Alanya Travel Guide: Castle, Beaches and Planning Tips

Alanya is a Mediterranean resort town in Antalya province, built around a rocky peninsula topped by a Seljuk castle whose walls run for 6.5 km. It combines a long beach front, a working harbor and one of the best-preserved medieval fortresses on the coast. It is a beach holiday first, and the castle, the museums and the caves give it substance for visitors who want more than sand.

Aerial view of Alanya's coastline with apartment buildings and a long beach — The coast at Alanya.

Alanya at a glance

Place	Ticket and hours	Notes
—	—	—
Alanya Castle	12 euros, daily 08:00 to 18:30, box office until 18:00	Ministry of Culture and Tourism, October 2026
Alanya Museum	Daily 08:30 to 19:30, box office until 19:00	The Heracles Hall is the highlight
Alanya Atatürk House and Museum	Daily 08:30 to 19:00	Check that it is open before you go
Castle walls	6.5 km

Alanya Castle

The castle is the main sight. It dates to the 3rd century BC, and most of what you see is Seljuk work. The Inner Castle is an open-air museum, with Byzantine churches and chapels, the Bedesten trade structure, the Seljuk palace and nearly 400 cisterns. The Süleymaniye Mosque and a lighthouse of 1720 stand on the summit.

The Red Tower is the symbol of Alanya. Kayqubad I commissioned it in 1226, and it stands 33 meters tall on an octagonal plan, with the Ethnographic Museum on its first floor. The Seljuk shipyard beside it is now the Ship and Maritime Museum. An audio guide is available. Between 18:15 and 19:00 there are no ticket sales and no turnstile passage, so arrive earlier in the evening, or go in the morning when it is cooler. The climb is steep, so wear good shoes.

Museums

The Alanya Museum shows the city’s history from the 4th century BC. Its bronze statue of Heracles from the 2nd century AD has a hall of its own. The Atatürk House and Museum is the house where Atatürk stayed on his visit to Alanya on 18 February 1935, with his belongings and Alanya folk culture displayed in a 19th-century house.

Damlataş Cave

Damlataş Cave sits on the west side of the castle peninsula. It was found in 1948 when the site was opened as a stone pit during construction of the port, and the municipality calls it the first cave opened to tourism in Türkiye. The cave has a temperature of about 22°C with 95 percent humidity, and the municipality says its atmosphere is popular with people who have asthma. We do not give medical advice. If you have a health condition, ask your doctor first.

Beaches and boat trips

Alanya is a tourism hub with Blue Flag beaches along the shore on either side of the peninsula. Boat trips leave from the harbor and tour the coast and the caves around the peninsula. Ask any operator for a written quote that shows the route, duration and inclusions. Browse our beach escapes and adventure sports pages for local operators.

A long weekend in Alanya (suggested plan)

Day 1. Alanya Castle and the Red Tower in the morning, lunch in the old harbor and an afternoon at the beach.
Day 2. A boat trip around the peninsula, then Damlataş Cave and the museum.
Day 3. A beach day, or a day trip to Side or Antalya.

When to go

Alanya has a hot, dry summer and a wet, mild winter. May to June and September to October are the best months. July and August are very hot, with highs near 34°C, and December is the wettest month. The table uses the Antalya station, because MGM does not publish a separate table for Alanya, so conditions in Alanya will differ a little.

Month	Average high (°C)	Average low (°C)	Rainy days	Sunshine (hours a day)
—	—	—	—	—
Jan	15	6.1	12	4.9
Feb	15.6	6.4	10	5.7
Mar	18	8.1	9	6.7
Apr	21.4	11.3	6	7.9
May	25.7	15.3	5	9.7
Jun	30.8	19.7	3	11.1
Jul	34.2	22.9	1	11.7
Aug	34.1	22.9	1	11.1
Sep	31.2	19.6	2	9.7
Oct	26.6	15.4	5	7.8
Nov	21.4	10.9	8	6.3
Dec	16.7	7.7	12	4.8

Source: Turkish State Meteorological Service (MGM), Antalya station, 1930 to 2025.

Getting there

Most visitors fly to Antalya Airport and transfer by road, and Gazipaşa-Alanya Airport is a nearer option for some routes. Check airlines and transfer providers for current options. See our Antalya page and getting around guide.

Entry and visa

The UK and Canadian governments say their citizens can visit for tourism for up to 90 days in any 180 without a visa. Other nationalities should check their own government’s advice. See our visa requirements guide and safety guide.

More on the Mediterranean coast

See our Mediterranean coast guide, the Fethiye and Marmaris pages, our itineraries guide and our budget guide.

Frequently asked questions

How much is Alanya Castle?

12 euros, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in October 2026. It is open daily from 08:00 to 18:30, with the box office closing at 18:00.

What is the Red Tower?

The symbol of Alanya, commissioned by Kayqubad I in 1226. It is 33 meters tall, on an octagonal plan, with the Ethnographic Museum on its first floor.