brown concrete pillar under blue sky during daytime

Side

Side is a Mediterranean town on Türkiye's southern coast, east of Antalya, where Roman ruins sit by the harbor and beaches line both sides of the peninsula.

Find a room in Side Start with the essentials Plan a trip to Side

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Side is a town on Türkiye's Mediterranean coast, on a peninsula east of Antalya. It was an ancient port, and most of the ruins you walk through today are Roman. The Roman theater sits near the sea, and the Temple of Apollo stands at the harbor edge.

Side works for a beach holiday with time set aside for the ruins. Beaches run along both sides of the peninsula, and resort hotels spread beyond the old town. Stay in the old town if you want to walk to the ruins and the harbor. Day trips from here include Aspendos, a Roman theater inland, and the Manavgat waterfall. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable months for walking the ruins, while summer is hot and busy. Plan two to three days for the ruins and a beach stay, and more if you add day trips.

Side in five

See the theater and museum with the Ministry hoursThe Ministry lists Side Theatre as open daily 08:00 to 19:00 and Side Museum 08:30 to 19:00, with ticket sales ending at 18:30 at both. Check seasonal changes before you go.Side Theatre
Time the Temple of Apollo for sunsetThe columns stand on the harbor edge and catch the late light. The Mediterranean MuseumPass lists the Apollo and Athena temples, so check whether your pass covers entry.
Choose the old town or a resort stripThe peninsula has lanes, ruins and restaurants but limited beach and some noise. Resorts east and west have wider beaches and pools but are a ride from the ruins.
Use the Mediterranean MuseumPass for several sitesThe pass costs €90 for 7 days and lists the Side Museum, Side Theatre, the temples, Aspendos, Perge and Termessos. Count your ruin days before buying.Mediterranean MuseumPass
Fly to Antalya and pre-book a transferAntalya airport is roughly an hour away by road. Shuttles, taxis and buses run, but late arrivals are easier with a pre-booked transfer.Antalya

Things to do in Side

See all attractions in Side

Historic site · SideTemple of ApollonArrive by about 5:30 pm to catch the sunset, and check the sunset time for your date.

Sight · SideTheatre

a sandy beach with palm trees and the ocean in the background

Sight · SideEastern Beach

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to SidePut the places you like in Side on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Antalya (AYT), roughly an hour by road
Getting there: Transfer, bus or dolmuş from Antalya and Manavgat
Getting around: Walk the old town; dolmuş along the coastal strip; taxis
Best base: Old town for ruins; resort strips for beaches
Time needed: 2–3 days with Aspendos

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain14 rainy daysHigh14°Low8°Mild, wet
FebruaryPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh15°Low8°Mild
MarchPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh17°Low10°Spring
AprilClear7 rainy daysHigh21°Low13°Warm
MayClear7 rainy daysHigh25°Low17°Warm, green
JuneClear3 rainy daysHigh29°Low21°Hot
JulyClear1 rainy dayHigh33°Low25°Very hot
AugustClear1 rainy dayHigh33°Low25°Very hot
SeptemberClear3 rainy daysHigh30°Low22°Warm sea
OctoberClear6 rainy daysHigh26°Low18°Warm, quiet
NovemberRain9 rainy daysHigh21°Low14°Mild
DecemberRain14 rainy daysHigh16°Low11°Mild, wet

Average daily high and low in Side, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Side

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 21°
Humidity: 83%
Wind: 2 km/h
Chance of rain: 50%

Side

11:47 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+3

Today24°15°50%Monday: Rain. High 24°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 50%.
Tue21°16°60%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 21°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 60%.
Wed20°14°85%Wednesday: Rain. High 20°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 85%.
Thu24°12°1%Thursday: Fog. High 24°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 1%.
Fri23°11°5%Friday: Cloudy. High 23°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 5%.
Sat20°11°0%Saturday: Clear. High 20°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sun20°10°2%Sunday: Clear. High 20°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 2%.

Updated 08:52 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 49.94 TRY

Amount

Converted to

TRY · Turkish Lira

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Aspendosabout 40 min by carA well-preserved Roman theater and an aqueduct, on the Mediterranean MuseumPass.
Manavgat waterfallabout 15 min by carA river waterfall and boat cruises, a short ride from the peninsula.
Antalyaabout 1 hour by carThe old town harbor, museums and Perge on the western side.Read the guide

Before you go to Side

Old town or resort stripPick walkable ruins or a wider beachCheck availability

Aspendos and Side ticketsEntry and transport in one bookingBook timed entry

eSIM for the Antalya coastTransfers and dolmuş apps on landingRead the guide

Insurance for a beach weekCover for heat and delaysRead the guide

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Rules for Side, checked

Side Museum: open daily 08:30 to 19:00, ticket sales end 18:30. Side Theatre: open daily 08:00 to 19:00, ticket sales end 18:30.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
The Mediterranean MuseumPass costs €90 for 7 days and lists the Side Museum, Side Theatre, the Apollo and Athena temples and Aspendos.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source

Plan around Side

Antalya

The old town, Perge and the nearest big airport

Read the guide Turquoise Coast

The Lycian shoreline west of Antalya

Read the guide All of Türkiye

Regions, entry rules and when to go

Read the guide Tours and tickets

Guided day trips and timed entry

Read the guide Getting around Türkiye

Flights, buses, trains and cars compared

Read the guide Türkiye e-Visa

Whether your passport needs one

Read the guide Alanya

Castle and beaches, about an hour east

Read the guide

Side FAQ

Is Side worth visiting?

Yes for the ruins beside the sea and a long beach in one place. It is a resort town in summer, so ruins are better early or late.

How many days do you need in Side?

Two days cover the theater, the museum, the Temple of Apollo and a beach afternoon. Add a third for Aspendos or the Manavgat waterfall.

Should you stay in Side old town or a resort?

The old town for ruins and evenings on foot, a resort strip for wide beaches and pools. A resort stay still reaches Side by dolmuş or taxi.

How far is Side from Antalya airport?

Roughly an hour by road. Shuttles, taxis and buses run, but late arrivals are easier with a pre-booked transfer.

When is the best time to visit Side?

April, May, September and October for warm sea and gentler heat at the ruins. July and August are very hot and busy.