Alanya

Already on the second day of our vacation, a visit to Alanya was on the agenda. I hadn’t been there in nearly 20 years, so I was especially curious to see how the city had changed.

Right outside our hotel was a bus stop, and we didn’t have to wait long for the minibus – similar to the old Dolmus. The ride into the lively center of this beautiful city took about 40 minutes.

Alanya is picturesquely located on the Turkish Riviera. Nearby are numerous beaches with the finest sand – the most famous of which is Cleopatra Beach – which has made this region a tourist magnet for decades.

Countless hotels of all categories line the coast, and for most people, a visit to Alanya is a must.

The bus terminal is right in the city center. Many shops offering all kinds of goods are waiting there for visitors.

We strolled through the charming alleys of the old town down to the harbor. Just above the harbor, on a hill, a beautiful district has developed with bars, restaurants, and souvenir shops. The view over the bay and the sea is spectacular. But beware – nowhere else did we experience as many scams as here.

Next, we took a walk along the harbor to the Red Tower. There, excursion boats bob gently on the water, waiting for passengers. Since we had planned to take one of these tours as well, our excitement grew. But we still had to wait a little longer.

From the harbor, we walked back to the old town and then to the Damlataş Cave, with its impressive stalactite formations. The coolness inside the cave was a welcome relief from the heat. There are benches at the bottom, where we took a short break.

From the cave, it’s only a few steps to the cable car that carries passengers from Cleopatra Beach up to the castle.

The Castle of Alanya, which dates back to the 13th century, is truly impressive. It sits atop a rock, towering high above the city. From up there, you get an unbelievably stunning panorama of the entire bay and far beyond Alanya.

The Süleymaniye Mosque, located within the castle walls, is an impressive example of Ottoman architecture.

The citadel, the innermost part of the castle, houses ruins of Byzantine churches. From here as well, the view stretches breathtakingly into the distance.

The sun was already low in the sky as we made our way back down.

By the time we returned to the hotel, it was already late. We quickly freshened up, enjoyed a delicious dinner, and then ended the evening with a varied program at the beach bar.