Side
A working seafront village wrapped around the Roman temple of Apollo and a sweep of golden-sand beach
Side is the resort that quietly does both Roman archaeology and beach holiday at the same time.
The compact peninsula village sits 75 kilometres east of Antalya airport and is built directly inside the walls of an ancient Pamphylian harbour town — colonnaded streets, a 15,000-seat theatre and the dramatic sunset Temple of Apollo all stand a few minutes from where you swim in the morning. We use Side as a soft, cultured base for couples and second-time visitors to Turkey: enough Roman ruins to justify a guided morning, an unhurried evening seafront for promenade dinners, and the long, golden Sorgun and Kumkoy beaches a short walk either side of the old town.
The five experiences that make a Side trip unforgettable
Watch sunset at the Temple of Apollo
The five remaining marble columns of Apollos seafront temple are the iconic Side image. They sit at the very tip of the peninsula on a small headland and the late-afternoon light turns the marble pale gold then pink. Free to visit, busiest 30 minutes either side of sunset; we recommend arriving an hour early for the slower, quieter view.
Walk the ancient agora and theatre
Side has one of the largest and best-preserved Roman theatres in Anatolia, seating 15,000 along three tiers of stone benches. Behind it stretch the colonnaded main street, the agora, the Roman baths (now the archaeological museum) and the monumental gate. A two-hour private guided walk turns the whole village into a working museum.
Boat trip to Manavgat Waterfall and the river
A 25-minute drive inland brings you to the wide, low Manavgat Waterfall and a fleet of slow river-boats that cruise between citrus groves and reed banks for a long fish lunch under the trees. A genuinely relaxed half-day, popular with multi-generation British groups.
Day-trip to Aspendos theatre
A 50-kilometre drive west, the Roman theatre at Aspendos is the most intact in the Mediterranean — a continuous stone arc of seating still used for the annual opera and ballet festival in August and September. Combine with the aqueducts of Belkis and the pottery village of Selimiye for a full half-day.
Sorgun and Kumkoy beach days
Side has soft, gently sloping golden-sand beaches on either side of the peninsula. Sorgun (east) is the wider, pine-backed family stretch with five-star resorts behind it; Kumkoy (west) is the longer, livelier strip with low-rise hotels. We match your hotel to whichever beach character suits the trip.
The right month makes the trip
Ideal: May, June, September and October
Side enjoys the same long, dry Turkish Riviera season as Antalya. May and June give a green hinterland with sea temperatures already past 22°C; September and October return reliable 28-30°C days with quieter ruins. July and August are reliably 33-37°C, busy with European charters and best for guaranteed sun seekers.
Side: questions British travellers ask us
Is Side better than Antalya for a UK couples holiday?
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For most British couples on a first or second visit, yes. Side is smaller, calmer and walkable; the entire old town is closed to through traffic from late afternoon and the Roman ruins, restaurants and seafront sit within ten minutes of each other. Antalya proper is a city of a million people and you trade Roman atmosphere for shopping and nightlife. Same airport, slightly longer transfer.
How safe is Side for British holidaymakers in 2026?
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The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office continues to advise normal travel to the Mediterranean coast and Side is one of the most tourist-experienced resorts in Turkey. The old town is pedestrianised, well lit at night and patrolled by tourist police. English-speaking pharmacies, a private hospital in Manavgat and direct ATOL-protected packages through our UK partners give a strong safety net.
How long is the flight from London to Side?
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Direct flights from London Gatwick to Antalya (AYT) typically run 4 hours 10 minutes outbound and 4 hours 25 minutes on the return. Manchester and Birmingham add roughly 10-15 minutes each way. From Antalya the private transfer to Side is around 65 minutes; we always pre-book a meet-and-greet driver so you skip the resort coach loop.
Are Side beaches good for families?
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Yes. The west beach (Kumkoy) and the east beach (Sorgun) are both long, gently sloping, soft golden sand backed by hotel gardens or pine forest. Sea-bed shelves slowly for the first 20-30 metres, lifeguards work in summer, and Blue Flag sections sit at both ends. The old-town centre beach is shorter and stonier, less suitable for small children.
What is the difference between Side, Sorgun, Kumkoy and Colakli?
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Side is the historic peninsula village itself, with the Roman ruins and the most atmospheric evening dining. Sorgun, immediately east, is the upmarket five-star hotel belt set inside a protected pine forest. Kumkoy is the family-resort strip just west of Side, livelier and at a friendlier price point. Colakli is the next village west again, long and quiet with mainly all-inclusive hotels.
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