Alanya City Tour

Damlataş Cave

Damlataş, “dripping stone” in Turkish, was discovered in 1948 when workers quarrying rock for Alanya harbour broke into a hidden chamber. Inside, a single tall hall is filled with stalactites and stalagmites that have grown drop by drop over many thousands of years. The air is warm, very humid and unusually rich in carbon dioxide, and for decades people with breathing complaints have come here for its steady climate.

The cave sits right at the western end of Cleopatra Beach, next to the cable car station, so it fits perfectly into an Alanya city tour. A visit takes about 15 to 20 minutes; the steps down are short but can be slippery. In the default option the cave ticket is not included and can be bought at the entrance; other options include it.

Cleopatra Beach

Stretching west from the castle rock, Cleopatra Beach is Alanya's most famous shoreline: a long bay of fine golden sand and remarkably clear water, backed by palm-lined promenades and the green slopes of the peninsula. Legend links its name to an ancient queen who is said to have bathed here, and today it is one of the most photographed beaches on the Turkish Riviera.

On this tour you see the beach in the soft late-afternoon light, when the heat has eased and the castle walls glow above the water. It is a lovely moment for photos and a short walk on the sand before the cable car ride. If you are wondering about the best time to visit Alanya's beaches, early evening like this is hard to beat: the sea is calm and the colours are at their richest.

Alanya Cable Car

Opened in 2017, the Alanya cable car (teleferik) links the Damlataş area by Cleopatra Beach with the Ehmedek quarter just below the castle. The cabins rise steeply over the pine-covered hillside, and in a few minutes the whole bay, the beach and the modern town unfold beneath you. It is the easiest way up the castle hill, saving a long, hot climb by road.

A cable car ticket is needed to reach the castle on this tour. In the default option it is not included and can be bought at the station; you can also choose an option with the ticket already included. The ride itself is smooth and family-friendly, and the views on the way up are among the best of the day, so keep your camera ready on the window side.

Alanya Castle

Alanya Castle crowns a rocky peninsula some 250 metres above the sea. Most of what you see today was built in the 13th century, when the Seljuks made Alanya their winter capital and naval base, ringing the hill with kilometres of walls and towers. Within them lie the Ehmedek quarter with old stone houses, a small Ottoman mosque, a covered market and the inner citadel at the summit.

From the walls you look down on the harbour, the octagonal Red Tower and the old shipyard carved into the rock. Is Alanya Castle worth visiting? Absolutely – it is the heart of the town's history and offers the most dramatic coastline views in the region. Your guide shares the story of the fortress as you walk, and the late-afternoon timing means you enjoy it without the midday heat.

Panoramic Viewpoint at Sunset

The tour ends at a panoramic viewpoint, one of the included stops, where the whole of Alanya lies at your feet: the castle peninsula, the two great beaches on either side, the harbour and the Taurus Mountains rising behind the town. As the sun goes down, the sea turns gold and the castle walls are lit up, making this the favourite photo spot of the evening.

Take your time here – the pace is relaxed and the guide gives you a few minutes to enjoy the view in peace. Afterwards we drive you back and drop you off at your hotel. For many guests this sunset view is the moment they remember most from their stay, and it is a wonderful introduction to the town on your first evening in Alanya.