Side packs the ancient history and the beach holiday into the one small peninsula, and the top ten activities of the town cover the ruins, the sea, and the region around it. This guide ranks the best things to do in and around Side, so the visitor makes the most of the unique town where the Roman city meets the Mediterranean.
1. See the Temple of Apollo at Sunset
The Temple of Apollo is the icon of Side, and the sunset visit is the essential experience. The columns of the temple rise above the harbor, and the sun drops behind them into the sea in the display of the gold and the pink; the setting is the most photographed one of the region, and the moment draws the crowds; and the walk along the water with the temple beside it gives the views from every angle. The Temple of Apollo at the sunset is the image of Side, and it is the first of the top ten.
2. Explore the Roman Theater
The Roman theater of Side is one of the best-preserved of the region, and it is the great monument of the town. The theater stands at the center of the modern streets, its tiers of the seats rising against the sky, and it once held the thousands of the spectators for the plays and the games; the stage building, the vaulted passages, and the views from the top rows give the full experience; and the scale of the structure impresses. The theater is the highlight of the ancient city, and the entry fee is the small one.
3. Walk the Ancient Streets
The ancient streets of Side are the free museum, and the wander through the ruins is the pleasure of the town. The colonnaded street leads from the old gate toward the harbor, with the columns lining the way; the agora, the baths, and the nymphaeum lie among the modern shops; and the old city wall and the gates survive around the town. The ancient streets mix with the modern life in the way that makes Side unique, and the walking is the best way to see them.
4. Swim at the Beaches
The beaches of Side stretch on both sides of the peninsula, and the swimming is the classic Mediterranean one. The east beach and the west beach give the long stretches of the sand, with the sunbeds, the umbrellas, and the beach bars; the water is the clear one, and the swimming is the pleasant one; and the water sports of the beaches — the parasailing, the jet skis, the pedal boats — add the active options. The beach day of Side is the essential one, and the sea is the constant of the stay.
5. Visit the Side Museum
The museum of Side is housed in the ancient baths, and it holds the finds of the region. The statues, the sarcophagi, the coins, and the inscriptions of the Roman era fill the galleries; the setting in the ancient bath building gives the atmosphere; and the museum gives the context for the ruins of the town. The museum visit takes the hour, and it enriches the wandering among the ruins.
6. Take the Boat Trip Along the Coast
The boat trips from the Side harbor give the views of the coast, and the excursions range from the short cruises to the full days. The boats run along the coast, with the swimming stops in the coves and the views of the shoreline; the trips up the Manavgat River combine the river scenery with the swimming; and the sunset cruises give the golden-hour views. The boat trip from Side gives the different perspective on the coast, and the sea is the star.
7. See the Manavgat Waterfalls
The Manavgat Waterfalls, about twenty minutes from Side, are the natural wonder of the region, and the excursion is the refreshing one. The falls cascade over the rocks into the river, and the park around them gives the walks, the viewpoints, and the picnic spots; the boat trips on the river and the restaurants of the area complete the visit; and the greenery of the falls is the change from the coast. The waterfalls make the easy half-day trip, and the natural beauty impresses.
8. Visit Perge and Aspendos
The ancient cities of Perge and Aspendos lie within the short drives of Side, and they give the full day of the archaeology. Perge, the rich city of the Roman era, holds the stadium, the baths, the colonnaded street, and the gates; and Aspendos holds one of the best-preserved theaters of the ancient world, still used for the performances; the two sites together give the deepest look at the region’s classical heritage, and the drives between them pass the countryside. The ancient world of the region rewards the day trip.
9. Explore the Old Town of Side
The old town of Side is the atmospheric one, and the lanes among the ruins give the shopping and the strolling. The pedestrian streets hold the shops, the cafés, and the restaurants, and the ancient stones rise among them; the bazaar area gives the kilims, the ceramics, the spices, and the souvenirs; and the evening brings the lanterns and the music to the lanes. The old town is the heart of the modern Side, and the wander is the pleasure of the stay.
10. Dine at the Harbor
The harbor of Side is the dining room of the town, and the dinner with the view of the Temple of Apollo is the experience not to be missed. The waterfront restaurants serve the fresh fish, the meze, and the grills, with the tables along the water; the lights of the temple and the boats reflect on the sea; and the evening meal is the atmospheric one. The harbor dinner completes the Side experience, and the setting is the memorable one.
The Off-the-List Gems
Beyond the top ten, the smaller experiences of Side give the depth to the stay. The sunrise at the beaches, before the crowds, is the quiet magic; the hamam, the Turkish bath, gives the restorative afternoon; the little ruins scattered around the town reward the curious; and the villages and the countryside of the region give the escape from the coast. The list could be longer, and the town and the region reward the longer stays.
The Practical Notes for the Top TennnThe practical notes for the Side top ten keep the list smooth. The theater and the museum charge the small entry fees, and the opening hours vary with the season; the beaches need the water, the sunscreen, and the shade, and the sunbeds rent by the day; the day trips need the transport — the car or the organized tour — and the summer heat makes the early visits the wise ones. The top ten of Side spread across the town and the region, and the planning spreads them across the stay. The practical notes of the Side top ten make the experiences smooth ones, and the region delivers the memories.n
The Side Itinerary IdeasnnThe itinerary of Side builds around the balance of the town and the region. The first day covers the ancient city — the theater, the museum, the old streets — and the harbor sunset; the second day brings the beach and the Manavgat Waterfalls; and the third day adds the day trip to Perge and Aspendos, or the boat trip along the coast. The town is the compact one, and the days fill with the walking and the exploring. The Side itinerary spreads the experiences across the stay, and the region delivers the variety. The visitor who plans the days well gets the full value of the town and the coast.n
The Takeaway
The top ten things to do in Side mix the ancient and the modern, the ruins and the beaches, the history and the sea. The Temple of Apollo, the Roman theater, the old town, and the harbor dinners give the atmosphere, and the beaches, the boat trips, and the day trips fill the days. The list is the starting point, and the peninsula town delivers the holiday with the history.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best thing to do in Side?
The Temple of Apollo at the sunset and the Roman theater are the two experiences most visitors name as the best.
How far is Side from Antalya Airport?
About an hour by road, making Side one of the most accessible resorts of the region.
Is Side good for families?
Yes — the beaches, the shallow water, and the easy town make it a great family destination.
What is the best day trip from Side?
Perge and Aspendos for the ancient world, or the Manavgat Waterfalls for the nature.
Do I need a car in Side?
Not for the town itself, but the car helps for the day trips to the region.
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.
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