Gazipaşa is the easternmost district of Antalya Province, Turkey: located 47 km from Alanya, it is home to approximately 56,000 residents and features its own international airport (GZP), vast banana plantations, and greenhouses. Life here is noticeably quieter than in Alanya, as tourism-related development is still in its early stages. Below, you will find distances, airport details, beach info, infrastructure insights, housing market overview, and residency permit (ikamet izni) information based on official Turkish sources.
Location and distance to Alanya
Gazipaşa is a separate district (ilçe) of Antalya Province, not a part of Alanya. It shares its western border with Alanya and its eastern border with Anamur (Mersin Province). The D400 highway runs through the entire district along the coastline. The town is situated on a coastal plain, with the slopes of the Taurus Mountains and small villages rising just behind it.
| Route | Distance by road | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Gazipaşa — Alanya Center | 47 km | KGM |
| Gazipaşa — Mahmutlar | approx. 34 km | calculated via OpenStreetMap |
| Gazipaşa — Manavgat | 106 km | KGM |
| Gazipaşa — Antalya (city center) | 184 km | KGM |
| Gazipaşa — Anamur | 77 km | KGM |
Mahmutlar is the eastern part of Alanya located on the road to Gazipaşa, making the GZP airport much more accessible for its residents than for those living in Alanya center.
Population. According to the ADNKS (TÜİK) address registry as of 31.12.2023, the district had 55,185 residents. Reports citing ADNKS data estimate a population of 55,850 by the end of 2025. For comparison, Alanya had a population of 359,891 at the end of 2023, more than six times larger.
Gazipaşa-Alanya Airport (GZP)
The airport is located right next to the city. While it operates under the supervision of DHMİ, it is managed by a private company. This is the district's primary advantage: reaching the terminal from Gazipaşa takes only a few minutes, whereas it is 184 km to the center of Antalya.
Destinations. The airport’s website lists 14 countries and 20 international destinations. These include flights to Germany (Cologne, Nuremberg, Düsseldorf), Denmark (Copenhagen, Billund, Aalborg), Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, Russia (Vnukovo), and Iran. Domestic flights are regular only to Istanbul: both to the main Istanbul Airport (THY) and Sabiha Gökçen (Pegasus). Many international flights are seasonal or chartered, resulting in fewer options during the winter. AJet flights to Ankara for the 2026/27 winter season had not yet been released for sale as of mid-October 2026 (according to local press citing the ALTAV association).
| Period | Domestic | International | Total Passengers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 467 125 | 560 529 | 1 027 654 |
| 2025 | 430 817 | 561 566 | 992 383 (−3%) |
| January–September 2025 | 331 136 | 461 713 | 792 849 |
| January–September 2026 (preliminary) | 316 884 | 413 413 | 730 297 (−8%) |
For context, AYT handled 39 million passengers in 2025. GZP is a small regional airport, and for long-haul flights, Antalya or a connection through Istanbul is often more convenient.
Beaches, Selinus, and sights
The district's coastline is long and sparsely developed. Near the town, there is a wide sandy beach. It is among the nine beaches in Antalya province designated as sea turtle nesting grounds. During the nesting season (roughly May to September), restrictions apply to visitors at night. To the west, near the ancient site of Selinus, there is a beach with a view of the acropolis. Further east, there are coves and rocky sections more easily accessible by car.
- Selinus. According to the Turkish Ministry of Culture, these are ruins located on a hill by the sea, 3 km from Gazipaşa and approximately 45 km from Alanya. The site features a well-preserved acropolis, a bathhouse, an agora, a necropolis, and remnants of aqueducts. According to the Ministry, this is where Emperor Trajan died.
- Antiochia ad Cragum. A Roman city located near the village of Güney, at an altitude of 300–350 meters above sea level, founded by King Antiochus IV of Commagene. Excavations have been ongoing since 2005, initially under the guidance of the Alanya Museum, and since 2009 with government authorization under the leadership of Professor Michael Hoff.
- Yalan Dünya Cave with its stalactites, the Lamos Fortress, and mountain villages are great for half-day or full-day trips.
Life in the district: bananas, greenhouses, and infrastructure
Agriculture
Gazipaşa is an agricultural district. Slopes and plains are covered with banana plantations and greenhouses where vegetables and tropical crops are grown. According to the Antalya Provincial Directorate of Agriculture, as published by the AA agency in March 2020, Gazipaşa was the top district in the province for banana production: 16,400 decares with 83,689 tons of yield. We have not found more recent district-level breakdowns. For property buyers, the practical implication is this: greenhouses will often be located near residential areas, and land outside the town is frequently zoned for agricultural use.
Hospitals, education, and marina
- Hospital. The city has a state hospital, Gazipaşa Devlet Hastanesi, with an emergency department and primary medical specialties. For specialized care and complex diagnostics, residents typically travel to Alanya.
- Education. Standard public schools are available in the city and larger villages. Gazipaşa is home to the Faculty of Aviation and Space Sciences and a vocational school of Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University (ALKÜ). Check separately for private and international school options, as the main selection is located in Alanya and Antalya.
- Marina. The Gazipaşa yacht marina opened on 08.11.2025. According to the Antalya Governorship, it has a capacity for 208 yachts, featuring 676 meters of docking space and 320 meters of floating pontoons. The governor has designated it as a future commercial hub for the city.
- Markets and shops. The city hosts a weekly open-air market, chain supermarkets, and all necessities for daily life. Large shopping malls and a wider range of services are available in Alanya.
Climate
The climate is Mediterranean, typical of the entire coast: hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. Specific long-term averages for Gazipaşa are not published on the MGM meteorology website. Based on the nearest reference station in Antalya (1930–2025), the average temperature is 28.6 °C in July and 10.1 °C in January. Rainfall averages 4.7 mm in July and 250.9 mm in December. In winter, expect rainy weeks and dampness in homes without central heating.
Housing in Gazipaşa: what is being built and how it differs from Alanya
The construction style here is newer and lower-rise than in Alanya. The primary format consists of small residential complexes (3–6 floors) with pools in the city and along the D400 highway, as well as villas and townhouses on the hillsides with sea views. Large resort-style complexes with full infrastructure, like those found in Mahmutlar or Oba, are still rare. Some projects are purchased during the off-plan phase, and completion times can be subject to delays.
Market sentiment suggests that housing here is, on average, more affordable than in comparable areas of Alanya with similar proximity to the sea. However, TÜİK does not publish official price statistics by district for Gazipaşa, so it is best to evaluate specific properties: price per square meter, year of construction, distance to the sea, and whether the building has an İskan (habitation certificate). For general benchmarks in Alanya, see the article "How much does an apartment in Alanya cost", and for listings across the entire coast, visit our property catalog in Turkey.
What to look for when buying:
- Land designation in the Tapu and the zoning plan (Imar): agricultural land near greenhouses cannot be easily converted into a residential building plot.
- Distance to the runway and flight paths: aircraft noise impacts both living comfort and resale value.
- Rentals: The season here is shorter than in Alanya, and demand for winter rentals is lower, so calculate potential yields conservatively.
Residence Permit (İkamet İzni) in Gazipaşa
Gazipaşa is not included in the official list of closed neighborhoods published by the Migration Management (as of the May 16, 2022 list covering 781 neighborhoods nationwide; it includes some areas in Antalya, but none in Gazipaşa or Alanya). This list pertains specifically to the registration of persons under temporary or international protection. For a standard residence permit, the deciding factor is the address verification in the e-İkamet system at the time of application. As of 2026, legal experts reported the lifting of certain neighborhood restrictions, but we have not found a formal announcement on goc.gov.tr. Therefore, always verify the specific address before signing any lease or purchase contract. The application procedure itself is described in our article "Residence Permit in Turkey".
Pros and Cons: Who is Gazipaşa for?
Pros:
- The airport is just a few minutes away, with direct international flights in season;
- Quieter and less crowded than Alanya; features long, uncrowded beaches;
- New marina, ancient cities, and natural landmarks nearby;
- Less than an hour drive to Alanya.
Cons:
- Fewer specialized services, medical facilities, international schools, and nightlife;
- In winter, airport operations are mostly limited to Istanbul;
- Short rental season;
- Proximity to greenhouses and aircraft noise in certain neighborhoods.
Gazipaşa is suitable for those looking for a quiet place to live or a second home by the sea, who travel frequently and value airport proximity, or those willing to drive to Alanya for specific services. For those seeking an active urban lifestyle and year-round rental potential, Mahmutlar or the center of Alanya are more convenient choices.
FAQ
Is Gazipaşa part of Alanya?
No. It is an independent district within the Antalya province with its own municipality and district governorship, though the airport is named "Gazipaşa — Alanya," and in daily life, the area is often considered an extension of Alanya.
How long does it take to drive from Gazipaşa to Alanya?
47 km according to KGM — less than an hour by car via the D400 highway, depending on traffic.
Where do flights from GZP go?
Year-round, they fly to Istanbul (IST and SAW). During the season, there are flights to 20 cities in 14 countries, primarily in Northern and Central Europe. Schedules change every season, so please check with the airlines.
Can I get a residence permit with an address in Gazipaşa?
Gazipaşa neighborhoods are not on the official list of restricted areas, but you must verify the specific address when applying through e-İkamet.
Can you swim there in winter?
The sea cools down slower than the air, but very few people swim in winter: the average air temperature on the coast in January is around 10 °C.
Sources
- DHMİ — Airport passenger traffic, December 2025 (2024 and 2025 results)
- DHMİ — Airport passenger traffic, January–September 2026 (preliminary)
- Gazipaşa — Alanya Airport: flight destinations
- KGM — Distances between districts
- Göç İdaresi — Announcement on neighborhood closures and list
- Antalya Governorate — Opening of the Gazipaşa Marina
- Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey — Selinus
- ALKÜ — Antiochia ad Cragum excavations, 2023 season
- ALKÜ — University facilities in Gazipaşa
- Gazipaşa Devlet Hastanesi
- MGM — Climate statistics, Antalya
- City Population — Population of Antalya districts according to TÜİK (secondary source)
- Nufusu.com — Population of Gazipaşa, 2025 (secondary source)
- TRT Haber / AA — Banana production in Antalya (2020, secondary source)
- DHA — Sea turtle nesting beaches in Antalya (secondary source)
- Yeni Alanya — Flights to Ankara, October 2026 (secondary source)