RESORT GUIDE
Picture an early morning stroll down a sunlit cobble street, where aromatic Turkish coffee mingles with the sight of marble Roman columns right outside cafe terraces. In Side, antiquity is not tucked behind museum ropes – it is a thriving seaside resort standing directly on the foundations of Pamphylia's greatest maritime trading hub.
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Built in the 2nd century AD right at the entrance to the harbour basin. The reconstructed corner with its five Corinthian columns is the defining postcard image of the Turkish Riviera, particularly at sunset. Right next to it stood the larger temple dedicated to Athena. The open-air site is free to enter around the clock.
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Unlike classic Greek theatres cut directly into mountain slopes, Side's theatre rests on monumental, freestanding Roman vaults and arches. During late imperial times, high barrier walls were added to stage gladiator and beast games. The top tiers offer expansive views over the entire peninsula.
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The civic and marketplace centre of the city, once infamous for its massive slave auctions. Directly adjacent, inside a remarkably preserved 5th-century Roman bathhouse, the Side Archaeological Museum houses fine Roman statuary, sarcophagi, and friezes.
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This triumphal archway and monumental portal formed the main landward entrance into the fortified city. From here, a colonnaded Roman avenue leads through the ruins straight into the harbour, separating the historic peninsula from modern Manavgat.
Access & parking guide →
A charming fishing port lined with seafood taverns, sunset cafe terraces, and wooden gulet excursion boats offering coastal cruises along the Riviera's sandy shores.
Where to eat in the harbour →Side is one of the rare places across the Mediterranean where an ancient metropolis isn't an isolated archaeological park miles away from town. The entire historical core occupies a narrow peninsula projecting just under one kilometre out into the sea. Step out for morning coffee, and you'll find yourself strolling along Roman colonnades, walking beneath the grand Vespasian Gate, and passing the towering walls of a theatre that held 15,000 spectators nearly two millennia ago.
In ancient Anatolian dialects, the word Side meant pomegranate. The fruit remains the town's civic symbol to this day: you will spot it on local emblems, ancient coins in the museum, and at street stalls pressing fresh juice directly into glasses. Unlike some larger resort towns, the peninsula itself is free from tall concrete hotels – instead, stone cottages with wooden balconies, bougainvillea-framed alleys, and a peaceful car-free pedestrian zone dominate the landscape.
Morning (8:30–10:30): Roman Theatre (note ongoing conservation work) & Agora before tour buses arrive. Midday: Bath Museum or a swim. Late afternoon: Harbour stroll to the Temple of Apollo for sunset.
See route on the map →Just a 5-minute walk across the peninsula separates shallow, family-friendly West Beach from the wide, tranquil East Beach backed by Sorgun pine woods.
Compare Side's beaches →Thanks to its commanding position on a natural promontory, Side was coveted by countless powers – from Greek colonisers and Mediterranean pirates to Roman emperors and Ottoman fishermen. Here is the concise story of its rise, fall, and revival:
Settlers from Kyme establish a trading post on the narrow peninsula. Adopting the indigenous name for "pomegranate", the city minted its own currency and grew into the foremost naval base of Pamphylia.
Mediterranean pirates turn the sheltered harbour into their primary stronghold, creating the largest slave-trading hub on the eastern Mediterranean. Roman general Pompey finally crushes their pirate rule in 67 BC.
Side's era of peak wealth and architectural splendour. The 15,000-seat amphitheatre, great public baths, agoras, and harbour-front temples of Apollo and Athena are built during this boom.
Successive naval raids from the sea alongside severe earthquakes gradually lay the classical buildings to ruin. Citizens abandon the promontory, and shifting coastal dunes bury the marble colonnades for centuries.
Turkish refugees from Crete resettle among the ruins, constructing stone cottages with materials reclaimed from the ancient city. During the late 20th century, this humble hamlet blooms into one of Turkey's top holiday destinations.
Temple of Apollo at Golden Hour: The warmest light hits the ruins during the final 45 minutes before sunset, when white marble columns take on a rich golden-honey glow against the sea. If you want photographs with empty foregrounds, arrive early between 7:30 and 8:30 AM – morning light is soft, and tour groups do not arrive until mid-morning.
All of Side's key landmarks are located within a compact 1 km peninsula. Click any marker to view its details or open direct directions in Google Maps.
A broad strip of fine golden sand with gentle, shallow waters extending far out. Lined with a paved pedestrian promenade full of shops, cafes, and beach clubs.
Extends east towards the mouth of the Manavgat River. Backed by sand dunes and the lush Sorgun pine forest, offering open horizons far from dense crowds.
After a day walking the ruins and swimming, nothing beats dinner along the harbour. Side's culinary scene centres around the marina quayside and pedestrian Liman Caddesi. Here, tables sit right beside the water, offering open views of the floodlit Temple of Apollo as twilight falls.
Seafood menus showcase Mediterranean catches: sea bream (çipura) and sea bass (levrek), simply grilled over charcoal with olive oil and lemon. Meat lovers should order genuine skewered Adana Kebab (spiced minced lamb) or milder Urfa Kebab, served over warm lavash bread with charred peppers and tomatoes.
Begin your meal with traditional cold appetisers: creamy mint yogurt haydari, spicy tomato-chilli dip ezme, and smoked aubergines.
Turkish Food Guide →True to Side's name, fresh pomegranate juice (nar suyu) is pressed on every corner, complemented by endless glasses of hot çay.
What to Drink in Turkey →To explore authentic regional specialties, meat cuts, bazaar sweets, and the ritual of Turkish coffee, read our full guide to Turkish cuisine.
Directly connected to the major D400 coastal highway, Side is easily reachable whether arriving from Antalya Airport or taking a day trip from Alanya.
The historic peninsula and pedestrian old town are closed to non-resident vehicles. If driving a rental car, leave it at the large municipal car park (Side Otopark) just outside the Vespasian Gate. From there, it is an easy 10-minute walk down to the harbour, or you can hop on an electric shuttle bus for a small fee.
Just 30 km from Side stands the most intact ancient theatre in the world, designed by architect Zenon and revered for its flawless acoustics.
Aspendos Guide →Cool pine-forest cascades and the bustling open-air market in Manavgat – a refreshing escape from the summer coastal heat.
Explore Kurşunlu Waterfalls →| Attraction / Item | Details & Practical Info | Why Visit? |
|---|---|---|
| Temple of Apollo | Harbour-side ruins, free 24/7 open-air access | The ultimate sunset and landscape photography spot on the coast |
| Roman Theatre | Built in the 2nd century AD on arches; held 15,000 spectators | One of Turkey's grandest surviving Roman theatrical structures |
| Bath Museum | Restored 5th-century Roman bathhouse housing ancient statuary | Paints a rich picture of Side's pirate wealth and imperial history |
| West Beach | Fine sand, shallow shoreline, long seaside pedestrian boulevard | Best choice for families with young kids and water sports lovers |
| East Beach | Wide, quiet, natural dunes bordered by Sorgun pine woods | Ideal for travellers seeking space, quiet, and unspoilt nature |
| KAS Day Trip | Combined day tour: Kurşunlu – Aspendos – Side in 1 day | A balanced way to see ancient archaeology and nature in one outing |
Side is located along the southern coast of Turkey in Antalya Province, on the Mediterranean Sea. It sits on a rocky peninsula almost midway between Antalya city (approx. 70 km) and Alanya (approx. 65 km).
Prioritise the massive Roman Theatre, the ancient commercial Agora, the Temple of Apollo and Athena down by the harbour, and the Side Archaeological Museum housed within ancient baths.
In ancient Anatolian Luwian dialects, Side meant pomegranate. The fruit was stamped onto ancient coins minted here and remains the official emblem of the town today.
Antalya Province sits in a region with significantly lower seismic activity than eastern or northern fault lines in Turkey. Modern hotels and holiday apartments in Side are built strictly to modern Turkish seismic safety codes.
The seaside season runs from May through late October. For combining sea swimming with comfortable sightseeing without 35°C+ summer heat, the best months are June, September, and October.
