As we mentioned in our list of what-to-do in Alanya, there are many famous caves here. Moreover, many of these caves are among the must-sees not only of Alanya, but also of the Mediterranean Region. Let's take a quick look at the most famous Alanya caves and their centuries-old legends.
Alanya Damlataş Cave
Damlataş Cave, the most famous cave of Alanya, is visited by thousands of people every year. Although it was discovered by an accident, this natural wonder shines out with its many interesting features. First of all, this cave stays at 22 degrees Celsius regardless of the season; both in summer or winter. It is said that the air of Alanya Damlataş Cave is like a medicine. Therefore, special treatments are carried out there for diseases like asthma.
In addition, the gigantic passages, stalagmites, stalactites and dripstone pools of the Damlataş Cave are worth seeing. We recommend that everyone who wants to see the natural beauties of Alanya and get some fresh air should visit Damlataş Cave. Bonus: Damlataş Beach, one of the best beaches in Alanya, is right in front of this cave.
Alanya Dim Cave
First of all, we would like to point out that Dim Cave is worth seeing not only due to its karst formations but also due to its magnificent view! Located at an altitude of 232 meters, this cave is also a wonderful spot to watch Alanya. On the other hand, the cave itself is like a carefully-prepared sculpture exhibition as it has 4 galleries, a lake and huge karstic stalactites and stalagmites.
P.S.: Dim Cave, which is only 10 km away from Alanya Centre, may be very crowded due to easy transportation. For this reason, we recommend that you visit the cave early in the morning and spend the rest of your day in Dim Stream.
Alanya Cüceler Cave
The reason why Cüceler Cave is not very well known compared to other Alanya caves is that it has just been opened to tourism since 2012. Therefore, if you want to escape from crowded tourist groups and spend a fascinating day in Alanya nature, you can consider visiting the “not-yet-famous” Cüceler Cave. This cave, which you can reach by a 40-minute drive from Alanya center, is also a part of the famous Sapadere Canyon. If you don’t see it either, we highly recommend that you take a look at this natural beauty.
In Cüceler Cave, you will come across 6 different galleries and thousands of years old stalactites and stalagmites along the 170-meter-long walking path. If you are going to visit the cave and Sapadere Canyon together, we recommend that you check your camera's memory beforehand because we are sure that there will be many poses you don't want to miss!
Alanya Fosforlu (Phosphorous) Cave
Fosforlu Cave, which is one of the closest tourist attractions to Villa Turka, is one of the indispensable places for romantic souls especially at sunset. The most beautiful part of this cave, where you can reach only by tour boats*, is the phosphors that give the cave its name! Due to the light leaking from the underground holes, both the cave and its waters take a blue phosphorescent color; and at sunset, the sea becomes colorful.
Therefore, Fosforlu Cave is a unique place to spend a romantic night or swim in the colorful waters. Although it is difficult to reach it (Only way is to take a tour boat), we recommend that Fosforlu Cave should be on your list of places to visit in Alanya.
* If you are planning to stay at Hotel Villa Turka, you can rent your tour easily at the reception.
Alanya Yalan Dünya Cave
Yalan Dünya Cave is one of the oldest caves not only in Alanya, but also in Turkey. It has a history of 5 million years. The ancient stalactites, stalagmites and dripstone pools are really worth seeing.
Since it is much longer (4 km) than many caves of Alanya, it also offers nature sports activities which you can spend almost the whole day experiencing. We recommend everyone who wants to escape from hot weather, to visit Yalan Dünya Cave.
Alanya Korsanlar (Pirate) Cave
We mentioned that Alanya caves are home to hundreds of years old legends; one of these caves is Korsanlar Cave. According to the legend, pirates used to hide young girls and golds in this cave. There is even a rumor that there is a secret passage between the cave and Alanya Castle although it has not been found yet. So, the golds & girls were transported to the peninsula by this way safely.
What is different about Korsanlar Cave from other Alanya caves is that there are no walking paths and so on to reach it. There are only two options for those who want to explore the cave: to enter a part of it by boat and to explore its depths by diving! We highly recommend exploring Pirates Cave’s depths to all sea enthusiasts.