Things to Do in Side: The Complete Guide

Side is unique on the Turkish coast: a lively seaside resort built right among the ruins of a Greco-Roman city, where you can walk through ancient gates to a seafront Temple of Apollo, then step onto a sandy beach. About 65 km east of Antalya, it blends history, beaches and a buzzing old town like nowhere else. Here are the best things to do in Side.

The Temple of Apollo

Side's signature sight is the Temple of Apollo, whose white marble columns stand right at the tip of the peninsula against the sea. At sunset, lit gold with the Mediterranean behind, it is one of the most beautiful and photographed scenes on the whole coast, and it is free to visit as part of a stroll through the old town. Do not miss it in the evening light.

The ancient city: theatre, agora and gates

Side was a significant ancient port, and its ruins are woven right through the modern town. The huge Roman theatre, one of the largest in the region, once seated thousands, and around it lie the agora, colonnaded streets, monumental gates and bath buildings, now home to the museum. Simply wandering the old town means walking through two thousand years of history between the shops and restaurants.

Side Museum

Housed in the restored Roman baths, the Side Museum is small but excellent, displaying statues, sarcophagi and finds from the ancient city in an atmospheric setting. It is an easy, rewarding stop that brings the surrounding ruins to life.

The beaches

Side has long, sandy beaches stretching either side of the peninsula, with the main hotel beaches in the Kumköy (Side West) and Sorgun and Titreyengöl (Side East) areas. They are wide, sandy and family-friendly, and being able to combine a beach day with ancient ruins is a rare treat. We break down the journey in our guide to how long the Antalya to Side transfer takes.

Manavgat waterfall and river

Just inland near Manavgat, the Manavgat waterfall is wide rather than tall, a powerful sheet of water with riverside restaurants and a grand bazaar nearby. River-boat trips run on the Manavgat river, and the Green Canyon reservoir upstream is a scenic spot for a boat tour among forested hills. It all makes an easy half day from Side.

The old town, shopping and evenings

Side's old town is a maze of pedestrian lanes packed with shops, bazaars, cafes, bars and restaurants, buzzing into the evening. It is great for browsing, haggling for souvenirs and leather, and dining by the water. The atmosphere is lively but generally more relaxed than Alanya's full-on nightlife, striking a nice balance for families and couples.

A little history

Side was one of the most important ports of ancient Pamphylia, a wealthy trading city whose name meant "pomegranate". Founded well over two and a half thousand years ago, it flourished under the Greeks and Romans, and it was even associated with Antony and Cleopatra. That long history is why the modern town is so extraordinary: the ruins are not a separate site you drive to but the very streets you walk, dine and shop among. Understanding that backstory makes an evening stroll past the temple and theatre all the more atmospheric.

The beaches in detail

Side's sandy beaches split roughly into two zones. To the west, Side West and the Kumköy area have a long sandy beach popular with families and lined with hotels. To the east, Side East takes in Sorgun and Titreyengöl, backed by pine woods and some of the area's larger resorts, with calmer, spacious sands. Knowing which side your hotel is on helps, as it affects both your beach and your walk into the old town, and it can add a few minutes to your transfer.

Boat trips and the water

Boat trips leave from Side's harbour along the coast, with swimming stops in coves, and river-boat trips run on the nearby Manavgat river. The scenic Green Canyon reservoir upstream offers calm tours among forested hills, a refreshing contrast to the beach. Between the sea, the river and the canyon, there is plenty of water-based fun to fill days beyond the ancient sights.

Best time to visit Side

Side enjoys the same long, warm season as the rest of the coast. Summer is peak for the beaches and warmest sea, while spring and autumn are ideal for wandering the ruins and the old town in comfortable temperatures, with October still warm enough for swimming. See our guide to the best time to visit Antalya to plan around weather, crowds and prices.

Who Side suits and getting around

Side suits travellers who want sandy beaches and resort comfort but also genuine history and a real town with character, rather than an isolated hotel strip. Within the area, the old town is walkable, dolmuş minibuses link the beach suburbs, and a car with a driver helps for Manavgat and the ancient sites further out. It is a rewarding, well-rounded base.

Shopping, the bazaar and dining

Side's old town is a warren of pedestrian lanes packed with shops, stalls and bazaars selling leather, textiles, jewellery, spices and souvenirs, where friendly haggling is part of the experience in the tourist shops. Between the shopping, restaurants and cafes spill out among the ancient columns, so you can dine with a view of the ruins or the sea. Fresh seafood, Turkish grills and international options are all well represented, and an evening stroll through the lit old town, ending at the Temple of Apollo, is one of the loveliest things to do in Side.

Where to stay: Side West or Side East?

Where you stay shapes your Side holiday. The old town itself has smaller, characterful hotels within walking distance of the ruins and restaurants. To the west, Side West and Kumköy have a long sandy beach and a lively strip of hotels close to the centre. To the east, Sorgun and Titreyengöl are backed by pine woods and home to some of the larger, more secluded resorts, a little further from the old town. Knowing which side your hotel is on helps you picture your beach, your walk into town and your transfer, as it can add a few minutes to the drive.

Combining Side with day trips

Side is a strong base for exploring the eastern coast. The Manavgat waterfall, river trips and the Green Canyon are close by, the great Roman theatre at Aspendos is a short drive, and lively Alanya with its castle is an easy run further east. Even a boat trip along the coast or a day at a waterpark is simple to arrange. With a car and driver you can combine the ancient sights and the natural ones without the constraints of a coach tour, making the most of Side's central position on the coast.

Practical tips for a Side holiday

Side rewards a little planning. The old town is pedestrianised and can get very busy in the evening, which is part of its charm, but it means parking on the edge and walking in, so a private car or a taxi to the entrance is easiest. Wear comfortable shoes for the uneven ancient streets, carry water and sun protection for wandering the exposed ruins, and keep some cash in lira for the bazaar, entry fees and smaller cafes, where haggling is expected in the tourist shops. Visiting the Temple of Apollo at sunset is the highlight, so time your evening stroll to catch the light.

Because most hotels sit in the Kumköy, Sorgun or Titreyengöl areas rather than the old town itself, factor in a short hop into the historic centre, whether on foot, by dolmuş minibus or by taxi, when planning your evenings. The beaches, the ruins, the Manavgat waterfall and the wider ancient sites are all close, so Side works beautifully as a base for mixing beach days with culture and excursions. A car with a driver for the day trips lets you combine several sights without the constraints of a coach tour, making the most of Side's central spot on the eastern coast.

Is Side right for you?

Side is ideal if you want the rare combination of sandy beaches, resort comfort and genuine ancient history in a real, atmospheric town rather than an isolated hotel strip. Families love the beaches and the novelty of the ruins, couples the sunset temple and the dining among the columns, and history lovers the theatre, museum and nearby sites. The old town is lively in the evening but generally more relaxed than Alanya's full-on nightlife, striking a balance that suits a wide range of travellers. If you want beaches with real character and history on your doorstep, and do not mind a transfer of just over an hour, Side is one of the most rewarding bases on the coast.

How to get to Side

Side is about 65 km east of Antalya Airport, just over an hour by road on the D400, though most hotels are in the Kumköy or Sorgun areas slightly beyond the old town, so allow a little extra. A private transfer takes you door to door at a fixed price. See our Side transfer page, the full destinations page, and our detailed Antalya to Side drive-time guide.