Look, I see it every summer. Tourists standing in front of the Red Tower taking the exact same photo that 10,000 other people took that week. Don't get me wrong, the Red Tower is beautiful. But if you want Instagram content that makes people double-tap and say "Wait, where IS that?", you need to know where locals actually go.

I'm Amin, I've been a professional photographer in Alanya for years, and I've probably taken 50,000+ photos around this city. I know which spots have the best light at what time, where you'll be fighting crowds, and which "hidden" locations are actually still hidden.

So grab your phone (or camera), put on comfortable shoes, and let me show you the Alanya that looks incredible on Instagram, not the one from the tour bus.

The Golden Rule: Timing is Everything

Before we get into specific spots, here's the most important thing I can tell you: the same location that looks bland at 2 PM will look absolutely magical at 7 PM. Alanya's Mediterranean light during golden hour (roughly 5:30-7:30 PM in summer, 4:00-5:30 PM in winter) is chef's kiss perfect.

Sunrise is even better if you can drag yourself out of bed. The beaches are empty, the light is softer, and you'll feel like you own the entire city.

1. Alanya Castle, But Not Where You Think

The Tourist Spot: The Main Castle Entrance

Everyone goes here, gets the same photo. It's fine. It's pretty. It's also boring.

The Local Spot: The Eastern Walls at Sunset

Here's what you actually want to do: drive (or take a taxi) all the way to the top of the castle, but instead of stopping at the main tourist area, keep going to the eastern side where the walls wrap around the cliff edge.

Last week, I took a couple from Germany there for their vacation photos. The wife literally cried when she saw the view. The Mediterranean stretched forever, the castle walls created this perfect leading line, and the setting sun turned everything golden. Their Instagram post got 2,000 likes. That never happens with tourist spots.

The Secret Spot: The Old Village Ruins Inside the Castle

Inside the castle grounds, there are ruins of an old Byzantine village. Stone doorways, crumbling walls with views, ancient cisterns. It's like stepping into a fairy tale, and 90% of tourists walk right past it.

I shot a model there last month for her portfolio. The combination of ancient architecture and Mediterranean views created images that looked straight out of a fantasy film. She booked three campaigns off that portfolio.

2. The Peninsula Viewpoint, Alanya's Best Kept Secret

This is one of my absolute favorite spots, and barely anyone knows about it. If you drive up the mountain road above Cleopatra Beach, you'll pass underneath the Alanya Teleferik (cable car). Keep going, and there's a path that wraps around to the right side of the Alanya peninsula.

What you'll find there is honestly magical. This elevated viewpoint gives you panoramic views of the entire coastline, the Mediterranean stretching into infinity, and during sunset, the sky explodes with colors that seem almost unreal.

I've shot music videos here, portrait sessions, and even some commercial content. The location works for everything because the backdrop is so versatile, dramatic cliffs, endless sea, and that golden Mediterranean light.

Here's a hangdrum session I filmed there to give you a sense of the atmosphere:

3. Cleopatra Beach, The Right Way

Yeah yeah, everyone knows Cleopatra Beach. But most people shoot it wrong.

The Tourist Mistake: Standing in the Middle at Noon

Bad light, too many people, you look like every other vacation photo ever taken.

The Local Way: The Western End at Golden Hour

Walk all the way to the western end of Cleopatra Beach, near where the beach meets the cliffs. This is where the beach curves, and you can get shots with the castle in the background, the turquoise water, and way fewer people.

I bring every couple here for vacation shoots. The water is insanely blue, the sand is actually clean, and if you time it right (7 PM in summer), the sun sets behind the mountains and everything turns into this dreamy golden scene.

The Even Better Spot: Damlataş Beach

Right next to Cleopatra Beach but way less crowded. Same gorgeous water, but you get the Red Tower and harbor in the background. Last summer, I shot a family from Istanbul here, the kids playing in the water, parents watching the sunset, Red Tower glowing in the distance. They printed it huge and hung it in their living room.

4. The Harbor Area, Instagram Paradise

The Obvious Spot: Red Tower

Look, you're going to take a photo of the Red Tower anyway. We all do. But here's how to make it not look like everyone else's:

Don't shoot it from the front where everyone stands. Walk around to the harbor side, include the colorful boats, shoot from a low angle so the tower looks massive. Or come at blue hour (20-30 minutes after sunset) when the tower is lit up and the sky is deep blue. That's when it looks special.

The Better Spot: The Colorful Boats in the Harbor

Honestly, I think the boats are prettier than the tower. The traditional Turkish gulet boats are painted in these rich reds, blues, and golds. They reflect in the calm harbor water, and with the castle in the background? Chef's kiss.

I shot an engagement session here last month. The couple on a boat at sunset, the castle glowing behind them, that golden light reflecting off the water. The photo went semi-viral on Turkish Instagram. People thought they hired some famous photographer. Nope, just good location and timing.

The Secret Spot: The Breakwater Rocks

At the edge of the harbor, there's a rocky breakwater where almost nobody goes. It's a bit of a climb, but you get 360-degree views, harbor on one side, open Mediterranean on the other, castle above, city spread out.

I go there when I need to clear my head. It's peaceful, the waves crash on the rocks, and if you're careful, you can get shots standing on the rocks with the sea behind you that look like you're on some remote island. You're literally 5 minutes from tourist central, but it feels like wilderness.

5. The Hidden Gem: Sapadere Canyon

Okay, this one's about 45 minutes outside Alanya city, but trust me, if you want Instagram content that nobody else has, this is it.

Sapadere Canyon is this gorgeous natural canyon with wooden walkways over a rushing river, waterfalls, emerald green pools, and lush vegetation everywhere. It looks like something from a tropical island, but it's right here in the Taurus Mountains.

I took a solo traveler there last year for a portrait session. She wanted "adventure shots" for her Instagram. We got her standing in the waterfalls, sitting on ancient stone bridges, wandering the wooden paths with light filtering through the trees. Her engagement rate tripled after posting those photos.

6. Dim River, The Local's Escape

When it's 35°C in the city and I need to escape, I go to Dim River. It's this gorgeous mountain river about 15km inland, lined with restaurants built on platforms over the cold, clear water.

The vibe is completely different from beach Alanya. It's green, cool, relaxed. The restaurants rent these cushioned platforms where you sit barefoot over the river, eat fresh trout, and kids jump in the freezing water.

For Instagram, it's perfect for those "authentic local experience" posts. The wooden platforms, the rushing river, mountains in the background, fresh food layouts. It's aesthetic, it's different, and it shows a side of Turkey most tourists never see.

7. The Old Town Streets, For That Turkish Vibe

Alanya's old town isn't as famous as places like Istanbul or Antalya's old towns, but it has these charming narrow streets with traditional Turkish houses, bougainvillea everywhere, and almost no tourists.

I wandered through there last spring with my camera and spent three hours just capturing details, colorful doors, laundry hanging between buildings, old men playing backgammon, cats sleeping in the sun. It's where Alanya still feels authentically Turkish.

For Instagram, these streets give you those "lost in a foreign city" shots that travel bloggers live for. The pastel-colored walls, the overhanging flowers, the cobblestone streets, it's picture-perfect.

8. The Shipyard Viewing Point

There's this spot on the road leading up to the castle where you can pull over and see the entire ancient shipyard below, the harbor, and the castle. Almost nobody stops there because they're rushing to get to the castle.

But at sunset? It's one of the best viewpoints in Alanya. You get the whole city laid out, the Mediterranean glowing, boats in the harbor, and that gorgeous golden light on everything.

I stopped there with a couple from Russia who were driving to the castle. They weren't even planning to take photos, but the light was so perfect that we spent 20 minutes shooting. The photos of them with the entire city behind them became their favorite images from the whole trip.

9. The Lighthouse Area (Alanya Feneri)

On the opposite side of the peninsula from the castle, there's a lighthouse area that tourists rarely visit. It's quiet, has stunning sea views, and features these dramatic black rocks against the turquoise water.

I shot a wedding proposal there last year. The guy had me hide in the rocks pretending to be a random tourist. When he got down on one knee with the endless Mediterranean behind them and those dramatic rocks, she lost it. The photos looked like a magazine spread.

Instagram Tips from Someone Who Actually Does This for a Living

Okay, you've got the locations. Now let me give you some real talk about making these photos actually look good:

More Quick Tips

• Details Matter: Don't just shoot big landscapes. Get the texture of ancient stones, close-ups of flowers, hands holding Turkish tea, bare feet in sand. These tell a story.
• Check the Background: I can't tell you how many great photos are ruined by trash cans, random tourists, or construction. Take 5 seconds to look around your frame.
• Use Natural Frames: Doorways, archways, tree branches, window frames. They add depth and draw the eye to your subject.
• Shoot in Bursts: Especially for action shots or when there's wind. You'll catch at least one perfect moment.

The Spots I Didn't Include (But Exist)

There are a few locations I'm intentionally not listing here because they're either genuinely dangerous, on private property, or are getting too popular and locals are starting to get annoyed.

If you see cool spots on Instagram that aren't mentioned here, use common sense. If it looks dangerous, if you'd have to trespass, or if there are "no photos" signs, respect that.