Alany town center
The large popular resort center of Alanya lies at one end of a rocky promontory which juts out into the Mediterranean between two long sandy beaches.
Alanya is a beautiful holiday center of modern hotels and motels, numerous fish restaurants and cafes and bars. The cafes that ring the harbor have become popular gathering places for tourists. From the town's lovely park, the road runs along the coast to the harbor, lined with countless boutiques that tempt tourists with handicrafts, leather, clothes, jewelry, handbags and the amusing painted gourds, a symbol of the area. In August, when Alanya hosts a colorful International Folklore Festival the atmosphere is charged with vitality and gaiety.
If you enjoy exploring you should visit the Damlatas Cave to see the eerie misshapen rock formations. Nearby is the Archaeology and Ethnography Museum, (Open weekdays except Monday). A boat can take you to the three sea grottoes:Fosforlu Magara with its phosphorescent rocks, the Kizlar Magarasi, where pirates imprisoned their female captives, and the Asiklar Magarasi.
When the intense sun overpowers you, take a day trip to the Dim Cayi Valley, 15 km east of Alanya, where you can relax in the shade of this scenic valley and listen to the stream rushing by. Avsallar (incekum), about 25 km from Aianya to the west, is a holiday resort center with fine sandy beaches.
If you travel east from Alanya towards Gazipasa you will discover and no doubt linger on the exceptional beaches. 30 km east of Alanya, Aytap, the historical harbor city Lotape, is a great excursion site, with Roman ruins, secluded beaches and bays.
TURKISH FOOD
When the best cuisines in the world are judged, it comes as a surprise to most people that Turkish cuisine has been rated as one of the three great cuisines of the world, along with the French and Chinese.
It was during the 500 years of Ottoman rule that Turkish culinary skills were developed.
Access to fresh ingredients was easy and infinite varieties of fish, poultry, fruits and vegetables and a countless number of spices were used.
At the same time many people from different cultures settled in the country and this brought further inspiration to the cooking, Turkish specialities are numerous and certainly worth a try.
Cleopatra Beach in Alanya
Sealanya
Dolphin Park
You can swim with the Dolphins here at Sealanya
River Rafting
DAILY ADVENTURED RIVER RAFTING TRIPS ORGANISATION IN TURKEY
Alanya's Water Park
LOCAL INFORMATION
Drink: It is advisable to always drink bottled water,the 25lt. water bottle with dispenser pump in the villa will be replaced if left outside the front door for a cost of 3ytl (£1.20). Beer and spirits are cheap but wine can be expensive – always ask in restaurants before ordering.
Local Buses; (Dolmus) go from the bus park outside Palm Villas – 100yds to the left on the main road (next to the beach bar)they run every 10 mins in the holiday season (every 20-30 mins out of season) until 3am in season (11pm in the winter).
They cost 1ytl (40p) to Konakli and 1.75ytl (70p) to Alanya. When going from Alanya to Palm Villas by bus ask to get off at “Data Bareka” (this means the man with one arm and he owns the grocery shop where the bus stops).
Taxis to Alanya cost approximately 20ytl (£8) and barter is expected.
Money – YTL are New Turkish Lira – do not accept any notes with multiple zeros as these were withdrawn from use in 2005 following a major devaluation. There are approximately 10 ytl to £4. Lira or euros may be used for large items but lira are required for small items and in local shops. All your lira must be used up in Turkey. There are cash machines widely available.
Phone calls – mobiles work well in Turkey. When phoning the UK dial 0044 and drop the zero before the area code.
Useful Numbers:-
LocalTaxi 009(0)5353 195088 or 5365 437239
Local Doctor, Dentist, & Hosp. 009(0)2475 123565
There is a Health Clinic and Post Office in Konakli. You will need to take your passport and insurance certificate for the clinic.
