Alanya is located in the Antalya region in the south of Turkey and is one of the most popular holiday destinations. It is compared to the Maldives in the way of climate.
Alanya is bordered by the Taurus Mountains in the north and the Mediterranean Sea in the south.
Below are some options of must-see places to visit.
The Dim River
The Dim River is located on the east side of Alanya, about 30kms away from the city centre.
The river comes from the Taurus Mountains and flows into the Mediterranean Sea. It’s about 60km long.
You can find banana and orange trees lining the banks of the river which make a beautiful sight.
There are also many restaurants and cafes dotted along its banks, perfect for grabbing a bite to eat or relaxing in the cool water.
The waters stay cool nearly all year round and provides relief during the long hot summer months to those who bathe there.
Alanya Castle
This stunning castle was built in 1220 on the remains of Roman and Byzantine fortifications by the hands of Seljuk. It combines the history of successive civilizations.
It is classed as one of the earths most beautiful spots.
It is located in Hisarici, 250 metres high on a rocky peninsula that juts into the Mediterranean Sea and is protected on three sides.
The castle is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009.
Cleopatra Coast and Beach
This coast got its name from the Egyptian Queen, Cleopatra, who came and swam in the water here.
The beach is located on the west side of the historical peninsula and near the Damlatas Cave.
This beautiful beach is covered by rocks and a small cove that is known as Cleopatra lies amongst large stones and rocks.
The waters here are very clean with great visibility of the many fish species and underwater life.
Alanya Cable Car
This opened in 2017 and is one of the most prominent tourist spots in Alanya.
The ride takes you past the Alanya Castle, Cleopatra Coast and the Damlatas Caves, meaning riders will get a great view of these stunning locations from above.
The Red Tower
This amazing and somewhat striking, five storey octagonal defence tower measures nearly 30 metres in diameter, more than 30 metres high and has a central cistern for water storage.
The tower looks over the harbour located at the lower end of Iskele Caddesi. It was constructed by Seljuk sultan Alaeddin Keykubad in 1226.
If you climb the 70 plus steps to the rooftop the views are pretty spectacular.
Pirates Cave
According to local tradition, a secret tunnel once connected Alanya Castle to this cave, allowing pirates to secretly hide away their treasures.
You can swim inside the cave and many boat excursions have stops nearby. It is a sea cave under the historical peninsula and is only accessible from the sea. The cave itself is six metres high and ten metres wide so small boats can enter.
Damlatas Cave
This cave is located nearby to Cleopatras Beach and the cable car to the castle.
The cave features stalactites and has humidity levels of 98 percent.
The air inside the cave is said to have the ability to relieve asthma if inhaled and exhaled for long enough.
The constant temperature is around 22 degrees.
This cave was first discovered in 1948 during the construction of Alanya Harbour.
All in all, Alanya is a place full of history, beautiful scenery, stunning, clear waters and lots of interesting locations to discover and explore.