If you are staying in Alanya, you don't need a full day to see the city's landmarks. Your driver picks you up at your hotel; you go up to the castle on a peninsula rising 250 metres from the sea, see the Red Tower and the shipyard where the Seljuks guarded the harbour, cool off in Damlataş Cave, have lunch on platforms over the Dim River and end at the underground lake of Dim Cave.
Alanya Castle within its Seljuk walls, the Red Tower and shipyard guarding the harbour, Damlataş Cave beside Cleopatra Beach and Dim Cave in the mountains: see Alanya in one day, by private car. Suggested duration 6 hours; pickup from hotels in Alanya, Mahmutlar, Kestel and the rest of the region. Prices start at €320 per vehicle, paid to the driver on the day.
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Alanya grew up around a rocky peninsula reaching into the Mediterranean. The castle covering its summit – with kilometres of walls, dozens of towers and houses still lived in today – is one of the most impressive medieval fortresses in Turkey. At its foot lie the harbour, the Red Tower and a Seljuk shipyard carved into the rock.
West of the city are Cleopatra Beach and Damlataş Cave; to the east, at the foot of the Taurus, the Dim River valley and Dim Cave. All these sights are less than 15 km apart, so a six-hour programme fits comfortably – short drives, long stops.
The tour is ideal for hotels in central Alanya, Kestel, Mahmutlar, Konaklı, Avsallar and Okurcalar. From Side or Manavgat the drive is longer, so we recommend the eight-hour package. The price is per vehicle, not per person.
Stops are shown in a typical order; your driver waits at every stop.
The castle was rebuilt in the 13th century by Seljuk Sultan Alaeddin Keykubad I on the site of an older Byzantine fortress. Dozens of towers line the walls that wrap around the peninsula; from the Inner Castle at the top you look out over the Mediterranean, Cleopatra Beach and the Taurus Mountains. Inside are a Byzantine church, cisterns and old Alanya houses that are still lived in.
Built in 1226 to protect the harbour and shipyard, the octagonal Red Tower – about 33 metres high – is the symbol of Alanya. Its reddish brick upper storeys give it its name. Today it holds a small ethnographic display, and its terrace looks over the harbour.
Reached on foot along the shore from the Red Tower, the shipyard of 1228 consists of five arched bays cut into the rock and was the centre of Seljuk sea power in the Mediterranean. It is the finest surviving Seljuk shipyard in Turkey. From here you also see the boats leaving on harbour tours.
Discovered in 1948 during quarrying, Damlataş is known for stalactites and stalagmites formed over thousands of years; thanks to its high humidity and constant temperature it is said to have long been used to treat asthma. Right in front of the cave, fine-sanded Cleopatra Beach is Alanya's best-known beach.
Ten kilometres east of Alanya, the Dim River comes down from the Taurus and stays cool and clear even in summer. Restaurants on platforms over the water serve trout and gözleme, and you can dangle your feet in the stream to escape the midday heat.
Above Kestel, Dim Cave is visited along a lit path of about 360 metres, ending at a clear lake. From the entrance you look over the Alanya coast and the sea. The cave stays cool all year, which makes it ideal for an afternoon visit.
Times are an example; your driver adapts the day to traffic, season and your wishes.
Known in antiquity as Korakesion, the hard-to-reach peninsula was a refuge for pirates. The Roman general Pompey targeted it in 67 BC during his campaign to clear the Mediterranean of pirates. According to legend, Mark Antony gave this coast to Cleopatra – which is where the beach gets its name.
In 1221 Seljuk Sultan Alaeddin Keykubad I took the castle, renamed the city Alaiye and made it his winter capital and naval base. The Red Tower and the shipyard are the most tangible traces of the Seljuks' efforts to protect Mediterranean trade, and the castle's walls, towers and cisterns carry the military architecture of that age into the present.
Alanya grew rapidly with tourism in the second half of the 20th century, yet the old quarter inside the castle, with its narrow lanes and garden houses, still keeps the atmosphere of Seljuk and Ottoman times.
Prices are per vehicle and include fuel, motorway and bridge tolls, parking and the driver. Guide, meals and hotel are added as options.
| Duration | FirstClass Van (1–6) | Vip Sprinter (1–16) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 hours | €320 | €420 |
| 8 hours | €440 | €560 |
| 12 hours | €580 | €780 |
| 24 hours · 1 night | €720 | €820 |
| 36 hours · 1 night | €1060 | €1450 |
| 48 hours · 2 nights | €1560 | €1980 |
| Add-on | Price | How it is charged |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed guide | €200 | Per day, whatever the group size |
| Lunch | €15 | Per person, for each lunch in the package |
| Dinner | €15 | Per person, for each dinner in the package |
| Hotel accommodation | €60 | Per person per night (sharing a double room) |
Example – 2 persons, 6 hours, FirstClass Van: Private vehicle & driver + Lunch = €320 + €30 = €350
Can be added as options: Licensed guide, Lunch, Dinner, Hotel accommodation.
Distances are approximate road kilometres to the main sight (one way). We also pick up from hotels and addresses not listed – just enter yours in the form.
| Area | Distance | Suggested package | Airport transfer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alanya | ≈ 2 km | 6 hours | Alanya transfer |
| Mahmutlar | ≈ 12 km | 6 hours | Mahmutlar transfer |
| Kestel | ≈ 8 km | 6 hours | Kestel transfer |
| Konaklı | ≈ 12 km | 6 hours | Konaklı transfer |
| Avsallar | ≈ 25 km | 6 hours | Avsallar transfer |
| Okurcalar | ≈ 33 km | 6 hours | Okurcalar transfer |
| Side | ≈ 60 km | 8 hours | Side transfer |
| Manavgat | ≈ 60 km | 8 hours | Manavgat transfer |
Ideal for families, couples and anyone staying in Alanya who wants to see the city in a short time. Walks are short; there are stairs at the castle and in the caves, and for guests with limited mobility the car can drive close to the Inner Castle or you can take the cable car.
A guide is optional. Without one, your driver takes you to each stop, waits and helps along the way, but does not give tours inside museums and sites. For in-depth explanations, tick the guide in the form.
No other passengers and no waiting for anyone – the car is yours all day.
The order and length of stops are flexible, with no compulsory shopping stops.
The price is fixed at booking and paid to the driver on the day.
Vixride is a TÜRSAB-licensed travel agency (licence 14798); vehicles and drivers are insured.
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Yes. The road through the castle leads close to the Inner Castle. You can also take the cable car from Damlataş; your driver waits for you at the top.
Yes. We pick up from hotels in Mahmutlar, Kargıcak and the Gazipaşa side too; the six-hour package is usually enough.
Yes. Side is about 60 km from Alanya. With the extra driving we recommend the eight-hour package.
Boats from Alanya harbour visit the Phosphorus Cave, Lovers' Cave and Pirates' Cave around the peninsula. We can add one to the programme; the fare is paid on board.
Yes. Children love the caves, and paddling in the Dim River is everyone's favourite in summer. The cave paths are not suitable for pushchairs.
The tour price is per vehicle: the package costs the same whether one or six people travel in the van. Only lunch, dinner and hotel accommodation are charged per person. The guide fee is per day and does not depend on the group size.
Nothing is charged online at booking; you pay the driver on the day of the tour in cash (EUR, USD, GBP, TRY) or by card. Free cancellation and date changes; please let us know at least 24 hours in advance.
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