Alanya Castle Castle
Medieval fortress overlooking Mediterranean and Alanya bay
Medieval fortress perched on Alanya's rocky peninsula with ramparts, towers and a shipyard below. Visitors walk the walls, photograph Aegean vistas and explore Ottoman and Seljuk-era remains above the beach resorts.
Alanya Castle at a Glance#
Address: Alanya Castle, Alanya, Antalya Province, Turkey
Hours: Typically daily 9:00am-6:00pm (seasonal variations)
Admission: Ticket to enter the castle complex: approx. TL 40-80 (varies); museum sections may charge extra
About Alanya Castle#
Alanya Castle is a medieval Seljuk fortress perched on a rocky peninsula in Alanya, Antalya Province, Turkey. It was founded by the Seljuk sultan Alaeddin Keykubad in the early 13th century.
The site offers extensive defensive walls, towers and ruined domestic buildings distributed along the peninsula, together with views over the Mediterranean and the town below. Within and around the walls are cisterns, stairways and the remains of residential quarters.
Built as a fortified port and lookout to control the surrounding coastline, the castle was adapted by later rulers and retains layers of Seljuk and Ottoman-era features. Parts of the fortifications and harbour installations were used to protect and support naval activity.
The castle sits above Alanya’s old town and harbour on a prominent headland that projects into the Mediterranean, within the modern urban fabric of Alanya.
- Founding: Founded by the Seljuk Sultan Alaeddin Keykubad in the early 13th century, the fortress dominates a rocky peninsula above Alanya harbour.
What to See#
- Tersane (shipyard): The Seljuk-era shipyard located on the eastern side of the peninsula, historically used to build and shelter vessels.
- Citadel and inner castle: The citadel and inner fortress containing ruined domestic structures, cisterns and the remains of defensive towers.
- Castle walls and towers: Long fortified walls and numerous towers that run along the spine of the peninsula and afford panoramic views over the town and sea.
How to Get to Alanya Castle#
The castle sits above Alanya town; local dolmuş (minibuses) and taxis run from the city center to the cable car station or nearby roads. A short hike from the harbor or a ride on the historic Tünektepe cable car (seasonal) takes visitors toward the castle area.
Tips for Visiting Alanya Castle#
- Arrive early morning to climb the ramparts before the heat and tour buses arrive.
- Bring decent footwear-the castle's cobbled paths and stairways are uneven.
- Walk down to the harbour after the castle visit-views of the Süleyman Paşa Tower and boats make a nice contrast to the stone defenses.
Best Time to Visit Alanya Castle#
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable times to walk the extensive ramparts and enjoy views over the Mediterranean.
Weather & Climate near Alanya Castle#
Alanya Castle's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Mediterranean - Hot-Summer Mediterranean climate with hot summers (peaking in August) and cool winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 8°C to 32°C. Abundant rainfall (1007 mm/year), wettest in January with a pronounced dry season.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Good | 8° - 16° | 12° | 203 mm | partly cloudy | 67% | 2.5 m/s | 0.3 low | 9.8h |
| February | Good | 8° - 16° | 12° | 149 mm | partly cloudy | 67% | 2.7 m/s | 0.6 moderate | 10.7h |
| March | Good | 9° - 18° | 14° | 92 mm | partly cloudy | 66% | 2.6 m/s | 1.0 high | 11.8h |
| April | Very Good | 12° - 21° | 16° | 55 mm | some cloud | 67% | 2.5 m/s | 1.5 high | 13.0h |
| May | Excellent | 16° - 24° | 20° | 33 mm | some cloud | 66% | 2.2 m/s | 1.9 very high | 14.0h |
| June | Ideal | 20° - 28° | 24° | 9 mm | clear | 63% | 2.5 m/s | 2.4 extreme | 14.5h |
| July | Ideal | 22° - 31° | 27° | 7 mm | clear | 57% | 2.8 m/s | 2.5 extreme | 14.2h |
| August | Ideal | 23° - 32° | 28° | 6 mm | clear | 57% | 2.4 m/s | 2.1 extreme | 13.4h |
| September | Ideal | 20° - 30° | 25° | 16 mm | clear | 57% | 2.2 m/s | 1.6 very high | 12.3h |
| October | Excellent | 16° - 26° | 21° | 83 mm | mostly sunny | 58% | 2.0 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 11.1h |
| November | Good | 12° - 21° | 17° | 151 mm | some cloud | 60% | 2.1 m/s | 0.5 moderate | 10.1h |
| December | Good | 10° - 18° | 14° | 203 mm | partly cloudy | 65% | 2.3 m/s | 0.3 low | 9.6h |
