When friends from abroad ask me, "We’ve decided to move to Alanya with our children, where should we start?" my first question is always the same: what about daycare and school? This is truly the most critical question, as the entire rhythm of a family's new life depends on it. Alanya is no longer just a seaside town for holidays—the number of families settling here permanently is steadily increasing, and the infrastructure for children is evolving to meet this demand.
Alanya: A city suited for family life
It is helpful to know what kind of city you are moving to. Alanya's population grew from 87,080 in 1985 to approximately 248,000 today. A significant portion of this population consists of foreign nationals, particularly from Germany, Scandinavia, the Middle East, and beyond (PropertyTurkey). In the summer, the city's population swells to approximately 1.1 million due to tourists (PropertyTurkey). This means that Alanya is already accustomed to a multicultural living environment, making it much easier for a child from another country to adapt here compared to smaller, more homogenous towns in Anatolia.
The climate also plays a significant role in the decision to move. Alanya enjoys an average of 300 sunny days a year; summers are long, hot, and dry, while most rainfall occurs in winter (PropertyTurkey). For a family with children, this means spending most of the year outdoors—hiking, playing sports, or heading to the beach after school. Getting to the city is also quite convenient via Antalya Airport, with direct shuttle services operating to Alanya (PropertyTurkey), which is a major advantage for families planning visits from grandparents.
Daycare in Alanya: Public and private options
The preschool education system in Turkey is divided into state-run kindergartens affiliated with schools and private nurseries and daycares. In tourist regions like Alanya, there are many private daycare options due to high demand from both local and international families. State kindergartens are free or almost free, but education is provided entirely in Turkish, and capacity can be limited. Registration is usually handled via the District Directorate of National Education or the e-Devlet portal; it is essential to verify current registration rules there rather than relying on outdated information.
Private daycares offer a more flexible option for families who have just arrived and do not yet speak Turkish. Many daycares in neighborhoods with large international communities, such as Mahmutlar, Oba, and the center of Alanya, offer English-focused groups. Depending on the local demographics, some may even have teachers who speak other languages. Before choosing a daycare, it is worth visiting several institutions in person to check group sizes, nutrition, and nap schedules, and to ask for the facility's official license registered with the District Directorate of National Education—this is the guarantee that the daycare is operating legally.
- It is smart to handle registration a few months before the school year begins—spots in popular private daycares fill up quickly
- Be sure to ask which language is primarily used in the daycare: Turkish, bilingual, or English-focused
- Ask about the adaptation process: good daycares often implement early pickup times during the first weeks to reduce a child's stress
A separate point is daycare for very young children—Turkish daycares generally accept children from the age of one-and-a-half to two years old. If you are planning a move with an infant, it may make more sense to consider private nannies or small family groups first, transitioning to a daycare once they are a little older.
Schools: From state schools to international programs
The situation with schools is similar, but the stakes are higher—because the choice directly affects not only socialization but also the child's future education. Turkish state schools (devlet okulu) are free and open to everyone, including foreign children with a residency permit (ikamet izni), but education is entirely in Turkish and the curriculum follows national Turkish education standards. For a child arriving in Turkey without knowing the language, the first six months to a year can be challenging, but children typically adapt much faster than adults.
Private Turkish schools (özel okul) offer smaller classes, more modern infrastructure, and usually enhanced English instruction; however, they remain bound to the Turkish curriculum mandated by the Ministry of National Education. The system is undergoing reforms across Turkey, with the ministry tightening operational rules for private education institutions (Daily Sabah). Therefore, when choosing a private school, it is better to verify the current license and accreditation directly from the school administration rather than relying on marketing brochures.
International schools and alternative programs
For families planning to return to their home countries or continue their education elsewhere, a more logical choice is one of the international schools operating in the Antalya region, which offer British, American, or other curricula designed for expat families. Education is provided in English or the family's native language, and the diplomas are recognized abroad. Tuition fees at these schools vary significantly depending on the program and the child's age; it is best to learn the exact budget directly from the chosen school, as figures change annually and depend on currency exchange rates.
In Turkey, the new academic year began this September for 17 million students across the country (Daily Sabah)—the scale of the education system is vast, and in tourist areas like Alanya, the demand for alternative school formats continues to grow alongside the number of families settling here.
Child adaptation: Language, new friends, and extracurricular activities
Moving is a stressful process not just for parents, but for children as well. It usually takes anywhere from a few months to a year for children to adjust to a new linguistic environment, make friends, and stop seeing school as a "foreign" place. In this process, the diverse composition of classes is a huge help—in neighborhoods with large international populations like Mahmutlar or Oba, local Turkish children are accustomed to classmates from different countries, making the adjustment process much smoother than in schools located in more homogenous inland areas.
Outside of classes, there are plenty of activities for your child in Alanya. The city is built on a peninsula along the Mediterranean with beaches stretching along the coast (PropertyTurkey)—there is everything from beach time to sports clubs and creative workshops. Furthermore, the city is full of family-friendly cafes, shops, and entertainment areas (PropertyTurkey). A recent update: a new city park is opening on Menderes Street in Mahmutlar on Republic Day (October 29), providing yet another place for families to spend time together after school.
- Enroll your child in a sports club or workshop during the first few weeks—this accelerates the process of making friends
- Don't rush the language adaptation: as long as children are regularly exposed to the environment, they learn Turkish much faster than adults
- Utilize beaches and parks as spaces for social interaction with local peers outside of school hours
Practical tips before you move
If you are seriously considering moving to Alanya with your children, start by organizing your paperwork: obtaining a residence permit (ikamet izni) is a mandatory requirement for enrolling a child in any school or kindergarten, whether public or private. In parallel, it is highly recommended to personally visit several institutions in the neighborhood you are interested in — the atmosphere in the classroom often differs significantly from the photos you see on their websites.
The second practical step is to define a strategy for the coming years: if the family plans to stay in Turkey for a long time, a public school that provides full language immersion will offer the child much deeper integration. If the move is temporary or depends on the parents' remote work, an international curriculum will ensure educational continuity. In any case, do not rush to make a final decision in the first few weeks — give both yourself and your child the opportunity to get to know the surroundings, chat with other expat parents in the city, and only then choose the kindergarten or school that will become a part of your new life in Alanya with NewTime Investment.