Holidays in Alanya by Own Transport

Driving to Alanya by personal car from Sofia takes approximately 14-15 hours (from Plovdiv around 12.5-13.5 hours, and from Burgas about 12-13 hours of pure driving time). Because Alanya is the southeasternmost resort along the Riviera, the D400 highway past Antalya ensures a comfortable, multi-lane connection straight to your resort.

The preferred and fastest highway route from Bulgaria is: Kapitan Andreevo border checkpoint ➔ Istanbul ring motorway bypass ➔ crossing the Sea of Marmara via the Osman Gazi suspension bridge (O-5) ➔ past Bursa ➔ Bozüyük ➔ Kütahya ➔ Afyonkarahisar ➔ Sandıklı ➔ Burdur ➔ Antalya ➔ scenic coastal expressway D400 eastbound past Serik, Manavgat, Okurcalar, Avsallar, Konaklı, and Alanya.

Alanya offers a remarkable variety of Blue Flag beaches. Legendary Cleopatra Beach is celebrated for its coarse golden sand, rapid depth drop-off, and crystal-clear turquoise waters. For families with small children, the Incekum and Avsallar areas provide exceptionally fine sand and very shallow, warm water.

Required documents are: Vehicle Registration Certificate (Part 2 / small slip), valid Green Card insurance covering Turkey, driving licence, and a valid national ID card or international passport (valid for at least 6 months). If the car is leased, company-owned, or not registered in the driver's name, a notarised power of attorney translated into Turkish or English is required.

Yes, absolutely. All verified 4* and 5* All Inclusive and Ultra All Inclusive resorts across Okurcalar, Avsallar, Konaklı, Türkler, and Alanya feature dedicated, 24/7 monitored free parking facilities for their guests.

You can drive up to the castle summit along a paved scenic road in about 10-15 minutes from downtown, where an organized paid parking lot is located right by the castle gates (İçkale). Another fantastic option is leaving your car at the parking lot next to Damlataş Cave and taking the scenic aerial cable car (Alanya Teleferik).

Alanya traditionally offers the best value-to-luxury ratio in all of Turkey. By driving your own vehicle, you save significantly on flight tickets for the whole family, avoid excess luggage fees, and enjoy expansive 5* Ultra All Inclusive resorts at substantially more accessible rates.

With your own car, you should definitely visit the famous Dim River gorge (Dimçay, 15 km away) with shaded riverside dining over icy water, the impressive Sapadere Canyon (40 km away) with waterfalls and wooden walkways, as well as Damlataş Cave with its therapeutic microclimate.

Yes, an HGS sticker is mandatory for crossing the O-5 motorway and the Osman Gazi suspension bridge. You can purchase and top it up right after border control at PTT post offices or major service stations. At the bridge, tolls can also be paid directly at the barrier with a bank card. For a return journey, topping up around €45-€55 in Turkish Lira is fully sufficient.

Because this is the longest driving route, we recommend alternating drivers and taking breaks every 3-4 hours at modern service plazas run by Shell, Opet, and Petrol Ofisi. For families traveling with children, a comfortable transit overnight stay in cities along the highway like Afyonkarahisar or Bursa makes the journey seamless.