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Gazipaşa 2026Antalya's eastern coast and the gateway to Rough Cilicia
Beyond Alanya, Mahmutlar and Syedra, the coast changes character again. Gazipaşa is Antalya province's easternmost district, before the road crosses into Mersin towards Anamur.
Although close to Alanya, Gazipaşa has a distinct atmosphere. Buildings are less densely packed, much of the coast is quieter and rockier, and banana plantations and greenhouses are prominent. Ancient settlements occupy both the hills and the shore, while small, secluded coves replace the long beachfronts of the larger resorts.
An international airport also gives this agricultural coastal district direct connections with the rest of Türkiye and overseas tourist markets.
Historically, this journey leads away from Pamphylia towards the mountainous coastal landscape known as Cilicia Trachea, or Rough Cilicia. Gazipaşa is therefore both the final stop in our Antalya series and a transition between two distinctive geographical and historical regions.
Where is Gazipaşa?Gazipaşa lies east of Alanya, on the D400 coastal road continuing towards Anamur and Mersin. Alanya is to the west, Anamur and Mersin province to the east, the Taurus Mountains and Karaman region to the north, and the Mediterranean to the south.
The district is considerably farther from Antalya city than most places covered earlier in this series. Gazipaşa's own centre stands a little inland, although development increasingly extends towards the shore.
Its coastline runs for tens of kilometres. Large stretches are rocky and steep, helping several bays and natural sites retain a quieter character than the major resort centres.
A coastal town with agricultural rootsArriving by road, you immediately notice the fields and greenhouses. Agriculture is central to the local economy, particularly:
- Bananas and avocados.
- Citrus fruit.
- Greenhouse vegetables.
- Other Mediterranean and subtropical crops.
The relatively warm coastal climate, sheltered by the Taurus Mountains to the north, supports crops less widely grown in inland Türkiye. Gazipaşa is a working agricultural town as well as a holiday destination, with everyday life shaped by farming and local production.
Selinus: an ancient port beside the seaTo understand Gazipaşa's history, begin at Selinus. The ancient town stands where the Hacı Musa Çayı reaches the Mediterranean.
Its position combined access to the sea, a freshwater stream, a defensible hill and a coast suitable for a harbour. Settlement continued through the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods and into the Seljuk and Ottoman eras.
The emperor Trajan
Selinus is associated with a notable event in Roman history: Emperor Trajan died here in AD 117 while returning from his eastern campaign.
The town subsequently acquired a name honouring him. Coins attributed to the settlement record Selinus Traianopolis, also written Trajanopolis. This connection gave a relatively small Cilician port a lasting place in Roman history.
What survives?
The archaeological site is more extensive than a glance from the road suggests. Its remains include:
- City walls and the agora.
- Large and small bath complexes.
- An odeon, or small performance hall.
- The necropolis and water infrastructure.
- A church and cisterns on the acropolis.
- Fortifications on the hilltop.
Another building is known as Şekerhane or Şikarhane, associated with use as a hunting pavilion during the Seljuk period.
Climbing to the acropolis
The upper town occupies a hill overlooking the sea. Reaching it involves a substantial climb along hundreds of steps; this is a walking visit requiring more preparation than a stop at the beach.
Wear comfortable shoes, carry water and avoid the hottest summer hours. From above, the view brings together the Mediterranean, the modern coastal plain and the remains of the ancient settlement.
Koru Beach and its natural poolsKoru Plajı is famous for more than its sand. Along part of the shore, flat rock layers contain hollows and enclosed basins shaped by the sea. These are the Doğal Havuzlar, or natural pools.
Waves carry seawater into the depressions, where natural rock barriers partly enclose it. In suitable conditions, the result is relatively sheltered water in pools that appear carved into the shoreline.
Three pools, changing sea conditions
Antalya's official visitor information identifies three natural pools at Koru. Some are relatively shallow compared with the open sea, but the term “natural pool” does not imply that they are risk-free.
Waves can surge over the rocks, surfaces may be slippery, and water shoes are useful. Avoid entering when the sea is rough. The same wave action that created these formations continues to affect them.
A nesting coast for sea turtles
Parts of Gazipaşa's beaches are used by loggerhead turtles, Caretta caretta, for nesting. During the nesting season, respect marked or fenced areas and any restrictions on lighting at night.
Keep the shore clean and never place beach equipment over nests. Protecting this environment is especially important in a district whose appeal depends partly on its less crowded coastline.
Antiochia ad Cragum: a city above the MediterraneanEast of Gazipaşa's centre, at Güneyköy, stands one of the region's most striking ancient settlements: Antiochia ad Cragum.
It belongs to the historical landscape of Rough Cilicia. Although a coastal city, its archaeological centre occupies elevated ground roughly 300–350 metres above sea level. The Mediterranean lies below, cliffs surround the site, and buildings extend across several heights.
The name and the settlement
The city is associated with Antiochus IV of Commagene. It remained inhabited in the Roman and Byzantine periods, and its remains reveal an extensive urban centre rather than a small mountain fortress.
What to look for
The ruins occupy three principal areas. Features include:
- A colonnaded street and agora.
- Baths and a triumphal arch.
- A church.
- A necropolis with monumental tombs.
- The remains of a medieval castle.
The tomb architecture is particularly valuable for understanding the burial traditions of Rough Cilicia.
Delik Deniz and Kral KoyuBelow the ancient settlement, the coast offers another remarkable sight: Delik Deniz, associated with Kral Koyu, or King's Bay.
This small, rocky cove contains a large natural opening through the cliff, linking its water with the open sea. The rock appears to form a monumental gateway to the Mediterranean. Turquoise water, steep rock walls and ancient ruins on the surrounding heights make it a particularly memorable photographic setting.
Plan for uneven access
Delik Deniz is not an easily accessible urban beach. The approach may involve rural roads, uneven walking terrain, rocky sections and limited shade.
Wear suitable footwear, bring enough water, check the route before setting out and assess sea conditions on arrival. Follow local access arrangements and restrictions: the area combines sensitive natural surroundings with an archaeological site.
Yalan Dünya CaveGazipaşa's attractions extend inland and underground. Yalan Dünya Mağarası is one of the district's best-known caves.
The limestone landscapes of the Taurus Mountains contain cave systems formed over long geological periods. Stalactites, stalagmites, columns and other limestone formations reveal the effects of water moving through the rock.
A visit to Yalan Dünya offers a very different experience from the open coast and ancient hilltop settlements.
Lesser-known ancient settlementsSelinus and Antiochia ad Cragum are only part of the picture. Sites such as Adanda and Nephelis, together with other tombs and archaeological remains inland and to the east, show how densely settled Rough Cilicia once was.
Some of these sites have fewer visitor facilities than places such as Aspendos or Side. Allow more time for researching access and planning the journey.
Gazipaşa–Alanya AirportGazipaşa–Alanya Havalimanı has strengthened the district's role in tourism and regional transport. Rather than relying entirely on the much more distant Antalya Airport, travellers can use a gateway closer to Gazipaşa, Alanya, the eastern resorts and some parts of western Mersin.
DHMİ, Türkiye's airport authority, lists the airport's flight operating hours as 24 hours a day. This describes its operating timetable; individual flights, routes and passenger services still follow their own schedules.
Traffic in 2026
Provisional DHMİ figures for January–July 2026 record 484,511 passengers and 3,466 aircraft movements at Gazipaşa–Alanya Airport: about 484,000 passengers and more than 3,400 movements.
These cumulative figures show its established role in the tourist transport network of eastern Antalya.
A convenient location
The airport is relatively close to Gazipaşa's centre, a considerable advantage compared with the long road transfer from Antalya Airport to the province's far eastern districts.
It also serves passengers travelling to Alanya, hence its official combined name. Its presence strengthens Gazipaşa's position as a destination with its own regional role.
İskele and PazarcıFor easier access to the sea closer to town, consider İskele and Pazarcı. These coastal areas offer an alternative to the more distant coves.
Modern urban expansion has gradually brought Gazipaşa's inland centre into closer connection with its shore.
Inland towards the Taurus MountainsHead north and the land rises rapidly. Forests, mountain villages, summer pastures, valleys and streams create a setting very different from the coastal strip.
During hot, humid summer weather on the coast, higher areas can be noticeably cooler. Seasonal movement between the coast and the yayla, or summer highlands, is a longstanding part of life in southern Anatolia.
Getting to GazipaşaBy air: use Gazipaşa–Alanya Airport, checking the actual seasonal flight schedule.
By road: follow the D400. Approaching from the west, the broad sequence is:
Alanya → Mahmutlar → Kargıcak → the Syedra area → Gazipaşa.
From the east, the road runs from Anamur along the mountainous coast to Gazipaşa. This is a beautiful Mediterranean journey, but tunnels, bends and mountainous stretches mean that distance alone is a poor guide to driving time.
A first day in GazipaşaMorning: begin at Selinus. Explore the ruins and, if your fitness and the weather allow, climb towards the upper town for sea views.
Late morning: continue to Koru to see the natural pools and photograph the rock formations. Enter the water only where conditions and local arrangements make it appropriate.
Midday: return to town or the coast for a meal and a break from the heat.
Afternoon: explore İskele or the neighbourhoods around central Gazipaşa.
Evening: finish beside the sea, enjoying the quieter atmosphere away from the larger tourist centres.
A second day: Antiochia and Delik DenizAvoid squeezing every major site into one day. Set off early towards Güneyköy, explore Antiochia ad Cragum's street, agora, other buildings and necropolis, then continue towards Delik Deniz and Kral Koyu.
Leaving enough time for the natural setting allows you to appreciate both the ancient city and the shore without rushing between them.
Photographic highlights- Selinus with the sea behind its ruins.
- The hill and acropolis above the coast.
- Koru's natural pools and rock layers extending into the water.
- The columns and ruins of Antiochia ad Cragum.
- Delik Deniz's turquoise water and the natural opening at Kral Koyu.
- The formations inside Yalan Dünya Cave.
- Aircraft approaching Gazipaşa–Alanya Airport, viewed from a permitted public location.
- Sunset along the eastern coastline.
Before you visit- Heat: visit exposed archaeological sites early in the morning during summer.
- Footwear: Selinus, Antiochia ad Cragum and Delik Deniz require suitable walking shoes.
- Sea conditions: rocky, wave-exposed sections cannot be assessed safely from photographs alone.
- Transport: a car is particularly useful because the attractions are spread out beyond the centre.
- Water: carry supplies for remote natural sites.
- Archaeology: keep off ancient buildings and respect closed areas.
- Turtles: follow nesting-area instructions.
- Flights: routes and departure times vary by season; check the live timetable when planning.
Why stop in Gazipaşa?Gazipaşa deserves to be understood as more than the name of Alanya's airport. Selinus connects it with Trajan and Roman history; Koru reveals unusual coastal formations; Antiochia ad Cragum introduces the ancient world of Rough Cilicia; and Delik Deniz offers a cove quite unlike the resort beaches.
Yalan Dünya opens a window into Taurus geology, while agriculture gives the town an economic and everyday identity extending well beyond tourism. The airport, meanwhile, provides a practical gateway to the eastern Mediterranean coast.
Here our journey through Antalya province comes to an end. It began with Kaleiçi, Konyaaltı and Lara, continued west through Kemer, Olympos, Demre and Kaş, then returned east through Side, Manavgat, Belek and Alanya to Gazipaşa.
Continuing east takes us into a new region: Mersin and the western Cilician coast, the next part of our Mediterranean series.
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