Antalya Turkey

Alanya, Turkey Information

Alanya Resimleri

Now one of the Mediterranean coast’s major resorts, ALANYA is a booming place that has fortunately managed to hold on to much of its character. It’s much less crowded than Sıde, even in midsummer. Most of the old town lies on the great rocky promontory that juts out into the sea, the bulk of which is occupied by the castle – an hour’s winding climb or a short ride on an hourly bus from the tourist office. At the end of the road is the İç Kale, or inner fortress (daily 8am–sunset; $3), built in 1226 and virtually intact, with the shell of a Byzantine church, decorated with fading frescoes, in the centre. A platform in a corner of the fortress gives fine views of the western beaches and the mountains, though this originally served as a springboard from which prisoners were thrown to their deaths on the rocks below. On the opposite side of the promontory, the Kızılkule is a 35m-high defensive tower that today houses an Ethnographic Museum (Tues–Sun 8.30am–6pm; $1), and has a roof terrace that overlooks the town’s eastern harbour. On the western side of the promontory, the Alanya Museum (daily 9am–noon & 1.30–6.30pm; $1) is filled with local archeological finds and ethnological ephemera, its garden a former Ottoman graveyard. Nearby, the Damlataş (daily 6–10am; $1), is a stalactite- and stalagmite-filled cavern with a moist, warm atmosphere said to ease asthma; it’s accessible from behind the Damlataş restaurant. Alanya’s beaches, though not particularly clean, are extensive, stretching 3km west and 8km east.

Alanya’s bus station is a twenty-minute walk from the centre, but if you come in by local bus from Sıde or Manavgat you’ll probably arrive at the dolmuş terminal, five minutes north of the centre. The tourist office is at Çarşı Mahallesi, Kalearkası (daily 8.30am–6pm; tel 0242/513 1240), opposite the town museum. In summer, accommodation soon fills up and prices can be high, although there’s a concentration of pansiyons in the grid of streets between the bus station and the seafront. Oba, Meteoroloji Sok 8 (tel 0242/513 2675; £10–20/$16–32 [€15–29]), is a good budget choice, as is Üstün Pansiyon on the same street (tel 0242/513 2262; £10–20/$16–32 [€15–29]). Nearer the centre, behind Damlataş Cad, Pension Best, Alaaddinoğlu Sok 23 (tel 0242/513 0446; up to £10/$16), has immaculately clean rooms and apartments. Another central alternative is Hotel Carina, Nergis Sok 4 (tel 0242/513 1897; £10–20/$16–32 [€15–29]). The small streets running between Gazipaşa and Hükümet caddesis have lots of cheap pide and kebab places. Tuna Lokantasi, Müftüler Cad, Kalgadam Sok 7, and Buhara and Gülistan on Kuyular Önü Sok offer excellent steam-tray, pide and grilled food at reasonable prices. Kale, overlooking the harbour, has good food and views, but at a price. There are Internet cafés on İskele Cad.

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