The coming spring pleases Russians with long sunny days and the first long-awaited warmth, which was so lacking in the endless winter. In addition to cheerful murmuring streams and snowdrops on forest thaws, April can also please with the beginning of the holiday season in Turkey. Alanya, which is the warmest place on the coast, hospitably opens the doors of hotels for the first tourists who are hungry for the sea and golden sand on the beaches.
This resort has long been the favorite among our compatriots due to its location, long holiday season, abundance of attractions for every taste and budget, as well as a wide selection of hotels of different stars and houses for rent. Reviews about Alanya (Turkey) always mention the fact that even budget hotel options stand out for their excellent service and infrastructure. Therefore, this place is very popular from April to November. If you are also planning a vacation in Turkey this year, Alanya can becomeexactly the resort, the time spent at which, you will remember the whole family for more than one month after returning home.
Description of the resort area
By Turkey's standards, Alanya is a comparatively small town located on a coast divided by a rock jutting out into the sea. Its population fluctuates around one hundred thousand people, but in the high season this number sometimes doubles.
The peculiarity of Alanya is its location. On the one hand, the city is protected by the sea, and on the other hand, it is protected from the winds by the Taurus Mountains. In addition, there are no cold sea currents in the resort area, so in early spring the water temperature near the coast can reach 17 degrees Celsius.
The holiday season in the city lasts from April to the end of October. Many Russians come here even at the end of November, because the air temperature during this period usually does not fall below +15 degrees. There are almost never winds in Alanya, so the resort is comfortable at any time of the year.
Families with children go to rest in this heavenly place. They are attracted by cheap hotels, the opportunity to rent an apartment or a house right in the center of Alanya (Turkey), and most importantly, gently sloping and sandy beaches. They are covered with white or golden sand and delight mothers with a gentle entry into the water. Tourists can always choose any of the huge number of beach areas, while some of them have even been awarded the Blue Flag for cleanliness, which not every resort in the world can boast of.
Alanyageographically includes not only the city itself, but also the surrounding areas. Hotels are also located in them, so tourists should know their differences from each other. In the article we will give only the main characteristics of the resort areas of Alanya:
- Incekum (Turkey). From the center of the resort, this place is separated by approximately 23 kilometers, which seems to be an insignificant distance for tourists. This area is the oldest on the Mediterranean coast, therefore it has a very developed infrastructure. Everyone who has been here will never forget the unusual, pine-resin-saturated air of Incekum (Turkey, Alanya). Holidays in this place are suitable for families with small children, as the resort boasts wide beach areas and stands out for the lack of night parties.
- Avsallar. If you expect an abundance of nightlife, chic boutiques and a visit to a real Turkish bath from your vacation, then you definitely need to come here. The local coast is mostly covered with sand, and only in some places there are pebbles. Many tourists believe that this resort will have the most fun vacation in Turkey.
- Mahmutlar. In Alanya, this area is considered suitable for tourists who want to be alone away from the kids. Rest here belongs to the budget category, since most of the hotels are located across the road from the sea. Experienced travelers are advised to rent apartments in the resort, which will be much cheaper than booking a hotel room. Thanks to affordable housing prices, tourists get the opportunity to live in Mahmutlar throughout the season. Water on the beaches of the resort areaclean, but entry into the sea is inconvenient for children - in many places it is littered with sharp boulders.
- Okurcalar (Turkey/Alania). Rest here can be characterized by three adjectives - "calm", "lazy" and "comfortable". The resort area has excellent sand and pebble beaches, cozy restaurants and low housing prices.
- Karaburun. First of all, those who consider diving their favorite hobby should come here. The resort's bays are ideal for this activity, and there are also a large number of yachts. Experienced yachtsmen teach tourists how to sail, which attracts many lovers of sea adventures to this particular resort area of Alanya.
- Konakli (Turkey). A compact settlement is suitable for a measured beach holiday. The beaches here are covered with pebbles, but there are many entertainments for children on the coast. The water in the sea is very clean, and the village itself is surprisingly similar to a picture from a postcard.
As you can see, the choice of places to stay in Alanya is very wide. Therefore, every tourist will feel good and comfortable here.
When is the best time to go to the resort?
Holidays in Turkey in Alanya are possible all year round, because this place is attractive in its own way in each of the seasons. However, tourists prefer to come here in the summer, when the weather allows you to fully enjoy all the possibilities of the resort.
The first vacationers appear in Alanya in April. At this time, the water temperature does not exceed twenty degrees, so only big lovers of water procedures bathe. Resttourists prefer to swim in heated pools. April and May attract Russians primarily due to the low price of tours, while their choice is extremely wide, and hotels even offer discounts. In addition, the absence of scorching heat in the daytime makes it possible to visit all the historical sights of the country. It is in such weather that it is comfortable to walk through the ruins and just wander through the most beautiful streets of the resort. Many tourists specifically purchase tours to Alanya in the spring to take excursions to the mountains.
If you are planning a vacation with children, then June is perfect for you. At this time, the cost of tours is just beginning to rise, and the water temperature in Alanya (Turkey) warms up to 22-25 degrees. During the day, the weather is already quite summer, but in the evenings a fresh breeze is possible, which will make you throw a light windbreaker or jacket on your shoulders.
High season in Alanya is in July and August. The cost of staying at the hotel during this period is quite high, but excursions can be bought at a reduced price. This is due to the fact that representatives of street agencies are experiencing fierce competition and are trying in every possible way to attract vacationers. The air temperature in summer often exceeds the record high of 40 degrees Celsius, and the sea warms up to 30 degrees. All this attracts mothers with children to the resort, but it is in July and August that the percentage of visits to the doctor with complaints of pain in the heart, burns and sunstroke is high. Parents need to ensure that the little traveler's body and head are covered at all times.
Experienced tourists are advised to rest in Alanya from September to October. During these months, ticket prices begin to decline again, there are fewer vacationers on the beaches, as the school year forces parents with children to return home, but the weather continues to delight with high temperatures and lack of rain. Usually the air in the first autumn months warms up to 30 degrees during the day, approximately the same temperature is maintained in the sea.
Tourists often come to Alanya in November. This month is still quite warm, but there is a chance of falling into a period of prolonged rains. After them, the temperature usually drops sharply, as a cool wind begins to blow from the mountains. However, going on long excursions becomes more comfortable. They are held no more than twice a week due to a decrease in the number of tourists.
The period from December to March is considered almost a dead season. During these months, most of the hotels are closed for renovation, but in large hotels, some rooms remain available for booking. The average air temperature in winter fluctuates around 20 degrees Celsius, the water does not warm up above 15-17 degrees Celsius.
As you can see, you can relax in Alanya at any time of the year. But to make it easier for you to plan your trip, here is a table of average water and air temperatures in the resort.
| month | air temperature | water temperature |
| January | +16 | +18 |
| February | from +11 to +16 | +17 |
| march | from +14 to +18 | +17 |
| April | to +21 | +18 |
| May | +26 | +21 |
| June | to +29 | +26 |
| July | to +32 | +28 |
| August | from +28 to +32 | +29 |
| September | to +30 | +28 |
| October | from +21 to +27 | +25 |
| November | from +16 to +21 | +21 |
| December | +13 to +18 | +19 |
Resort beaches
Many of our compatriots believe that Alanya is a single beach with a length equal to the city and surrounding areas. This statement is not far from the truth, because once this settlement was founded as a seaport, and new buildings were built only along the coast.
The resort's beaches, covered with fine sand, are rightfully considered one of the best in the country and definitely the cleanest. For this, they are awarded the Blue Flag, symbolizing purity. If we talk about the beaches of Alanya in general terms, it can be noted that they are suitable for swimming with children due to the gentle entry into the sea. In almost all places of the resort, the bottom is clean and sandy, so it is very comfortable for kids to splash around in shallow water all day long. Solitude lovers can find amazingly beautiful coves hidden from prying eyes by picturesque rocks. About 90% of the beach areas are well equipped, there arecafes, toilets, changing rooms and sun loungers.
Almost all hotels in Alanya (this is a common practice in Turkey) have their own beaches, but you can also find municipal beach areas in the resort. They are located in both the eastern and western parts of the city. Entrance to them is absolutely free, but you will need to pay about five lire for sunbeds and umbrellas. However, some tourists claim that no one will drive vacationers who are sitting on an ordinary towel right on the sand.
Four beaches deserve the attention of tourists:
- Cleopatra's Beach. In Alanya and in Turkey, this beach is the most famous. Some tourists are attracted by the legends told by the locals, while others are attracted by the incredible beauty of these places. The beach stretches for almost three kilometers and is covered with sand mixed with small pebbles. The sea here is very rarely worried, but even in a strong storm the water will remain clear. Despite the fact that there are always a lot of tourists with small children, the beach area is not entirely suitable for bathing babies. The "Cleopatra" has a rather sharp entry into the sea, and the depth even near the coast is already significant. Therefore, it is better for adults to come here, and for small tourists look for another place.
- "Keykubat". Here, kids can frolic without fear of falling into the depths. The sea in this part of the coast is clean and calm, and shallow water stretches for several tens of meters. The beach is located in the eastern part of the resort.
- "Damlatash". Its visit can be combined with an excursion to the famous cave located here. Tourists onthe beach is always crowded, they are attracted by its well-equipped and abundance of cafes nearby. "Damlatash" has a significant length and width, which allows you to simultaneously accommodate a large number of vacationers who will not even interfere with each other.
- "Portacal". This beach is municipal and has a sand and pebble surface. It is well equipped, so tourists can not only sunbathe and swim, but also engage in water sports.
In reviews of Alanya (Turkey), vacationers often mention that any local beach will delight you with its beauty and amenities. However, it should be borne in mind that prices in coastal cafes are much higher than in urban ones. And for using the toilet on the beach you will have to pay from two to four lira.
General characteristics of Alanya hotels
In Turkey, hotel complexes are a real city within a city, from where you don’t even have to leave throughout your vacation. Tourists write that even a three-star hotel can amaze the imagination with an abundance of entertainment on the territory, a wide range of dishes in restaurants and high-class service. In addition, almost all hotel complexes operate on an all-inclusive basis. Alanya (Turkey) is also no exception to the general rule, here vacationers will not be bored in hotels and feel in need of anything. However, in order not to be mistaken, it is worth considering some features of accommodation at this resort.
If you want to live in the city center and have shops, discos and restaurants within walking distance, then be prepared for some restrictions in comfort. The fact,that in Alanya itself, hotels are mostly small and located on the second coastline. They offer a minimum of services, but you will always be in the very center of resort life.
For those for whom comfort is more important, hotel complexes in various surrounding areas are suitable. All of them are located in vast areas, have several restaurants and swimming pools and offer a high class of service. We will tell readers a little more about some hotels.
Five star hotels
There are a lot of them in Alanya, and each hotel complex has its own distinctive features to attract tourists. Our compatriots consider the following to be the best five-star hotels:
- White Gold Hotel. It stands out with a beautiful private beach area, and from almost all buildings there is an incredibly breathtaking view of the sea.
- Alantur Hotel. The hotel complex has a very beautiful tropical garden, which is so nice to spend time in the midday summer heat.
- Club Paradiso. The hotel is located far from the beach, but this is compensated by the magnificent view from the hill where the buildings are built.
- Sealife Buket Resort & Beach Hotel. Families with children love to relax here, as the hotel's infrastructure fully meets the needs of young guests.
- Saphir Resort & Spa. Our compatriots also come here with great pleasure. The hotel is ideal for a relaxing family vacation, and pensioners often aspire to get into it.
Cost of living in a five-star hotel
When looking at housing prices in Alanya, you should always consider the season you are planning to travel. However, on average, a double room costs no less than 70 euros. Of course, with the upgrade of the room category, the price will increase.
For example, a week in an excellent hotel Delphin Delux Resort 5will cost one vacationer approximately $ 980, two - $ 1300. And if the tour is purchased by a married couple with a child, then they will have to pay 1,700 dollars for accommodation. If these prices seem unreasonably high to you, then just imagine seven days in paradise with three pools, a huge tropical garden, a water park and an amusement park, and other attractions, and your opinion will change.
Four star hotels
Good hotels in this category are:
- Xperia Grand Bali Hotel. It is located next to the famous "Cleopatra" beach, where tourists enjoy going every day.
- Panorama Hotel. This hotel always receives only rave reviews from tourists, so it is almost impossible to book a room here during the season.
- Sunny Hill Alya Hotel. This hotel has its own highlight - a beautiful rooftop pool. In Turkey, such an arrangement of pools is rare, so the hotel complex is popular.
Rates of rooms
In Alanya, Turkey, prices for accommodation in four-star hotels start from 50 euros. For this amount, tourists receive not only a cozy room, but also a lot of pleasantbonuses in the form of service, infrastructure and entertainment. But if you can’t afford such a price, and you certainly want to live in a four-star hotel, then consider options on the second coastline. They can book a room for 20 euros. Of course, the level of service in such hotels is not too high, but budget travelers are quite satisfied.
For 30 euros per day on the second coastline you can rent a room in an apartment hotel. These rooms have their own kitchen with everything you need for cooking. This option will be very convenient for families with small children.
Three-star hotel complexes
There are quite a few excellent hotels of this class in Alanya. Among them you can always find something suitable for any category of tourists:
- Kleopatra Fatih Hotel. The hotel has a good location and is famous for its excellent cuisine.
- Aska Kleopatra Beste Hotel. This hotel is chosen mainly by those who prefer Russian-speaking staff.
- Kleopatra Melissa Hotel. Russians always speak well of this hotel. They praise the cuisine and convenient location, as well as the low cost of rooms.
Sights of Alanya
For our contemporaries, Alanya is associated only with entertainment and other joys of resort life. But in fact, this place has a very ancient history, which today you can touch while seeing the sights of these places.
Alanya was founded on a rocky promontoryaround the 2nd century BC. Since then, the city has changed its name and owners more than once. You can trace the entire historical path of Alanya in the archaeological museum. In fourteen halls exhibits from different eras are collected. Here you can see objects of art from the Byzantine and ancient Roman eras, letters, statues, sarcophagi, household appliances and much more. The museum is located in the city center, so it is very convenient to get to it.
Tourists are greatly impressed by the excursion to the Tersane shipyard. It was erected by the Seljuks in the first half of the 13th century in just one year. The structure, measuring 56 x 44 meters, has several arches and passages. The shipyard is best seen from the sea, so visiting it is often included in a boat trip on a yacht.
The Red Tower is considered a symbol of Alanya, and curious tourists are sure to come here. This building is called Kyzylkule in Turkish and at the beginning of the 13th century it was the most impressive building in the city. Built of red brick, 33 meters high, it gives you the opportunity to see the entire resort from almost a bird's eye view.
In addition to the attractions already listed, travelers will be interested in visiting the Alanya fortress, the Suleymaniye mosque, caves (Damlatash, phosphoric) and a restaurant in the Dim Chai valley. Holidays in Alanya can be not only interesting, informative and comfortable, but also inexpensive. That is why our compatriots will go here next summer for tanning and adventures.
