Things to do in Alanya range from the 1226 Red Tower and the Seljuk castle wrapping the peninsula to the Blue Flag Cleopatra Beach, sea caves and canyons up in the Taurus Mountains. Known as Korakesion in antiquity and Kalonoros under Byzantium, the town became a harbour capital called 'Alaiye' after Seljuk Sultan Alaeddin Keykubad took it in 1221.
This guide walks through Alanya's must-see historic sites, its caves, beaches and the activities worth your time, with a link from each section to the relevant tour. Travel Alanya has been here since 1990 (TURSAB licence No. 11267); hotel transfer is included on every tour and there is no prepayment. You pay on the day.
What are the must-see historic sites in Alanya?
Alanya's must-see historic sites are all on the peninsula: the Red Tower, the Seljuk castle, the historic shipyard and Ehmedek. The Red Tower was built in 1226 by Sultan Alaeddin Keykubad. It is a 33-metre, octagonal, five-storey defensive tower that today houses the Ethnography Museum.
The castle walls wrapping the peninsula run about 6.5 kilometres and are dotted with numerous bastions and cisterns. The castle sits on a peninsula rising some 250 metres above the sea and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List since 2000. Beside the Red Tower, the historic shipyard was built in 1227 and is the only Seljuk shipyard to survive intact.
You can reach the castle by the cable car from the Damlataş side, which opened in 2017, or join the Alanya City Tour and see the Red Tower, shipyard, cable car and Cleopatra Beach in one programme.
| Sight | What | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Red Tower | 1226 defence tower / Ethnography Museum | 33 m, octagonal, 5 floors |
| Alanya Castle | Seljuk walls, peninsula | ~6.5 km walls, UNESCO tentative list |
| Historic Shipyard | 1227 Seljuk shipyard | Only one to survive intact |
| Damlataş Cave | Asthma cave | Steady 22°C, next to Cleopatra |
| Cleopatra Beach | Blue Flag public beach | Clear water, west of the peninsula |
| Archaeology Museum | Opened 1967 | Bronze Heracles statue |
Which caves can you visit in Alanya?
Alanya's most famous cave is Damlataş, right next to Cleopatra Beach. Inside, the temperature holds a steady 22°C year-round at 95% humidity, and because the air is thought to help asthma sufferers, supervised 21-day treatment courses are held there. It was discovered by chance during quarrying in 1948 and became the first cave in Turkey opened to tourism.
While Damlataş is on land, three famous sea caves wait offshore: the Pirates' Cave (Kızlaryarığı), the Phosphorus Cave and the Lovers' Cave. The Pirates' and Phosphorus caves can only be entered by boat; legend says pirates hid their loot in the Pirates' Cave. The Phosphorus Cave is named for the phosphorescent shimmer in its rock, while the Lovers' Cave is 75 metres long with an entrance about 15 metres above the sea.
The only way to see these sea caves is an Alanya boat trip; the classic route leaves the harbour, circles all three caves and stops to swim at Cleopatra and Ulaş coves.
Which are the best beaches in Alanya?
Alanya's most famous beach is Cleopatra Beach, west of the peninsula in front of Damlataş Cave. It takes its name from the Egyptian queen said to have swum here, and the water is clear enough to spot fish while snorkelling. The beach held the Blue Flag without a break from 2004 to 2025.
On the eastern side, Keykubat Beach starts by the town hall and runs about 3 kilometres. It is a wide, sandy, Blue Flag beach. The roughly 1-kilometre Portakal Beach between Oba and Tosmur is the choice for windsurfers. In the 2026 Blue Flag season, Alanya earned the flag at 79 sites in total, including beaches, tourism facilities, boats and a marina.
The sea reaches 28-29°C in summer and the swimming season runs from May to November. A swim stop at Cleopatra Beach is part of both the Alanya City Tour and the boat trips.
What is there to do in Alanya beyond sightseeing?
Things to do in Alanya go well beyond sightseeing: boat trips at sea, paragliding in the sky, canyons and safaris in the mountains, diving below. The most popular activity is the boat trip that leaves the harbour to circle the sea caves and coves, with pirate-themed, all-inclusive and sunset options.
For adventure, tandem paragliding launches from the hilltop and lands on Cleopatra Beach; there is also rafting in Köprülü Canyon, jeep and quad safaris in the Taurus, and scuba diving in clear water. On the nature side, the ice-cold pools of Sapadere Canyon and the reservoir lake of Green Canyon stand out.
All of these sit in the Travel Alanya catalogue with hotel transfer included and no prepayment. Browse the tour pages to decide which one suits you.
What can families do in Alanya?
Alanya is an easy place for families: for a day with kids, the dolphin show, the pirate-themed boat trip and the Land of Legends theme park are the safest bets. The Pirate Boat Trip's animation team and short swim stops suit young children well.
On the peninsula, riding the cable car up to the castle, visiting Damlataş Cave and swimming in the shallow, clear water of Cleopatra Beach all work comfortably with children. Sapadere Canyon's flat boardwalk is easy enough to walk hand in hand, even without a pushchair.
Transfer is included on our family tours; for child prices and programme details, check the relevant tour page or just ask on WhatsApp.
How many days do you need in Alanya, and when to go?
Two days are enough to see Alanya's historic peninsula and beaches; if you want to add activities like a boat trip, canyon or paragliding, three to four days make for a more relaxed plan. A good order is the peninsula on day one (Red Tower, castle, shipyard, Damlataş), a boat trip on day two and a nature or adventure tour on day three.
The best time to go, if you plan to swim, is June to September: daytime highs reach 31-34°C, the sea sits at 24-29°C, there are 11 to 12 hours of sunshine a day and almost no rain. The sea is at its warmest in August and September.
To avoid the crowds and the heat, spring (April-June) and autumn (September-October) are quieter and better for sightseeing; the sea stays warm enough to swim from May to November.
