Mahmutlar, Oba or Cleopatra: where to rent in Alanya

“Which district should I stay in?” is the first question almost everyone asks before coming to Alanya for a month or longer. There is no single answer: the town stretches for tens of kilometres along the coast, and the districts differ not in quality but in pace of life and distances. Here is an honest look at the three districts where we have apartments — Mahmutlar, Oba and Cleopatra.

In short: who each district suits

Mahmutlar — if you want more square metres for the same money and don’t mind being away from the old town. The most affordable of the three.

Oba — if you want a calm residential area within easy reach of the centre. The compromise between price and proximity.

Cleopatra — if what matters most is having the sea right outside and the town on foot. The most expensive per square metre, but the shortest walk to the beach.

Mahmutlar: more space for the same budget

Mahmutlar is the eastern part of Alanya, roughly ten kilometres from the old town and the castle. It works as a town of its own, with a seafront promenade, shops and a market — you don’t need to travel to the centre for everyday life.

The reason people choose it for long stays is the space-to-price ratio. Our four Mahmutlar apartments run from €550 to €1,200 per month, and that range covers both a compact 1+1 of 50 m² and a roomy 2+1 of 96 m². The distance to the sea varies a lot within the district: Sonas Loft N56 sits 350 metres from the water, while Antares Hill N17 is 1,500 metres away — higher up the slope, and the cheapest apartment we have.

The trade-off is real: getting to the castle, the harbour and Cleopatra Beach means a drive. If you plan to be in the old town every day, that will wear thin.

See everything on the Mahmutlar rentals page.

Oba: quiet, and close to the centre

Oba borders the centre of Alanya on the east — residential, without the resort bustle, but without feeling like the outskirts either. The central streets are close by, yet the blocks themselves are quiet in the evening.

We have two apartments in Oba, both in the TSI ObaGol complex and both 400 metres from the sea: a 1+1 of 57 m² at €900 and a 2+1 of 100 m² at €1,800. The price gap here is mostly a space gap: a hundred square metres with two bedrooms answers the needs of a family, or two couples who want separate rooms.

Oba is often the choice of people who have already spent one season in Alanya: the centre is near, but you aren’t paying for the front line.

Browse them on the Oba rentals page.

Cleopatra: the town centre and the beach outside

Cleopatra is the district around the beach of the same name, at the foot of the castle rock. In practice it is the town centre: the promenade, cafés, shops and the beach itself are all walkable, and a car is genuinely unnecessary.

You pay for that per square metre. Our Cleopatra Littore N13 is a 1+1 of 44 m² at €1,000 a month, 150 metres from the sea — closer than any other apartment we have. Compared head-to-head with Mahmutlar, the same money there buys almost twice the floor area, but not those 150 metres.

It is worth considering if you are coming for a month or two and want to live in the town rather than commute into it.

See the options on the Cleopatra rentals page.

What matters more than the district

In our experience, long-stay comfort comes down to more than the district name:

• The actual distance to the sea. Within one district the spread can exceed a kilometre — ours in Mahmutlar range from 350 to 1,500 metres. “A district by the sea” and “a building by the sea” are different things; always check the metres on the listing.
• Layout, not floor area. A 1+1 is a living room plus one separate bedroom; a 2+1 has two bedrooms. For a couple staying long term, 1+1 is usually enough — but if you both work remotely, the second room changes everything.
• The terrain. Alanya is built on slopes, so “800 metres from the sea” can mean 800 metres uphill on the way back. Ask about it before you commit.
• What the price includes. Agree the terms for the deposit, utilities and the building maintenance fee in advance — we always state them before booking, with no extras on arrival.

How to choose

The simplest way is to start from your one non-negotiable. Need the most space your budget allows — start with Mahmutlar. Need a balance of quiet and proximity — look at Oba. Need the sea two minutes away — Cleopatra.

At ForBuddy we only rent out our own apartments and those of friends, so we can tell you honestly about each one: how far the walk to the sea really is, which way the windows face, what the courtyard is like in the evening. Message us — we’ll give you a straight answer, even if you end up renting somewhere else. Common questions about terms and check-in are collected here.