What Alanya is
Alanya is a resort town built around a dramatic fortress-topped headland, roughly 90 minutes east of Antalya. It has its own old town, the striking red Kızıl Kule (Red Tower), sea caves beneath the castle rock, and a long beach strip — effectively a complete, self-contained destination in its own right.
Who it suits
Travellers happy to base further from Antalya city in exchange for a distinctive setting and a well-developed resort infrastructure of its own, including nightlife, shopping and a long sandy beach.
Getting around from Alanya
At around 90 minutes from central Antalya, this is a standalone base rather than a city suburb — most visitors either treat Alanya as their entire trip, or combine it with Side and Antalya as stops along a longer coastal itinerary rather than day-tripping back and forth.
Good to know
- Alanya Castle and the walk up to it offer some of the best coastal views on this stretch of the Mediterranean.
- The town has its own well-developed restaurant and nightlife scene, separate from Antalya's.
- Given the distance, plan Alanya as a distinct base or the far end of a road trip, not a day trip from central Antalya.