Where to Stay in Alanya: Which Area Is Right for You?
Share
"Where should we stay in Alanya?" is one of the first questions UK holidaymakers ask, and the honest answer is: it depends on the holiday you want. Most visitors stay in the string of resort towns west of Alanya — Türkler, Konaklı, Avsallar, İncekum and Okurcalar — which are calmer and more family-friendly, while central Alanya is the place for nightlife, shopping and sights on your doorstep. Here's an honest rundown of each area and who it suits best.
Jump to:
The quick answer
- Families wanting big all-inclusive resorts & calm: Türkler, Konaklı, Avsallar.
- Best sandy, child-friendly beach: İncekum (Avsallar).
- Quietest, most relaxed: Okurcalar.
- Nightlife, shopping & sights on foot: central Alanya.
- Where many Brits stay: Türkler (home to the Eftalia hotels), though Brits are spread across all the resorts.
Türkler
A hub of large, modern all-inclusive resorts and self-contained holiday villages — big pools, water slides, daily entertainment — Türkler is hugely popular with British families. It's home to the Eftalia hotels, which is a big reason so many UK visitors end up here, and it has a calm, resort-focused feel rather than a busy town centre. Ideal if you want a full all-inclusive base with the beach and entertainment sorted. See our Türkler area guide.
Konaklı
About 12–15 km west of Alanya, Konaklı strikes a nice balance: a good range of hotels plus its own little town centre with shopping (malls and a bazaar), pharmacies, restaurants and markets. So you get resort comfort with a bit more local life and self-catering convenience on your doorstep, and Alanya centre is an easy ride away. A solid all-rounder for families and couples. See our Konaklı area guide.
Avsallar & İncekum
Further west (~25 km), Avsallar is known for its long sandy coastline and, crucially, İncekum beach — famous for its gentle, shallow entry into the sea, which makes it a favourite for families with young children. There's a good mix of all-inclusive and smaller hotels, plus cafés, a water park and a relaxed buzz. It's also handy for day trips towards Side. See our Avsallar & İncekum guide.
Okurcalar
The quietest end of the resort strip, west of Avsallar, Okurcalar is mostly self-contained all-inclusive resorts in a peaceful setting — great if total relaxation and escaping the crowds is the goal, and you're happy to base yourself at your hotel. It's near the historic Alara Han. See our Okurcalar guide.
Central Alanya
Stay in the centre if you want nightlife, shopping, restaurants and the big sights within walking distance — the castle, the harbour, Kleopatra Beach, the bazaar and the buzz. It's livelier and less of a pure beach-resort bubble, better suited to couples, younger visitors and those who like to be in the thick of it rather than tied to one hotel. See our central Alanya guide.
How to pick the right area
Ask yourself three questions:
- What's the trip for? All-inclusive family relaxation → Türkler/Konaklı/Avsallar. Nightlife and sights → centre. Total peace → Okurcalar.
- How much do you want to leave the hotel? Happy to stay put → any resort town. Want shops/local life on foot → Konaklı or the centre.
- Who's travelling? Young kids → İncekum's gentle beach is hard to beat; couples after buzz → centre.
Wherever you choose, the resorts are linked to the centre by a cheap, frequent dolmuş, so you're never locked in — a calm base with the option of the centre when you fancy it is the best of both worlds. Compare the three most popular in Konaklı vs Avsallar vs Türkler.
Getting there from the airport
All these resorts are west of Alanya, slightly closer to Antalya Airport than the centre is — roughly a 1 to 1.5 hour transfer (the centre is nearer 1.5–2 hours). Whichever area you pick, a pre-booked transfer gets you door-to-door; see also Antalya or Gazipaşa airport.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best area to stay in Alanya?
It depends on your priorities. Türkler and Konaklı suit families wanting big all-inclusive resorts and calm; Avsallar and İncekum have lovely sandy family beaches; Okurcalar is quietest; central Alanya suits nightlife, shopping and sights on the doorstep.
Where do most British tourists stay in Alanya?
Many stay in the Türkler area, partly because of the popular Eftalia hotels there, though Brits are found across the resort towns including Konaklı, Avsallar and Okurcalar.
Is it better to stay in central Alanya or a resort town?
The centre is best for nightlife, shopping and sights on foot. The resort towns to the west are calmer and more family-oriented, with the centre a short, cheap dolmuş or taxi ride away.
Which Alanya area is best for families?
Türkler, Konaklı, Avsallar and İncekum are all strong family choices, with big all-inclusive resorts, water parks and calm sandy beaches — İncekum's gentle, shallow entry is especially good for children.
For more on the area, see our Alanya areas & districts guide. Not sure which resort suits you? Message us on WhatsApp — we're local and happy to help you choose.
