Things to do in Alanya

Alanya sits roughly 130km east of Antalya, a drive of around 1h30 to 2 hours depending on traffic — noticeably further than Side or Belek, so this works better as an overnight or multi-day base than a rushed day trip.

The hilltop Alanya Castle and Cleopatra Beach directly below it are the two fixed points of any visit, with the castle walk alone taking an hour or more in summer heat that regularly pushes into the mid-30s°C in July and August.

Beyond the peninsula, the Dim River and Dim Cave, the Sapadere Canyon, and the quieter resort of Gazipaşa further south fill out a longer stay, each requiring its own half-day rather than being combinable with the castle in one outing.