Compare · Turkey for British travellers
Five-star fairways versus Roman temple-on-the-sea: two different Antalya holidays.
Belek and Side both sit east of Antalya airport, twenty kilometres apart, but they are not interchangeable holidays. Belek is the manicured five-star strip — pine forest, fifteen golf courses, premium all-inclusive bubbles like Maxx Royal and Regnum Carya, and a long, quiet sand beach. Side is the historic resort — a fishing village glued to the ruins of Apollos temple, narrow car-free streets, family three- and four-stars in West Side and a livelier evening promenade. Many British clients pick Belek for the luxury and Side for the character; we explain the genuine differences below.
Our verdict
Pick Belek for golf, premium all-inclusive and a quiet, manicured beach; pick Side for ancient ruins on your doorstep, family value four-stars and a livelier evening.
| Factor | Belek | Side |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Golfers, premium AI families, couples wanting peace | History-loving families, value-seeking couples, lively evenings |
| Beach | Long quiet pine-backed sand (Blue Flag) | West Side sand bays, East Side wider strip |
| Transfer from Antalya (AYT) | 35 minutes | 60 to 75 minutes |
| Best four-star half-board (May 2026) | From £1,090 pp | From £890 pp |
| Five-star all-inclusive ceiling | £3,500 pp+ at Maxx Royal/Regnum | £1,890 pp+ at Voyage Sorgun |
| Family kids clubs | Yes, English-speaking from age 4 | Yes, English-speaking from age 4 |
| Cultural sites | Aspendos 15 min, Perge 30 min | Apollo Temple in town, Aspendos 25 min |
| Evening atmosphere | Quiet hotel-grounds focused | Lively pedestrian promenade and old town |
Belek is twenty kilometres of unbroken Blue Flag sand backed by Calabrian pine. Hotels privatise their stretch; outside the resorts the public beaches are quiet and underused. Side has two beach belts — West (Sorgun), wider and quieter, and East, livelier with beach clubs and a row of small fish restaurants on the sand. Side town itself sits on a peninsula with the temple ruins overlooking the water at sunset.
Belek is genuinely the most expensive holiday belt in Turkey. A premium all-inclusive week at Maxx Royal Belek for two adults in May 2026 starts around £6,800 — comparable to the Maldives. Side at the same standard runs from £3,800 for a five-star like Voyage Sorgun. Four-star Side family AI is the cheapest in the eastern Riviera at around £890 pp.
Both make great bases for Aspendos (Belek is closer at 15 minutes versus Side at 25). Side has the rare advantage of having world-class ruins inside the resort itself; you walk to dinner past 2nd-century temples. Belek has zero on-site history but Manavgat falls and Koprulu Canyon rafting are within an hour and pair well with a non-golf day.
For golfers and premium-luxury seekers, yes — the five-star Belek belt has no equal in Turkey. For families on a typical four-star half-board with school-aged children, Side delivers nearly identical pool/beach quality at 20 to 30 percent lower cost, plus the ancient ruins as a bonus.
Belek wins on the premium tier — Cornelia, Maxx Royal and Regnum operate à la carte across multiple cuisines with English-speaking sommeliers. Side wins on mid-tier value — Voyage Sorgun, Side Star Elegance and Sentido Numa Bay all offer excellent breakfast and reliable kids menus at a much lower price.
Yes — the ruins are alongside the beach, not in the water. Side has full lifeguard coverage, Blue Flag beaches in West Side and East Side, and the ancient harbour is now a working beach used by hotels and locals. Children love seeing temple columns from the swimming line.
Very easy. Side town is fully pedestrianised inside the peninsula with cobbled streets, shops and restaurants from 6pm to midnight. Belek has no equivalent walking town — the resort grounds are large and most evenings are spent at the hotel. We choose accordingly for clients who like to walk after dinner.
Side, for the reasons above (history, walking, value). Non-golfing partners staying in Belek are best at Maxx Royal, Regnum Carya or Cornelia Diamond where the spa, à la carte and sea-view rooms compensate. We brief every group on this before booking.
A quick WhatsApp and we will quote both options side-by-side, ATOL-protected and TÜRSAB Licence #14817.
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