General Information

Population : 150.000 (2003)

Alanya, a city and tourist place located at the turkish Mediterranean Sea riviera. The city has a population of around 150,000 but during the summer that number will increase a lot due all the tourists. The easiest way to get to Alanya is by air and the airport is in Antalya, which is two hours by car away (about 75 miles).

Many tourists (especially Scandinavian, Dutch, British, German & Russian people) go there every summer and the reasons are many: the prices, the weather & and beaches, the friendly people and of course the lovely food.

The large popular resort center of Alanya lies at one end of a rocky promontory which juts out into the Mediterranean between two long sandy beaches. A 13th century Seljuk fortress-one of the most magnificent sights on the coast-crowns the headland. About 150 towers punctuate the walls of the well- preserved, double walled citadel. Within the outer walls are ruins of mosques, a caravanserai and a covered bazaar; in the inner walls are a ruined cistern and a Byzantine church. Although Alanya's history dates back to Roman times, it rose to prominence under the Seljuks, when in 1220, Alaeddin Keykubat made it his winter residence and naval base. The surviving buildings reflect the importance of the city in Seljuk times. Besides the impressive citadel tourists should explore the unique dockyards and the octagonal Kizil Kule (Red Tower).

Alanya is a beautiful holiday center with numerous fish restaurants, cafes and bars. The cafes that ring the harbor have become popular gathering places for tourists. From the town's lovely park, the road runs along the coast to the harbor, lined with countless boutiques that tempt tourists with handicrafts, leather, clothes, jewelry, handbags and the amusing painted gourds, a symbol of the area. In August, when Alanya hosts a colorful International Folklore Festival the atmosphere is charged with vitality and gaiety.

If you enjoy exploring you should visit the Damlatas Cave to see the eerie misshapen rock formations. Nearby is the Archaeology and Ethnography Museum, (Open weekdays except Monday). A boat can take you to the three sea grottoes: Fosforlu Magara with its phosphorescent rocks, the Kizlar Magarasi, where pirates imprisoned their female captives, and the Asiklar Magarasi.

When the intense sun overpowers you, take a day trip to the Dim Cayi Valley, 15 km east of Alanya, where you can relax in the shade of this scenic valley and listen to the stream rushing by. Avsallar (incekum), about 25 km from Aianya to the west, is a holiday resort center with fine sandy beaches. If you travel east from Alanya towards Gazipasa you will discover and no doubt linger on the exceptional beaches. 30 km east of Alanya, Aytap, the historical harbor city Lotape, is a great excursion site, with Roman ruins, secluded beaches and bays.

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History

Based on skeletal evidence found between the villages of Bademagac? and Oba northeast of the city, Alanya is believed to have been inhabited in pre-historic times.Alanya was sometimes considered part of Cilicia and sometimes part of Pamphilia. It was later ruled by the Hittites and Romans respectively. In a bad state of repair after a number of invasions and wars, the city was rebuilt by the Romans. In the Byzantine era, Alanya was called Kolonoros, which means the 'beautiful mountain'.
More about Alanya's landmarks »

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Climate

Alanya has a typical Mediterranean climate with wet humid winters and hot dry summers. The average temperature year-round is 19°C. The water averages 21°C. Because of its climate, plants from all over the world can be found in Alanya. Some of the most common are oranges, bananas, vegetables of all kinds, tropical fruits from South Africa and India such as papaya, guava, avocado and a variety of dates and coffees.

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How to Get to Alanya?

Alanya is 135 km from Antalya. The highway connecting the two cities passes through a number of residential areas and tourist spots. Public buses provide transportation on the route of Alantur, Bus Station-Ulas every ten minutes.

By Road
There is regular bus and minibus service.

By Air
The nearest airport is in Antalya 130 km away.

By Rail
The nearest train station is in Burdur.

By Sea
The port in Alanya is suitable for large ships with heavy cargo. The port is still being used both for touristic as well as commercial purposes.During the tourist season, there are passenger and cargo services between Alanya and Girne (Northern Cyprus). This is the most important customs port in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

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Tips for Tourists

What to Eat
Because of the local climate there is an astounding variety of vegetable and fruits in Alanya. Besides its vegetable cuisine, some delicious dishes, unique to Alanya, are laba and wedding soup (dugun corbasi).
More about the traditional Turkish cuisine »

What to Buy
The silk cloth made from silkworms raised locally is very famous.
More about the most famous Turkish products »

Don't Leave Without

• Seeing Alanya Castle, the Red Tower and Damlatas Cave;
  
• Visiting the museums;
• Tasting the local fish;
• Buying a silk scarf.
  
  

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