Alanya's History and Places to Visit in Alanya

You can find whatever you want from a holiday in Alanya; History, nature, sea, culture, entertainment are all waiting for you in this beautiful city! Alanya history, best time to go to Alanya, transportation to Alanya, places to visit in Alanya, what to eat in Alanya, accommodation in Alanya, Alanya nightlife, activities to do in Alanya, everything you need to know about Alanya beaches We gathered everything together. Do not plan a plan in Alanya without reading this article, which is a travel guide for Alanya!

History of Alanya

Before we start to show you Alanya, we would like to briefly talk about the history of Alanya. Thus, our stops in the list of places to visit in Alanya will be much more meaningful.

Although the first establishment date of Alanya, one of the most important holiday resorts of the Mediterranean Region and by whom it was founded, is not known exactly. Findings have been found that date back to 20,000-17,000 years ago. Since it was located on the border of Pamphylia and Cilicia in ancient times, it went into the pages of history sometimes as a city of Pamphylia and sometimes as a city of Cilicia. According to the historian Herodotus, the people living in this region are descendants of the colonies that dispersed to Anatolia after the Trojan War.

The name of the city, which was named Kalanoros in the Eastern Roman Period; In the 13th century, when the Anatolian Seljuk ruler I. Alaaddin Keykubat (1200-1237) took the castle, it was changed to Alaiye, which means the city of Alaaddin.

Scylax, one of the ancient geographers of the 4th century BC, and later the famous ancient writer Strabon, Piri Reis, İbn-i Batuta and Evliya Celebi came to this region and mentioned Alanya in their works. The city, which was the second capital of the Anatolian Seljuks, increased its importance at that time. The important historical places of the city such as the Shipyard, Kızıl Kule and Tophane were built during this period. After the collapse of the Anatolian Seljuks, the city was first included in the borders of the Karamanogulları and then the Ottoman Empire.

Best Time to Go to Alanya

The best time to go to Alanya is April-May, October-November. If you do not want to struggle with heat and humidity, you can choose these periods. However, if you want to warm my bones and say that you are going for the sea-sun, of course, you can choose the summer months. If you're going in the summer, don't forget to take plenty of sunscreen and, of course, a hat.

Transportation to Alanya

Alanya is located within the borders of Antalya province in the Mediterranean Region, which is the warmest region of our country. Alanya is built on a peninsula surrounded by the magnificent Taurus Mountains in the north and the warm waters of the Mediterranean in the south.

  • The distance between Alanya and Antalya city center is approximately 133 km,
  • The distance between Alanya and Antalya Airport is 125 km,
  • The distance between Alanya and Gazipasa-Alanya Airport is approximately 41 km.

The best option to reach Alanya by air is to use Gazipasa-Alanya Airport. You can rent a car from the airport or use Havas shuttles. It takes approximately 1 hour between Gazipasa-Alanya Airport and Alanya center. You can also reach the city center by taxi or transfer service from your hotel.

If you are going to Alanya with your own private vehicle or rental car; When you follow the coastal road to the east after Antalya, the road will bring you to Alanya.

If you are going to Alanya by public transport; Well-known bus companies from many big cities of Turkey have direct bus services to Alanya.

If you cannot find the right time for yourself, it may be another option to come to Antalya and continue with Alanya buses from Antalya.

Places to Visit in Alanya

  • Alanya Castle (Inner Castle)

Alanya Castle, one of the most beautiful medieval castles preserved in Anatolia to this day, is an open-air museum built on a 10-hectare peninsula and surrounded by 6 km long walls. The castle, which is the symbol of Alanya; It has many places to visit with 140 bastions, 400 cisterns, churches, Kızılkule, Ehmedek, İckale, Tophane and Shipyard, old Alanya houses.

There is no fee to enter the castle walls, but since the section where the inner castle is located has the status of a museum / ruins, the entrance is paid and there is a restriction on visiting hours. In this section, the cisterns, the sultan's palace, the wards and a chapel can be visited.

  • Ehmedek Castle

Since Alanya Castle is a peninsula surrounded by the sea on three sides, another inner castle was built to strengthen the land side, it is called Ehmedek. Ehmedek consists of two separate sections with three towers each. Suleymaniye Mosque, Culture and Silk House, Mecveddin Cistern, Gemili Masjid and Market Gate are the places you can see in this region. Entry to this part of the castle is free. This is the first part to be reached from Alanya center by cable car. Also, the sunset view from here is amazing!

  • Red Tower

With all its beauty and splendor, Kızılkule welcomes visitors to the port like a port guard.

Kizilkule was built by Alaaddin Keykubat in 1226 to protect Alanya Harbor. The octagonal tower is 33 meters high and 29 meters in diameter. There is a walking path from the first floor of Kizilkule to the inside of the city wall.

  • Historical Alanya Shipyard

One of the places that makes Alanya such an important place is the Historical Alanya Shipyard. The Shipyard, one of the symbols of Alanya, was built in 1228 by Alaaddin Keykubat.

The Shipyard, which consists of five arched eyes facing the sea, was built with a length of 56.5 meters and a depth of 44 meters. Realizing the strategic location of Alanya, Alaaddin Keykubat built a shipyard here and, with the shipyard he built on the Black Sea coast, dominated the Mediterranean and the Black Sea and received the title of "Sultan of the two seas". During this period, he increased the importance of the city by making trade agreements with the Venetians.

This beautiful shipyard continued to serve as a shipyard until the 1960s. It can now be visited as a museum. Old ship skeletons and shipbuilding materials are also exhibited inside.

  • Armory

While walking from Kizilkule to Shipyard, you will pass by Tophane. Tophane, which was built in 1227 to protect the Shipyard at an altitude of 10 meters from the sea, can be seen as an open-air museum today, you do not need to pay any entrance fee.

  • Alanya Harbor

When you come to Alanya, Alanya Harbor is one of the places where you will eventually fall on your way. The port, which is currently used by daily boat tours, diving boats and fishing boats departing from Alanya, was an important trade center in history. You can take a break at one of the many restaurants and cafes around the port and watch the lively day here.

  • Damlatas Cave

Damlatas Cave, one of the first caves in Turkey to be opened to tourism, was discovered by chance in 1948 during the construction of the port. At the entrance of the cave on the west coast of Alanya Castle, there is a 50-meter passage at a height of 15 meters, after which you can proceed into the cave. It is estimated that the stalactites and stalagmites in the cave were formed in 15 thousand years. The constant temperature of 22.3 degrees, humidity of 95 percent and pressure of 760 mm in the cave in summer and winter are good for asthma patients.

  • Dim Cave

Dim Cave, located 14 km from Alanya city center, is one of the popular touristic spots of Alanya. Located at a point overlooking the valley formed by the Dim Stream, the cave was formed by the erosion of the limestone rocks by the rain waters, and its estimated age is 1 million.

  • Dim River

Dim Stream is a great cooling off point to escape the heat of Alanya. In summer and spring, you can come for breakfast or main course at the restaurants on the banks of the river, swim in the tea, sunbathe and enjoy the coolness. 

  • Sapadere Canyon

One of my favorite places in Alanya is undoubtedly Sapadere Canyon. Located 45 km from Alanya city center, the canyon is a great option to be in touch with nature, to cool off in Sapadere waters and to take a canyon trip that is not difficult. You can also choose to spend time under plane trees in cafes and restaurants at the entrance of the canyon.

  • Alanya Museum

Alanya Museum, which is within walking distance of Damlatas Cave; It consists of Anatolian Civilizations, Ship and Maritime, Herakles, Alanya Castle, Coin Hall sections. Artifacts from the recent history, starting from 12 thousand years ago, are exhibited in the museum. The most famous work of the museum is the Heracles Statue, generally everyone comes to the museum to see this statue.