A Traditional Turkish Welcome in Alanya

Alanya Holidays - Culture And Entertainment!

Alanya is a beach resort town, not to be confused with the larger city of Antalya, which is about 100 miles west along the coast. A bright and clean town, central Alanya has height restrictions that limit most buildings to 21 feet, preserving the skyline and creating an atmosphere of small-town Turkey that tourists relish. However, there is greater expansion on the fringes of the city, and although Alanya offers tourists a traditional Turkish welcome, it also has all the amenities that visitors can expect from a luxury resort city. Alanya is further south than resorts like Marmaris or Bodrum, meaning the season lasts a little longer and pools and beaches remain open in warmer weather. The beaches have a reputation for their cleanliness and safety, particularly the main Alanya Beach, while the popular Cleopatra Beach and nearby Damlataş Beach are also prime destinations.

While the bustling town centre has great shopping, excellent restaurants and a relaxed yet vibrant nightlife, there are quieter beachfront and forested landscapes in the surrounding foothills of the Taurus Mountains. Outdoor enthusiasts can soak up the sun among evergreen scrubland, fig trees, Lebanon cedar and tall black pines, enjoying activities like quad biking, donkey riding and jeep safari tours. Tourists can also enjoy boat trips along the coast to Manavgat, visit nearby peninsulas and caves (including the Damlataş Cave and sites near Alanya Harbour including Pirates’ Cave, Lovers’ Cave and Phosphorus Cave) and go scuba diving with dolphins.

Alanya is a prime holiday destination in the south of Turkey and a great place for nature lovers, scuba divers, history enthusiasts, wind surfers and beach devotees too. Fill in your holiday dates to find holidays to Alanya with Holiday Hypermarket and adjust the star rating and board settings to ensure you get the deal that suits your family and budget best.

Top Attractions in Alanya

Alanya Castle

A grand historical attraction in the town, Alanya Castle has lasted through the centuries since it was constructed after the city’s conquest in 1220. Standing 820 feet high on a rocky peninsula, this building provides spectacular views of the town, and has an amazing 93 towers and 140 battlements.

Alanya Dockyard and Red Tower

The powerful Seljuk Sultan Alaaddin Keykubat I also built the Alanya Dockyard to be his Mediterranean naval base along with an arsenal that was used to defend against seaborne attacks from the south west. The grand Red Tower was built for a similar purpose, and its 115-foot height and octagonal shape make it a prime example of medieval military architecture. Today it houses the Alanya Ethnographic Museum.

Damlataş Cave

Moving away from man-made historical sites of interest, the Damlataş Cave is filled with stalactites, stalagmites and columns of semi-crystallised limestone that were shaped by thousands of years of erosion. Discovered accidentally in 1948 by miners, the cave is reached via a short passageway, and it is believed that the high concentrations of carbon dioxide, humidity and low temperatures in the cave are beneficial for sufferers of asthma.

Cleopatra Beach

East and west are divided by a rocky peninsula in Alanya, which is a feature of the city. The harbour and CBD are on the eastern side, while to the west, Damlataş and Cleopatra Beach are two popular locations. Cleopatra Beach in particular, with its hot white sand, clear water and smooth pebbles that dot its shoreline, is an attraction for visitors and locals alike. Whether or not it was a gift from the Roman General Mark Antony to his new wife, Cleopatra of Egypt, is mostly hearsay…

Book holidays to Alanya with Holiday Hypermarket

A smaller resort town that provides a traditional Turkish welcome, Alanya also has plenty of modern amenities that include luxury accommodation, shopping and a bustling nightlife. But perhaps some of the best attractions in Alanya are natural ones and include the ocean, surrounding Taurus Mountains and sandy beaches. Fill in your flight dates to get a list of the best deals on holidays to Alanya with Holiday Hypermarket.