Side Travel Guide

Side Travel Guide

Side is a coastal city in Southern Turkey. You can enjoy the beach, beautiful water, and ancient ruins in this historical city that has been restored for modern tourism.

Top Hotels in Side

There are hundreds of quality hotels in Side, Turkey. Be sure to check which hotels have the best rates during different tourist seasons.

The hotels we recommend are Side Star Beach Hotel, Beach House Hotel, and Gazipasa Pasha Star Side. You can also find affordable rooms at the Pelikan Apart Side, Sayanora Park Hotel, and Barut Hotels Arum.

Things To Do in Side

It is certainly important to find a quality hotel in Side, Turkey, but you want to spend the majority of your time enjoying what Side has to offer. Side mixes amazing water and beach offerings with a walk through history.

First, the water activities include parasailing, waterfalls, and taking a spa bath. Parasailing is offered at many places along the beaches. The most impressive aspect was a bird’s eye view of the ancient ruins. Then, you can visit the Manavgat Waterfall, which is a breathtaking water exhibit that a lot of tourists visit. There is a picnic place, some restaurants, and shops nearby. Finally, there is the Pamukkale Bath. This is a great way to refresh by diving into mineral-rich waters that rise from the ground. It is an extraordinary natural wonder worth visiting.

Perhaps the biggest attraction in Side are the ancient Roman ruins. Side was an important trading centre under Roman control through the third century. Then, the city was abandoned. The list of ruins that you can visit include the Temples of Apollo and Athena, the amphitheater, the original main street, the agora, and the aqueduct system.

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You can also visit Side Museum, which is located on the site of a former Roman bath complex. These ruins give Side its special character and atmosphere to separate it from other tourist spots. Make sure you get lots of pictures of the Aspendos Roman Theatre, which is still intact because of the amazing work that went into this building.

More Things To Expect in Side

Other things to enjoy in Side include shopping and restaurants. You can go shopping at the Side Centre, which is a group of streets where vendors sell similar products. Bartering is welcome to get better prices on souvenirs, jewelry, clothes, spices, teas, leather goods, handbags, purses, hand painted plates, and more.

When ready to eat in Side, you can enjoy fine dining at Lush Restaurant serving traditional Turkish food. Plus, The Kelebek, Temple Restaurant, and Zumrut Restaurant. For nighttime dining and entertainment, be sure to visit the Shamrock Irish Pub.

Overall, you can fill an entire vacation in Side with an excellent mix of beach, sun, water, ancient history, shopping, and eating.

Editor’s Note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about the Side travel guide.