Is Alanya Safe in August 2026?

Transfers from Antalya Airport to Alanya, a journey of approximately 130 km, are quoted at significantly inflated rates by drivers at the arrival area. Shared shuttle services are significantly cheaper and should be pre-booked.

How to avoid: Pre-book an Alanya transfer through your hotel or a verified shuttle service such as HavaShuttle before arriving. If using an airport taxi, agree the price in Turkish lira before departure. The journey should cost approximately 800-1200 TRY in a metered taxi, not the 80-100 EUR sometimes quoted.

Fraudulent holiday apartment listings for Alanya appear on third-party booking sites and social media groups, featuring stolen photos of real properties. Victims pay a full deposit or entire rental fee by bank transfer, only to find the address does not exist or is occupied by someone else on arrival. The scammer goes silent immediately after payment clears.

How to avoid: Book only through platforms that hold payment in escrow until check-in is confirmed. Never transfer money directly to a private individual for accommodation. Video-call the host to verify they can show you around the property before paying.

Drink spiking is a documented problem in Alanya bar strip, particularly in clubs on Bar Street (Eglence Sokak) between the harbour and Cleopatra Beach. GHB or similar substances are slipped into unattended drinks, with victims typically waking up robbed of cash, cards, and phones. Sexual assault has also been reported in connection with these incidents.

How to avoid: Never leave your drink unattended. Cover your glass when dancing. Accept drinks only from the original server. Travel with a trusted companion and agree on a check-in system. If you feel suddenly and strongly intoxicated after very little alcohol, alert bar staff immediately.

Guides and tour operators in Alanya, including those who appear to work with licensed excursion boats and hotel desks, steer tourists into specific carpet shops where they earn commissions of 20-40 percent on sales. The shops use extended presentation techniques, tea service, and manufactured urgency to pressure tourists into purchases. Starting prices on rugs are typically five to ten times the reasonable final price.

How to avoid: Decline any guide offer to show you a special carpet shop or factory. If you want to buy a carpet, research current market prices for the type and size you want independently before entering any shop. Be willing to leave — the price will follow you to the door.

Tourist-facing restaurants on the Alanya beach strip and around the harbour use menus without prices for some items, add service charges, and charge for bread and meze placed on the table without being ordered. Bills in tourist areas are commonly 20-40 percent higher than the menu prices suggest.

How to avoid: Ask for a menu with prices before sitting. Confirm whether bread or meze on the table carry a charge. Request an itemised receipt. Restaurants a few streets back from the beach strip are generally more transparent.