Whether you’re here for a week or your cruise liner is only in port for a few hours, here are seven ideas to enjoy your time in and around Alanya.
I’m Gosha Slugin. I’ve been living in the Oba neighborhood since 2022, and I blog about Alanya’s cultural life. I regularly connect with creative entrepreneurs who are changing the city’s landscape, looking for new restaurants, and organizing film clubs and parties for the local community. It’s my pleasure to share the best places for you to fall in love with Alanya, just like I did.
Turkish breakfast with a city view
To get an overview of the town while enjoying a classic Turkish breakfast, go to the park by the I Love Alanya sign, where the main viewing terrace is located. The best view is from the Karma Alanya restaurant, where you can see the city stretching along the Mediterranean on one side and the Taurus Mountains on the other.
Syedra Antik Kenti
It is tempting to go to Alanya Castle, but I suggest a less crowded and perhaps far more interesting option. Since 1994, archaeologists have been working on Asar Hill, where Gnaeus Pompey himself stayed when he fled to Egypt after being defeated by Julius Caesar’s troops. The ruins of ancient Syedra are just 30 minutes from the center and are astonishing in scale – you’ll need at least an hour and comfortable hiking boots to explore everything. Excavations are ongoing, so entry is free.
Brew Specialty Coffee
Alanya is one of the most international cities in Turkey, and here you can find curious and rare things like specialty coffee. Kahve Hub Alanya enthusiasts organize coffee tastings every weekend in different parts of the city. And in the Mahmutlar district, there is a benchmark coffee shop called Brew, opened by Rinat from Kazakhstan. It’s a small corner where beans with a Q-Grade rating of over 80 are brewed. Try the signature Colombian Flat White, which will lift your spirits all day.
Seasons Haute Cuisine
Unfortunately, the Antalya region is not where you can say that all restaurants are delicious. On the contrary, the good ones are few and far between, and tasty places like Lost or Lale require reservations. I suggest going to star chef Mutlu Şevket Yılmaz’s Season. He’s a two-time national winner at the Bocuse d’Or and the only one on the Mediterranean coast with a Gault & Millau hat. But his real claim to fame is his sushi, arguably the best in town.
Address on Google Maps
Barrel Bar
The city’s longest bar was opened more than five years ago by Danish-born Andreas Møhr Johnsen. Over the years, it has grown from a small place to a noisy, two-story beer garden with a cozy backyard and pool room. Here, you will find the largest selection of beers (not just Efes and Tuborg) and a rich assortment of spirits from all over the world. Most importantly, it is a place where locals and tourists mix in the right proportions to feel the relaxed Alanya vibe.
Live Music at Çello
Authentic music bar near the Red Tower. It is a place for locals with an informal atmosphere, where every (!) night from 22:00 (10 PM), a band of 3-4 people performs. With such passion, they sing Turkish songs that you will cry after one and dance after the other. The place is dark and smoky; they drink more rakı than beer, and the main crowd arrives closer to midnight. I love spending time here to feel the power of folk music and carefree life.
Party at Illusion Event Hall
A psychedelic circus with massive video mapping and a kitschy interior where it’s easy to believe in the club’s motto: ‘Life is an illusion’. Perfect for big companies and those who want to dance in a fairytale setting. It can get a bit boring without big events and crowds, so head to the more intimate and glamorous Privée.
If we missed your favorite place in Alanya or if you’d like to write about your lovely spot in your city, let us know at hello@localsinsider.com.
