Alanya walking tour & city guide

Alanya Castle and the Red Tower

Alanya Castle sits about 250 meters above the sea, with walls that run for several kilometers around the peninsula. Most of what you see was built by the Seljuk Sultan Alaeddin Keykubad in the 13th century. Inside the walls are old houses, a Byzantine church, cisterns and viewpoints with breathtaking views over the coast. A cable car now links Damlataş Beach with the castle.

Down at the harbor, the octagonal Red Tower (Kızıl Kule), built in 1226 to protect the Seljuk shipyard, is the symbol of the city. The Tersane, a medieval shipyard carved into the rock, is a short walk or boat ride away.

Beaches and boat trips

Cleopatra Beach, west of the peninsula, has fine golden sand and clear water; legend says the Egyptian queen once swam here. Damlataş Cave, discovered in 1948, is right by the beach. East of the castle, Keykubat Beach stretches for kilometers.

Boat trips circle the peninsula, visiting sea caves such as the Phosphorus Cave and Lovers' Cave. In the evening, the harbor and the city center fill with people, as the night walk shows.

Visiting tips

Summers are long and hot, with swimming possible from May to October. Gazipaşa-Alanya Airport is close by, and Antalya Airport is about two hours away. The Dim River, inland from the city, is a cool escape with restaurants built over the water.