Where to Stay in Alanya: Area-by-Area Guide, West to East

Alanya is not one compact resort but a long coastal strip of roughly 50 km, running from Okurcalar in the west to Kargıcak in the east. The town itself sits around a rocky castle peninsula in the middle. Each part has a different feel:

• Okurcalar, İncekum, Avsallar, Türkler, Payallar, Konaklı – the western resort strip: beach hotels, a calmer setting and the shortest drive from Antalya Airport.
• Alanya centre – the castle, Cleopatra Beach, the harbour, shops and restaurants within walking distance; best if you do not want to depend on transport.
• Oba and Tosmur – just east of the centre, a mix of residential streets and hotels, close to town but less hectic.
• Kestel and Mahmutlar – a long beach backed by many apartment buildings, well suited to longer stays and self-catering.
• Kargıcak – further east and quieter, the closest Alanya area to Gazipaşa Airport.

If you are still deciding between Alanya and the resorts nearer Antalya, our comparison Side or Alanya may help.

West of town, the D400 coastal road passes a chain of small resort villages. Okurcalar is the first one you reach coming from Antalya and is mostly made up of beach hotels. İncekum and Avsallar follow, with sandy coves and a slightly more lived-in village centre in Avsallar. Türkler and Payallar are smaller and quieter, while Konaklı is the last stop before the town and has a long seafront and its own shops.

Choose this side if you want a beach holiday where the hotel is the base and the town is an occasional trip. The big advantage is the airport run: from Antalya Airport, Okurcalar is ≈ 93 km (≈ 99 min) and Konaklı ≈ 117 km (≈ 120 min), so you save time compared with staying east of the centre. The trade-off is that the centre's evening life is a taxi or bus ride away rather than a stroll.

The centre wraps around the castle peninsula. On its west side lies Cleopatra Beach, a long sandy stretch with hotels and apartments right behind it. On the east side you find the harbour with the Red Tower, boat trips and waterfront restaurants, and beyond it Keykubat Beach. The main shopping streets, the bazaar area and plenty of cafés are all in between.

This is the right base if you like to walk everywhere, want evening options on your doorstep, or plan to explore the castle and old town several times. Expect more noise and traffic than in the outer villages, especially in high season. The centre is ≈ 125 km (≈ 120 min) from Antalya Airport and ≈ 40 km (≈ 50 min) from Gazipaşa Airport. For sights and things to do, see our Alanya travel guide.

Oba and Tosmur start right where the centre ends. They are largely residential, with hotels and apartment complexes in between, and you can reach the centre quickly. They suit visitors who want a more local atmosphere without being far from town.

Kestel and Mahmutlar line a long beach with a seafront promenade and a dense band of apartment buildings behind it. With supermarkets, markets and cafés in the streets, this area works well for longer stays, families who self-cater and anyone renting an apartment. Kargıcak, further east, is quieter and more spread out on the slopes above the coast.

From Antalya Airport the east side is the longest drive: Mahmutlar ≈ 137 km (≈ 132 min), Kargıcak ≈ 145 km (≈ 140 min). From Gazipaşa Airport the picture flips: Kargıcak ≈ 25 km (≈ 30 min), Mahmutlar ≈ 30 km (≈ 35 min), Oba ≈ 38 km (≈ 45 min). See the route page Antalya Airport to Mahmutlar for live prices.

Antalya Airport (AYT) has by far the most international flights, so most visitors land there. Gazipaşa-Alanya Airport (GZP) lies east of Alanya and is much closer, especially to the east side, but has fewer routes. Typical drive times (high-season traffic can add time):

• From AYT: Okurcalar ≈ 99 min, Avsallar ≈ 108 min, Konaklı ≈ 120 min, Alanya centre ≈ 120 min, Oba and Tosmur ≈ 127 min, Mahmutlar ≈ 132 min, Kargıcak ≈ 140 min.
• From GZP: Kargıcak ≈ 30 min, Mahmutlar ≈ 35 min, Oba ≈ 45 min, Alanya centre ≈ 50 min, Konaklı ≈ 60 min.

Rule of thumb: if you find a flight into Gazipaşa and you stay in the centre or the east, take it. If you stay on the western strip, Antalya is often just as practical. More detail in our Gazipaşa to Alanya transfer guide.

Whichever area you choose, we drive you directly to the door of your hotel or apartment. Our transfers are private only, with no shared shuttle and no stops at other hotels. The price is fixed per vehicle, not per person, and agreed before the trip; it does not change for traffic, night arrivals or luggage.

• Meet & greet in arrivals with a name sign, at Antalya as well as at Gazipaşa Airport.
• Flight tracking and free waiting if your flight is delayed.
• Free child seats on request.
• Vehicles: Minivan (1–6 people), VIP Mercedes-Benz Vito (1–7) and Mercedes Sprinter (8–16).
• Fixed-price quote within 1 minute, free cancellation, no prepayment: you pay in the vehicle.

See the live prices on the Antalya Airport to Alanya route page, and book your return at the same time.

• Check the exact village, not just "Alanya". A hotel listed as Alanya can be in Okurcalar or Kargıcak, more than 50 km apart.
• Match the area to your airport. East side plus Gazipaşa flight is the shortest combination; western strip plus Antalya flight is the second best.
• Decide how much you want to walk. Only the centre puts the castle, harbour and shops on foot.
• Long stay or apartment? Kestel and Mahmutlar have the widest choice of flats and everyday shops.
• Plan your departure day. From Mahmutlar or Kargıcak to Antalya Airport allow for a drive of around 2 h 20 min plus check-in time.