Alanya Castle

Important: Entrance fees and opening hours may change seasonally. Check the latest official information before your visit.

The opening hours above apply to the museum-controlled section of Alanya Castle. The Alanya Cable Car has a separate timetable, so later cable car operating hours do not mean that the Inner Fortress remains open.

Alanya Castle is located in Alanya, a coastal district of Antalya Province in southern Türkiye. It stands on the historic peninsula that rises above Alanya city centre, Cleopatra Beach and the Mediterranean Sea.

There are several ways to get to Alanya Castle:

• By cable car: Alanya Cable Car runs from the Damlataş area to Ehmedek, in the upper castle district. From the upper station, visitors must continue uphill on foot to reach the Inner Fortress.

• By public transport: Local buses travelling towards the castle provide access from Alanya city centre.

• By taxi or car: The winding castle road leads towards the upper sections of the peninsula and the Inner Fortress.

• On foot: Active visitors can walk up from Damlataş or the harbour. However, the route is steep and can be tiring in hot weather.

• With an organised tour: A guided city tour is a practical option for combining the castle with other major Alanya attractions.

Visitors who want transport and sightseeing arranged in advance can compare Alanya city tours featuring the castle, cable car and panoramic viewpoints.

Alanya Castle is not a single building. It is a large historic district containing fortifications, archaeological remains, religious buildings, cisterns, old houses and scenic viewpoints.

Inner Fortress: Located at the highest and most protected point of the peninsula, the Inner Fortress contains Byzantine church remains, Seljuk palace ruins, cisterns and panoramic viewpoints.

Ehmedek: Situated close to the upper cable car station, Ehmedek formed an important part of the castle’s northern defensive system.

Süleymaniye Mosque: One of the most notable Ottoman buildings within the castle district.

Akşebe Sultan Mosque: A small but important structure reflecting the Seljuk heritage of Alanya Castle.

Bedesten and arasta: These historic commercial buildings provide an insight into the trading life of old Alanya.

Traditional Alanya houses: The castle is still home to a historic residential area with examples of traditional local architecture.

Castle walls and viewpoints: The upper sections offer wide views over Cleopatra Beach, Alanya Harbour, the Taurus Mountains and the Mediterranean coastline.

The Red Tower, Seljuk Shipyard and Tophane are located in the lower part of the wider castle complex. They can be added as separate stops when planning a complete Alanya Castle itinerary.

• Allow between two and four hours for the wider castle district.

• Wear comfortable shoes because many paths are steep, uneven or paved with stone.

• Visit early in the morning or later in the afternoon during summer.

• Carry water, especially if you plan to walk from the cable car station to the Inner Fortress.

• Check the Inner Fortress closing time separately from the cable car timetable.

• Allow extra time if you also want to visit the Red Tower and Seljuk Shipyard.

• The late afternoon is ideal for panoramic views and Alanya Castle sunset photos.

• Some parts of the wider castle district can be explored without the Inner Fortress ticket, while admission charges apply to museum-controlled sections.

For an easier itinerary, visitors can join the Alanya City Tour with Cable Car, Castle and Panoramic Views.

Alanya Castle is a historic fortress overlooking the Mediterranean Sea from a rocky peninsula approximately 250 metres above sea level. Its strategic position, protected harbour and steep natural slopes made it an important military, commercial and maritime centre for many centuries.

The exact foundation date of Alanya Castle is unknown. The settlement was mentioned as Korakesion as early as the fourth century BC. By the second century BC, its naturally protected location had made it an important base for pirates operating in the eastern Mediterranean.

Pirate control ended after the Battle of Korakesion in 65 BC, when the Roman commander Pompey defeated the forces based in the area. During the Roman period, the fortifications were expanded and new buildings were added.

Under Byzantine rule, the settlement became known as Kalonoros, meaning “Beautiful Mountain”. Its position above a sheltered harbour allowed it to remain an important navigation point and trading centre on the Mediterranean coast.

Who Built Alanya Castle?

Alanya Castle was not built by a single ruler or civilisation. Different sections were constructed, expanded and restored over many centuries.

However, much of the castle seen today is associated with the Anatolian Seljuk Sultan Alaaddin Keykubat I. Kalonoros came under his control in 1221 and was renamed Alaiye. The sultan ordered major construction work, reinforced the older walls and added new fortifications, cisterns and important buildings.

The Red Tower, Seljuk Shipyard, Tophane and the palace complex inside the Inner Fortress are among the most important structures connected with Alaaddin Keykubat’s reign. For this reason, Alanya Castle is often described as a Seljuk fortress, even though its history began much earlier.

After the decline of the Seljuk state, Alaiye passed through several regional administrations before becoming part of the Ottoman Empire in 1471. Süleymaniye Mosque, the bedesten, arasta and traditional houses reflect the Ottoman period of the castle’s history. During the Republican period, the name Alaiye was changed to Alanya.

Is Alanya Castle Free to Visit?

The wider Alanya Castle district includes public roads, residential quarters, old neighbourhoods and viewpoints. These parts can be explored separately from the ticketed Inner Fortress.

A ticket is required to enter museum-controlled archaeological sections such as the Inner Fortress. The full Alanya Castle entrance fee displayed by the official ticket system in 2026 is €12. Ticket prices may change, so visitors should confirm the current rate before travelling.

Alanya Castle opening hours can also vary depending on the season. The currently published schedule is 08:00–21:00, with the ticket office closing at 20:30.

What Makes Alanya Castle Worth Visiting?

Alanya Castle is one of the best-preserved medieval fortresses on the Mediterranean coast of Türkiye. Its defensive walls extend for approximately 6.5 kilometres and include 140 towers as well as numerous cisterns, gates and fortified sections.

A walk through the castle district reveals different layers of Alanya’s history. Visitors can see Seljuk and Ottoman buildings, Byzantine remains, traditional houses, old neighbourhoods and viewpoints overlooking the sea.

The castle is also one of the best places in Alanya for panoramic photography. From the upper sections, visitors can see Cleopatra Beach, Alanya Harbour, the Mediterranean coastline and parts of the Taurus Mountains. Late afternoon is particularly popular for sunset views.

Visiting Alanya Castle by Cable Car

Alanya Cable Car is one of the most popular ways to reach the upper castle district. It departs from the Damlataş area, close to Cleopatra Beach and Damlataş Cave, and carries visitors to Ehmedek.

The cable car does not travel directly to the entrance of the Inner Fortress. After leaving the upper station, visitors need to continue uphill on foot. The route includes wooden walkways, steps, historic streets and several viewpoints.

Visitors who want to combine Alanya Castle, the cable car, Cleopatra Beach and other central attractions can choose an organised Alanya sightseeing tour. Those planning a longer independent trip can also use Maxtoria’s guide to the best places to visit in Alanya.