Holidays in Side

Side is a delightful choice for budget travelers who want to enjoy a full holiday with children. It is a quiet and cozy little town surrounded by the ruins of ancient structures. This is the best option in Turkey for those who want to combine a beach holiday with sightseeing.

Where it is located

The small but extremely popular resort of Side is located on the Antalya coast of the Mediterranean, 70 km west of Antalya’s international airport and 66 km from Alanya (to the east). The town is ancient and situated on a small peninsula. It used to be the center and most important port of ancient Pamphylia.

The convenient location relative to the airport and the metropolis attracts family travelers to the resort, as it is important for them to reach their final destination quickly (children do not tolerate long transfers in hot weather very well). Depending on the chosen hotel, the transfer will take about an hour.

When it’s best to go

Summer is the very best time for a holiday in Side. In September, the velvet season begins. Essentially, the end of this season marks the end of the high season at the resort. Crowds of tourists will appear here by the end of April, when the air warms up to +22°C and the sea water reaches +19°C.

Winter at the resort passes with a low concentration of tourists, but Side is never forgotten. The few holidaymakers spend January and February far from the cold European winter, enjoying spa treatments, restaurant trips and walks among the ancient ruins.

What to do

Side is, above all, a resort oriented towards beach holidays. But its distinctive feature is the high concentration of ancient architectural monuments combined with excellent conditions for a family beach vacation. This means that, whether you come with children or on your own, adults should not spend all their time by the sea, basking in the gentle sun and swimming.

If ancient architecture is not of interest, it is better to choose a beach in the western part of the town, where most of the hotels are located. In the eastern part of the peninsula, the beach is close to the ruins, which makes it perfect for combining a traditional beach holiday with excursions among the remains. There is also a small cozy bay located in the old part of Side.

Diving enthusiasts will find it a bit inconvenient to pursue their hobby, as there are practically no dive sites in Side itself. Coral reefs are not located along the shore, but somewhat further out, so you have to get there by boat. Tourists are taken there as part of organized trips. There is a diving center in town offering certified courses with experienced instructors. Children are accepted into the school, but only those who are at least 10 years old.

Children will enjoy pedalo rides on the lake and a trip to the Waterplanet aquapark, which is half an hour’s drive from Side. When checking into a hotel, you should find out in advance what children’s entertainment is provided in its infrastructure. The more expensive hotels have their own small water parks, children’s areas and special pools.

City attractions

• City Museum
  Side is not suitable for shopping, but it is excellent for museum visits. We recommend going to the museum located in a restored Roman bathhouse built at the turn of the 5th–6th centuries. It houses artifacts found during numerous excavations.
• Temple of Apollo and Athena
  A kind of symbol of the town, this is the place where hundreds of thousands of tourists come every year to admire the ruins of the ancient temple with its preserved columns and part of the façade. The ruins look especially beautiful at sunset.
• Ancient theater
  Designed for 15,000 spectators. It impresses with its grandeur and pomp. It has been well preserved to this day. Thanks to its good acoustics, performances are often held here as part of festivals during the peak summer season.
• Agora
  A complex built during the Roman Empire. Visitors are greeted by the remains of a fountain and ancient buildings. Moving eastward, travelers encounter early Christian Byzantine structures and the old city walls.
• Manavgat Waterfall
  A few minutes by local minibus, and you will find yourself in Manavgat, a small settlement where a man‑made waterfall 40 meters wide is located. Around the waterfall there are souvenir shops and stalls selling food and drinks. You can have a snack here while enjoying the picturesque surroundings.

Where to eat

The coastline of Side is literally dotted with restaurants and small cafes, where local cuisine is perfectly combined with Mediterranean dishes. Tourists will not go hungry when going on excursions to the historical part of town or to the local beach. Everywhere they will see signs for fish and meat restaurants where you can order pizza, a real juicy steak, seafood grilled or cooked in other ways. Traditional national desserts are always popular – baklava, halva, Turkish delight and other sweets.

• Kingfisher
  The restaurant offers mid-range prices and pays great attention to the quality of customer service. The menu includes Turkish dishes made from sturgeon, seafood, turkey, meat and poultry. You can also order pizza and steaks. The beer and mojito served here receive very good reviews.
• Harmonie
  A wonderful place for dinner. Shrimp, seekh kebab and fish are especially popular. The menu includes beef stew, appetizing fried chicken, seafood, risotto and more. The restaurant is a great combination of price, food quality and service.

What to combine it with

Side offers attractive room and service prices, but it does not have enough shops for serious shopping. If you are interested in major purchases, you can go to larger cities such as Antalya or Alanya.