Alanya Travel Guide 2026: Seljuk Castle, Mediterranean Beaches and Caves

Alanya travel guide — Seljuk castle on a peninsula, Cleopatra Beach, Damlataş Cave, boat trips, and how to navigate a large resort on Turkey's Mediterranean

Alanya occupies one of Turkey’s most distinctive natural settings: a rocky peninsula jutting 250m into the Mediterranean, crowned by a 13th-century Seljuk castle whose walls run 6.5km along the cliff edges. Below the castle, a modern resort city extends east and west along sandy beaches — one of the largest concentrations of package tourism on the Turkish Mediterranean coast.

The contrast is the defining feature of Alanya. The castle, the Red Tower, the Seljuk shipyard, and the sea caves are genuinely significant. The beach resort below — hotels, waterparks, bars — is one of the most developed on the coast. Understanding which version of Alanya you want determines where you stay and how you spend your time.

The peninsula and castle

The Alanya peninsula was fortified by the Seljuk Sultan Alaeddin Keykubad I in 1226 CE, who made it the winter capital of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum. The 6.5km of castle walls, the 33-metre Red Tower (Kızılkule), the Seljuk shipyard (tersane), and the inner citadel are all survivals from this period. The castle walls are the best-preserved Seljuk military architecture in Turkey.

Entry: Outer castle (free access); inner citadel (₺200). The full walk around the castle walls takes 3–4 hours.

Beaches

Alanya’s two main beaches are on either side of the peninsula:

Cleopatra Beach: 2km west of the peninsula — fine sand, named for the legend that Cleopatra swam here. The most developed and popular beach in Alanya. Sunbeds ₺100–200 for two; the western section is less crowded.

Keykubat Beach: East of the peninsula — slightly less developed, broad sandy beach, calmer water. 4km of beach extending east along the shore.

For full beach details, see beaches in Alanya.

Sea caves and boat trips

The base of the Alanya peninsula is pierced by several sea caves accessible only by boat:

Damlataş Cave: On the west side of the peninsula, accessible from land (₺100 entry) — stalactites and stalagmites formed over 15,000 years; the cave humidity (98%) was historically recommended for asthma.

Lovers’ Cave, Pirates’ Cave, Phosphorescent Cave: Three sea caves on the eastern cliff face of the peninsula, accessible only by boat trip. The standard boat circuit (₺350–500/person, 2 hours) passes through all three. The Phosphorescent Cave lights up in the dark from bioluminescent organisms.

Getting around

Alanya sprawls: the old town and Red Tower are on the east harbour side; the castle is on the peninsula; Cleopatra Beach is 2km west; the main hotel strip continues further west still. Dolmuş services run along the main coastal road. Taxis ₺50–120 for most town trips. Renting a scooter (₺400–600/day) is practical for exploring the full beach strip and the mountains inland.

Daily costs

Category	Budget	Mid-range	Comfortable
Accommodation	₺600–1,200	₺1,500–3,500	₺4,000–12,000
Food	₺250–400	₺450–800	₺900–1,800
Activities	₺200–400	₺400–800	₺800–2,000
Transport	₺30–80	₺80–200	₺200–500
Total/day	₺1,080–2,080	₺2,430–5,300	₺5,900–16,300

Connections

Alanya is 130km east of Antalya — 2 hours by bus or dolmuş (₺80–120). Alanya’s nearest airport is Gazipaşa-Alanya Airport (GZP, 45km east), with direct flights to Germany, Russia, and several European cities in season. Most visitors fly into Antalya Airport (AYT) and transfer.