Side in Winter: Weather, Crowds and What to Do

Q: Is Side worth visiting in winter?

Yes u2014 for the mild weather, the low prices, the empty ruins, and the authentic local life.

By All Over InformationUpdated August 10, 20267 min read

Side in winter is the ancient town at its quietest, and the visitors who brave the off-season find the ruins without the crowds, the mild Mediterranean days, and the local pace of the place. The beaches empty, the resorts close for the season, and the town settles into the rhythm of the residents. This guide covers what to expect from the Side winter.

The Winter Weather

The winter weather of Side is the mild one by the standards of the north, and the Mediterranean climate keeps the cold at bay. The daytime temperatures hover in the mid-teens in the Celsius through the winter months, with the nights dropping to the single digits; the rain comes in the showers and the storms, and the sun breaks through between them; and the sea stays too cool for the comfortable swimming, though the hardy few still take the dips. The winter days are the short ones, and the evenings are the cool ones, but the coast stays the gentle one.

The practical note: the winter wardrobe of Side means the layers, the waterproof jacket, and the warm evenings; the sun still shines for the winter days, and the sunglasses stay useful; and the weather is the changeable one, so the plans stay flexible.

The Quiet Town

The winter Side is the quiet town, and the change from the summer is the dramatic one. The resorts and the beach hotels close for the season, and the crowds vanish with them; the old town keeps its few open restaurants and cafés, serving the locals and the winter residents; and the ancient city stands empty, with the ruins to oneself. The pace is the slow one, and the town returns to its everyday self. The winter visitor gets the authentic Side, the town as it lives through the year.

The practical note: the winter Side is not the place for the full holiday services, and the visitor should check what stays open; but the open places welcome the winter guests, and the locals are the friendly ones.

APOLLON & ATHENA TEMPLE-Side-Manavgat.. - panoramio in Side, Turkey — APOLLON & ATHENA TEMPLE-Side-Manavgat.. – panoramio — photo by Haluk Comertel, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

What Stays Open

The winter season thins the services, and the visitor plans around what remains. The old-town restaurants and the cafés keep the few open, serving the locals with the seasonal menus; the museum of Side and the ancient sites stay open through the winter, with the reduced hours; and the banks, the pharmacies, and the essentials stay open for the town itself. The winter visitor finds the basics, and the choices concentrate in the small number of the places that stay open.

The practical note: the winter Side is the self-sufficient one for the locals, and the visitor who asks around finds the open restaurants and the bakeries; the reduced choice is the trade-off for the quiet and the prices.

The Winter Prices

The winter is the cheapest season of Side, and the prices drop across the board. The hotel rates fall to the fraction of the summer prices, and the winter specials and the long-stay rates make the accommodation the bargain; the restaurants charge the local prices; and the flights to the region drop with the demand. The winter visitor gets the same town at the dramatically lower cost, and the value is the best of the year.

The practical note: the winter Side suits the budget travelers who can choose the timing, and the long stays give the best rates; the trade-off is the weather and the closed services, and the value balances the equation.

Antalya Side Apollo in Side, Turkey — Antalya Side Apollo — photo by Saffron Blaze, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Ancient City in the Winter Light

The ancient city of Side in the winter is the photographer’s and the wanderer’s dream, and the ruins take on the different character. The winter light is the low, the golden one, and the theater and the Temple of Apollo photograph beautifully; the crowds are gone, and the ancient streets stand quiet; and the empty ruins give the contemplative experience. The winter is the best time for the photography of the ancient city, and the stones tell their story without the bustle.

The Winter Activities

The winter visitor finds the activities of the region open, and the cold months suit the exploring. The ancient sites of Perge and Aspendos stay open through the winter, and the mild days make the walking the pleasant one; the Antalya day trip gives the museums and the old town of the city; and the mountains of the region — the Taurus — give the snow and the winter scenery. The winter is the season for the sightseeing, and the region’s history is the year-round one.

Agora of Side - Antalya Province, Turkey - 12 June 2015 in Side, Turkey — Agora of Side – Antalya Province, Turkey – 12 June 2015 — photo by Miguel Discart, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Local Life of the Town

The winter reveals the local life of Side, and the town shows its everyday face. The fishermen work the harbor, the tea houses fill with the locals, and the old-town lanes hold the daily life; the farmers of the region tend the citrus groves and the greenhouses, and the harvests continue through the season; and the village life of the hinterland goes on at its own pace. The winter visitor who watches the local life sees the town beyond the tourism, and the rhythms of the place become part of the stay.

The Food of the Winter

The winter table of the region is the warming one, and the local food comes into its own. The stews and the soups fill the menus — the lentil soup, the bean dishes, the meat stews — and the wood-fired ovens produce the breads and the pides; the citrus of the region — the oranges and the mandarins of the coast — appears on the tables; and the çay and the Turkish coffee warm the hands. The winter food of Side is the hearty, the local one, and the open restaurants serve it well.

SIDE Apollon-Tempel - panoramio in Side, Turkey — SIDE Apollon-Tempel – panoramio — photo by Rene Nueesch, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Practical Notes for the Winter

The practical notes for the winter visit: the layers and the waterproofs come along, and the evenings are the cool ones; the reduced services mean the planning ahead, and the checking of the opening hours; the ancient sites and the museum check the winter schedules; and the winter sun is still the real one, so the sunscreen stays in the bag. The winter Side is the manageable one for the prepared visitor, and the rewards are the quiet, the prices, and the beauty.

The Winter Activities in DetailnnThe winter activities of the Side region deserve the detail, and the cold months give the different experiences. The ancient sites of Perge and Aspendos stay open, and the ruins in the winter light are the special ones; the Antalya day trip gives the old town of Kaleiçi, the museums, and the city’s restaurants; and the Taurus Mountains behind the coast give the snow, the mountain villages, and the winter scenery. The winter visitor of the region fills the days with the exploring, and the mild coast serves as the base. The activities of the winter season are the sightseeing ones, and the region delivers the variety beyond the beaches.n

The Winter Practical Notes in DetailnnThe winter practical notes of the region keep the off-season visit the smooth one. The reduced services mean the checking of the opening hours, and the restaurants of the town keep the few open; the winter flights to Antalya are the cheaper ones, and the transfers run on the demand; and the driving of the region stays the easy one, with the mountain roads the careful ones in the cold snaps. The winter visitor of Side travels the prepared way, and the season delivers the value. The practical notes of the winter make the stay the manageable one, and the rewards of the season come with the preparation.n

The Winter EssentialsnnThe winter essentials of Side are the simple ones, and the packing covers the season. The waterproof jacket and the layers come first, and the warm evenings need the sweaters; the comfortable shoes serve the walks and the sites; and the umbrella or the rain jacket handles the showers. The winter visitor of Side packs for the changeable days, and the essentials of the season are the light ones. The winter of the coast stays the mild one, and the packing stays the manageable one.n

The Takeaway

Side in winter is the ancient town stripped back to its authentic self: the quiet lanes, the mild Mediterranean days, the empty ruins, and the prices of the off-season. The beaches and the resorts close for the year, but the ancient city, the region’s sites, and the winter beauty of the coast remain. The winter visitor trades the summer services for the peace and the value, and the trade is the good one.

Frequently asked questions

Is Side worth visiting in winter?

Yes — for the mild weather, the low prices, the empty ruins, and the authentic local life.

What is the weather like in Side in winter?

Mild by the northern standards, with the daytime highs around the mid-teens and the rain showers between the sunny spells.

Are the restaurants open in Side in winter?

The few stay open for the locals and the winter residents, with the reduced choice and the local prices.

Can I swim in Side in winter?

The sea is too cool for the comfortable swimming, though the hardy locals still take the dips.

What is there to do in Side in winter?

The ancient sites, the day trips to Perge and Aspendos, the Antalya museums, and the quiet enjoyment of the town.

All Over Information

The All Over Information editorial team researches and writes practical English-language guides to Turkey. Facts are checked against official and local sources before publication, prices are published as dated ranges rather than quotes, and guides are revised when things change. We accept no sponsored posts, paid placements or paid links.