Alanya City Tour from Side – Castle by Cable Car, Boat Tour & Dim River Lunch
Castle, cave, boat and river in one day: ride the cable car up to Alanya Castle, see the Red Tower and the sea caves from the water and enjoy lunch on platforms above the cool Dim River – with a guide and transfer.
- Duration
- 9 hours
- Operating days
- Wed, Fri, Sun
- Pickup
- 09:00 → 18:00
- Destination
- Alanya
From Side the coast road runs east to Alanya, the lively resort town beneath its castle-crowned peninsula. Our Alanya city tour from Side fits its best-known sights into one relaxed day – by cable car, on foot and by boat – and adds lunch by a mountain river. A guide stays with you throughout, and the transfer from your hotel in the Side area is part of the tour.
Up to Alanya Castle by cable car
The day starts high above the sea. The cable car carries you up to Alanya Castle, whose walls crown the rocky peninsula about 250 metres above the water. Romans, Byzantines and Seljuks all left their mark here; the fortress you see today was built in the 1220s under the Seljuk sultan Alaeddin Keykubad I. From the top the view sweeps over the harbour, the town and the long beaches to the east and west.
Damlataş Cave and a boat around the peninsula
Back at sea level you can step into Damlataş Cave, the best-known dripstone cave of the region, whose stalactites and stalagmites are around 15,000 years old; its damp air is said to do people with asthma good (entrance not included). Then a boat takes you on a cruise of about an hour around the peninsula, past the octagonal Red Tower (Kızıl Kule), the old Seljuk shipyard and sea caves such as the Phosphorus Cave, the Lovers’ Cave and the Pirates’ Cave.
Lunch and a swim at the Dim River
Lunch is served at the Dim River (Dimçayı), Alanya’s favourite picnic spot, where restaurants set up shaded platforms right above the water. After the meal you can slip into the cool river, and back in town there is free time for a stroll through the centre, a little shopping or a last swim at Cleopatra Beach.
- Tour days: Wednesday, Friday and Sunday
- Included: guide, cable car ticket, boat tour and lunch
- Paid on site if you wish: drinks and the Damlataş Cave entrance
For a day in nature in the mountains east of Alanya, look at the Sapadere Canyon tour from Side; for history the other way along the coast, the Antalya city tour from Side.
Highlights
- Cable car ride up to Alanya Castle
- Panoramic views over the peninsula, harbour and beaches
- Boat tour past the Red Tower, the Seljuk shipyard and sea caves
- Damlataş Cave, the region’s famous dripstone cave (optional)
- Lunch on platforms above the Dim River, with time for a swim
- Free time in the centre and at Cleopatra Beach
Itinerary
-
09:00
Pickup in the Side area
Your vehicle collects you from your hotel or apartment and heads east along the coast to Alanya. The exact pickup time is confirmed after booking.
-
Cable car to the castle
Ride up to Alanya Castle for the view over the town and the bay; the ticket is included.
-
Damlataş Cave
Optional visit to the dripstone cave at the foot of the peninsula (entrance not included).
-
Boat tour
About an hour from the harbour: Red Tower, shipyard and sea caves.
-
Lunch at the Dim River
Lunch on platforms above the river and time to swim.
-
Free time in Alanya
Stroll through the centre or relax on Cleopatra Beach.
-
18:00
Return to Side
Drive back west along the coast to your hotel.
Included / Not included
Included
- Return transfer between the Side area and Alanya
- Tour guide
- Cable car ticket to Alanya Castle
- Boat tour from Alanya harbour, about one hour
- Lunch at the Dim River
Not included
- Drinks
- Entrance to Damlataş Cave
- Personal spending
Packages & options
Alanya city tour
Guide, cable car, boat tour and lunch
Good to know
Good to know
- The tour runs on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
- At the castle and in town you walk on slopes and steps.
- Swimming in the Dim River is optional – the water stays cool even in summer.
What to bring
- Swimwear and a towel for the river
- Shorts or light clothes
- Shoes you can walk in comfortably
- Camera
- Cash for drinks and the cave
Frequently asked questions
What is included in the Alanya city tour from Side?
The transfer from and to the Side area, the guide, the cable car to the castle, the boat tour of about an hour and lunch at the Dim River. Drinks and the Damlataş Cave entrance are paid separately.
How long is the drive from Side to Alanya?
Alanya lies about 60 km east of Side along the coast – roughly an hour on the road.
Can we swim during the tour?
Yes – in the Dim River after lunch, and during the free time at Cleopatra Beach. Bring swimwear and a towel.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Yes, children usually love the cable car, the boat and the river. Please keep an eye on them at the castle walls and in the water.
On which days does the tour run?
On Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, with pickup in the morning from hotels in Side and the nearby resorts.
