Alanya is a bustling holiday resort at the base of a rocky promontory topped by a pictureque castle. Once the winter capital of the Selcuk Turkish empire, there are excellent views from the battlements along the coast past citrus orchards and banana plantations.
Down by the harbour there are more historic Selcuk buildings, along with lots of restaurants, bars and nightclubs. The town has a large and colourful weekly market where you can buy fruit and vegetables, spices and souvenirs.
There are sandy beaches a few minutes walk from the centre, or in summer drive up the nearby Dimcay valley, where you can eat fresh trout and swim in the refreshing river.
During the hottest summer months, local families escape into the Taurus Mountains to picturesque alpine villages, know as yayla.
Getting There
Alanya is a 90 minute drive from Antalya airport.
There are regular buses to Antalya, as well as destinations across the country.