Side
Side's ancient theatre and the columns of the Apollo Temple stand right by the shore, reached on day tours or transfers timed to a family's flight.
Step out of your hotel in Side in the early morning and walk toward the tip of the peninsula. The lanes are still quiet, bougainvillea spills over low stone walls, and fishermen untangle nets in the little harbour. Then, at the water’s edge, the white marble columns of the Temple of Apollo rise against a sea so blue it looks painted, catching the first light exactly as they have for nearly two thousand years.
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Side at first sight
Side was one of the great ports of ancient Pamphylia, a wealthy Hellenistic and Roman city whose theatre, agora and baths still stand among the cafés and shops of today’s village. It is the place on the Turkish Riviera where antiquity is not a day trip but the backdrop of your evening stroll, with long sandy beaches stretching away on either side.
Why include Side in your itinerary?
- Ruins you live among. In Side the Roman theatre, the monumental gate and the colonnaded street are part of the village itself, so you pass them on the way to breakfast and see them floodlit on the walk back from dinner.
- Sunsets at the Temple of Apollo. Few places in the Mediterranean frame the setting sun like the standing columns of Side’s seaside temple, a ritual that gathers travellers on the rocks every single evening.
- Long, gentle beaches for families. East and west of the peninsula, wide sandy beaches shelve slowly into calm water, making Side one of the most comfortable bases on the coast for children and unhurried swimmers.
Signature experiences in Side
The Ancient City of Side and the Temple of Apollo
Enter through the Vespasian Gate and follow the colonnaded street past the Roman fountain to the theatre, which once seated around fifteen thousand spectators and still looks out over the sea. Continue to the agora, the Roman baths that now house the Side Museum, and finally the Temple of Apollo on the point. Our guided day tours explain the city’s life as a trading port and time the visit to avoid the strongest midday sun.
Manavgat Market and Local Flavours
Just inland, the weekly Manavgat market is a riot of colour: mountains of tomatoes and peppers, local honey, olives, dried figs, village cheeses and women rolling gözleme on hot griddles. Back in Side, try grilled sea bass, piyaz bean salad, Antalya-style tahini desserts and freshly squeezed pomegranate juice in a garden restaurant. Our guided tours add a market visit with a local guide who helps you taste, bargain politely and understand what is in season.
The Old Peninsula After Dark
When the day-trippers leave, the old peninsula of Side changes mood. Lanes of cafés, carpet and jewellery shops and small restaurants fill with families walking slowly between floodlit columns, while the harbour glows and the sea breeze cools the stone. Walk the length of the main street to the harbour, then watch the temple columns lit against the night sky. Our team can arrange a private car with driver to bring you in from the outer resorts and back.
Aspendos, Manavgat Waterfall and the Green Canyon
Side sits at the centre of some of Turkey’s finest day excursions. Aspendos has the best-preserved Roman theatre in the ancient world, while the Manavgat Waterfall and a slow river boat ride to the sea make a gentle afternoon. Further into the Taurus, the turquoise reservoir of the Green Canyon and the gorge of Köprülü Canyon offer cool water and pine forest. Our guided day tours combine these with hotel pickup and trusted local partners.
Neighbourhoods and quarters to know in Side
Side Old Town (Selimiye)
Staying on or beside the old peninsula puts the temple, theatre, harbour and restaurants a short walk from your door. Small boutique hotels and guesthouses sit among the ruins, and evenings are atmospheric and safe. It is busier by day with visitors, so it suits couples and culture lovers who want history outside the window more than a large resort pool.
Kumköy
Immediately west of the old town, Kumköy is a lively strip of mid-sized hotels, shops and restaurants behind a broad sandy beach. It is a short walk or quick minibus ride to the ancient city, with plenty of everyday conveniences. Safe, friendly and practical, it suits families and first-time visitors who want both the beach and easy access to the ruins.
Sorgun and Titreyengöl
East of Side, Sorgun is wrapped in pine forest that runs almost to the sand, while Titreyengöl surrounds a small lake close to the beach. Both hold larger, well-established resorts with gardens, pools and quiet beaches. They feel calm and green, are very safe, and suit families and travellers seeking shade, space and resort comfort.
Kızılağaç, Kızılot and Çolaklı
Further along the coast, these resort villages are home to big all-inclusive hotels with wide private beach areas and extensive children’s facilities. They are calm, safe and largely self-contained, ideal for families who want to relax and let the hotel take care of the details. The ancient city and Manavgat are a short drive away.
How long to stay in Side and how to pair it
Recommended stay
Plan four to six nights in Side. One day for the ancient city and the Temple of Apollo, one for Aspendos and the Manavgat Waterfall, one for the Green Canyon or Köprülü Canyon, and the rest for slow beach days. A week lets families set a truly relaxed pace.
How to pair it
Side links naturally with Antalya, about an hour west, for the Kaleiçi old town and Perge, and with Alanya to the east for its castle and sea caves. In seven days, combine Side and Antalya. In ten, add Istanbul for mosques, bazaars and the Bosphorus. In fourteen, continue to Cappadocia or west to Kemer and Fethiye. We arrange the private transfers between every stop.
Best time to visit Side and the rhythm of the day
Best months
The best time to visit Side is from mid-April to June and from September to October, when the sea is warm, the sun is gentle and the ruins are pleasant to explore. July and August are hot and lively, perfect for beach holidays but best for sightseeing early or late. Winter is quiet and mild, good for history without crowds, though many resorts close.
The daily rhythm
Side has an easy, sun-led rhythm. Mornings are for the ancient city or a day excursion before the heat builds. Middays belong to the beach, the pool and a long lunch in the shade. Late afternoon brings a swim in calmer light, then everyone drifts toward the Temple of Apollo for sunset before dinner and a stroll through the floodlit ruins.
On-the-ground logistics in Side
Arrival
Most travellers arrive at Antalya Airport, about sixty-five kilometres west, and the drive to Side’s hotels takes roughly one hour, a little longer for the eastern resorts. Our private airport transfer meets you in arrivals with a name sign and takes you directly to your hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle, with child seats on request.
Getting around
The old town of Side is compact and pedestrian, and its lanes are easy to explore on foot. Municipal minibuses and resort shuttles link Kumköy, Sorgun and Manavgat, and licensed taxis and ride-hailing apps are available. For excursions to Aspendos, the canyons or evening trips from the outer resorts, a private car with driver arranged by our team is the simplest choice.
Local etiquette tip
Side’s ruins are open, unfenced in places and easy to climb, but they are protected heritage. Do not sit on fragile carved stones, move fragments or scratch marble, and follow the marked paths in the theatre. Outside the beach, cover up with a shirt or light dress, and dress modestly with covered shoulders and knees when entering mosques in Manavgat.
Must-do things in Side
- Watch the sunset between the columns of the Temple of Apollo.
- Walk through the Vespasian Gate and the colonnaded street to the theatre.
- Visit the Side Museum inside restored Roman baths.
- Stroll the floodlit lanes of the old peninsula after dark.
- See the Roman theatre of Aspendos, the best preserved in the ancient world.
- Feel the cool spray at the Manavgat Waterfall.
- Take a slow river boat from Manavgat down to the sea.
- Swim in the turquoise water of the Green Canyon reservoir.
- Browse the weekly Manavgat market for honey, cheese and fresh gözleme.
- Spend a lazy family day on the long sandy beaches of Sorgun or Kumköy.
Do’s and don’ts in Side
Do
- Visit the ruins early in the morning or in the golden hour.
- Carry water and a hat when exploring the open ancient sites.
- Arrive early at the Temple of Apollo to find a good sunset spot.
- Bargain politely and with a smile in the old-town shops.
- Cover up when leaving the beach for the village or market.
Don’t
- Don’t climb on fragile carved stones or take ancient fragments.
- Don’t wear swimwear in the old-town lanes or the market.
- Don’t plan sightseeing in the midday heat of July and August.
- Don’t photograph local women or families without asking.
- Don’t miss Aspendos simply because Side has its own theatre.
Side at a glance
Plan Side with Haqqi Tours
Every option is confirmed by our team on WhatsApp before you pay, and delivered by our own people or by trusted local partners we work with in every city. Because we send travellers from all over the world, our partners give us special rates and priority, so you always receive the best. Prices are per person unless marked per vehicle.
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Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to what travellers ask most about Side.
Where should first-time visitors stay in Side?
For atmosphere, stay in or beside Side’s old town, where the temple, theatre and harbour are a short walk away. For a classic beach holiday with easy access to the ruins, Kumköy is ideal. Families wanting large resorts with gardens and quiet beaches usually prefer Sorgun, Titreyengöl or Kızılağaç.
Can Side be done as a day trip, or does it need an overnight stay?
Side can be visited as a day trip from Antalya, about an hour away, covering the ancient city and the Temple of Apollo. But staying overnight lets you see the ruins floodlit and the famous sunset, and gives time for Aspendos and Manavgat. We arrange private transfers for either plan.
What is the dress code and etiquette in Side?
Holiday clothing is perfectly acceptable on beaches and in resorts. In the old town, the market and Manavgat, wear a shirt and shorts or a light dress rather than swimwear. In mosques, cover shoulders and knees, remove your shoes, and women cover their hair. Treat the ruins gently and stay on marked paths.
Is Side tourist friendly?
Yes, Side is very tourist friendly. Staff in hotels, restaurants and shops are used to international visitors, English is widely spoken, and the old town is compact and easy to navigate. Families are especially well looked after, and our team and local partners are available on WhatsApp throughout your stay.
Is it safe to travel to Side now?
Side is generally regarded as a calm, safe resort town with low street crime and a family atmosphere. Keep the usual eye on valuables on busy beaches and in the evening crowds of the old town. Before travelling, check the official travel advice of your own government, and keep our WhatsApp line handy.
What are the must-do things in Side?
Watch the sunset at the Temple of Apollo, explore the theatre and the Side Museum, and wander the floodlit old town at night. Beyond the village, see Aspendos, the Manavgat Waterfall and the Green Canyon. Our guided day tours bring these together comfortably with hotel pickup.
How many days do you need in Side?
Four to six days in Side works well for most travellers. That allows a day for the ancient city, one or two for Aspendos, Manavgat and the canyons, and plenty of slow beach time. Families on a relaxed holiday often stay a full week or longer.
What kind of day tours does Side offer for a family?
Side reaches sites such as Pamukkale, the Green Canyon and Salda Lake with its lavender fields, so families based in one coastal town can pick a different themed day trip depending on the children's ages.
Is Land of Legends included as a day trip from Side?
Yes, this page lists Land of Legends Tickets as one of the day tours from Side, giving families a theme park day among the historical and nature focused tours on offer.
How does the Side to Antalya transfer work for onward travel?
This route is booked as a private car with a Haqqi Tours driver, useful for families flying out of Antalya or continuing their trip there after staying in Side.
What can I book in Side with Haqqi Tours?
Day tours and private airport transfers, including Scuba Diving Boat Trip with Lunch Side, Pamukkale & Hierapolis Tour and Lavender Fields and Salda Lake Tour. Each has its own page, and the WhatsApp desk combines any of them into one plan with one written price.
How do I get from the airport to my hotel in Side?
With a private transfer: a driver at arrivals, flight tracking and a fixed price for the whole vehicle, door to door. Tell the desk the flight number and the hotel.
Is there public transport from the airport to Side?
There is no rail link from Antalya Airport to Side; the airport coaches stop in Manavgat, a taxi ride from the beach hotels, which is why almost every visitor arrives by pre-booked transfer. With luggage, a family or a late flight, the private car is the simpler choice.
Which tours are available in Side?
Among them: Scuba Diving Boat Trip with Lunch Side, Pamukkale & Hierapolis Tour, Lavender Fields and Salda Lake Tour, Demre, Myra and Kekova Tour and Land of Legends Tickets. Each page says whether the day is private or small-group, what it includes and how long it lasts.
Are the tours private or in a group?
Both exist, and each tour page says which. A private tour has a vehicle and guide for your party alone; the desk can make most group tours private on request.
How do I book?
Fill in the form on any page or message us on WhatsApp with the date, the number of travellers and the hotel. A member of our team confirms the price and the details in writing within minutes.