Alanya Castle Guide: Taking the Cable Car, the Red Tower and What to Know for Sunset
Alanya Castle guide: reach the top by cable car or on foot, explore the Red Tower, Shipyard and Inner Castle, and catch the sunset at Alanya's landmark.
Why Alanya Castle should be a must on your holiday
Almost everyone who visits Alanya has one of their first photos taken of the walls rising above the peninsula that stretches out into the sea. This Alanya Castle guide is designed to help you see the city's landmark in a single day, without wearing yourself out and without missing any of the highlights.
The castle sits on a rocky peninsula about 250 metres above sea level. Most of the structures you see today were built in the 13th century under the Seljuk Sultan Alaeddin Keykubad, but the area's history of settlement goes back to the Hellenistic and Byzantine periods. Kilometres of walls and more than a hundred towers wrap around the peninsula from one end to the other.
Alanya Castle and the surrounding Seljuk monuments are on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List. So what awaits you here is not just a beautiful view, but one of the best-preserved medieval defence systems in the Mediterranean. Because people still live inside the walls, in old houses with gardens along narrow lanes, the castle feels less like a museum and more like a living neighbourhood.
How to get to Alanya Castle: cable car, bus or on foot
There are three practical ways to get up to the castle, and each offers a different experience.
The cable car is the most popular option. The lower station is right next to Damlatas Cave, where Cleopatra Beach begins. During the short ride you get a bird's-eye view of Cleopatra Beach and the city, and the upper station comes out close to the Ehmedek area. Queues can form in summer afternoons, so it's best to go early in the morning.
Municipal buses run regularly from the city centre up to the castle and are the cheapest option, especially on hot days. You can also take a taxi right up to the Inner Castle entrance.
If you enjoy walking, the uphill route from the harbour is about 3 kilometres and takes 45 minutes to an hour depending on your pace. Along the way you pass old houses and stop often to take in the views. Our tip: go up by cable car or bus and walk back down. That way you save your energy and still see every layer of the castle.
The Red Tower and the Shipyard: history starting at the harbour
If you'd like to start your castle visit down at the harbour, your first stop should be the Red Tower (Kizil Kule). Built in 1226, this octagonal tower stands around 33 metres tall and was designed to protect the harbour. It gets its name from its upper sections of reddish brick, while the lower floors are made of stone. Inside there's a small ethnographic exhibition, and the rooftop terrace, reached via narrow stairs, offers lovely views of the harbour and the castle walls.
Follow the sea wall from the Red Tower and you'll reach the Seljuk Shipyard (Tersane). Built in 1228, it consists of five vaulted arches opening onto the sea and is one of the few surviving Seljuk shipyards in Anatolia. You can reach it along the walking path or see it from the water on a boat trip.
This stretch is flat and close to the shore, so it's easy going for families with children too. Come in the morning and you'll enjoy a cooler walk as well as the softest light for photos.
Ehmedek, the Inner Castle and spots you shouldn't miss
When you arrive by cable car, the first area you'll come to is Ehmedek. In this middle part of the castle you'll find the Ehmedek Tower, the Suleymaniye Mosque, the Aksebe Tomb and the old bedesten (covered market). It's surrounded by traditional Alanya houses and gardens, and wandering these lanes is one of the most enjoyable parts of the visit.
Further up, at the highest point of the peninsula, is the Inner Castle (Ic Kale). In this section, which also accepts the Museum Pass (Muzekart), you can see the remains of a small Byzantine church, cisterns and traces of the Seljuk palace. The viewpoint at the western end of the Inner Castle is known locally as Adam Atacagi, and from here you look down on sheer cliffs and Cape Cilvarda.
To see everything at a relaxed pace, we recommend setting aside at least half a day. With photo stops, a coffee break and a leisurely stroll, three to four hours go by easily.
When to go: best season and time of day
You can visit Alanya Castle at any time of year, but your experience changes a lot with the season.
In July and August, the stone paths and walls soak up the midday sun and shade is limited. In these months, plan your visit for early morning or late afternoon. Heading up towards sunset and coming down in the cool of the evening is the most enjoyable way to visit in summer.
April, May, October and November are considered ideal for the castle. The weather is perfect for walking, there are fewer crowds, and in spring the castle slopes are covered in flowers. Thanks to Alanya's mild climate, you can comfortably explore on sunny days even in winter; just remember that stone surfaces can be slippery when it rains.
Sunset is one of the most impressive sights from the castle. To watch the sun sink into the sea over Cleopatra Beach, the viewpoints around Ehmedek and the Inner Castle are ideal. Opening hours and cable car times vary by season, so we recommend checking the latest times before you go.
Practical tips for visiting the castle
A little preparation makes your castle visit much more enjoyable.
Footwear matters most. The castle paths are old stone paving, steep and slippery in places, so choose closed shoes with non-slip soles instead of flip-flops. Be sure to bring water; there are small cafés and vendors inside the castle, but it isn't always easy to find water everywhere.
A hat, sunscreen and sunglasses are essential, especially in summer. A backpack keeps your hands free, which is safer when taking photos and climbing stairs.
Families with children should note that some viewpoints have no railings. Keep a close eye on children near cliff edges. Pushchairs struggle on the rocky, steep paths, so a baby carrier is more practical for little ones.
If you have a Museum Pass (Muzekart), you can use it at the Inner Castle and Red Tower entrances. It's also easy to combine the castle with Damlatas Cave and Cleopatra Beach on the same day, as they're all within walking distance of each other.
Seeing the castle from the sea: a different view on a boat trip
To truly appreciate Alanya Castle, you also need to see it from the sea. The sheer cliffs, caves and walls you can only partly see from land take on a whole new dimension as you sail around the peninsula.
Boat trips departing from Alanya harbour usually pass in front of the Red Tower and the Shipyard and circle the peninsula. Stops along this route include the Phosphorescent Cave, the Lovers' Cave, the Pirates' Cave and a view of Cleopatra Beach from the water. This is also the best way to see the ruins of the old monastery on Cape Cilvarda.
Many travellers explore the castle on foot in the morning and join a boat trip in the afternoon, or the other way round. This combination is the most efficient way to experience both Alanya's history and its sea in a single day. It's easier to enter the caves in the morning when the sea is calm, while the afternoon light makes the castle walls look much warmer in photos.
Discover the castle and more with Alanya Trips
You can explore Alanya Castle on your own, but planning with a team that knows the area well saves time and helps you spot details you might otherwise miss. At Alanya Trips, we bring together a wide range of options, from city tours and boat trips to nature and canyon tours and family-friendly day trips.
If you want to see the castle from the sea, our Alanya boat tours cover the peninsula's caves and Cleopatra Beach on a single route. If you'd like to dig deeper into the city's history, our city tours let you explore the Red Tower, the Shipyard and the castle area with a guide. With hotel pick-up and drop-off, you can enjoy your day without worrying about transport.
Tell us your holiday dates and interests, and we'll put together the programme that suits you best. To browse current tours and book, visit alanya-trips.com. We look forward to showing you Alanya's landmark and its most beautiful views.
© Stegop, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12108717