Car with Driver In Alanya

Seyir Terasi, the panoramic viewpoint

Seyir Terasi is a viewing terrace above Alanya where the land falls away toward the sea, giving a wide view of the old town, the harbour and the Taurus Mountains behind. It makes a good first stop with a driver, because the light is soft in the morning and you can arrive before the crowds. You can stay for a few minutes or as long as you like, and the driver waits.

For photographers the best time to visit is early or late in the day, when the sun is low and the haze is thin. If you are asking what to see in Alanya in one day by car, this is the stop that shows you the layout of the whole town before you drive down into it. Bring a hat and water, as the terrace is open and exposed.

Cleopatra Beach and Damlatas Cave

Cleopatra Beach is a long stretch of soft, pale sand under the castle rock, with clear turquoise water. Legend says Mark Antony brought the sand from Egypt as a gift for Cleopatra, and the name has stayed. With a private car you can decide how long to swim, and nobody is waiting for you. Pack swimwear, a towel and sunscreen, and keep your valuables with you or in the car.

Damlatas Cave lies close by at the foot of the castle rock. It was discovered in 1948, and its stalactites and stalagmites have grown over thousands of years in air that stays cool and humid all year. Local tradition links it with easier breathing. The Damlatas Cave visit takes well under an hour on a lit path, so it fits easily between the beach and the cable car.

Alanya Castle by cable car

Alanya Castle crowns the rocky peninsula and was rebuilt by the Seljuk Sultan Alaeddin Keykubad in the thirteenth century. Its walls, towers and cisterns follow the ridge above the sea, and from the top you see both bays at once. A cable car lifts you most of the way up, which saves a steep walk, and your driver takes you to the lower station and waits.

Many travellers ask how to get to Alanya Castle without a tour group. By car with a driver it is simple: you are dropped at the cable car, you spend as long as you want on the walls, and the car meets you again. The paths at the top are uneven stone, so wear shoes with grip. Cable car and entrance fees are paid by you unless your option states otherwise.

The Red Tower, the Seljuk Shipyard and the harbour

The Red Tower, known as Kizil Kule, is an eight-sided stone tower built beside the harbour in 1226 to guard the port, and it has become the symbol of Alanya. Next to it stands the Seljuk Shipyard, one of the few medieval shipyards left on this coast, with long vaulted bays where galleys were once built and repaired.

The harbour and marina around them are lively with fishing boats and pleasure craft, and a walk along the front takes about half an hour including photographs. It is a flat, easy stop, good for children and for guests who prefer less walking. A coffee at the marina is a pleasant way to end the town part of your private day.

Dim Cave and lunch by the Dim River

Dim Cave lies in the Taurus foothills about fifteen kilometres from Alanya. A lit walkway leads through chambers of stalactites and stalagmites, and the air stays cool even in midsummer, so it is a welcome break from the heat. Allow about forty-five minutes. People who search for Dim Cave opening hours should know that they can change by season, and your driver or our team can check for your date.

Close by, the Dim River runs clear and cold from the mountains, with riverside restaurants under shade trees. This lunch stop has no rush, since your time is your own, and some guests wade into the shallow water. Please ask your driver about the lunch arrangement for your option, as meals are paid separately unless the option says otherwise.

Sapadere Canyon and the banana plantation stop

Sapadere Canyon is an optional stop about thirty kilometres inland, in a narrow gorge with a clear stream, waterfalls and wooden walkways built above the water. The air is cool and shaded, which makes it a good escape on a hot day. A walk to the viewing points takes an hour or more, and you can turn back whenever you like because the car waits for you.

On the way back to the coast you can ask for a photo stop at a banana plantation, one of the farms that grow bananas in Alanya's warm climate. Rows of broad green leaves make a very different picture from the beaches and castles. Add Sapadere only if you start early, as it lengthens the day, and tell your driver in advance so the route is planned.