Aydıncık

Aydıncık is a small town in the Cilician Mountains on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, with a population of 11,500 in 2022. In ancient times it was an important port and city, but little of this remains. It's a quiet place, especially since the coast highway now bypasses it through a tunnel. == Get in == The nearest airport is Gazipaşa (GZP IATA) in Alanya 130 km west. It serves major resorts on that strip of coast so in season it has flights from across Europe, and has car hire. Others are Antalya (AYT IATA) 290 km west and Çukurova (COV IATA) 180 km east. The town used to be on D400, the coast road between Antalya and Adana, but the section by Aydincik now runs through a tunnel (not yet shown on most maps, including Google). The turn-off onto the old road is well signposted. Plenty of narrow twisty sections of D400 remain in these mountains. This means that inter-city buses rush through the tunnel and no longer call here. Flixbus runs twice day from Antalya via Manavgat (for Side), Alanya and Anamur, where you change for a dolmuş. These buses continue to Taşucu (for Cyprus ferries), Silifke (change here coming from the east or north), Mersin and Adana. == Get around == Dolmuşes ply along the old coast road. == See == 1 Celenderis is the core of the ancient settlement and now the leisure harbour. The earliest remains go back to 8th century BC, and it was an important port on an unpromising coastline through Roman times. Excavations have uncovered a Roman bath-house, theatre and mosaic - the latter looks to be a city guide. Excavations continue so you may find the area closed off. Four Foot Mausoleum (Dört Ayak Anıt Mezar) is also Roman, on Sabahattin Çakmakoğlu Cd about 500 m east of the harbour. It's fenced off and neglected but you can peek through the wire mesh. The area has not been excavated and it's not known who is buried here, if anyone. It might be a cenotaph not a mausoleum, commemorating someone killed in battle and buried far away. 2 Taş masa means "city view" and it's a viewpoint on the road winding into the hills towards Karaseki. The unlovely town is no great prospect but on a clear day you'll see Northern Cyprus, or at least the band of cloud over its mountains. Big island and Little island are the lyrical names of the two scrubby hillocks seen out in the bay. Yelkenli island is hidden close to the headland to the east - it means "snake-ridden". Lots of ancient anchors have been found in the nearby waters, so this was evidently an anchorage, but (like the Greek fleet's hideout before Troy) none too safe, so if a storm got up ships broke their cables or had to cut and run. 3 Gilindire Cave, Yeniyürük. Daily 08:00-17:00. Large decorated cave with a lake at the bottom. Drive from the coast road then descend steps to the entrance. Adult 30 TL. (updated Mar 2025) == Do == Town beach is sandy east end of the bay. İncekum beach is another 500 m further, sandy and quieter. == Buy == Bim and A101 are convenience stores together on the main road through Aydincik, both open daily 09:00-21:00. == Eat == Lots of little places strung along the coast road, no stand-out. == Drink == Cafes and restaurants serve alcohol, no free-standing bars. == Sleep == 1 Aslan Apart Otel (Lion Apts), Sahil Sk, ☏ +90 324 841 2425. Clean place near the beach. (updated Mar 2025) 2 Huzur Pansiyon, Hastane Cd 65, ☏ +90 555 187 5170. Convenient but tatty. B&B double 3000 TL. (updated Mar 2025) 3 Pınar Motel, Atatürk Cd 108, ☏ +90 544 972 8892. Simple but clean and comfy enough. B&B double 2000 TL. (updated Mar 2025) 4 Otel Dudum, Antalya Yolu 68, ☏ +90 533 301 0605. Relaxing beachfront place. B&B double 2000 TL. (updated Mar 2025) == Connect == As of March 2025, Aydıncık town has 4G from all Turkish carriers. There's a good signal from Vodafone on the coastal highway and inland towards Karaman but poor coverage from Turkcell and Türk Telekom. 5G has not yet rolled out in Turkey. == Go next == Anamur is about the southernmost point on this coast. Mamure Castle is the main sight. Alanya is the start of the long beach resort strip all the way to Antalya. It too has a stout castle. Silifke east is a transport hub, including ferries to Cyprus from its port of Taşucu. Narlıkuyu further east is best known for Heaven and Hell Chasms.