Cleopatra . Beach

There are beach clubs with sun loungers spaced out along the beach, and between the sand and Atatürk Avenue is a wide promenade, blessed with such panoramas, under palm trees swaying and buffered from the street by a strip of greenery with playgrounds and flowerbeds.

Alanya has evolved over the centuries, from a defensive fortress on Turkey's southern Mediterranean slopes to a thriving resort. This legacy can be clearly seen at the city's sprawling, sandy Kleopatra beach, set at the foot of a majestic headland with a medieval castle.

From the top of the castle, visitors can admire the beach at its best as it stretches out into the distance supported by steep foothills. To get down to the beach easily from the top of the mountain, guests can take the cable car “Teleferik”.

The beach is named after Queen Cleopatra. There are various legends surrounding this beach. Legend has it that the queen of Egypt bathed here with her mistress, Mark Anthony. It is also said that the queen brought sand here from the Nile Valley.

Whether the story is true or not, this is a beautiful beach with extremely fine and soft sand, worthy of a royal resort. The sea water here is warm and exceptionally clear making it no surprise that this beach has won several Blue Flag awards over the years.

There's no shortage of things to do on and around the beach, where there's a wide promenade lined with cafes, bars and restaurants. In addition, there are many sports such as basketball and tennis courts, gyms and even a full-sized swimming pool. There are also plenty of cultural sites within close proximity of the beach, including the town's Archaeological Museum and the impressive Damlataş Cave.

While some may find the resort's atmosphere a bit offbeat, there's no denying that Cleopatra Beach is an impressive and stunning beach.