Alanya is a popular seaside resort in southern Turkey, about 150 km east ofAntalya. To the east and west of Alanya you find some of the best beaches inTurkey, the Taurus Mountains provide a breathtaking backdrop to the north. Mostof old Alanya lies on the great rocky promontory that juts out into the sea.
In the old town you find many old houses, towers and mosques, as well as anice small harbour. At the waterfront there are plenty of friendly bars,tea-houses, cafes and restaurants with an excellent range of international andtraditional cuisine.
If you like to explore caves, then you must see Damlatas Cave. Near the cave is the Ethnography Museum. By boat you can reach three other caves: the Phosphorous Cave with its phosphoric rocks, Girls Cave (Kizlar Cave), where pirates held their women prisoners, and Lovers Cave (Asiklar Cave). The cool shade of Dim Brook Valley, 15 km east of Alanya, is an ideal place to get away and relax. The sea all around Alanya is excellent for swimming. Alanya is a paradise of sun, sea and sand.
Alanya is popular with most age ranges and appears to satisfy most tastes. Families with small children and those who just want to relax in the sun will find the beaches have safe shallow waters. There is a wealth of sporting activities to satisfy the most energetic of holiday makers. There are also many places of historic interest in the area.
Alanya Nightlife: Most of Alanya’s liveliest nightlife is centred on the harbour area. Many of the clubs close fairly early but there is a free shuttle service to an enormous venue, The Auditorium, which is away from the town centre. Here you can party for the whole of the night. Other venues provide more traditional entertainment with belly dancers and folk music.
Alanya Fortress
The fortress is built on a hilltop and surrounded by a 6,5 km (4 mi) long wall, equipped with 140 towers and about 400 cisterns. In the highest section, which is the western part of the hill, the fortress reaches at 250 meters (820 feet) above sea level. Eastern section of its wall is going down the hill all the way to the sea, until it reaches the Red Tower. The castle as we see it today was built in the 13th century by the Seljuk sultan Alaaddin Keykubat, but its foundations are dating back to the Hellenistic period. There were arched main gates with inscriptions on them and some smaller auxiliary gates, but many of them are damaged today. There are several old buildings inside the castle, such as brick cisterns, baths, and Byzantine churches. There is also a settlement inside. The road to the castle is open to traffic but very narrow, alternatively you can also walk to the top in about 1 hour. There are restaurants and cafeterias on the road along the sea side.
Alanya Shopping: Alanya has a good range of shops including some excellent jewellers and clothing boutiques. Remember that haggling is expected in Turkey and do not offer to pay the asking price which is usually inflated by up to fifty percent. Leather goods, carpets and gold and silver jewellery are popular as gifts and souvenirs.
Alanya Eating: Alanya has a large number of restaurants serving a wide variety of food which caters for most tastes. There is everything from fast food outlets to traditional Turkish menus. Traditional Turkish food is very tasty and includes stuffed peppers and vine leaves, kebabs and of course feta cheese, olive and tomato salads. Rice dishes are also popular. There is also a good range of restaurants serving international cuisine.
