Traveller's Guide
Here are some key things that are worth to know on holiday in the south Turkey:
Before sunbathing you should to go to HAMAM - Turkish bath. This is centuries-old tradition of cleansing the skin and a fantastic relax, for you the official start of holiday. First, we enter the hot steam room with marble and stone. Then masseurs scrub your skin by special gloves to remove the dirt. You can go there in a swimming suit! Then it's time to soap foam massage - nice and moisturizing. After leaving hamam we have yet relaxing full body oil massage.
After the treatments in the bath tan will last longer and will have nicer color, and we ourselves will feel younger, and ... reborn!
Go to the bazaar. Bazaars (markets) are Turkish tradition. In every city and almost every village bazaars take place at least once a week. In center of Alanya the most famous bazaar takes place on Fridays, in Oba (near our office) on Monday. Lasts from morning to evening. In addition to a pleasant walk between the alleys, enjoying colors, smells and tastes, you can listen to customers' calling by the sellers. The bazaar is perfect place to buy spices, souvenirs, peanuts and raisins, as well as delicious fresh fruits and vegetables. Although we do not advice to purchase of fake branded clothes, but if you want we guarantee that it will be plenty to choose from :)
When you buy food products always TASTE, try, choose. Do not buy your Turkish Delights in boxes, which you can not open and see in. You could then get the candy out of date, hard and tasteless.
In the Alanya center there is an excellent grocery shop called Şekerciler - there are also spices, sweets, halvah, nuts, tea and coffee - in very good quality and similar price at the bazaars. When you buy something by weight you can instantly get a box to preserve freshness until you return to home. Prices in such stores are fixed (can be paid in foreign currency and card)!
Make a trip to the Castle Hill - 'Kale'. You can go there from Alanya centre - 'dolmush' (city buses) leave every full and half an hour from the main dolmush station. The slogan written on the board of the bus is 'Kale' or Castle, Burg. After less than 20 minutes drive you will find yourself on top of the 600-meter hill. You can enter the museum of fortress ruins (entrance fee 10 €). You can also sit in one of cosy cafes for a turkish tea and eat shepherd's pancake called gözleme, buy beautiful scarves and tablecloths which are selled by Turkish villagers. The castle offers a beautiful view of Alanya and the sea. You should also go down on the main road to visit the old mosque, a cistern or an old Muslim cemetery and even ... get out of the fortress walk all the way down to the historic port of Alanya. Panoramic views and quiet ruling there, certainly more than a pain in the legs will stay in your memory :)
Mosques. It is worth to visit any mosque in Alanya, such as the old one on the Hill or big one in the center of the harbour. Most of Turkish mosques are open to the public of a different religions. Remember about respect for other believes: entering to the mosque you need to cover the head by scarf (women). Both sexes also must have undiscovered modest dress (covered neck, shoulders and knees). Before entering you have to leave your shoes and go inside barefoot. Inside you can take pictures, only not to take pictures of Muslims praying and do not disturb them in praying. Leaving the mosque according to the tradition we thank for the opportunity to sightseeing throwing small coins (tip) to the special boxes at the door.
NIGHTLIFE. It is concentrated in the center of Alanya in the harbor. There is plenty of nightclubs, bars and discos. All play similar music and popular disco. For fans of rock music there is a special bar, The Doors. Entrance to the discos are free, but of course you need to order something to drink. In most bars, the "real party" begins just after midnight, and ends about 3-4 o'clock in the morning, when there should be a quiet hours. For those interested in Turkish culture and music we advice to go by the street above the harbor ("over" discos) - there are several clubs and pubs where traditional Turkish rhythms is played, especially on weekends, they gather a large clientele. It is worth to go there to see how the Turks are able to play!
And AFTER the disco ... It is in turkish style to go after the party night to eat "Corba" - the soup. Turkish soups have the cream consistency. The most popular soup is mercimek - red lentil soup, but you can also order the tomato soup, yogurt, or ... even tripe! With soups appetizers are usually given: a special "puffed" bread - Lavas, yogurt with garlic and herbs called cacik, or salad (rucola, parsley, tomatoes). And after the meal ... Of course traditional Turkish tea, which in real turkish lokantas guests (whether Turkish or foreign) will get for free!
KITCHEN and FLAVOURS. If you want to try special kebab you should eat KEBAB ADANA with sheep or lamb flavored minced meat, served in the company of appetizers - the Turkish meze - and salads. The best restaurant serving this tasty treat is ADANA Ocakbasi - restaurant right near the dolmush station in center of Alanya. If you love fish and seafood we recommend restaurants in the harbor overlooking the sea or river DIMCAY picnic area, where restaurants are located on platforms on the water ...
ADDITIONAL USEFUL INFORMATION:
MONEY - in Turkey is valid Turkish Lira - TRY. If you want to do a lot of small purchases and walk around the city on your own, the most profitable is to exchange your foreign currency to Turkish Lira. The best is exchange in the CHANGE OFFICE. Everywhere you can also use debit and credit cards and withdraw money from ATMs (some also have the possibility to withdraw euros, dollars and pounds). If you do not want much to buy, or are planning the big expensive purchases, you can safely use directly the euro and dollars.
PHARMACIES - are marked with red cross on a white background and the inscription 'ECZANE'. Opened everyday except Sundays, from morning to late evening. Many of these medicines can be purchased without a prescription. On Sundays, some 'pharmacies on duty' are open - the addresses are usually displayed on the closed pharmacies' doors.
