Side sits on a small peninsula on Turkey's Mediterranean coast, about an hour east of Antalya, where a Greco-Roman harbour town fused over centuries with a modern beach resort. Its colonnaded main street still runs down to the Temple of Apollo, whose marble columns stand directly on the shoreline — one of the most photographed ancient sites on the whole Turkish Riviera.
- Founded
- 7th c. BC
- Theatre capacity
- ~15,000
- Coast
- Mediterranean
- High season
- May – October
01Why visit Side
Few ancient cities let you walk among Roman ruins and step onto a sandy beach in the same afternoon. Side does exactly that. The old town is laid out over the original Hellenistic grid, so the agora, the Roman bath that now houses the Side Museum, the monumental gateway and the theatre are all within a ten-minute stroll of each other — and the Temple of Apollo waits at the tip of the peninsula, framed against open water. A half-day here delivers more standing architecture per kilometre than almost any other coastal site in the Antalya region.
At sunset the columns of Apollo's temple glow against the sea, and you understand why every tour saves this corner for last.
02Tour options
- Self-guided visit · 1.5–2 hours · Walk the old town: agora → theatre → museum → Temple of Apollo on the shore
- Side + Manavgat day tour · 6–8 hours · Hotel pick-up from Antalya/Belek, the ancient city, then Manavgat Waterfall
- Side + Manavgat river boat · 7–9 hours · Ruins, a Manavgat River cruise and a market stop combined
- Side + beach day · Morning at the ruins, afternoon free on the sandy bay beside the temple
- Sunset photo tour · 2–2.5 hours · Late-afternoon visit timed for the temple at golden hour
032026 tour types and prices
| Option | Duration | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Temple of Apollo (open seafront area) | 1–1.5 hr | Free |
| Museum + theatre entry (own visit) | 1.5–2 hr | €8 – €15 |
| Side + Manavgat Waterfall day tour | 6–8 hr | €25 – €45 |
| Side + Manavgat River boat combo | 7–9 hr | €35 – €60 |
| Small-group / private guided tour | 5–7 hr | €60 – €90 |
Figures above are estimated 2026 ranges in euros and vary by season, group size and hotel pick-up location; high-season weekends sit at the upper end. The open seafront area around the Temple of Apollo is free to walk, while the enclosed museum and theatre charge separate entry — both are covered by the Museum Pass Mediterranean if you plan several sites in the region.
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04Getting there
- Day tour with pick-up · The simplest option — most tours collect from hotels in Antalya, Belek, Side and Alanya.
- Intercity bus + dolmuş · Bus to Manavgat, then a short dolmuş or taxi the final 4 km into Side old town.
- Hire car · About one hour from Antalya on the D400 coast road; paid car parks sit just outside the pedestrian old town.
- From Alanya · Roughly 65 km west, also around an hour, often combined into the same waterfall tour.
05Best time to go
The best months are April–June and September–October. Spring brings mild walking weather and the fullest flow at Manavgat Waterfall, while early autumn keeps the sea warm for the beach without the midsummer crowds. In July and August the ruins offer little shade, so an early-morning or late-afternoon visit to the Temple of Apollo is far more comfortable — and the sunset light over the columns is the reason many tours are timed for the end of the day.
06What to see
In the ancient city:
- Temple of Apollo — the seafront columns, Side's signature landmark
- Roman theatre — a 2nd-century AD auditorium seating around 15,000
- Agora and the monumental gateway (Vespasian Gate)
- Side Museum — set in a restored Roman bath, displaying local statuary
- The colonnaded main street running down to the harbour
Nearby, usually on the same tour:
- Manavgat Waterfall — a wide, low cascade on the Manavgat River, ~7 km away
- Manavgat River boat trips and the riverside market
- The sandy beach beside the temple for swimming and free time
- Seleukeia (Lyrbe) — a quieter forest-set ruin for those with extra time
07Frequently asked questions
How long does a Side ancient city tour take?
A short self-guided visit takes 1.5–2 hours. A standard group day tour from Antalya runs 6–8 hours including transfers, the Apollo Temple, the theatre and a Manavgat Waterfall stop. Combined boat-and-ruins tours last 7–9 hours.
Is the Temple of Apollo free to visit?
Yes. The Temple of Apollo stands in an open seafront area of the old town and can be visited free of charge. The enclosed Side Museum and the theatre charge separate entry, covered by the Museum Pass Mediterranean.
Do I need to book a Side tour in advance?
For a self-drive or dolmuş visit, no booking is needed. For organised day tours from Antalya, Belek or Alanya, booking 2–3 days ahead is advised in high season (June–September) to secure hotel pick-up and a smaller group.
What is the best time of year to visit Side?
April–June and September–October offer mild weather for walking the ruins and a calm sea. July–August are hot, so early-morning or late-afternoon visits to the temple are more comfortable. Manavgat Waterfall flows strongest in spring.
How do I get to Side from Antalya?
Side lies about 65 km east of Antalya, roughly a one-hour drive. Most visitors arrive on a hotel-pick-up day tour, by intercity bus to Manavgat then a short dolmuş, or by hire car. Tours typically combine the ruins with the waterfall and beach time.