This Gorgeous Beach City Is The Best Destination In The Mediterranean According To Experts

Forget Barcelona and its rising anti-tourism really feel, Nice with the high-life and overpriced seashore golf equipment, and do not even take into consideration heading subsequent to a jam-packed Dubrovnik, the place you possibly can’t even stroll the streets in peace with out touching shoulders with a stranger.

The Mediterranean is the most magical place on earth, however you will not discover that Old World attract you are craving for those who’re battling for a lounger on the seashore, or ready in line for a number of lengthy minutes for a gelato cone that tastes something however do-it-yourself.

We’re Travel Off Path, in spite of everything, and in recent times, we now have made it one among our targets to unveil the Med’s best-kept secrets and techniques, from the undeveloped beaches of Albania, to North Cyprus’ unruffled golden sands—however there’s just one place that utterly stole our minds (and hearts):

People Have Been Sleeping On Alanya For Far Too Long

Straddling the southern shores of Turkey (or because it’s now spelled formally, Türkiye), Alanya is a laid-back seashore metropolis that is had a long-standing repute as a wellness vacation spot since Ancient Times.

We might go forward and name it the greatest vacation spot within the Mediterranean, as a result of fairly truthfully, we do not see how precisely it may be toppled, however you do not have to take our phrase for it: take Cleopatra’s, the Egyptian Queen herself, who allegedly got here all the way in which from the Nile to swim right here.

Back to Alanya itself, it is a mid-size port dwelling to round 364,000 inhabitants—a lot smaller than the neighboring Antalya, and much more peaceable, too.

While Antalya is a busy resort hotspot internet hosting over 11–14 million vacationers per yr, Alanya’s all-time peak has thus far been 6+ million. In different phrases, it’s miles from being a hidden gem, because it nonetheless attracts over 1/3 of all guests to this Turkish area, but it surely’s not precisely swept by mass tourism, both.

A Gateway To The Ancient World

For many, the primary enchantment of the Mediterranean is its wealthy Greco-Roman heritage and well-preserved historic websites, and for those who’re a History buff with a mushy spot for millennia-old monuments, Alanya won’t disappoint.

For starters, town’s picture-perfect Old Town is minimize via with pedestrian-friendly streets, lined with bazaar-style outlets and family-owned Turkish eateries which have been handed down via generations.

On the oceanfront, you may discover the landmark Kızıl Kule, or ‘Red Tower’, a medieval stronghold constructed all the way in which again in 1226, with the only goal of guarding the doorway to Alanya’s harbor. It’s now dwelling to town’s Ethnographic Museum, and you must undoubtedly not skip the go to.

Right subsequent to the Red Tower, hugged by the turquoise waters of the Med, the Thirteenth-century Alanya Shipyard (or Tersane) was constructed by the Seljuks, a Turkic individuals who managed town within the Middle Ages, and it is the place they used to each create and restore warships.

As you make your means throughout the maze-like Old Town, dotted with Ottoman minarets and conventional homes with lined balconies, and up the hill, you may finally attain Kalesi, Alanya’s foremost citadel, additionally erected by the Seljuks atop an older Byzantine fort.

It has a whopping 4 miles of partitions, round 140 towers, in several ranges of preservation, and numerous extra cisterns.

A Beach Fit For A Queen

Of course, it isn’t a Mediterranean getaway till you have gone for that early afternoon dip in a pool-like, crystalline sea.

A brief 5-minute stroll from the Old Town space, Cleopatra Beach is Alanya’s most well-known swimming spot, and a protracted stretch of golden sand backed by cafes and seashore bars. In case you are questioning, sure, Cleopatra herself is claimed to have frequented this seashore throughout her time in Alanya.

The subsequent seashore down, an extra 5-minute stroll, Damlataş is equally clear, and its shallow, calm waters, and easy accessibility from downtown Alanya make it a preferred vacation spot for households.

However, for those who’re on the lookout for some peace and quiet, and smaller crowds, Portakal Beach is the place you must go: both a half-hour stroll up the coast, or a 10-minute taxi journey, it has a lovely mountain backdrop and a mixture of sand and pebbles alongside the shoreline.

To the east of Alanya, an extended 20–25 minute drive, the scenic, soft-sanded Mahmutlar Beach is the closest to an uncrowded seashore expertise as you may get, notably within the late afternoons. It’s removed from town heart, although, so you’ll both must seize a taxi or take the native bus.

The Cheapest All-Inclusives Anywhere In The Mediterranean

If you are asking us, in addition to the traditional attraction and the myriad of beautiful seashores, an enormous a part of Alanya’s enchantment is its unmatched affordability when in comparison with most Mediterranean hubs. Matter of reality, it was not too long ago topped the cheapest all-inclusive destination within the Ancient Sea.

This October, an all-inclusive keep at Ramira City Hotel, an adults-only itemizing with a non-public pool, and a beneficiant breakfast unfold proper within the coronary heart of the Old Town, will price you a mere $76 per night time.

Boasting two swimming pools, a spa and wellness heart, a non-public seashore and a ‘fabulous’ breakfast, Villa Sunflower Hotel is equally-inexpensive, with all-inclusive offers to the tune of $77-a-night.

Even for those who’re tempted to splurge on a 5-star property with a extra unique visitor listing and a heightened sense of luxurious, the lavish Senza Sunset Beach Hotel will set you again by $267 per night time.

Eat Lavishly For Cheap

When it involves meals and different every day bills, Alanya isn’t solely inexpensive, it’s a steal of a deal.

According to estimates offered by Numbeo, which have been final up to date in September to replicate Turkey’s fluctuating costs, that is how a lot you are anticipated to spend as a vacationer primarily based within the Old Town:

• Inexpensive native restaurant: a fundamental meal with a drink averages $7.17
• Mid-range restaurant (3-course meal for 2): anticipate to pay round $34.65
• Fast meals combo: a kebab-style wrap with a drink, or comparable takeout meals will approx. $5.97
• Coffee: a Turkish espresso or a capuccino vary from $1.52 to $2.44
• Local beer (0.5L): anticipate to pay as low cost as $1.31 in a neighborhood bar
• Imported beer (0.33L bottle): costs vary from $2.77 to $4.79

For Mediterranean dishes at budget-friendly costs, we can not suggest Enberi Cafe extremely sufficient. From wood-fired pizzas to vegan-friendly sandwiches to freshly-caught seafood, their menu is intensive, they usually have lovely sea views for days.

Getting To Antalya This Fall

The greatest vacation spot within the Mediterranean doesn’t have its personal airport, however that is perhaps the primary purpose why it hasn’t but been utterly spoiled.

In order to get there, most vacationers will fly into Antalya Airport (AYT), and both lease a automotive, use an intermunicipal bus, or prepare a non-public switch to journey the remaining 80 miles (roughly 2 hours) to Alanya.

If you are staying in an all-inclusive resort, chances are high your resort will be capable to present a shuttle service, already included within the room fee—you are suggested to contact them prematurely to verify pickup preparations.

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior lead author at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ nations beneath his belt (and presently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative tales that may have you ever packing your baggage.