Top Things to Do in the Side | Must-See Attractions & Experiences

Plan Your Travel To Side

Places To Visit In Side

Demre, Myra & Kekova Tour

Explore the history of Turkey through the Demre Myra Kekova Tour, a private tour which takes you across different places in Turkey. The tour starts at Myra, the ancient city which withholds Roman amphitheatres and Lycian tombs. Then it moves on to Demre - known for its famous St. Nicholas church. Lastly, it stops at Kekova, a dreamy city which once had an island called Simena that sank due to earthquakes. The ruins are witnessable, and Simena Castle is quite intriguing. The tour even offers swimming in the cool Mediterranean waters. The tour is a private operation carried out in an air-conditioned bus and is held from April to November. Read More

Discover the beautiful underwater life of the Mediterranean Sea by scuba diving at Side. It is the ideal place for diving due to its high biodiversity, good visibility and temperature. Many wrecks can be witnessed, resting on the sea bed. Scuba diving at Side takes place in the Manavgat Underwater Museum, the only underwater museum in Europe. There are over 17,000 marine species, and 25 per cent of them are endemic to the region. There are exhibits of sculptures (which do not affect aquatic life) and various themes like ‘blooming garden’ and ‘dervish’. In the future, it is expected to contain coral reefs occupied by marine creatures. Read More

East Beach

The East Beach of Side, Turkey is longer, wider, and has more gradient than the West Beach. It runs along the Mediterranean coast up to the Manavgat River and Sorgun region. The water here is rougher than the West Beach, making it difficult for swimming and snorkelling but ideal for parasailing and jet skiing. The revered Temple of Apollo is located near East Beach. It is also the starting point for many half-day and full-day cruises in and around Side. Read More

The Greek Amphitheatre marks an ancient era in Side and is one of the largest in the Ancient Pamphylia region. A total of about 15,0000 to 20,000 people could once be accommodated in one sitting. Plenty of history and culture has passed through the amphitheatre over the years. Stop by just to observe the beautiful Greek architecture. During the Roman ruling era, the arena was used for performances and gladiator or animal fights. Then in the Byzantine era, the amphitheatre was transformed into an open church with Christian proceedings being held. Today, there are many festivals, concerts and events held at the amphitheatre. Read More

Nymphaeum, or the Monumental Fountain, is a stunning old structure at the entrance of the ancient city of Side. It is 35 metres wide and 5 metres long and was once the personification of eminence in the country. The Nymphaeum has marvellous architecture, consisting of a three-story facade filled with statues, frescoes, marble work, niches and Corinthian columns. The water for the fountain used to come from the nearby River Manavgat. The pool is enclosed by a parapet wall with inscriptions of mythological scenes. Most of these scenes link to the city's famous festival called Epibaterios. The procession for the festival would always begin at the Nymphaeum since it was at the city's entrance. Built during the rule of Emperor Vespasian in the 2nd century, it has been taken great care of to be preserved and well maintained until today. Read More

Seleucia was an ancient city in Greece along the coast of Pamphylia. It was also once known as Scandalor in the Middle Age. Situated on the hilltop, the remains of Selucia are now considered to be the remains of Lyrbe, another ancient city of Cilicia. The remains consist of churches, temples, an agora, a mausoleum, a gate, a necropolis and a Roman bath. The area is cluttered with grindstones and columns used for making flour.

Selge was an important trading hub in ancient Pisidia that later got included in the Pamphylia region between the Mediterranean Sea and the southern slope of Mount Taurus. Currently located in Altinkaya village of Antalya Province in Turkey, Selge is a titular see of the Roman Catholic Church. Only a few traces of the old city remains for visitors to explore. Remnants of a stoa, a basilica, a stadium, and a gymnasium can be traced along with parts of the perimeter wall and the Acropolis. Up on the hill, remains of two temples dedicated to Zeus and Artemis can be found. Believed to be founded by the Spartans in one of the versions of philosopher Strabo, Selge is of great significance to the history of Greek socio-political history. The city is located near Koprulu Canyon National Park Read More

The ancient city of Side, which was once a port city for Pamphilia, is preserved as an open-air museum and is a fifteen-minute walk from the city. Traces of many civilisations lie here through the amphitheatres, city walls, schools, temples, arches, fountains, monuments, baths and hospitals. Many geographic studies also show fires and earthquakes that were once experienced in this area. The history and culture of the Luvians, which remain in the ancient city of Side must definitely be explored. Read More

The Side Archaeological Museum showcases a variety of ancient artefacts like statues, jewels, coins, friezes, sarcophaguses, daily use objects, marble coffins and inscriptions. These antiquities are from the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine Periods. It is located in an ancient Roman bathhouse (Agora Bath) that dates back to 2 A.D and was later restored into a museum. There are five different rooms that act as display halls - the cold room (Frigidarium), the sweating room (Sudatorium), two warm rooms (Tepidarium), and hot room (Caldarium). The garden also contains many exhibits. Read More

Swim with dolphins at Side’s Dolphinarium Sealanya. Boat tours are arranged from the hotels to the dolphin park and provide many fun activities like swimming in the clean river of Manavgat, lunch on a yacht and loads of entertainment. Apart from dolphins, there are seals and sea lions at the park too. The travel time is about two hours but is worth the wait since there is so much thrill taking place throughout the journey. Dolphin therapy is available too and it is recommended to purchase the tickets in advance since it is very much in demand. Read More