According to ancient mythology, the city was founded by the local Carian heros Alabandos. In the early Seleukid period, Alabanda was part of the Chrysaoric League, a loose association of Carian cities, including Alinda, Mylasa and Stratonikeia, which was primarily intended to coordinate joint trade, but also defence tasks.

In honour of Antiochos III, who secured peace in the city, Alabanda was renamed Antioch. In 201 BC, the city was conquered by Philip V of Macedonia. After the Seleucids were defeated by the Romans under Lucius Cornelius Scipio Asiaticus at the Battle of Magnesia at Sipylos in 190 BC, Alabanda got its old name back.

Soon after, the Romans conquered the city. The general Quintus Labienus took the town at the head of a Parthian troop in 40 BC. The Parthians confiscated all their treasures and possessions. During the Roman Empire Alabanda was after Pliny the seat of a conventus and Strabon mentioned the high standard of living and the decadence of the inhabitants of the city.

Not much has survived of the once proud city. The ruins of the city include a theatre, a temple of Apollo Isotemos from the 2nd century B.C., a bouleuterion (22 x 35 m) and an agora (112 x 72 m), which can only be seen at the beginning. Some towers of the city wall and numerous graves in a large necropolis are also preserved. During excavations a few inscriptions came to light.

Until around the middle of the 3rd century A.D. the city minted its own coins. In Byzantine times the town was given a bishop's seat, the occupation of which can be traced from sources for the years 451 to 879.

Remains of the Stoa around the Agora

The ancient city of Alabanda is located west of Çine, near today's Doğanyurt In Çine, the road to Alabanda is signposted brown on the D 550 national road. From here it is 7.5 km to the ruins of the ancient city.