Side
Book a week or ten nights by area: the pedestrianised Old Town among the ruins for atmosphere, or Kumköy and Çolaklı for family all-inclusives, with mornings at the Temple of Apollo and a Manavgat boat trip.
Best length
7-10 nights
Airport
Antalya (AYT), ~65km west
Airport to centre
Private transfer ~1h15; shared shuttle ~1h35
Best base
Old Town for atmosphere; Kumköy/Çolaklı for family all-inclusive
In short
Side at a glance
Side works best as a 7- or 10-night beach holiday: pick your area by the kind of trip you want — the pedestrianised Old Town for ruins and atmosphere, Kumköy or Çolaklı for big family all-inclusives — fly into Antalya and pre-book a transfer, and build your week around early-morning ruins, afternoons by the pool, and one or two boat or waterfall trips.
The short version
- Stay in or beside the Old Town if you want to walk to the Temple of Apollo, restaurants and the harbour; choose Kumköy or Çolaklı for shallow-beach, all-inclusive family resorts.
- The Temple of Apollo at sunset and the huge Roman theatre are free or cheap and genuinely worth it — do them early or late, not in the midday heat.
- Fly into Antalya (AYT), not Gazipasa, and pre-book a transfer: it is about 65km and an hour, and airport taxis spike in summer.
- Skip a hire car for a pure beach week — dolmuş minibuses and cheap excursions cover Manavgat, the waterfall and Aspendos.
- May, June, September and early October give you the ruins and the sea without July-August's 34°C heat and packed beaches.
Side is the rare Turkish Riviera resort where a genuine Greco-Roman town sits inside the holiday: the beaches and all-inclusive blocks wrap around a pedestrianised peninsula of marble columns, a 15,000-seat Roman theatre and the Temple of Apollo on the headland. That mix is the appeal. You get the shallow, fine-sand beaches and pool-led weeks that bring most UK families here, plus ruins you can walk to before breakfast and a harbour to eat by at night — without the long-haul or the city-break pace.
The planning calls are mostly about where you sleep. Base yourself in or beside the Old Town for atmosphere and walkable sights, or out on the western strip at Kumköy or Çolaklı for the big family all-inclusives and the gentlest water. Fly into Antalya — about an hour and 65km away — and pre-book a transfer rather than haggling at arrivals, especially in summer when fares jump. Then keep it simple: ruins early, pool in the heat, and one or two cheap excursions to the Manavgat waterfall or Aspendos. The structured planning below — areas, costs in pounds, transfers and the best months — picks up from here.
Keep a first trip focused: book the big timed sights, then leave room for neighbourhoods and food.
Top things to do in Side
Temple of Apollo
The Temple of Apollo stands on the headland beside Side's old harbour: two re-erected marble columns and a fragment of entablature from a Roman temple, framed by the Mediterranean. It is the most photographed sight in town and free to walk up to and view, day or night. Sunset, when the marble turns gold, is the time to go.
Temple of Apollo (Side)
Five re-erected marble columns from a 2nd-century AD temple, standing on the rocky tip of Side's peninsula with the Mediterranean behind them. It's free, unfenced and open all hours, so the only real decision is when to turn up: aim for the hour before sunset, when the columns glow gold and the sea lights up behind them. Treat it as the finish line of a 20-minute walk through Side's old-town ruins rather than a destination in itself.
Where to stay first
The areas that make a first visit easier — not an exhaustive directory.
Side Old Town
££ mid-rangeThe pedestrianised peninsula: no cars, the Temple of Apollo, the theatre, the harbour and the best evening wander in the resort. Rooms are smaller and often boutique rather than mega-resort, but you can walk everywhere and skip a transfer to the sights.
Best for: Couples, history-first trips, walkable evenings
Kumköy (Colakli side)
££ mid-rangeThe developed western strip just outside Side, packed with large all-inclusive resorts and a long, shallow, fine-sand beach. The default choice for families who want a pool, a kids' club and not much need to leave the gates.
Best for: Families, all-inclusive beach weeks
Colakli
£ valueQuieter, more spread-out family resorts about 9-14km from the Old Town, with gentle shallow water that suits young children. Cheaper than central Side, but you will rely on shuttles or dolmuş to reach the ruins and restaurants.
Best for: Young families, value all-inclusive
Sorgun
£££ premiumPine-forest hotels a few kilometres east of the Old Town, calmer and more upmarket than the western strip. Good if you want a relaxed, green setting and don't mind a short hop into town for the sights.
Best for: Couples, quieter premium stays
Airport to city centre
| Option | Time | Cost | Book ahead? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private transfer (door to door) | ~1h15 | about £45-£60 for up to 4 | Pre-book; best with luggage or kids |
| Shared shuttle | ~1h35-1h45 | about £10-£15 pp | Cheapest booked option |
| Airport taxi | ~1h15 | roughly €50-€70; more in summer | Agree fare first |
| Public bus via Manavgat | ~2h+ with changes | a few pounds total | Slow with luggage |
When to go
Sweet spot: May, June, September and early October are the sweet spot: sea around 24-27°C, comfortable 25-29°C days for the ruins, and far thinner crowds than the July-August peak.
July and August are hot (highs near 34°C), busy and dearest, which suits a pool-and-beach week but punishes midday sightseeing. Spring and autumn are better for the ruins, the waterfall and walking; winter all but shuts the resort down, with many hotels and restaurants closed.
What it costs
UK return flights to Antalya (AYT) are often £60-£130 outside school holidays when booked ahead, with easyJet and SunExpress flying direct; August demand and late booking push fares well past £200, so a package deal sometimes beats DIY.
Daily budget per person
All-inclusive resorts are where Side wins on value — eating and drinking inside the package keeps a beach week cheap. The pricier move is dining every night on the Old Town harbour, where waterfront tables carry a clear tourist premium over the lokantas a few streets back.
Book the essentials
Where to stay
Tours & tickets
Airport transfers
Stay connected
Also in Turkey
Side FAQs
How many days do you need in Side?
Should you stay in Side Old Town or the beach resorts?
Do you need a car in Side?
Ready to book?
Find hotels in Side