Visiting the famous Alanya Castle is among the top 10 things to do in Alanya. It is the central attraction of the city and one of its key historical sites. It was built in the 13th century, to protect the city from the enemies. The construction of this majestic place took 12 years, but resulted in an impressive and phenomenal structure that has now been turned into a museum. With the total length of 8 km, the Castle has been perfectly preserved and visitors even today can see its full glory. The fortress had 160 guard towers, underground reservoirs, a mosque, a church, the Winter Palace of the Sultan, as well as other interesting constructions.

For a day of family fun, head to the Water Planet aquapark, located in a town just 30 km outside of the center of Alanya. Located on a magnificent cliff on the coast of the Mediterranean sea, it blends in harmoniously with the local landscape. There are 24 slides, including safe slides for small children and roller coasters for those seeking adrenaline and extreme adventures; a pool with artificial waves, bungee jumping facilities, paragliding and sun beds for relaxing under the shade of trees.

Opened in 1967, the Archaeological Museum of Alanya offers an extensive exhibition, part of which is installed in the yard. It is annually updated with new exhibits, found during excavations. There are 14 halls, where you can see various things dating back to the Bronze Age, historical letters, artefacts and monuments of Ancient Greece, such as the bronze sculpture of Hercules, Roman and Ottoman Empires, as well as those of the Byzantine.

Kizil Kule, which in Turkish means “Red Tower”, is one of the most interesting landmarks and historical structures of Alanya. It was built in the 13th century and is part of the Alanya Castle. It is considered to be the symbol of the city, seen not only on the flag of the city, but also on the souvenirs. It was designed in a way that the daylight coming from the top would reach the base of the building, which is 85 levels down, and had various loopholes through which the Turks poured hot tar and boiling water on the enemies.

One of the best things to enjoy in Alanya is a delicious seafood dinner in one of the restaurants in the harbour or in the city center. Enjoy a walk along the seaside in the evening, watch the sunset and head out to one of the cozy restaurants for dinner and local delicacies. Don’t forget to try some of the Turkish sweets to top off your dining experience in the city.

Built in 1231, the Suleymaniye Mosque has a square shape, wooden gates and windows, decorated with stunning carvings. It was designed to have great acoustics, the result of fifteen small balls, hung from the dome of the Mosque. It was destroyed over the centuries, but built again the 16th century, the structure that you can visit today.

Apart from a wonderful aquapark, there is also a wonderful site for both adults and children, called Sealanya. Located 20 minutes from Alanya, this park offers water attractions, as well as a dolphinarium, with shows taking place throughout the day by trained dolphins, sea lions and seals. Book tickets in advance and enjoy a fun swim with one of the dolphins.

The numerous caves and grottoes located off the coast of Alanya have not only attracted pirates here in the past, but also travellers in the recent decades. Apart from thrilling the senses and inspiring the mind, the caves have medical benefits for people suffering from respiratory conditions. Due to high humidity, high content of Carbon Dioxide, coupled with low radioactivity they are a wonder of nature. The most remarkable cave is the Damlatas, which was only found in 1948, during the construction of the port. Covered with exquisite stalagmites and stalactites, that are thought to be at least 15 thousand years old, this cave is absolutely fantastic.

Going to a street market, even if just to look at the produce and marvel at the bustling atmosphere of the place is one of the top 10 things to do in Alanya. There are markets that take place on special days of the week in various areas, where visitors can purchase fresh fruits, fragrant spices, handmade souvenirs, rustic jewellery, Turkish spices and even rugs. If you are up to a drive, go to Konakli – a small town just outside of Alanya, where the Eastern market welcomes its visitors every Wednesday from early morning.

When in Alanya, don’t miss the chance to enjoy one of its beaches, which there are 20 of. Each part has its own number and is managed by the local hotels. The main beaches are broken up into East and West parts, stretching in both directions, with a mixture of small pebbles and sand. The most famous part if the West beach, also known as Cleopatra beach with magical sand, named by Mark Antony as a sign of his passionate love and devotion to the beautiful Egyptian Queen.