On 17 October 1991, athletes gathered in Alanya to swim, cycle and run in the city’s first international triathlon. It was the beginning of a sporting tradition that would connect Alanya with competitors and communities far beyond its shores. More than three decades later, that spirit continues to shape a destination where sport brings people together, introduces visitors to the landscape and gives every season a reason to come.

Here, the Mediterranean and the Taurus Mountains set the scene. A morning beside the sea can lead to an afternoon on a mountain trail. A holiday can include a first padel lesson, a challenging ride or a place on the starting line. For spectators, the same coastline becomes a meeting point for international competition.

A Coastline Made for Competition
Beach volleyball has been part of Alanya’s sporting story since the early 1990s, with a national event in 1992, an international tournament in 1993 and a World Tour event in 1996. Today, that legacy continues through the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour and European competitions. The Alanya International Beach Sports Centre’s recognition as an FIVB Centre of Excellence adds another chapter, bringing competition, training and athlete development together beside the Mediterranean.

The sand welcomes more than volleyball. Beach handball brings fast transitions, spectacular finishes and an atmosphere that draws spectators close to the action. Alanya’s hosting of the senior and U17 European Beach Handball Championships in 2025 built on a handball tradition dating back to 1995. Beach football adds its own energy, with tournaments that turn familiar stretches of coastline into lively sporting arenas. Together, these disciplines make the beach a place to compete, connect and cheer.

From the Shoreline to the Trails
Beyond the waterfront, a different Alanya comes into view: forest paths, mountain villages, historic routes and climbs that open onto wide Mediterranean views.

Alanya Ultra Trail brings these landscapes into one running experience. Its courses connect the city’s historic surroundings with the forests and trails of the Taurus Mountains, returning runners to Cleopatra Beach. With shorter runs alongside demanding mountain distances, the event offers different ways to experience the terrain—and a memorable reason to explore beyond the coast.

Cycling and walking offer their own pace of discovery. Coastal outings, inland rides and hiking routes reveal the changing character of the region, from archaeological landscapes around Syedra and Hamaxia to the villages and uplands towards Gedevet. These journeys are part of a wider local effort to develop outdoor sport and extend tourism across the year. Choose a gentle outing or a demanding climb, and let the landscape shape the day.

Where Sport Meets Living Tradition
High in the Taurus Mountains, Gökbel brings another dimension to Alanya’s sporting identity. The Gökbel Oil Wrestling and Festival gathers wrestlers and spectators around a tradition rooted in strength, skill and respect. Local food, music and highland culture make the gathering an experience of place as much as a sporting occasion. Football and volleyball activities have also broadened the festival’s programme, bringing more people into the action. 

Strength takes a different form on the coast, where Strongman Champions League events have brought international competitors to Alanya for extraordinary tests of power and endurance. Orienteering offers another kind of challenge: reading the terrain, choosing a route and making quick decisions while moving through the city and its surroundings. Both reflect the variety of events Alanya has welcomed over the years.

Find Your Own Game
You do not need a race number to take part in Alanya’s sporting life. Padel clubs offer court bookings, coaching and social play, giving visitors an easy way to try something new or keep a favourite routine while away. Facilities near Cleopatra Beach and in neighbourhoods such as Oba and Kestel add to the choice.

Alongside specialist venues, Alanya Municipality’s sports halls, swimming pools, football facilities and tennis courts form part of the city’s everyday sporting infrastructure. They connect the excitement of major events with the quieter, regular moments that build an active community: learning to swim, training with a team and returning to the court. 

Come for a competition, a training break or simply the pleasure of moving somewhere new. Discover the coastline on foot, take your game onto the sand or follow a trail towards the mountains.

Find your season... Choose your sport here in Alanya...
Alanya: Any Season… Any Sport...