Alanya

Dominated by a sprawling Seljuk castle, Alanya also greets visitors arriving by the sea with an octagonal red stone tower and a classic minaret

The port is right near the center.

The 3000 sqm. terminal area includes a fully air-conditioned passenger lounge, duty-free shop, restaurant, cafeteria, telephone booths and ATM.

The city has changed hands many times over the centuries, and its name has reflected this. Alanya was known in Latin as Coracesium or in Greek as Korakesion from the Luwian Korakassa meaning "point/protruding city"

The Citadel of Alanya: the castle has a castle wall of 6.5 km length, 140 towers, about 400 cisterns, doors with inscriptions and as an open air museum reflects Seljuk art at its best, showing the fascination of Seljuk art.

A great promontory juts out into the sea dividing the beaches of Alanya into two neat parts. The Eastern beach and the Cleopatra beach are the precise places to laze around in luxurious sunshine enjoying the sea. The beaches are alive with vacationers holidaying all day long. Alanya also hosts the International Folklore Festival in August and you will find a general ambiance of merriment in those times. Going around Alanya is easy with widely available public buses and taxis.

Apart from the Alanya Museum which house representations from the various cultures of ancient Turkey, the Seljuk ruins are just 5 km away.

About 500m north of Ulus Meydani, it’s worth taking a look at the surprisingly well-preserved remains of the Roman baths (8.30am-12.30pm & 1.30-5.30pm Tue-Sun), dating back to the 3rd century.

The town and nice promenade are very walkable.

The harbor of Alanya is a jovial place with little boats and many restaurants. You can take boat trips to the famous Fosforlu Magarasi (Phosphorescent Cave), Apiklar Madarasi (Lovers' cave) and Korsanlar Madarasi (Pirates' Cave).

In town, a taxi is cheap, and the fares are regulated. They are easy to find. For long journeys, however, drivers can charge more than the meter reads. So negotiate the fare in advance.

Boat trips from Alanya Harbour range in duration from one hour to a full day. Most include visits to the nearby Pirates’ Cave, Lovers’ Cave and Phosphorus Cave.

Side, a picturesque harbor town once occupied by Alexander the Great in around 3rd century BC.

Manavgat Waterfall with it’s surrounding tea gardens

The picturesque bazaar, which is closed to traffic and open until midnight is a paradise of handicraft shops. Potential souvenir purchases include leather and suede goods, hand-woven wool and silk rugs and carpets, gold and silver jewelry, semi-precious stones, meerschaum and onyx artifacts, mother-of-pearl inlaid wooden furniture, brassware, copperware, glassware, pottery, ceramics, embroidery, lace and beads.

Visitors can enjoy the cafes, bars, clubs, tavernas and discos in the harbor district, which makes up a very colorful and vibrant nightlife until dawn.

The restaurants on the waterfront promenade offer delicious traditional local dishes.

Traditional handicrafts such as carpets, copper goods, painted ceramics and jewelry are popular buys, along with a good selection of leather goods, sandals and beachwear which can be found in most of the larger resorts.

In souvenir shops and stalls, it's always worth trying a spot of haggling. For food shopping, local mini markets provide basic essentials, whilst the supermarkets found near the larger resorts are similar to those we are used to at home. Most resorts have a weekly market selling local produce, crafts and textiles and are well worth a visit.

Turkish food is amongst the best in the world. With enough climatic zones to grow most ingredients locally, there is a vast array of produce to excite and entice the palate. Besides its famous kebab dishes, there are many other traditional Turkish foods to choose from. Meze (appetizers) for which Turkey is justly famous, are a range of hundreds of small dishes from simple combinations such as cheese with melon to elaborately stuffed vegetables. These are served in all Turkish restaurants and are traditionally accompanied with Raki, a clear anise- flavored spirit claimed to be Turkey's national alcoholic drink

Turkey's currency is the Turkish Lira. Many shops and restaurants in the coastal resorts and big cities accept payment in euros and US dollars. But if you are planning to travel to other parts of the country, it is advisable to take some Turkish Lira.

Free wireless internet is available at the terminal.

Emergency Ambulance: 112 (all over Turkey) Police: 155 (all over Turkey)

In tourist and coastal areas, opening hours are quite flexible and during the summer, many shops stay open until late in the evening, seven days a week, leaving tourists to browse at their leisure and escape the heat of the day.