Alanya City Tour from Side: Cable Car, Boat Trip and Lunch

Alanya City Tour from Side: Castle Heights, Open Water and a Riverside Table

East of Side along the Mediterranean shore lies Alanya, a town crowned by a thirteenth-century Seljuk fortress and ringed by sea caves and sandy coves. This guided Alanya city tour from Side gathers its best-known sights into one well-paced day: you see the peninsula from the water, eat lunch above a cold mountain river, ride a cable car up to the castle walls and still have time to explore the town on your own.

Salt Spray Beneath the Red Tower

The day in Alanya opens at the harbour, where a boat is waiting for a one-hour cruise around the rocky peninsula. From the deck you look up at the octagonal Red Tower, the vaulted Seljuk shipyard carved into the cliff and the sea caves locals call the Pirates Cave, the Lovers Cave and the Phosphorus Cave. The boat ticket is already covered in your tour price.

Lunch Where the Dimçay Runs Cold

A short drive inland brings you to the Dimçay River, where restaurants set their tables on shaded wooden platforms right above the water. Lunch is included, with grilled chicken or trout served alongside fresh side dishes, while the mountain breeze and the sound of the current do the rest. Drinks are ordered and paid for separately.

Cleopatra's Sands and a Cave of Dripping Stone

Back on the coast you reach the Damlataş shoreline, the gateway to Cleopatra Beach and its long curve of golden sand. Here you can step into Damlataş Cave, a cool chamber of stalactites known for its humid air. The cave visit is optional and its entrance ticket is paid on the spot.

A Silent Glide to the Seljuk Ramparts

Right beside the beach, the Alanya cable car lifts you gently over the pine-covered slopes to the upper station near the fortress, and the bay opens wider beneath your cabin as you climb. At the top your guide tells the story of Sultan Alaeddin Keykubad, who had the walls rebuilt in the 1220s, and you have time for panoramic photos over the city and the Taurus Mountains. The cable car ride is included.

The Bazaar at Your Own Pace

The afternoon closes with free time in the centre of Alanya. Browse the covered bazaar for spices and textiles, sit down for a Turkish coffee or wander the palm-lined promenade before the group gathers again for the ride back to Side.

Clock Times Explained

The session time shown on this page is the moment the activity begins in Alanya and not your hotel pickup time. Pickup from hotels in Side and Manavgat happens earlier, and your exact pickup time is confirmed after your reservation based on where your hotel is. The listed end time marks the close of the activity; the return transfer follows, and drop-off time depends on traffic and your hotel location.