Alanya Things To Do

Alanya is a great little town on the south west edge of Turkey, and is famed for being given as a gift to Cleopatra by Mark Anthony. The town has two large bays split in half by a large prominent hill on top of which Alanya Castle sits. The 13th century town walls can still be easily made out and the excellent cafes, restaurants, shops, bars and boutique are almost endless. The shopping in Alanya is fantastic and you can easily pick up gifts for friends and family. The area specialises in cloths, jewellery, handbags, paintings and other hand made items and now also caters to a full range of needs, as this modern town has grown up with tourism in mind.

 

The Dalmatas and Dim Caves are well known in Turkey for their curious, misshapen rock formations and countless waterfalls, making for an excellent day trip and even better if you have kids. The town has a number of small galleries and exhibitions throughout the year, however the main attraction is the Archaeology and Ethnography museum which has artefacts dating back to Roman times.

 

Although there are plenty of great beaches in Alanya, the best is Cleopatra beach, so it is unsurprising it was named after her. The beach is a central tourist attraction for those on beach holidays, so although it is of excellent quality and has clean water, it can be quite noisy. For a quieter day out, consider the Dim Valley and river as the swimming there is excellent.

 

Each year during August, the International Folklore festival is held in Alanya and this draws large crowds from all across Turkey, as it is such a well-respected festival. As this often coincides with many people's summer holidays, it caters well for tourists so don't forget to stop by.