Hello everyone. During our trip to Turkey, we also visited Alanya. This time we flew from Istanbul to Gazipaşa Airport, which is only 50 minutes from Alanya. It was a very comfortable journey. The ticket price was the same as our previous trip. Last time we flew to Antalya and paid 40 euros per person and it was the same this time. Baggage was also included. We flew from Istanbul in just 50 minutes. It went by really fast. It felt like the plane had just taken off when it already began to land.
The flight was enjoyable, we drank some water, listened to music and landed shortly after. Being this close to Alanya is a big advantage. Then we went to find a bus. We arrived at our apartment quite late, it was already dark. We had a good sleep and rested. We rented this apartment through Haat Estate, the same agency we used before. We were very satisfied with them during our last visit, so we chose them again. The good part is that you can rent without any agency commission. Prices are fixed and vary depending on the season.
When we entered our studio apartment, we were greeted by a spacious and fully equipped kitchen with a dishwasher, oven, stove and a large refrigerator. The bathroom was modern, clean and spacious with a rain shower. The studio part had a foldable sofa and table that created a comfortable dining area. The balcony had two exits and there was a TV and fast Wi-Fi.
There were palm trees on the balcony, real ones. At first I thought they were fake, but they were real. There was also a stunning mountain view. One of the paragliding points was visible from here and we watched people flying. I think this apartment could be rented just for this view alone. You can set up a table on the balcony and enjoy the scenery with some tea or coffee.
There was a large market nearby. Within a few minutes of walking, we could reach Cleopatra Beach directly. We've stayed here before, so we really love this area. Everything is within walking distance.
Later we got ready and went for a walk. We hadn’t seen the facilities inside the complex since we arrived late yesterday. We also wanted to see how much Alanya had changed, what the prices were like and what had newly opened.
Inside the complex, there were two pools. One of them was indoors and hadn’t even been filled with water yet, probably a winter pool. The main pool was outside, since the season was still ongoing and it made more sense to swim outdoors. After checking the indoor pool, we moved to the outdoor area. There were seating areas, smoking zones and lots of greenery. The color of the water was really beautiful. Everything was designed in a Bali style. The loungers were placed inside the pool so you could sunbathe and swim at the same time. The pool depth was 1.40 meters, which was ideal for my friend because she doesn’t like deep pools.
While walking around here, we remembered how long we had stayed and it felt really pleasant. I love Alanya. For me, Alanya is the most relaxing city I’ve visited in Turkey. It feels great to return because everything is close and the city has a warm and welcoming atmosphere. It’s also a very beautiful place.
During our previous visit, I noticed how the climate had changed. At first it was very dry, then the humidity increased. My hair and face constantly felt wet. The humidity was very high, which was unusual for us because we remembered Alanya differently. Now the weather was hot but perfect for the beach. The water was also very warm.
If you’re planning to come to Alanya, you’ll need to use the taxi call buttons. These are found all over the city. You press the button, a taxi comes and you go with a meter. Uber, Yandex Go and similar apps didn’t work here before but I think they recently got permission to operate. Or you can call a taxi directly, but the button is the most practical option. When you press it, the taxi arrives within 3 to 5 minutes so there’s not much waiting.
A lot of people here wear wristbands, most of them tourists staying at hotels. In Alanya, there are usually city-style hotels, both big and small. If you want a full resort hotel, the Avsallar area is a good option. It takes around 30 minutes by bus to get there. You can stay there and take day trips to Alanya. Swimming at Cleopatra Beach and hiking up the mountain is ideal from there.
If you want to rent an apartment like we did, the best place is right here in the heart of Alanya. Many people also rent homes in Mahmutlar, which is calmer and about 20 minutes away by bus from the city center. Buses run frequently. Kargıcak is another option to consider.
But I don’t really like Kargıcak that much. I think Mahmutlar is more interesting. A long time ago, we stayed at an all-inclusive hotel called Asia Beach. It’s in the center of Alanya, not too big and not too small. I think it had just one pool and a small water park, but the hotel and the service were good. Prices have increased since then because the hotel has improved.
We were slowly getting close to our favorite beach. The fountain here is beautifully lit at night. It’s the perfect promenade for an evening walk. Right next to the fountains and the park is Cleopatra Beach, our favorite, located at the foot of the mountain. There are many cafés and restaurants here, not only casual ones but also more upscale places. You can find both budget and pricier options. If you walk towards the city center, you’ll find more affordable spots aimed at locals.
There’s also a large Starbucks here and the prices are quite reasonable. I had an Americano, it cost just 2.5 euros. But Alanya before the high season and now are very different. It used to be mostly locals and just a few tourists. Now it’s full of tourists and you can hardly see any locals. It’s strange and unfamiliar for us.
Earlier I mentioned the big hotels, but if I were to book an all-inclusive package, I would consider the hotels in the city. There are large hotels here too, for example a very popular one in Kargıcak. The advantage of staying in the city is the entertainment, cafés and sights nearby. Avsallar is more quiet. It has a shopping street and small cafés, everything is minimalist. But here, you have a big city atmosphere and always something to do.
I also noticed that there’s less wind in this area and the waves are smaller. That’s why we chose to come here. We reached our favorite beach. There were a lot of people and it was windy, but the waves were quite big. That’s why many people weren’t swimming. The beach is next to the mountain and I think it has the most beautiful water color. Alanya really liked us and was happy to see us again.
The waves were strong but it felt great to be here. People, especially children, were playing and having fun with the waves. In spring the water and air were calmer, now many more people were swimming.
There’s a cave right next to the mountain. You can enter and exit from the other side, but only when the waves are small. Next to it, there’s a cafeteria, shisha, drinks and a bar. Both Turkish and European dishes are available, including pizza, pasta and more. You can easily spend the whole day here.
There’s also the Damlataş Cave nearby. The entrance fee is affordable and it’s definitely worth a visit. The air inside the cave is very beneficial, especially for the respiratory system. Some people say it smells like humidity but it’s actually a very healthy environment.
There are also cafés, small shops and restrooms right next to the beach. This is an important detail because having a restroom on the beach makes it more comfortable. You can sit at a café and enjoy the view if you wish.
At the top, there’s Alanya Castle, along with cafés and restaurants. You can go for a walk there. About one and a half hours is enough. If you’ve never been, you should definitely go.
There are water sports on the beach too, like scooters, buggies, ATVs and cars for rent. Burger King, cafés and restaurants are all nearby, mainly for tourists. We didn’t really like Burger King, we went once and had problems.
My friend found a restaurant with a beautiful view. We went back to the apartment, got ready and met there. I was really hungry because we hadn’t eaten much all day, but in the heat your appetite drops. The restaurant was a bit above the city center, in the mountains. It’s called Location Zirve Restoran. It offers beautiful views. You’re welcomed with a red carpet and flowers. It’s said to be the best panoramic restaurant in town.
The interior is beautifully decorated. There are wings and other photo spots for pictures. The terrace is open, but we chose to sit inside because the view was better and the atmosphere was great. The restaurant even has a stage where concerts are held. We sat at the far end. The mountain view was stunning. Dining in a place like this had been a dream of mine for a long time.
The menu is rich, with traditional flavors, meat and fish options. We ordered Turkish meze, eggplant, hummus and a carrot-based dish. The meat came with rice, potatoes and Caesar salad. They also served bread, olives and a big meat platter.
We ordered our favorite drinks, Aperol and Margarita. Food tastes even better with such a view. There was a birthday celebration at the restaurant, with music and applause.
The meat platter included lamb, chicken and lamb cuts. I added some spicy sauce. In Georgia and Armenia, we had eaten a lot of pork, but here we prefer beef and lamb. I had hummus for the first time in a long while. It had red spices and was perfect to spread on bread. The eggplant meze was seasoned and made with fresh peppers, homemade and delicious. The carrot meze was made with fresh carrots, garlic and yogurt. It reminded me of a childhood flavor.
We enjoyed our meal and here’s the total: with drinks and everything, it came to 58 euros. Cocktails were about 10 dollars per person. It would be cheaper if you go alcohol-free. There was a lot of food and we couldn’t finish some of it because it was very filling.
After dinner, we stepped outside the restaurant. We planned to take a walk along the coast in the evening. We met our friends from Alanya. We hadn’t seen them in a long time, it was really nice.
