Gazipaşa and Eastern Alanya: Near the Airport, a Quieter Life

As you move east within Antalya province, the crowds thin and the pace slows. Gazipaşa, immediately east of Alanya, has in recent years drawn more attention from home-seekers because of its own airport and its relatively quiet coastline. This article describes Gazipaşa and eastern Alanya in terms of lifestyle, transport and choosing a home, without exaggeration.

Where is Gazipaşa and how big is it?

Gazipaşa is a district about 180 km east of Antalya city centre, adjacent to Alanya (Wikipedia). According to TÜİK's address-based registration system its population was 53,702 at the end of 2022, and 55,362 according to Yolcu360's 2024 figure. Compared with Alanya's roughly 362,000, it is a much smaller and sparser place.

According to Yolcu360 the bus ride to Alanya takes about an hour, and from Antalya bus station about 3.5 hours. That distance makes Gazipaşa unsuitable for commuting to Antalya city centre; for residents, Alanya is the real service and shopping hub. Our comparison of central Antalya and Alanya for living and investing is here.

The airport: the area's most distinctive feature

Gazipaşa stands out for having its own airport. Wikipedia says Gazipaşa-Alanya Airport opened in 2010 and serves Alanya, Anamur and the surrounding area. The DHMİ aerodrome document records that it lies about 40 km east of Alanya, has a single 2,350 m runway and is operated by TAV Gazipaşa Alanya Havalimanı İşletmeciliği. Yolcu360 gives 5–10 km to Gazipaşa town centre, and e-yasamrehberi about 7 km; the same source says about 42 km to Alanya city centre, 45–50 minutes by car.

These distances make a real difference compared with the roughly 121 km road trip from Antalya Airport to Alanya. Since flight options and seasonal schedules can change, always check current direct routes and the months they operate when weighing the "near the airport" advantage. For the Antalya Airport side, see our Turkish article on airport passenger numbers.

Photo: Wape1989 / CC BY-SA 4.0 — Wikimedia Commons

Farming and a natural coastline

Gazipaşa's economy rests largely on agriculture. Wikipedia says fruit and vegetables, especially citrus and bananas, are grown on the coastal strip, and Yolcu360 also points to bananas, avocado and tropical fruit. About half of the district's roughly 50 km of coastline is sandy beach and the rest rocky stretches and small coves; Wikipedia adds that some beaches are nesting grounds for loggerhead turtles where construction is forbidden. This means a calmer scene without a dense line of hotels or complexes along the shore. Yolcu360 lists Koru Beach, Gazipaşa Marina and the ancient city of Selinus as highlights.

For those wanting quiet, this natural character is an advantage; it also means that the variety of restaurants, shops and social events may be limited compared with central Alanya.

Daily life: what to expect

• Services: basic needs are met in the district centre; for wider shopping, private hospitals and social options most people go to Alanya.
• Transport: private car, bus, minibus and taxi along the D400 (Yolcu360). Owning a car raises daily comfort.
• Seasons: the area quietens in winter, and holiday complexes on the coast see less use. For a general idea of the weather see our Antalya weather guide.
• Healthcare: larger hospitals depend on getting to Alanya; for foreign residents our healthcare guide gives a general framework.

What to check when choosing a home

Gazipaşa and its surroundings mix apartments, complexes and detached houses, and in some parts farmland is in use. Before deciding, look at:

• Land and zoning: restrictions such as farmland, banana groves or protected areas can affect building and transfer conditions. Asking the municipality about zoning is the safest route.
• Title and occupancy permit: check the title type, the permit and any encumbrances; our guide to title deed types is a good start.
• Real distance to the coast and airport: "close to the sea" in a listing does not verify the distance; measure the route yourself.
• Empty-home risk: if you will use it as a holiday home, read our guide to leaving a home empty (Turkish).
• Annual costs: see the real costs of owning a home in Antalya.

From Gazipaşa onwards: the whole eastern coast

East of Alanya the coast continues past Gazipaşa towards Anamur; Wikipedia puts Anamur about 80 km from Gazipaşa, roughly two hours' drive. For coastal settlements further west see our Manavgat and Side guide and for the golf-oriented Serik area Belek and Serik.

Other articles to compare

To compare Gazipaşa with central Antalya see Alanya or central Antalya?; for coastal settlements further west living in Manavgat and Side; for the golf region Belek and Serik. If you want to see seafront living inside the city, Liman and the Konyaaltı seafront is a good point of comparison.

In short

• Gazipaşa is a small, quiet district about 180 km east of central Antalya; its population was 53,702 at the end of 2022.
• Gazipaşa-Alanya Airport lies about 40 km east of Alanya and about 7 km from the district centre.
• The economy rests on farming (bananas, citrus); building is restricted in some coastal spots.
• Quiet is an advantage; weigh service variety and seasonality carefully.

To weigh areas across Antalya together, see our page on buying a home in Antalya; for questions, feel free to write to us.

Sources: Wikipedia (Gazipaşa; TÜİK ADNKS 2022), Yolcu360 (Gazipaşa; Alanya), DHMİ AIP (Gazipaşa-Alanya Airport LTFG), e-yasamrehberi.com (airport transport).

Cover photo: Prodronemovie / CC BY-SA 4.0 — Wikimedia Commons