Damlataş . Caves

Çarşı, Damlataş Cd. No:81, 07400 Alanya/Antalya, Turkey

Damlataş Cave, shaped by the wonderful architecture of nature, is located in one of the most beautiful cities in Southern Turkey. Found in Alanya, Damlataş Cave is an extremely interesting destination with its mysterious structure and beautiful beach located in front of the entrance. Damlataş, where you can experience the joys of discovery and the cool waters of the blue sea are waiting for you.

Located to the west of the famous Alanya Castle (built in the 13th century during the Seljuq Sultanate), the entrance of Damlataş Cave faces the Mediterranean Sea. Discovered by accident during the construction of Port Alanya in 1948, the cave was examined by geologists before being opened to the public. Damlataş (meaning Drip Stone) has two floors with a cylindrical niche that leads visitors down to the lower part. This mysterious cave is full of stalactite, spine-shaped blocks that come down from the cave wall and are created through the process of mineral precipitation when water drips down from the cave ceiling. Other formations are stalagmites, which are round or flattened mounds raised by mineral deposits deposited from small water onto the cave floor. These formations are believed to be thousands of years old, and with the addition of artificial light, they take on a rather strange composition and become more shimmering.

As for the air inside the cave, there is a high percentage of carbon dioxide (about 10 to 15 times that of the outside air) with 95% humidity and a stable temperature of about 22 to 23 degrees regardless of the season. Since its discovery, the cave has been known as a cure for asthma due to the special conditions of the air inside. People believe that Damlataş can cure asthma and other respiratory ailments and in 2014, Alanya city government calculated that, within seven months, more than 4,000 people suffered from respiratory problems visited the cave due to its healing powers. As a result, officials came up with a special program for asthma patients who came for treatment, which included a 21-day stay with four hours in the cave daily. Every day from 10am to 2pm, the cave is only open to visitors with respiratory illnesses.

With around 3,000 caves discovered and studied across Turkey, it's no surprise that Alanya has another attraction: Dim Cave. The cave, formed by the erosion of the landscape below by limestone, is about 360m long with many stalactite formations as well as a beautiful lake about 17m from the entrance. Before the cave became a tourist attraction, some parts of it were used as shelters by local hunters and shepherds. It was only in 1986 that it was discovered and studied by scientists specializing in the study of cave and karst features. Until 1996, it was opened to visitors as the first cave attracting tourists.

Business hours:

Daily, from 10:00 to 16:00

Address: Çarşı, Damlataş Cd. No:81, 07400 Alanya/Antalya, Turkey

Phone: +90 242 513 05 08

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Nearby attractions

Seyir Terasi . Park

Seyir Terasi is a beautiful park located in the mountains behind the city at 650 meters above sea level. From here, visitors can enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of Alanya during the day as well as in the evening. In addition to sightseeing, visitors can also relax in the green space of the park.

5 Best Beaches in Alanya

Alanya, a seaside town on the south coast of Turkey, offers a unique combination of relaxation, history and adventure. Set between the glorious Mediterranean and the Taurus Mountains, Alanya's historic center sits on a rocky peninsula with an impressive 13th-century castle overlooking vast beaches. Most visitors come to Alanya to enjoy the sun and the sea. Long, wide beaches with clean fine sand and clear water are the main attractions for tourists. Many of the beaches here have a European flag (signifying that the beach meets international regulatory control standards for clean and high-standard beaches.

Cleopatra . Beach

Starting at the western foot of that headland is Alanya's main beach, a long, gentle arc of coarse sand with low to medium speed waves. Cleopatra Beach is wide, shrinking only a little as you go further north and giving you views across the castle and pensive massifs of the Taurus Mountains.

Alanya Teleferik . Cable Car

To the east of the beach is the lower station of the cable car that opened in the summer of 2017, taking you to the mountaintop Alanya castle. Alanya Teleferik has an altitude of 250 meters with a 900-meter cable line and 14 gondola cabins departing every 19 seconds. From the cabin, you'll enjoy incredible 360° views that span Antalya Bay, the resorts and beyond the Taurus Mountains.