Looking for the best excursions and day trips from Alanya? Don’t forget to check out this list of the most exciting day trips from Alanya, Turkey.
Most people visiting Alanya are amazed at how many fun attractions there are in Alanya. You can read much more about this in my article about the best things to do in Alanya. If you’re willing to drive a little outside the city, you’ll even be able to visit some of Turkey’s greatest sights.
When vacationing in Alanya, you can either book a day trip from Alanya through your travel agency or one of the many agencies around the city. Another option is to rent a car. This will provide a liberating opportunity to drive to wherever you want in Turkey.
There’s no doubt that you can find many amazing excursions and day trips from Alanya. Most are definitely worth a visit! So, if you’re planning a trip to Alanya … well, then you should stay on this page for a little longer. Here’s a list of the most amazing day trips from Alanya.
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The most amazing day trips from Alanya:
1. Syedra Ruins (22 kilometers)
The Syedra Ruins are located between Alanya and Gazipasa, about 22 kilometers from Alanya. Thus, it’s a short and affordable day trip from Alanya. This place can easily be reached in a rental car. In fact, Syedra is the closest reasonably preserved ancient ruined city to Alanya. But unfortunately, it hasn’t been specifically excavated just yet.
The ancient city is located on a hillside, from which there are stunning views of the Mediterranean. The trip up the mountain can be tough. But in return, you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding area. On a cloudless day, it is said that you can see all the way to Alanya. That’s pretty amazing, right?
If you’re planning to visit the Syedra Ruins just outside Alanya, be sure to prepare before the trip. The most important is that you remember good hiking shoes and plenty of water. As I mentioned before, it’s a tough hike. And usually, it’s also very hot due to the sun.
2. Alara Castle (39 kilometers)
Alara Castle is a forgotten historic castle perched on top of a steep and massive cliff. This is a relatively unknown day trip from Alanya as it isn’t a tourist trap at all.
Here you cannot find signs, stalls, kiosks, or anything else, apart from beautiful nature and ruins. However, it is said that some warning signs have been put up warning that it can be dangerous to visit the castle. The reason for this is partly because it’s a difficult and long trip. And oh well yes, if something happens to you (God forbid it), there isn’t really any help in miles around.
The hike to Alara Castle takes you through beautiful scenery. But you’ll also have to climb steep stairs and walk through a completely dark tunnel with bats. You may risk being the only visitor, so I don’t recommend going alone. Remember a flashlight, closed hiking boots, and plenty of water for the excursion. You should expect it to take about 45 minutes to reach the lower part of the castle ruins.
3. Sapadere Canyon (45 kilometers)
One of the most popular day trips from Alanya is a trip to Sepadere Canyon. This scenic valley is located in lush green surroundings in the Taurus Mountains. Here you’ll follow a 600-meter-long wooden bridge that leads you right through the impressive valley.
Along the way, you’ll pass several beautiful waterfalls and rare plant species. At the end of the route, there’s a natural pool. Here you can take an ice-cold dip at the foot of a small waterfall. The water in the valley is at most 12 degrees hot, even in the summer months. Therefore, it’s an obvious place to cool off a bit in the scorching Turkish summer sun.
About 3 kilometers from Sapadere Canyon is Sapadere Village, an idyllic little village with less than 1,000 inhabitants. Their main livelihoods are agriculture, breeding, and silk. A visit to the village provides a unique insight into the Turkish daily life in the mountains.
4. Manavgat Falls (62 kilometers)
Manavgat Falls is one of the most famous waterfalls in all of Turkey. It’s definitely also one of the most popular day trips from Alanya. The waterfall is only about 2-3 meters high, but in return, it’s 40 meters wide and is shaped like a horseshoe. Even though the waterfall isn’t particularly high, there’s still a strong current that creates a beautiful foam effect.
The waterfall is a great place to visit if you need to relax in quiet surroundings. Here you can stroll along the banks of the river or take a boat trip on the Manavgat River. You can also enjoy a dinner or just laze in the sun. During the summer, several tour boats in Alanya’s marina sail past Manavgat. Besides the waterfall, I also recommend taking a trip to Manavgat city.
5. Aspendos (94 kilometers)
Aspendos is an ancient ruined city famous for its large amphitheater from the 2nd century. The amphitheater is extremely well preserved! In fact, it’s one of the best-preserved antique theaters in the world. Although the theater is almost 2,000 years old, it has miraculously survived several time periods and various earthquakes.
Besides the well-preserved condition of the Aspendos Theater, the acoustics are so good that it’s said to be among the best in the world. In its heyday, the theater could accommodate anywhere between 15,000 and 20,000 people. It was mainly used to entertain imperial families and other wealthy Romans with theater performances, animal fights, etc.
Today, the Aspendos Theater is still used for concerts, dance shows, wrestling matches, and much more. Next to the stage, there’s a small room where you can see antique masks and clay tickets from ancient times. Besides the world-famous theater, there’s also a large ruin complex to explore in Aspendos.
6. Perge (121 kilometers)
Another exciting excursion from Alanya is a trip to Perge, also called Perga. This ancient Greek ruined city is filled with beautiful, majestic ruins of ancient buildings that are thousands of years old. In fact, Perge is among the best-preserved archeological sites in Turkey. This ruined city is even inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
One of the most impressive things about Perge is that the buildings are larger than most other places. In addition, the marble carvings on the buildings are unusually detailed. Even though Perge covers a huge area, it’s still believed that only about 30 percent of the city has been excavated so far. So, did I mention it’s huge!?
Perge is about 16 kilometers long and is filled with fascinating ruins, including an ancient theater, a stadium, and a temple. You’ll also be able to find ruins of ancient churches, Turkish baths, fountains, canals, city gates, columns, houses, and more.
Although Perge covers a huge area, there are no kiosks or shops inside the ancient city itself. Therefore, it’s important to remember some good hiking shoes and plenty of water for the trip.
7. Antalya Aquarium (141 kilometers)
Antalya Aquarium is one of the largest aquarium complexes in the world. Here you’ll find 40 themed aquariums and the world’s largest underwater tunnel. The tunnel has a length of 131 meters and a width of 3 meters. As you walk through it, sharks, rays, and other fish swim right around your head.
The aquariums are beautifully decorated with a normal-sized plane, a ship, and various underwater wrecks, telling stories from all over the world. Besides the aquarium, there’s also a diving school, doctor fish, a 5D cinema, a playground, paintball, and an exhibition center.
Antalya Aquarium also has a department called Snow World that can be visited at extra charge. Snow World consists of an entire floor covered with real snow. It is very special to enter a room with -5 degrees when it’s about 30-40 degrees outside. When you’re already in Antalya, don’t forget to explore the other exciting things to do in Antalya as well.
8. Termessos (157 kilometers)
Termessos is one of the best-preserved ancient ruined cities in Turkey. It really is an exciting day trip from Alanya! Termessos is located at an altitude of more than 1,000 meters in the Taurus Mountains in Güllük National Park.
Inside the park, there’s a wonderful nature with rare plant and animal species. Termessos cover a large area, but it isn’t easily accessible. To reach the ancient ruins, you must climb and hike a lot. Therefore, it isn’t a trip for people with walking difficulties or poor fitness. Remember to bring plenty of water and good hiking shoes.
Once you reach Termessos, you can finally explore the ancient ruins. They include ancient city walls, a high school, cemeteries, Roman houses, and temples. The most notable ruin in Termessos, however, is the extremely well-preserved Greek amphitheater. From the theater, there’s an absolutely stunning view of the surrounding mountains. In fact, you can see all the way to Antalya on a cloudless day.
9. Pamukkale and Hierapolis (368 kilometers)
Pamukkale is a unique natural phenomenon that is so special that it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Although located a bit far from Alanya, Pamukkale is still one of the best day trips from Alanya.
When visiting Pamukkale, you will be greeted by the most beautiful white limestone terraces and petrified waterfalls. This is all formed by the calcareous water of the area flowing down from a high cliffside. Pamukkale is especially an adventurous sight in the early morning or late evening.
Unfortunately, it is no longer possible to swim in the original pools. However, artificial basins have been set up so that visitors can swim freely. So now remember your swimwear!
Next to Pamukkale is the ruined city of Hierapolis, an archeological site with lots of ancient ruins. Don’t forget to visit the Cleopatra Bath, located above several 2000-year-old columns. The water in the Cleopatra bath is 36 degrees hot and reportedly has a rejuvenating effect.
10. Cappadocia (535 kilometers)
One of the most amazing day trips from Alanya – and anywhere else in Turkey – is Cappadocia. This area is extremely fascinating and is rightly inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Cappadocia is a true natural wonder formed by the magical hand of nature. The unspoiled and lunar landscape has been created by countless huge volcanic eruptions. Afterward, it has been further modeled by several earthquakes.
There is no doubt that Cappadocia is one of the most adventurous areas in Turkey. It must be experienced at least once in a lifetime! Here you can explore underground cities, cave churches, valleys, fairy chimneys, rock hotels, and much more. One of the most popular things to do in Cappadocia is to fly in a hot air balloon above the beautiful natural phenomenon.
If you’re planning a trip from Alanya to Cappadocia, it may be a good idea to stay overnight. It seriously takes a long time to get there… So, it would be a shame if you didn’t have time to explore Cappadocia properly.
That’s all on this list of the most amazing excursions and day trips from Alanya. What are your favorite getaways from Alanya? What are you looking forward to on your trip to Alanya? Feel free to leave a comment.
Planning a trip to Alanya? Don’t forget to check out these articles:
- Travel Guide to Alanya
- 18 Best Things to Do in Alanya
- 8 Best Places for Shopping in Alanya
- The Best Places to Stay in Turkey
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