When the daily pressures of urban life start to wear you down – the traffic, the noise, the grit, the endless emails and conference calls – taking a little time for yourself is a tried-and-tested solution. A week or so spent pampering yourself in an exotic location is enough to recharge the batteries of even the busiest urban professional. What’s more, solo holidays are on the rise, reported both the Independent and the New York Times in 2015.
Solo holidays are the perfect opportunity for clearing your mind and pampering your body. And what better place to do both than in spectacular Alanya?
Turkey’s south coast is a Mediterranean jewel, drawing visitors from all over the world with its warm climate, fine cuisine, sandy beaches, and relaxing vibe. So trade your cell phone for sunglasses and your office chair for a yoga mat – Alanya is waiting!
What to Do
Turkish Bath and Relaxing Massage
What better way to start your urban detox than with a trip to the spa? In a Turkish bath (or hammam), the bather moves through a series of steamy rooms of varying temperature before receiving a massage and then relaxing in a cooling room. This luxurious ritual will teach you to slow your pace for the rest of your holiday ahead.
We recommend: Arsi Turkish Bath, Spa, and Wellness
Cumhuriyet Mh. Selam Sk. No:13, 07400 Alanya
+90 507 766 8059
Cleopatra’s Pool
For a taste of both Turkey’s history and its stunning natural landscape, take a day trip up to the ancient city of Hierapolis, located near the modern-day city of Pamukkale.
Inhabited by both the ancient Greeks and Romans, Hierapolis was built upon natural hot springs, making this a popular getaway location for ancient peoples. Today the ancient city is a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site, but you can still bathe like a Roman in Cleopatra’s Pool. According to legend, these sculpted pools were given as a gift to Cleopatra by Marc Antony. During the 7th century, an earthquake caused the surrounding columns to collapse into the pool, where present-day visitors can now swim among them in geothermal-heated mineral waters.
Cleopatra’s Beach
To continue on in Cleopatra’s footsteps, visit her namesake beach where the iconic queen supposedly once swam. With its golden sands, turquoise waters, and spectacular view of Alanya castle perched on a high, rocky promontory, this is an excellent place to watch the sun go down. Alternatively, on a cool morning before the city awakens, this long, sweeping beach is the perfect place for an early run.
Shivani Yoga
Find that elusive inner peace on your holiday with a session or two of yoga. Shivani Yoga in Alanya offers program targeted specifically at the neck and back – perfect for urban professionals who have been spending a little too much time slumped in an office chair lately!
DAMLATAŞ CD. ÇARŞI MH. TAÇ APT. K:1 ALANYA
+90 0 534 696 42 67
How to Get There
Alanya is served by Antalya airport on Turkey’s south coast. Flights from London to Antalya average between four and five hours for nonstop flights available through easyJet and other airlines. However, it’s likely that you will make at least one stop – probably in Zurich or Istanbul – so make sure you have enough time to navigate a foreign airport during your layover.
Once you get to Antalya airport, Alanya is an approximately 1 hour and 45 minute drive away. If you’re not keen on navigating foreign roads, you may want to look into transfers from Antalya Airport to Alanya. Our shared and private transfer services are efficient, reliable, and couldn’t be easier to book. Simply choose your destination on our website and arrange your pickup and drop-off locations. And yes – we can take your straight to the spa.
If you’d like to make your own way to Alanya, cars for hire are available at the arrivals terminal in Antalya airport. The drive to Alanya is a fairly straightforward route along the D400. You’ll be skirting the south coast of Turkey, so you may be in for some stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea.
Where to Stay
Hotel Kaptan – This chic and modern hotel is decorated in Mediterranean tones of cerulean, gold, and white. With private balconies opening up to a sweeping view of the sea and the surrounding mountains, you’ll feel at ease from the moment you arrive. The Hotel Kaptan has two renowned restaurants serving both Turkish and international cuisine, as well as in an-house patisserie that’s ideal for afternoon tea.
White Gold Hotel – The very name of this five-star hotel exudes luxury – and with good reason. When you step foot into the central atrium you’ll be amazed at the soaring ceilings and multi-storey chandelier illuminating a chic seating area. Just outside the White Gold Hotel, the beach stretches in both directions as far as the eye can see. With its own Turkish bath, spa, sauna, and fitness room, there’s everything you need here to treat yourself.
