surrounded by pine forests, the dam looks especially picturesque during the rainy season, when its waters turn azure. From here you can enjoy panoramic views of the mountains and the valley, along which fast river streams rush.
Below, at the foot of the reservoir, there are numerous restaurants serving national Turkish cuisine. The place is very popular among locals, but tourists know little about this corner of the resort. It is especially pleasant to relax in a cafe on the Dimchai River on a summer evening, when the mountain waters bring a long-awaited refreshing breeze and coolness. This attraction of Alanya in Turkey is not difficult to visit on your own. The dam is located just 15 km from the city center, and it is easy to get here by bus number 10.
- Address: Kuzyaka Mahallesi, 07450 Alanya, Turkey.
Dim Cave
What else can you see on your own in and around Alanya? It is definitely worth going to one of the largest caves in Turkey called Dim. It is best to combine this trip with a visit to the Dimchai River, because the objects are only 20 minutes away from each other. Dim Cave is more than a million years old, but it was found only in 1986. It is located at a depth of 350 m, and its length exceeds 400 m. The cave consists of a large and small hall, where you can look at stalactites, stalagmites and ancient ceramic fragments. Inside, you can hear the sounds of a Turkish pipe, which creates a mysterious atmosphere.
Despite the fact that the object is conveniently equipped with paths and railings, it is better to visit it in sports shoes. The humidity here is 90%, and the temperature is 20 ° C, so you can also use a light jacket. It takes no more than 30 minutes to explore the entire attraction on your own. You can get here by bus number 10.
- Address: Kestel Mahallesi, 07450 Alanya, Turkey.
- Opening hours: daily from 09: 00 to 18: 30.
- Visit fee: 8 TL.
Damlatas Caves
The last attraction worth seeing in Alanya is the Damlatash Cave. It was discovered in 1948 during the construction of the pier: building materials were extracted from the mountain by means of explosions, as a result of one of which the grotto was opened. The cave is quite small and shallow, its length is no more than 45 m. Here you can see stalactites and stalagmites dating back several millennia. The walls are illuminated with beautiful lighting, but in general there is a semi-darkness inside.
The cave is characterized by almost one hundred percent humidity at a temperature of 24 ° C, and in its air the level of carbon dioxide is exceeded by 10 times from the norm. Therefore, it is quite difficult to breathe here, but the air in the grotto is considered curative. Damlatas is located in the very center of Alanya next to Cleopatra Beach, so it is very easy to get here on your own (on foot or by bus number 4).
- Address: Çarşı Mahallesi, Damlataş Cd. No:81, 07400 Alanya, Turkey.
- Opening hours: daily from 10: 00 to 19: 00.
- Visit fee: 6 TL.
Conclusion
Indeed, the sights of Alanya (Turkey) are so diverse and interesting that they can become the main reason for a trip to the resort. It is important that almost all places can be reached in a few minutes by public transport. At the same time, the cost of entrance tickets is not very high, and some places do not require payment at all. Now you know what to see in Alanya on your own. It only remains to make a plan of excursions, using the information from our article, and you are guaranteed an unforgettable holiday in Turkey.
