ALANYA CITY TOUR FROM SIDE

• Join us for an exciting tour of Alanya from Side and explore the rich history and natural wonders of this amazing city. Enjoy a one-hour yacht tour passing by significant historical landmarks along the coast, such as the old Tersane shipyard, the Red Tower, and the medieval fortress. Then, we'll ascend to a viewpoint at the top of the mountain to fully appreciate the panoramic view of the entire city. Visit the Damlatas Cave and the famous Cleopatra Beach, enjoy free time in Alanya (1-1.5 hours), and have a delicious lunch at a restaurant by the Dimcay River. Conclude our tour by visiting Alanya's banana gardens. Don't miss the chance to discover Alanya!
• Check out the latest prices and detailed program descriptions on our website. Book your excursion today and pay on the bus. We have ensured that traveling with us is not only interesting but also comfortable, so the price includes transfers from hotels in Gundogdu, Colakli, Evrenseki, Kumkoy, Side, Sorgun, Titreyengol, Kizilot, and Kizilagac. Enjoy your vacation with us.

Excursion Program

• Collection of tourists from hotels in the regions between 08:30 - 09:30 (After booking confirmation, the exact collection time will be added to your electronic ticket.)
• Yacht tour in Alanya (1 hour)
• Panoramic view of Alanya from the Fortress viewpoint
• Visit to Damlatas Cave and Cleopatra Beach
• Free time in Alanya (1 - 1.5 hours)
• Lunch at a restaurant by the Dimcay River
• Visit to Alanya's banana gardens
• Return to hotels at 17:30 - 18:30

More About the Tour

• Our tour program starts at 08:30 - 09:30 in the morning. We will pick you up at the security gate of your hotel and head towards Alanya, which is 65 km from Side. Alanya is not just a popular resort. It is a beautiful city with ancient and fascinating history and amazing natural attractions.
• Upon arrival in Alanya, our tour will begin with a one-hour sea tour on a yacht along the coast. You will see the oldest shipyard Tersane, the Red Tower, which is the city's landmark, and the medieval fortress.
• The yacht will dock in the port. Your excursion will continue. You will ascend to the top of the mountain. Here, there is an observation deck offering a stunning panoramic view of the city and the coast.
• After enjoying the beautiful views, you will descend.
• We will give 1.5 hours of free time for you to visit the legendary Cleopatra Beach, considered the best not only in Alanya but also on the entire Antalya coast.
• If you wish, during your free time, you can visit the Damlatas Cave. The entrance ticket to the cave is not included in the tour price, it is paid separately, approximately $3.
• At the end of the excursion, you will have dinner at a colorful restaurant on the Dimcay River.
• On the way back to Side, we will also visit banana plantations. You will see how this fruit grows and take a few photos as a souvenir.
• The transfer will take you to your hotel around 17:30-18:30 in the evening.

Included in the Price

• Hotel pick-up and drop-off
• Lunch
• Insurance
• Guide services

Not Included in the Price

• Personal expenses (photos, souvenirs, etc.)
• Any drinks during the excursion
• Entrance ticket to Damlatas Cave ($3) (optional)

What to Bring with You

• Camera, water
• Towel
• Swimwear
• Sports shoes, sunglasses
• Sunscreen

Distances

• Distance from Kizilot to Alanya: 50 minutes - 47 km
• Distance from Kizilagac to Alanya: 55 minutes - 52 km
• Distance from Titreyengol to Alanya: 1 hour 5 minutes - 65 km
• Distance from Sorgun to Alanya: 1 hour 5 minutes - 65 km
• Distance from Side to Alanya: 1 hour 5 minutes - 65 km
• Distance from Kumkoy to Alanya: 1 hour 10 minutes - 70 km
• Distance from Evrenseki to Alanya: 1 hour 10 minutes - 72 km
• Distance from Colakli to Alanya: 1 hour 10 minutes - 72 km
• Distance from Gundogdu to Alanya: 1 hour 15 minutes - 78 km

Watch the Excursion Video

(Click the Play button twice to watch)

Additional Information

Early Booking Discounts

• Book in advance!
• Book the tour at least 7 days before the start of the excursion and get a 4% discount
• Book the tour at least 30 days before the start of the excursion and get a 5% discount

Additional Information

• The guide reserves the right to change the order of the tour without changing the overall program.
• Children traveling for free are not provided with separate seats on the bus. Children will share seats with adults (sit on laps). If you want your child to have a separate seat on the bus, please book the child as a paid participant during the reservation process.

About the Attractions

History of Alanya

• "The crow gets a nest, and you get a city. Follow the bird without stopping, wherever it flies." According to legend, this is what the ancient gods told travelers who asked them for help in finding the perfect place to build a city that would thrive for many years.
• The crow named Korakesion flew for several years, and the travelers followed it. Until one day they reached a mountain. Climbing to the top, they saw a peninsula stretching out at the foot. Here they founded the city named Korakesion – "city of crows".
• However, during its long history, the city changed its name several times.
• History confirms that in the 4th century BC, there was indeed a Greek settlement with this name. Later, Cilician pirates settled here, terrorizing the entire Mediterranean.
• In the 1st century BC, Korakesion came under the control of the Roman Empire. During this time, it reached its peak and became one of the most important and strategic cities.
• During the Byzantine period, the city was renamed Kalonoros – "beautiful mountain".
• In the 13th century, after being captured by the Seljuks, the city was named Alaiye – in honor of the Seljuk sultan Ala ad-Din Keykubad I, and became the most significant port on the entire Mediterranean.
• Alanya – the modern name, which everyone is now accustomed to, was given to the city only in 1933 during the reign of the first president of the Turkish Republic, Kemal Ataturk.

Kizil Kule (Red Tower)

• Kizil Kule, or Red Tower, is an outstanding historical landmark and symbol of the city of Alanya, whose image can be seen on the waving flag, on souvenir products, and in promotional brochures.
• The Red Tower was built in the 12th century, more precisely in 1226, during the reign of the Seljuk sultan Ala ad-Din Keykubad I. The architect from Aleppo, Ebu Ali Rehcha el-Kettani, was appointed responsible for the construction of this structure. The citadel was meant to support the existing fortress walls and protect the recently built Tersane shipyard.
• The appearance of Kizil Kule is quite interesting. It is a five-story building made of red brick in the shape of an octagon. It got its name due to the color of the building material, which translates from Turkish as "Red Tower". The height of the tower is 33 meters, and the diameter is 29 meters. You can climb to the roof, which, like any tower, is adorned with stone battlements, by high steps. From here, the city and everything around are "in the palm of your hand". Interestingly, the sunlight penetrating through the upper loopholes reaches the first floor, where an Ethnographic Museum of Alanya was arranged in 1979.

Tersane (Shipyard)

• The Tersane shipyard is part of the medieval fortress. It was built in 1228. Until 1361, Mediterranean fleet ships were built, repaired, and wintered here. The shipyard was built of brick and rubble stone, its length is 56 meters, and its width is 44 meters, consisting of 5 docks and service rooms. The docks, or chambers, were 42.5 meters deep and had vaulted ceilings reaching a height of 7.7 meters. They are connected by through passages. Today, the Tersane shipyard houses a museum dedicated to shipbuilding of that time.

Medieval Fortress

• The medieval fortress is built on a rocky peninsula and rises 250 meters above the sea. Its construction began in 1226 during the reign of Sultan Ala ad-Din Keykubad I.
• The fortress protected the city from three sides. The 6-kilometer wall encircles the mountain, behind which there are many city buildings preserved to this day. At that time, all of Alanya was located on the slopes of the mountain. Today, the old city has turned into an open-air museum with an area of 10 hectares.
• At the very top, there is another, inner fortress – Iç Kale. Local residents moved into it during the siege of the city, stored provisions, water, and ammunition there.

Cleopatra Beach

• Cleopatra Beach is one of the most beautiful and popular holiday spots not only in Alanya but also in Turkey as a whole. It is surrounded by the Taurus Mountains covered with pine forests and stretches for 2.5 km. The coast, covered with golden coarse sand with rare inclusions of pebbles, is washed by the emerald waves of the Mediterranean Sea.
• The infrastructure of the beach is well-developed and thoughtfully planned to the smallest detail, so any guest will feel comfortable here. Along the shoreline, there are cafes and restaurants where you can try Turkish cuisine and souvenir shops.
• Since 2004, Cleopatra Beach has been awarded the "Blue Flag" annually as an environmentally friendly, safe place!
• But why is the beach named after the Egyptian queen? There is a legend that long ago, Cleopatra, tired from a sea voyage, ordered her ship to dock in a small but very picturesque bay. The harbor liked the eastern beauty so much that it became her favorite resting place.

Damlatas Cave

• Damlatas – a cave at the western foot of the peninsula. Its name translates from Turkish as "stalactite". It was discovered quite by accident in 1948 during the construction of the port. There was a quarry in this place, and after an explosion to obtain stone for the construction of the pier, the entrance to the cave opened. Inside it, fantastic formations were found – stalactites and stalagmites of extraordinary beauty. Damlatas is one of the few Turkish caves equipped for visitors. The cave has two floors. Inside, the air temperature constantly stays at +22 - 23˚C, and humidity is over 90-98%. In addition, the air contains a fairly large amount of carbon with a slight degree of radioactivity.
• It is believed that visiting the cave is beneficial for patients suffering from asthma and other respiratory diseases.