What Side is
Side (pronounced "SEE-deh") is an ancient city that a working beach town has grown up around and inside — ruins, including a striking Temple of Apollo, sit right at the water's edge alongside restaurants, shops and beaches on either side of a small peninsula.
Who it suits
Travellers who want history woven into daily life rather than a separate day-trip destination, and who don't mind basing further from central Antalya in exchange for a distinctive setting.
Getting around from Side
It's roughly 60–75 minutes from central Antalya, making it more of a standalone base than a city suburb. Aspendos, one of the best day trips in the region, is a short drive away, making Side a strong base if ruins and beach time together are the priority.
Good to know
- The old town peninsula has beaches on both sides — useful if wind affects one side on a given day.
- Aspendos' Roman theatre is close enough to combine easily with a Side-based stay.
- Being further from Antalya city means day trips into Kaleiçi are a bigger commitment — treat Side as its own base rather than a city suburb.
Best for: combining ancient ruins with everyday beach life, and easy access to Aspendos.