Side Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Side tours and things to do on Turkey’s sunny Antalya coast: wander the ancient theatre and seafront Temple of Apollo, cruise the turquoise Mediterranean spotting turtles, raft the Köprülü Canyon, jeep-safari into the Taurus Mountains, and visit the Manavgat Waterfall. Compare top-rated experiences and plan your perfect Turkish Riviera holiday.
rating
Explore Side by interest
Whatever brings you to Side — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Top attractions in Side
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Temple of Apollo
Seafront ruins.
Mediterranean
Boat trips.
Green Canyon
Emerald reservoir.
Manavgat Waterfall
River falls.
Köprülü Canyon
Rafting.
Aspendos
Roman theatre.
Taurus Mountains
Jeep safari.
Turtle Beach
Sea wildlife.
Side in 1 day
- 1Ancient theatre
- 2Temple of Apollo
- 3Mediterranean boat trip
- 4Sunset by the sea
Side in 3 days
- 1Day 1: ancient Side & boat
- 2Day 2: Green Canyon
- 3Day 3: rafting & jeep
- 4Manavgat
Side adventure
- 1Köprülü rafting
- 2Jeep safari
- 3Green Canyon cruise
- 4Waterfall stop
Side with kids
- 1Boat trip & swim
- 2Manavgat Waterfall
- 3Green Canyon cruise
- 4Ancient Side
~45 min awayGreen Canyon
Emerald cruise.
~15 min awayManavgat Waterfall
River falls.
~1.5 hrs awayKöprülü Canyon
Rafting.
~45 min awayAspendos
Roman theatre.
~1 hr awayAntalya
Riviera city.
~1 hr awayTaurus Mountains
Jeep safari.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Side visitor asks before booking.
Summer (Jun–Sep)
Hot and sunny, perfect for beaches, boat trips and canyon cruises, though it can be very warm.
Spring (Apr–May)
Warm and pleasant, ideal for ancient sites, rafting and sightseeing before the peak heat.
Autumn (Oct)
Still warm with pleasant seas and fewer crowds, a great all-round time.
Winter (Nov–Mar)
Mild and quiet, good for the ruins and city trips, though many boat tours pause.
Best for ruins
Spring and autumn are most comfortable for exploring Side, Aspendos and Perge.
Best for rafting
Late spring and summer offer the best water levels and warmth for rafting.
One day
Ancient Side and a boat trip.
Three days
Add the Green Canyon and rafting.
Five days
Add Aspendos, Antalya and beaches.
Adventure lovers
Rafting, jeep safaris and canyons.
History buffs
Side, Aspendos and Perge ruins.
With kids
Boats, waterfalls and gentle cruises.
On foot
Side’s old town and ruins are pedestrian-friendly and easily explored on foot.
Tours & transfers
Most tours include hotel pickup, the easiest way to reach canyons, rafting and ancient sites.
Antalya airport
Antalya International Airport is around an hour away, the main gateway to Side.
Dolmuş & taxi
Shared minibuses (dolmuş) and taxis link Side with Manavgat and nearby resorts.
Boat trips
Boats depart from Side’s harbour for Mediterranean cruises and swim stops.
Compact resort
Side’s beaches, shops and restaurants are all within easy reach of the old town.
Turkish lira
Turkey uses the lira; cards are widely accepted, and euros are often taken in resorts.
Book tours ahead
Popular boat trips, rafting and canyon tours fill up in summer — reserve in advance.
Sun protection
Summers are hot — bring sunscreen, a hat and plenty of water.
Sunset at Apollo
Visit the Temple of Apollo at sunset for the most beautiful photos.
Wear water shoes
For rafting and canyon swims, water shoes and quick-dry clothing are handy.
Book transfers
Most tours include pickup — confirm your hotel pickup time when booking.
Boat trips
Mediterranean and Green Canyon cruises sell out — book ahead.
Rafting & jeep
Köprülü rafting and jeep safaris fill up — reserve early.
Aspendos & Perge
Guided ancient-city tours have limited places — book ahead.
Manavgat tours
Waterfall and river trips are popular — reserve early.
Antalya trips
Day trips to Antalya and Alanya need planning — book ahead.
Summer dates
July and August are busiest — reserve everything well ahead.
Ancient Side tour
Around $20–40 for a guided ancient Side walking tour.
Boat trip
About $20–40 for a Mediterranean day boat trip with lunch.
Green Canyon
Roughly $30–50 for a Green Canyon boat tour with lunch.
Rafting
Around $35–55 for a Köprülü Canyon rafting day.
Aspendos & Perge
About $40–70 for a guided ancient-cities tour.
How to save
Join group tours, book combos and travel in shoulder season.
Side through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Beaches & boats.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Very hot.
- Best for
- Ruins & rafting.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Pleasant.
- Best for
- Warm, quiet.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Sea still warm.
- Best for
- Ruins & calm.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Boats pause.