Side

Side, which was a harbour city in ancient times, hosted many civilizations from Lycian civilization to Alexander the Great, Persians and Roman Empire. In the old language side means pomegranate. Pomegranate is the symbol of wealth and fertility in Anatolia. The settlement date of Side dates back to 700th century BC It became a centre of science and trade especially during the Roman period. The side is an indispensable holiday destination for both history and nature lovers. Those who come to Side, where the sea and the city are intertwined, find themselves in that unique fascinating history.  Side, which welcomes its guests all year round, has an increased number of visitors, especially in summer months.

Distance to Side

Adana  Side  495 km 7 hours by car

Antalya Side  70 km     75 minutes by car

Antalya Airport Side  68 km 1 hour by car

Alanya Side  66 km 80 minutes by car

Ankara Side  525 km 8 hours by car

Belek Side  45 km 45 minutes by car

İstanbul Side 775 km 11 hours by car

Gazipaşa Airport  Side  64 km 1 hour by car

How to get to Side?

Transportation by land: those who want to come with Side Bus can find buses from all the bus terminals in Turkey.Especially in summer, bus companies organize direct buses to Side. Due to the excessive intensity, it would save time to book bus tickets in advance. Those who want to come to Side with their own private car can use the Antalya route. There are also regular bus services from Antalya Bus Terminal to Side every day.

Transportation by plane: If you’d like to come to Side by plane you should use Antalya Airport or Gazipaşa Airport. You can reach to Side from the airport by the airport services.

Transportation in Side

Transportation in Side is provided by minibuses and taxis. There are minibuses to the settlements located in and around Side and to different points. If you want to get information about minibuses, you can ask the hotel reception and you can find the nearest minibus stop and minibus time. 

Side Accommodation

There are all-inclusive hotels, bed and breakfast hotels, half-board hotels, villas and apartments for rent, apart-hotels, hostels and holiday villages in Side where there are accommodation options suitable for all budgets. As the occupancy rates of the hotels can go up to 100 per cent especially after the closure of the schools, it is recommended that those who want to have a holiday in Side book early or book their accommodation in advance.

What to eat in Side

Located on the Mediterranean coast, Side stands out with its salads and vegetable dishes. Among the indispensables of Turkish cuisine, olive oil dishes are at the top of the list of popular dishes.Especially for vegetarians, it is recommended to taste the foods called ot kavurması, which are made by roasting the herbs grown in the region. Since Side is a touristic region, it is also possible to find restaurants or dishes from Turkish cuisine and different cultures and countries.  

Side nightlife

As in every holiday region, Side has many different entertainment venues. The entertainment venues in Side are arranged in the form of more restaurants and bars and there are different entertainment options for those who want to.The discos, bars and nightclubs located outside of Side provide free shuttle service to Side for their customers, while the hotels in Side accept visitors from outside. Karaoke bars and quiz night bars are available for those who want to have a more relaxed and different entertainment.

Side public market

Every Saturday it is possible to see many local products in the public market established in Side.One of these products is the vegetables and fruits grown in and around Side .Since it is located close to the city centre, the number of visitors in summer is quite high.Besides the fruit and vegetables, handmade products, textile products, shoes, gifts and many different products are sold in Side public market. Cemal Gürsel boulevard, which is established in the early hours of the morning, is open until the evening hours.

Side Culture and Arts

The concerts at the Temple of Apollo, which is a symbol of Side, and the ancient theatre are among the most popular activities in summer. Organized in many different music genres from classical music to jazz, from rock music to folk concerts, this organization is usually organized by municipalities and hotels.These activities are highly organized and are organized under the name of Side International Culture and Art. Many of the dance groups perform shows and many of these activities meet with art lovers free of charge. Side International Culture and Art Festival have been organized since 2001. Many artists and groups around the world meet with art lovers at Side Antique Theater.  

Cash and withdraw money in Side

It is possible to cash all kinds of currencies from the exchange offices located in the centre of Side, as well as to withdraw money from the ATMs located on the streets. There is also a Post Office (PTT) for those who want to exchange currency, send cargo, transfer and receive money, and send letters and cards. Post office hours are from 08:30 to 12:30 / 13:30 to 17:00 on weekdays.  

Side post office address:

Selimiye Neighbourhood Side St. 606 St. No: 7 Phone: 0 242 753 1777 Fax : 0 242 753 3839

Side Weather forecast 

The side has a mild climate and summers are hot and dry winters are mild and rainy .In winter, the air temperature drops to 12 degrees during the day and at 5 degrees during the night .Monthly weather forecast in Side is presented in the table below .There might be a difference between 1 and 2 degrees with the given figures