Side

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The 7 best things to do in Side

Side has never failed to attract visitors to its Antalyan coastline. Its ancient town reflects the footprints of its Greco-Roman past, while a string of resort hotels cater to holiday-makers, offering a bevy of attractions along its sun-drenched
beaches.

  • Old Street

    1. Old Street

    A scattering of soaring columns stand like lone sentinnels along the former main road of ancient Side, with visible proof that the Romans had initially paved it with stone slabs.

  • Apollo Temple

    2. Apollo Temple

    The famous temple near the old harbor dates to the 2nd century AD. The five standing columns, whose frieze shows a series of heads of Medusa, were re-erected in the 1980s.

  • Roman Ruins

    3. Roman Ruins

    Remnants, such as the Nymphaeum and Vespian Gate, reflect the prosperous era under Roman rule. The Temple of Tyche, stands at the heart of the agora, a former hub of daily life.

  • Aspendos

    4. Aspendos

    This theater could seat an audience of up to 15,000, and the seats still show the inscribed names of patrons. The stage building also features the faces of Comedy and Tragedy.

  • Manavgat Falls

    5. Manavgat Falls

    Located near the town of the same name, enjoy the view of the foamy falls, which are 6.5 feet. high and 131 feet. wide, amid a tranquil and refreshing setting.

  • Düden Falls

    6. Düden Falls

    Pack a picnic and head to this national park, where the famous Düden Falls plunge 49 feet into the cool water pools below. The Lower Falls tumble into the sea.

  • Pamakkule Baths

    7. Pamakkule Baths

    Pamakkule means "cotton castle," which reflect the snowy white travertine mineral deposits that blanket the terraces. The 17 hot springs have been luring visitors for millennia.

Planning Your Visit

  • How many days to spend in Side?

    Avid beach-goers could spend up to one week in Side. The seaside resort town allows visitors not only to soak up the sun and take a dip in the sea, but also have time to appreciate its cultural points and take day-trips to explore the nature of the surrounding area.

  • Getting around

    The mini-buses (dolmuş) are convenient for a short trip around Side. A sign in the window states the destination with a fixed price.

  • Where to stay in Side

    Resort hotels, ranging in size and star rating, straddle the coastline, some of which are a few miles from town. However, there are accommodations in the city center.

  • Day-trips from Side

    For day-trips to the surrounding area, consider the following: It's between 15-30 minutes by mini bus (dolmuş) to the Manavgat Waterfalls. For independence, rent a car to visit Pamakkule Baths (4 hours away) and Duden Falls (1 hour away). Hotels work with tour operators, which offer transportation to these points, but that will likely include a stop or two at a shop (jewelry or leather) along the way and that will prolong the journey.

Good to know

  • Language
    Turkish
  • Currency
    Turkish Lira (₺)
  • Time Zone
    UTC (+03:00)
  • Country Code
    +90
  • Best time to visit
    While the summer months deliver peak heat, they are also the driest. If you're looking to enjoy unusually warm days during the fall months - then visit September thru November. You'll also get better deals after the summer tourists depart.

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What people are saying about Side

Overall rating

4.3 / 5

based on 2,008 reviews

Not quite as advertised but still great value for money! It took a long time (over an hour) to pick up all the passengers but we then headed to the pirate ship for a cruise down the river. We stopped to spend some time on a deserted beach then back to the moore for lunch (chicken, rice and salad). Next stop was the bazaar for shopping and then short stop at the small waterfall which was nice but unimpressive. Would recommend.

Manavgat Full-Day River Cruise and Grand Bazaar Reviewed by Lyndsay, 10/2/2020

Helpful?

Our rafting tour was very cool! We were little bit scared before the trip, because we hadn't tried rafting before. When our tour started it went away immeaditely. Our instructor Osman was very funny and made us feel completely safe. Also the landscape in there is very beautiful. Lunch was simple, but nice and tasty.Definitely will recommend this tour to others.

Köprülü Canyon Antalya: Whitewater Rafting Trip Reviewed by Anonymous, 5/3/2021

Helpful?

It is a wonderful trip, accessible to all, with extraordinary landscapes, dining in a local location and a visit to the port of Alanya. We were only three adult tourists and a 3-year-old child. The guide is well documented, speaks fluent English and German, stopped at all places for pictures and created a pleasant atmosphere.

From Side: Day-Trip to Sapadere with Lunch Reviewed by Adina, 10/27/2020

Helpful?

There was a bit of waiting around at the start without any one telling you what's happening. Definitely something these excursions lack and thats commincation with the people they are meant to entertain/host etc. However the quad biking was super fun.. very dirty and dusty so be prepared.

From Side: Koprucay River Quad Bike Safari Reviewed by Anonymous, 10/10/2020

Helpful?

Amazing experience. Guide was friendly and helpful. Did jeep safari first which was bit scary but we really enjoyed it. Rafting experience was best accompanied by lunch. I feel lunch could be little better but in this price it was not bad at all . Overall it was good value for money.

River Rafting & Jeep Safari at Koprulu Canyon Reviewed by Muhammad, 3/25/2021

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