B EACHES

The coast of Alanya consists of wide beaches, three of which have Blue Flag. Blue Flag is an international practice that determines and inspects the cleanness of the sea water and beach standards. Blue Flag is awarded to the beaches that conform with these qualities and it is valid for one year. Every fortnight microbiological and physiochemical analyses of the water is done. In Alanya the colour of the sea turns from blue to turquoise. In still weather it is possible to see the fish deep in the sea and it is common for fish to swim around your feet. The west and east coast of Alanya are beaches. In the west, are Damlataş and Cleopatra beaches and in the east are Keykubat and Portakal beaches. Out of the city, there are more beaches like Ulaş, Konaklı, Fuğla, İncekum, and Mahmutlar. Alanya beaches are miles long.
As well as these beaches, there are some natural beaches to be found next to motorways; under the slope of a hill or among some ancient ruins which await its guests who prefer just being with nature and the history. The rules of local administrations as well as the international ones are applied at the beaches in Alanya city centre. In accordance with these, entrance to the beaches and the showers are free. Deck chairs and beach umbrellas are provided in return for money; however it is not obligatory to seek these services. At buffets on the beaches there are no price differences. At the beaches no boats and water sports vehicles are allowed within a certain distance from the coast; swimming areas are determined with barriers.

ANTİQUE CİTİES

There are a lot of remnants of ancient cities throughout the east and west axis of Alanya. The cities some of which founded on the coast and some founded on steep slopes are called Pamphylia and Kilikia region cities. The remnants reflect the characteristic features of these regions. The stone ash boxes exhibited in Alanya Archaeological Museum reflects the way of burying the dead in Kilikya region. Entrance to these sites which are being protected and where in some parts excavations are still being carried out, is free. Considering the long walks along stony and bushy footpaths, people who would like to visit ruins should choose appropriate shoes and carry some water on summer days.

H I S T O R I C A L   M O N U M E N T S There are magnificent monuments in the citadel of Alanya, which is the nominee for UNESCO Cultural Heritage of the world. Along with the monuments such as the walls, Kızılkule, the dockyard and the gun house, old houses of Alanya inhabited after having been restored are also protected and they are worth visiting. In some of the houses weaving is continued with old looms and meals are served in their gardens. If you look carefully at the citadel, a heritage from the medieval times, whilst visiting, you will notice some stone carvings dating back to the antiquity. Visiting the citadel of Alanya in detail may take you a whole day. Nearby there are many caravanserais and fortresses to protect them since Alanya was a city on the route of the historical Silk Road

 

CAVES It is possible to call Alanya “a city of caves”. You can discover the mysterious world of land and sea caves in Alanya. Whilst wandering around the fascinating world of stalactites and stalagmites formed over thousands of years in land caves, you will also witness the forming of new stalactites and stalagmites. The scenery created by the lighting inside the cave will take you into a fantasy world. The world famous cave of Alanya is Damlataş Cave. The air in Damlataş is beneficial to the patients of asthma and doctors advise their patients to visit this cave. Kadıini Cave, which is not open for visitors yet, is the settlement of the people of Alanya twenty thousand years ago. Also the sea caves under the peninsula are the places where ancient mythological stories took place.

T H EmT A U R U SmM O U N T A I N S Although Alanya is on the coast of the Mediterranean, its back rests on Western Taurus. The Taurus Mountains are of essential importance in the life of Alanya people. Going to pasture in the mountains and spending the summer there is a thousand-year old Turkoman tradition. Up until the last century, the villagers used to leave their villages with the coming of spring and go to pasture. On the plains of the Taurus exceeding a thousand meters, the tents made of goat hair were pitched and whilst on one side flocks were put out to pasture, on the other side people made cheese and butter and wove carpets and rugs. The pasturage culture today exists in the luxurious cottages instead of the tents for people to go there and have a cool weekend holiday. The Taurus mountains has a unique natural beauty with its pine and cedar tree covered forests, deep valleys, peaks in clouds and rivers coming from peaks. Nowadays the pastures are commonly visited by both local and foreign tourists; old Turkmen traditions do still exist in these daily picnic areas.

 

There are four museums in Alanya. These are the Museum of Archaeology, that of Ethnography, Museum of İçkale and Museum of Atatürk Õs House. All of the museums are under the control of the Head Office of Museums in Alanya and you have to pay for a visit. They are all open to visitors during the week except for lunch breaks. The most important work in Alanya is the statue of Heracleus (Hercules) exhibited in the museum of Archaeology. Kızılkule in the harbour is designed as the museum of Ethnography. İçkale, built as the palace of the Sultan Alaaddin during the reconstruction of the city in the 13th century, is now a museum and open to visitors. The Head Office of Museums: Hilmibağcı Caddesi, Damlataş Alanya Phone: (242) 513 12 28

 

I n t e r n a t i o n a l

Alanya can be reached either by airway, seaway or highway, but the most preferred one is the airway. Although there are no scheduled passenger ships in the seaway, there are places for custom and mooring in Alanya harbour for foreign boats. There are also fuel, water and food services in the harbour. For people wanting to use the highway please have a look at the title “highway” on the page titled “national”.

 

N a t i o n a l

A I R W A Y
International Antalya Airport, 125 km. from the centre of Alanya, is open to both scheduled and unscheduled flights arranged by the tour operators in European countries. In summer months there is dense air traffic in Antalya Airport. According to the data for the year 2003, the number of foreigners entering into Turkey from the port of entry at Antalya Airport was more than 3 million. The largest portion belonging to the Germans with 1.5 million people.

S E A W A Y
Alanya harbour is open to international voyages. Alanya harbour is visited by the boats of the Mediterranean tours held by the Israeli and Egyptian travel agencies. Every other day there are ferry tours from Alanya to the Northern Cyprus Turkish Republic. The wharf in the city centre is suitable for the cruisers to moor. There are also places for waiting in the harbour. It is possible for the yachts to moor behind the breakwater.
 

 

H e a l t h

There are four general hospitals in Alanya-one belonging to the state, one to the university, and two to private sector-which are open 24 hours a day and where any kind of operation can be performed. Insurance's in European countries as well as international health insurance are valid in these hospital. When needed, the patient can be transferred abroad on an ambulance plane. In Alanya, there are also dialysis centers for patients of nephrosis. Besides, in the medical centers in towns and in the touristic facilities to give first aid when needed.

 

 

H o s p i t a l s

Alanya State Hospital
Telephone: +90 0242 513 48 41/42/43 Fax: 513 48 40
Head Doctor: 513 11 09 Manager: 513 48 40
Başkent University Hospital
Telephone: +90 0242 511 25 11
Private Can Hospital
Telephone: +90 0242 512 35 65-513 44 38/39/40
Fax: 513 73 98
Private Hayat Hospital
Telephone: +90 0242 512 42 51-513 80 14-512 14 55
Fax: 513 80 14
Private Alanya Policlinic
Telephone: +90 0242 512 77 52
Private Bilim Medical
Telephone: +90 0242 514 11 11
SSK Dispansary
Telephone: +90 0242 513 21 41
Payallar Village Clinic
Telephone: +90 0242 545 32 03
Avsallar Village Clinic
Telephone: +90 0242 517 19 41
Çıplaklı Village Clinic
Telephone: +90 0242 538 91 62
Demirtaş Village Clinic
Telephone: +90 0242 516 10 43
Emişbeleni Village Clinic
Telephone: +90 0242 545 32 17
Konaklı Village Clinic
Telephone: +90 0242 565 13 61
Mahmutlar Village Clinic
Telephone: +90 0242 528 33 99
Center Village Clinic 2
Telephone: +90 0242 512 22 74
Center Village Clinic
Telephone: +90 0242 513 56 29
Mother and Child Health Center
Telephone: +90 0242 513 13 99
Obaköy Village Clinic
Telephone: +90 0242 538 82 68
Okucalar Village Clinic
Telephone: +90 0242 527 41 95

U S E F U L I N F O R M A T I O N

E M E R G E N C Y mN U M B E R S