✨ DESTINATION HIGHLIGHTS

• 🏛️ Ancient ruins everywhere — Temple of Apollo, Roman theatre, and the old city walls are right in town

• 🏖️ Two gorgeous beaches — West beach for buzz, east beach for peace

• 💰 Brilliant value — Your pounds stretch properly far here

• ☀️ Scorchio weather — 30°C+ in summer, rarely below 10°C even in winter

• 🍽️ Proper Turkish food — Fresh fish, kebabs, and mezes at harbourside restaurants

• 🏺 History meets beach holiday — Swim in the morning, explore 2,000-year-old ruins in the afternoon

🏛️ TOP SIGHTS

Side is basically an open-air museum with a beach attached. Here's what you can't miss:

• Temple of Apollo — The iconic seaside ruins, dramatically lit at night. Built around 150 AD and absolutely stunning at sunset. Free to visit.

• Roman Theatre — One of the largest in Anatolia, once holding 15,000 spectators. Remarkably well-preserved and still used for events.

• Side Museum — Housed in restored Roman baths, packed with statues and artefacts from the ancient city.

• Vespasian Gate — The monumental entrance to the ancient city, marking where the old town begins.

• Ancient Agora — The old marketplace where commerce once thrived, now atmospheric ruins to wander through.

• The Harbour — Modern boats bobbing next to ancient walls. Great for sunset drinks and fresh fish dinners.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 THINGS TO DO FOR FAMILIES

Side is brilliant for families — shallow beaches, boat trips, and enough ancient ruins to make the kids feel like Indiana Jones.

• 🏖️ West Beach paddling — Shallow, calm waters with sunbeds and watersports. Perfect for little ones

• 🚤 Boat trips to hidden coves — Glass-bottom boats and swimming stops keep everyone happy

• 🌊 Manavgat Waterfall — A scenic spot for photos and Turkish coffee at the riverside cafes

• 🏛️ Roman Theatre exploring — Old enough to be impressive, open enough to run around

• 🏊 Hotel waterparks — Most all-inclusives have slides and splash zones galore

• 🛒 Side Bazaar wander — Ice cream, souvenirs, and people-watching along the ancient streets

💑 THINGS TO DO FOR COUPLES

Side's got serious romantic credentials — ancient ruins at sunset, harbourside dinners, and beaches for lazy days together.

• 🌅 Temple of Apollo at sunset — Possibly the most romantic spot in Turkey. The ruins are floodlit after dark

• 🍽️ Harbourside dinner — Pick your fish, watch the boats, and let the evening unfold

• 🏖️ East Beach escape — The quieter side with fewer crowds, perfect for a peaceful day together

• 💆 Turkish bath experience — Hammam, scrub, and massage at one of the local spas

• 🚤 Private boat hire — Explore hidden bays and swim stops along the coast

• 🎭 Aspendos opera evening — Summer performances in one of the world's best-preserved Roman theatres

👯 THINGS TO DO FOR GROUPS

Whether it's a mates' trip or a big celebration, Side delivers — adventure activities, cheap drinks, and buzzing nightlife.

• 🛶 Köprülü Canyon rafting — White water thrills through stunning gorge scenery. One of Turkey's top rafting spots

• 🚙 Jeep safaris — Off-road adventures through the Taurus Mountains with swimming and lunch stops

• 🕺 Side nightlife — Bars and clubs around the harbour keep going til late

• 🤿 Scuba diving — Clear Mediterranean waters with underwater ruins and marine life

• 🏎️ Quad biking — Tear around the countryside on an ATV adventure

• 🛒 Manavgat Market haggles — The Monday market (much like the Jungle) is massive. Pit your bargaining skills against each other

🏺 THINGS TO DO FOR HISTORY BUFFS

Side was a major Roman port town, and the ruins are everywhere — this is one of Turkey's best spots for ancient history.

• 🏛️ Temple of Apollo & Athena — Built in the 2nd century AD, the columns still stand dramatically against the sea

• 🎭 Aspendos Theatre — A 30-minute drive gets you to the best-preserved Roman theatre in the world. Still hosts performances

• 🏺 Side Museum — Roman baths converted into a museum, filled with statues and artefacts

• 🏟️ Roman Theatre — 15,000-seat arena right in town, remarkably intact after nearly 2,000 years

• 🚶 Ancient city walls — Walk through the Vespasian Gate and along the old fortifications

• 📜 Perge archaeological site — Another incredible ancient city nearby with a stadium and colonnaded streets

📍 NEARBY RESORTS

Side sits perfectly on Turkey's Mediterranean coast. Here are the other top spots in the Antalya region:

⛳ Belek | 30 mins west The luxury option. Championship golf courses, five-star all-inclusives, and The Land of Legends theme park. Purpose-built for pampering with pristine Blue Flag beaches.

🏔️ Kemer | 1.5 hours west Where the Taurus Mountains meet the sea. Dramatic scenery, pine-covered coastline, and a quieter vibe. Great for nature lovers who still want a proper beach holiday.

🏰 Alanya | 1 hour east The lively one. Medieval castle on a dramatic peninsula, Cleopatra Beach, buzzing nightlife, and 70km of coastline. Good mix of history, beaches, and party vibes.

🏛️ Antalya Old Town | 1 hour west The charming city option. Kaleiçi's cobbled streets, Ottoman architecture, Hadrian's Gate, and the stunning marina. Worth a day trip for culture and shopping.