Discovered by Accident, Opened to the World First
Damlataş Cave was discovered in 1948 — not by archaeologists or explorers, but by a dynamite blast during the construction of Alanya Harbour. Workers quarrying stone for the port broke through into a cavern that had been sealed for thousands of years. The cave was immediately placed under protection and, after a period of research, opened to visitors. It holds a distinction that no other cave in Turkey can claim: it was the first cave in the country to be opened to tourism.
15,000 Years in the Making
The cave's formation began approximately 15,000 years ago, when rainwater began seeping through cracks in the ceiling and dissolving the calcium carbonate in the limestone. As the water evaporated inside the stable environment of the cave, it deposited the mineral slowly — drop by drop — building the stalactites that hang from the ceiling and the stalagmites that rise from the floor. The name Damlataş means "dripping stone" in Turkish, and the process it describes is still ongoing today. Every droplet still falling from the stalactites is adding, imperceptibly, to formations that have been growing for millennia.
The cave consists of a 50-metre entrance corridor that opens into a cylindrical main chamber reaching 15 metres in height. Thousands of stalactites and stalagmites fill the space, illuminated to dramatic effect.
A Cave That Treats Asthma
What sets Damlataş apart from other caves is its air. The temperature inside holds at a constant 22°C year-round. Humidity stays at 95 percent. Atmospheric pressure remains fixed at 760 mm. The air composition is equally stable: 71 percent nitrogen, 20.5 percent oxygen, and carbon dioxide levels 8 to 10 times higher than normal atmospheric levels, along with trace amounts of radioactivity and ions.
This combination has been found to have a measurable positive effect on asthma sufferers. Supervised treatment programmes of 21 days — with patients spending time inside the cave each morning before general visiting hours — have been offered here since the cave's early years and continue today. Alanya has developed a modest but genuine reputation for respiratory health tourism, and Damlataş is at the centre of it.
The Visit
The cave is small; a thorough visit takes between 20 and 30 minutes. But the experience is genuinely distinctive. The cool, humid air, the illuminated formations, and the profound stillness of the space — especially when stepping inside from the heat of an Alanya summer — create an atmosphere unlike anything above ground. It is not a site that requires hours of exploration; it is one that rewards a moment of quiet attention.
The cave sits directly beside Cleopatra Beach, at the western foot of Alanya Castle, within easy walking distance of the cable car station. It pairs naturally with a castle visit and can be combined with Kızıl Kule on the same afternoon without any difficulty.
Practical Information
- Location: Damlataş Caddesi, Saray Mahallesi, Alanya. Directly beside Cleopatra Beach, within walking distance of the cable car station.
- Getting there: Walkable from Alanya town centre. By car, follow signs for Damlataş Caddesi from Atatürk Bulvarı; parking is available nearby.
- Entrance fee: Paid entry; MüzeKart accepted.
- Time needed: 20 to 30 minutes.
- What to wear: The cave is cool and humid regardless of outside temperature — a light layer is recommended.
- Combine with: Alanya Castle, Kızıl Kule, and Cleopatra Beach can all be visited comfortably on the same day.
