For which category of holidaymakers is Side suitable? In Side, any vacationer will find a holiday village to their liking. For lovers - this is Manavgat and Side. For lovers of landscapes, Kyzylach and Sorgun are suitable. these are Cholakly, Titreyengel and Kumkoy.

If you plan to spend a vacation in Turkey, in particular in the Side region, it is advisable to conduct reconnaissance in force and find out which area is best suited.

Kyzylach

good for leisurely vacation, there are many orchards and picturesque landscapes. Perfect for couples with children. shopping malls no, but all kinds of marine entertainment are available. For the sights, it is better to make a short journey to the ancient city of Side.

Kyzylot

The area is located just gaining momentum. Suitable for lovers of a very secluded holiday, as it is far from all infrastructure, there are no entertainment here, as well as ancient ruins and artifacts. The coast is half empty even in the high season, the beach is sandy and pebbly. However, the entrance to the sea is not always convenient due to boulders at the bottom of the sea and high waves.

Kumkoy

Located near Side and 65 km from. It will be a great choice for lovers nightlife because it is flooded with clubs and discos. Nature lovers are in for a disappointment, no beautiful views not observed here. But couples with children are waiting for a sandy beach and a gentle entrance to the sea.

Important! Boulders are present in small numbers on the side of the beach that is closer to Side (near the Nova Park hotel, for example).

During the day you can ride a yacht, jeeps and raft down Manavgat. At night for youth will be available a large number of nightclubs. The most popular are:

• Nimpheon (next to the beach);
• Appolo Club (at the harbor, near the temple);
• Lighthouse Disco.

Note! The Oxid party is the most popular among Russian tourists. It is stylized as an old fortress and every evening there are foam parties and dances under open sky.

Manavgat

for travel around the neighborhood. Food, shopping and accommodation are cheaper here and generally suitable for those who want to save money but be located close to attractions. During the day, you can raft down the river or ride a bike through coniferous forests, visit the Manavgat waterfall.

The main attractions nearby are:

• Köprülü Canyon Park;
• Manavgat waterfall;
• lake Titreyengol;
• dam and reservoir Oymapinar;
• ruins of the city of Seleucia.

Note! There are few ancient ones, but just a few kilometers away is the most interesting place in the area - the ancient city of Side with an amphitheater, Agora, the temple of Apollo and baths.

Side Center

It has . Excellent infrastructure, transport accessibility, all types of water entertainment are presented. Hotels are presented for every taste and budget, and for night party-goers there are clubs and noisy discos.

Important! Historical Center Side was founded by the Greeks in the 7th century. BC e .. The city was the largest port of Pamphylia at that time and was named after the nymph Side, which means "pomegranate".

The main historical attraction in Side is ancient city Side with dilapidated temples of Artemis and Apollo, columns, a fountain, an ancient theater and an aqueduct.

Sorgun

A real paradise for two categories of tourists: lovers of secluded relaxation and connoisseurs of natural landscapes. The village is surrounded by pine forests. The almost complete absence of night entertainment, plus the pine aroma and sea breeze, will bring mental and physical peace to guests. A great place to relax with children, the entrance to the sea is gentle. But shopping here is not very good.

Titreyengel

The village got its name from the lake of the same name, here the most beautiful river flows into the sea. river in Turkey Manavgat. Calm rest with a sandy beach (although sometimes there are pebbles). Stones are sometimes found at the entrance to the sea. There are many cafes, bars with incendiary parties and small shops with souvenirs. However, for a full-fledged shopping, it is better to choose another place.

Cholakly

and leisurely rest. The entrance to the sea is gentle, with a sandy beach and there are all kinds of entertainment in the form of a zoo, animation, water park. There is no noisy nightlife here, with the exception of a few discos. There are almost no sights here, except for a mosque, so for the ancient ruins it is worth going to Side.

Security - what should you beware of?

The Side area is a tourist area, so it is enough to follow the usual security measures:

• leave valuables, documents and large sums of money in the hotel safe;
• do not leave things in the front seat of the car during stops.

All about holidays in Side (Türkiye) in 2020. Useful reviews tourists and tips. Price overview and list the best hotels. Is it worth going? Find out!

Due to the impressive number of exhibits from ancient times, the Turkish resort of Side is called an open-air museum. You can come to rest in Side to Turkey in April, the tourist season ends in October.

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When is the best time to visit Side?

Although the season officially begins in April, it is too early to talk about a beach holiday in Side in Turkey. This period is good for walking and active entertainment. During the day +20°С, at night +16°С, the water temperature is not higher than +18°С. In the second half, water and air warm up more strongly: during the day + 25 ° С, at night + 17 ° С, the sea + 20 ° С. The water is still invigorating, but some daredevils are already opening the season.

(Photo © booking.com / Trendy Verbena Beach Hotel)

Hotels for holidays in Side - 2020

Hotels for budget holiday in Side, as elsewhere in Turkey, most often located in the city. They are losing resort villages in terms of cleanliness and grooming of the coast and their own beaches, they do not have. However, the geography of recreation in Side is not limited to city hotels. In the nearby villages there are good hotels with a decent level of service and comfort.

Best hotels to stay in Side in 2020 according to the reviews of tourists:

Holidays in Side in 5-star hotels offer the service of the most high level. Most often, they have their own beaches; clubs, discos and SPA complexes operate on the territory.

The best all inclusive and ultra all inclusive hotels for a holiday in Side, tourists named the following:

Prices for all-inclusive holidays in Side - 2020

Prices for tours are for two people with departure from Moscow during the high season.

How much is a summer vacation in Side in 2020? So, an all-inclusive week in a 3* hotel costs from 50,000 rubles for two. A tour lasting 11 days on the same conditions will cost 20 thousand more. A week of rest in Side in 5-star hotels with all-inclusive meals will cost 80 thousand rubles. Additional 4 days of rest will increase the price of the ticket to 110 thousand.

(Photo © booking.com / Trendy Aspendos Beach Hotel)

Reviews about prices for holidays in Side - 2019-2020

Food. On vacation in Side, according to tourists, the prices for services are moderate. Dinner on the embankment will cost 1500-2000 rubles, lunch in a cafe somewhere away from the center is 30% cheaper. Kebab costs 300-500 rubles per serving, a serving of grilled meat or fish - from 500 rubles. Seasonal fruits are cheap, you can buy them in markets or supermarkets.

Beaches. Municipal beaches are quite clean and decent. There are toilets, changing cabins and children's playgrounds with attractions, there are rental offices. Sunbeds are inexpensive, on some beaches you can just buy a drink in a cafe and enjoy it in peace. For hotel guests, sunbeds are available freely, this service is usually included in the price.

Entertainment. On vacation in Side, as in other resorts in Turkey, tourists are popular active entertainment- rafting, jeep safari, parachuting over the sea, diving and yachting. Prices for all entertainment are different - from 1000 to 3000 rubles on average. The ladies will enjoy visiting the Turkish bath with various types massage and peeling - from 500 rubles per session.

(Photo © booking.com / Kamelya K Club & Aqua)

Prices for excursions

On average, the price of an excursion per person in Side in 2020 is 1500 rubles, the more participants in the group, the cheaper. How much is a trip to Pamukkale and popular tour Demre - Mira - Kekova. For a nominal fee of 150 rubles, you can join any excursion group and see the ancient ruins of Side or walk around the city center on your own.

A children's party on a pirate schooner costs 1000 rubles, an evening excursion on a boat costs 500 rubles. Airfare to Istanbul will cost 15 thousand. It makes sense to combine such an event with shopping. To visit Cappadocia, allocate at least 3 days and 3000 rubles per trip.

(Photo © Trudi90 / pixabay.com)

I have always considered Side the best resort on the Anatolian coast of Turkey. With its beauty, cleanliness of streets and parks, atmospheric sandy beaches and beautiful houses there is little that can be compared in this part of the country. There is interesting excursions for children and adults, but for me personally, Side has become one of those cities that will forever remain in my heart.

I spent more than three months in Side and I confirm that it is rightfully considered a unique resort. I liked everything about it: streets, antique sights, the usual Manavgat district, a waterfall and a river, diving and water parks! History and modernity, the resort atmosphere and traditional Turkish areas for local residents - everything is intertwined in this city, creating a firework of colors, eras, traditions, positive emotions and the joy of tourists.

I would advise absolutely everyone to go to Side - there is entertainment for both adults and children! Of all the resorts in Turkey, Side is in third place for me after the European Marmaris and the magical Oludeniz with a blue lagoon, and Side is the best resort on the Anatolian coast.

For me, it will forever remain a city in which it is not only good to relax, but also to live - to walk, breathe, watch and enjoy everything around. Despite the fact that Side is a rather miniature resort, it has a lot of entertainment for every taste. About this, and about many other things, I wrote in this guide.

How to get there

Side is located in Turkey, on the Anatolian coast, between Antalya and Alanya. There are only two ways to get to Side from Russia:

• by plane arriving at Antalya airport, then by bus to Side;
• on own car throughout Turkey.

Below I consider each of them in as much detail as possible.

By plane

Antalya Airport is located 65 km from Side. Regular and charter flights fly here from Russia. Also, this airport is connected by daily flights from Istanbul and Ankara. Tickets can be searched on well-known search engine sites or. So, there are several ways to fly here with regular flights:

• from Moscow with a transfer in Istanbul, the flight will last 3.5-4 hours, the cost will be from 11,500 rubles or 200 USD (round trip) from Turkish Airlines, Aeroflot, Pegasus, Azal and Transaero;
• direct from Moscow Moscow-Antalya lasts 2.5 hours - from 13,000 rubles (both ways) of Yamal, Aeroflot, Turkish Airlines;
• from St. Petersburg direct St. Petersburg-Antalya lasts 3.5 hours - from 22,000 rubles (both ways) for NordStar, Turkish Airlines, Island, Aeroflot, NordWind, Yamal, OnurAir;
• from St. Petersburg, the flight will last 4-4.5 hours, transfer in Istanbul, or Moscow, the cost is from 12,000 rubles (both ways) from Turkish Airlines (), Aeroflot () and Azal ().

In summer, direct charter flights run, tickets for which can be cheaper, but they need to be booked on time:

• from Moscow: charter -, a ticket costs from 4500 rubles in both directions (80 USD), check which charter companies serve flights to Antalya in 2017 after a break;
• from Saint-Petersburg: charter -, a ticket costs from 7,000 rubles in both directions (120 USD), check which charter companies serve flights to Antalya in 2017 after a break.

How to get from Antalya Airport to Side

You can get there in two ways:

• from Terminal 1 of Antalya Airport by bus that follows the route Airport - ask to stop in Side (Manavgat);
• by car rented at the airport along the following route:

By car

It is possible to drive to Side from Russia by car, although the journey will take about 38-50 hours from Moscow or St. Petersburg, will require many stops (at least 3-4 overnight stays in cities along the way) and, in some cases, ferry crossing.

So, there are two types of travel from Russia to Side:

• through European countries, then you will need, at a minimum, to pass through Ukraine (visa not needed), Romania (needed), Bulgaria (needed);
• through with a crossing on a car ferry - Trabzon (15 thousand rubles for a car).

The cost of gasoline for this distance (6,000 km from Moscow round trip and 7,500 km from St. Petersburg round trip) will be about 51 and 64 thousand rubles in both directions, respectively, for these cities. The cost is calculated at a consumption of 10 liters per 100 km and the cost of gasoline at 1.4 EUR (85 rubles) in Turkey. Refueling in Russia will be cheaper.

Side - holidays with children

Side is just perfect for families with children! Sunny, clean, positive, it is a convenient resort for moms, dads and their babies. In addition, there are very clean sandy beaches, small waves, beautiful walking areas and parks.

Side has many ideas for entertaining children:

• water parks;
• beach vacation;
• water sports on the eastern beaches (half of the options are suitable for children, eg banana, tablet, etc.);
• excursions to ancient cities (children are given maps, according to which they need to find this or that building);
• large hotels have swimming pools with slides, children's pools, mini-water parks;
• A boat trip on the Manavgat River has not disappointed any child yet.

So, if you decide to go to Turkey with a child or several children, I advise you not to hesitate and be sure to choose this particular resort. A couple more good resorts for families with children in Turkey -!

Rent a Car- also aggregation of prices from all distributors, all in one place, let's go!

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Founded in the 7th century BC e. natives of Kima Aeolian. For several centuries, Side was an important port of Pamphylia, located on the Malay Peninsula. Today the most popular Turkish beach resort annually receives thousands of tourists from different parts of the world who decide to spend their holidays on the beach mediterranean sea. Dozens built in Side variety of hotels, restaurants with national cuisine are open, and local travel agencies have developed an extensive excursion program.
The climate in the beach area of ​​Side is Mediterranean with dry and rather hot summers. The air temperature in the sea does not drop below +17°C even in winter, and in July-August the water warms up to +27°C. The swimming season starts on the beaches of the resort in early May and lasts until mid-November.

Choosing a beach

The old center of Side has two beach areas, each of which has its own characteristics:

• The western beach in the center of the resort is very popular with adherents of a quiet family holiday. The entrance to the sea in this part of the beach is gentle, the water warms up faster, there are no holes and dangerous currents. On West Beach, parents with children are usually located, for whom a comfortable and safe vacation is a priority. Of the minuses of the beach is its huge popularity among tourists and, as a result, the problem with finding places if you like to sleep long in the morning.
• On East Beach, lovers of solitude and silence will like it more. A strip of sand here is shaded by coniferous or orange trees, and civilization in the form of rental jet skis and parachutes for parasailing to the east gets very reluctantly.

If you prefer leisure and watch your fitness even during your vacation, a variety of entertainment awaits you on the seashore in Side. All kinds of water sports thrive on the resort's West Beach, from diving to fishing and from yachting to snorkelling. Equipment can be rented right on the beach.
The sea coast in Side is divided between hotels and you are unlikely to be allowed to freely get to the beach of an expensive hotel. And you can go to the municipal beaches freely, and you will only need cash to rent a sun lounger or umbrella.

Note to divers

The shores of Side are washed by the Mediterranean Sea, which is not one of the most beautiful on the planet in terms of the underwater world. And yet, divers come to the resort, and sunken objects become their main goal. Those who are keen on river diving in the vicinity of Side are invited to explore several sites that are of considerable value in the rating of such places.
The most popular diving site off the coast of Side is located near the old one. During the Second World War, a warship belonging to the French army sank here. An American plane rests in peace in the coastal waters of the resort, wrecked in combat in the 1940s. last century.
Fans of bright fish will enjoy an underwater walk to coral reefs - modest compared to other dive sites on the planet, but very attractive for novice athletes.
Dive training centers have been opened in Side. Courses can be attended even by ten-year-olds. Experienced instructors, including Russian speakers, will teach you the basics of underwater walks and organize the first dive sessions.

Children's rest in Side

Even the most ardent fans of seaside holidays can get bored of the monotony of the beach, and therefore the tourist infrastructure of Side provides for various active entertainment. The attention of young tourists is invited to visit water parks and nature reserves.
The nearest water park to the resort, Waterplanet, is built right on the seashore. One of the largest in the region, it has a wide range of attractions and entertainment. The water slides of the water park are thought out perfectly and arranged so that both kids and adults can enjoy skiing.
When choosing where to stay in Side, pay attention to hotels specializing in children's holidays. Many hotels have their own water parks and swimming pools with sea ​​water. This makes it possible to comfortably relax and swim even if the weather deteriorates for a short time and the sea becomes unsafe.

- this is one of the most popular holiday destinations on the Mediterranean coast for tourists who prefer such an optimal combination as excellent sandy beaches and the proximity of a large number of historical sites. And yet, Side pleases its guests with the cleanest sea, pine forest and endless orange gardens.

Side resort is a small but extremely cute town, located between the noisy, expensive Antalya and democratic, in terms of prices, Manavgat. The resort town is located sixty-eight kilometers from Antalya Airport, the transfer time usually takes from an hour to an hour and a half. The city of Side itself pleases the eye of travelers with interesting sights in the form of ancient Greek ruins, Muslim mosques, as well as old streets with authentic houses, cobblestone roads, beautiful yachts swaying on the waves of the turquoise sea, many restaurants and cafes serving delicious Turkish delicacies. and simply unforgettable coffee.

Climate of Side

You can relax in Side all year round, because the summers are hot here, and the winters are mild and wet. Locals say that tourists who are interested in the history of Side and its sights, as well as planning to make excursions from this city to other interesting places region, you should come in early spring or late autumn, when the air temperature outside becomes more comfortable and does not exceed twenty-five degrees. But in the summer it is really sultry here and in the sun the air temperature is up to forty-five degrees. But, thanks to this, the water in the sea warms up to twenty-nine degrees in the summer months. You can come to Side to relax in early May, when the water temperature is nineteen to twenty degrees, and by mid-May it reaches twenty-three degrees, which is also acceptable for families with children. At the end of October, the water in the sea is still at around twenty-two degrees, many swim here at the beginning of November, but these days there are sometimes short rains.

History of Side

Side is an ancient Greek settlement with a rich and turbulent history that officially began in the seventh century BC, when settlers from Aeolian Kima formed here small town, however, they did it on the site of an earlier settlement, which, translated from a pre-existing dialect, was called "Garnet". The Greeks very quickly led the town to prosperity, building the largest port on the peninsula, opening up many places for entertainment. Such an increase in wealth naturally attracted Cilician pirates to Side, who set up their shipyard here and began to bring slaves to the city for sale. When the Persian invaders conquered the area, they began to mint coins and develop trade further. Since 334, Side was captured without any effort by the soldiers of the famous commander Alexander the Great. This well-located settlement on the Mediterranean coast with a large port could not but attract various invaders of foreign territories, and soon Syria and Rhodes were already fighting for it, and a little later, the city was under the rule of the Romans. Then, in the second or third centuries of our era, it became the main center of the slave trade in the region, thanks to which it became incredibly rich. During this period, various public institutions and large villas of the rich began to be built in Side. From the fourth century in Side, local residents began to massively convert to the Christian faith. But in the period from the seventh to the ninth centuries, Side was conquered by the Arab conquerors, and local Christians began to leave it en masse. It even got to the point that it practically died out, becoming a "dead" city. Only since 1895, Side experienced a new round of development, when settlers from the Greek island of Crete landed on it to equip their community here. And the glory of the Turkish city of Side as a resort was assigned to this Mediterranean settlement in the seventies of the last century. With the construction of hotels, tourism began to actively develop here. A very attractive factor for travelers was that in addition to relaxing on the seashore, in Side you can get acquainted with its most interesting history and look at a great many sights left by the former owners of this territory. These same factors attract tourists to Side today. There are really a lot of ancient buildings, ruins of fortresses, city fortifications, however, they are partially flooded with water, so diving is incredibly popular in Side. Of interest is not only the settlement of Side itself, but also the resort areas and villages closest to it, of which there are a lot. Previously, they were all part of this large ancient city, so some of the sights of antiquity can be found there.

Resort villages and districts of the city of Side

The resort of Side includes the following areas, each of which is attractive in its own way: Titreyengol; Manavgat; Kumkay; Cholakly; Gundogdu; Kizilot; Sorgun; Kyzylagach.

This small area seven kilometers from the center of Side with excellent modern tourism infrastructure, numerous hotels and places for a comfortable stay, golden sandy beaches, magnificent pine forests.

A pleasant town, with a well-developed infrastructure, located ten kilometers from Side. Manavgat is famous for its chic nature, it stands on the river of the same name with banks indented with hidden grottoes, fantastic caves, surrounded pine forests And deep lakes. And here is one of the most attractive natural attractions of the region - beautiful waterfall Manavgat. Travelers who like to do it actively come here to rest, because there are amazing opportunities for rafting, horseback riding, and hiking.

This area is located three kilometers from the center of Side and is considered an ideal place for families with small children, thanks to the shallow bay. The entrance from the beach to the water is gentle and covered with fine, clean sand. The settlement of Kumköy is very beautiful, there are many hotels with large and well-landscaped areas.

It's another one perfect place to relax with children without noise in the evenings. The village is located fourteen kilometers from Side. There is also a beautiful sandy beach with a gentle entry into the water. For children's entertainment, there is a zoo, a water park, hotels provide babysitting services and excellent animators who will work with your child with pleasure. Of the minuses, one can note the poor greenery of the village, as well as the stones found on the beaches of some hotels, so when choosing accommodation, be sure to read the description of the hotel and the reviews of people who have already rested there before.

Another tourist area near Side, where they prefer to relax with small children, thanks to excellent local beach covered with yellow sand and a flat entrance to the sea, as well as long shallow water. There are many four and five star hotels, but Gündoğlu is devoid of lush green vegetation, it is more of a desert than an oasis.

miraculous resort area Side is surrounded by beautiful coniferous forests. Despite the fact that the village is only a couple of kilometers away from Side, it is very quiet and calm here, there is no noise from discos, but there are excellent hotels-clubs that own large and beautifully decorated territories. Basically, the beaches of Sorgun are sandy and pebbly and very long, there are concrete platforms in places to enter the water.

A small seaside village thirteen kilometers from Side, eighty kilometers from Antalya Airport and forty kilometers from. There are many wonderful hotels-clubs, wonderful sandy beaches, however, at the entrance to the water in places there are strips of pebbles, so take your swimming shoes with you. From natural beauties: a mountain river, a coniferous forest and the Taurus Mountains located nearby. There are also historical sights in Kyzylgach - ancient antique ruins.

The resort town of Side offers vacationers two huge beaches, occupying the eastern and western parts of the cape. Rest on them differs in a number of features, but both have long shallow water, which makes them safe for children's swimming. Both beaches have all the necessary infrastructure for tourists: sun loungers, umbrellas, cafes, bars, rentals, entertainment.

- a noisy, cheerful, crowded place for young people, families with children, people who love water activities and sports. Here you can have fun on various water rides, parasailing, windsurfing, water skiing or yachting. This resort area of ​​Side is distinguished by a more developed infrastructure, as well as the fact that numerous hotels are concentrated here. The beach of the western zone is covered with very fine white sand. The entrance to the water is gentle, it is smooth without holes and stones. In the evening, bars, casinos, clubs, restaurants and discos work right on the beach, and the most popular of them is Oxyde, there is a huge pool where young people excited by dancing love to jump.

- quieter, more secluded and calm, family tourists love to relax on them. The beach here is also covered with white sand, the entrance to the water is gentle and without bumps. A huge plus of relaxing on the beaches of the eastern cape of Side is that the sandy strip is framed by charming citrus orchards and cotton fields. Behind you will be mountains, the slopes of which are covered with pine trees. Along the coast there are many good hotels with green areas, and there are also many ancient ruins concentrated here.

Basically, hotels in the city of Side delight tourists with four and five stars, as well as traditional Turkish hospitality and oriental courtesy of the staff. Five-star hotels are complexes of several five-story buildings on the territory, where there is everything necessary for a comfortable stay of guests: swimming pools, spa centers, beauty salons, fitness rooms, shops, tour desks, discos, saunas and hamams, as well as everything that necessary for children: children's mini-water parks, swimming pools, playgrounds with swings, mini-clubs. At each hotel, nannies and animators provide their services.

It is worth saying that the hotel is different to the hotel, even in the range of five stars, despite colorful description some of them, studying the reviews of tourists, you can find a lot of complaints about this, both trifling and quite weighty. After analyzing the reviews of dozens of tourists, we made a selection of the best four and five star hotels in Side, where service, food, cleanliness and fullness of the territory, beach and entertainment turned out to be at the height.

Side: Alva Donna Beach Resort Comfort 5*"; Barut Hemera 5*; "Lake & River Side Hotel & Spa 5 *"; Otium Eco Club Side 5*; Seashell Resort & Spa 5*; «Kaya Side 5*».

Colakly: hotels «Kamelya Fulya Hotel 5*»; «VONRESORT Elite 5*»; "Club Side Coast 5*"; Kamelya Selin Hotel 5*.

Manavgat: Sueno Beach Side 5* hotels; Selge Beach Resort & SPA 5*.

Kyzylagach:«Starlight Resort Hotel 5*»; «Washington Resort & SPA 5*»; «Club Hotel Turan Prince World 5*».

Sorgun:"Ali Bey Resort Sorgun 5 *"; «TUI SENSATORI Resort Barut Sorgun 5*».

Kumkay: Cesar Resort 5*.

Titreyengel:«Grand Prestige Hotel & Spa 5*»; «Splashworld Pegasos World 5*»; Port River Hotel Spa 5*".

Kyzylot:«Crystal Admiral Resort Suites & SPA 5*».

Side:«Holiday Point Hotel City 4*»; Barut Acanthus & Cennet 4*; «Diamond Beach 4*»; Armas Bella Sun Hotel 4*; " Sun Club Side 4*»

Evrenseki: Barut B Suites 4*; Blue Paradise Hotel Side 4*.

Manavgat:«TUI SENSIMAR Barut Andiz 4*»; PALOMA Paradise Beach 4*; Club Sidelya holiday village 4*".

Colakly:"Seher sun beach 4*"; Orfeus Park 4*; Monachus Hotel & Spa 4*.

Titreyengel: Serra Park Hotel 4*; Venus 4*.

Kyzylagach:«TUI BLUE Palm Garden 4*».

Kumkay:"PrimaSol Hane Family Resort 4 *"; "Merve Sun 4*".

The resort Side is a Turkish "city-museum under the open sky", famous for dozens of historical architectural monuments ancient times. A unique feature of Side, which distinguishes it from the general range of marine ones, is that numerous interesting sights and ancient monuments harmoniously merge with the beautiful local nature and modern tourist infrastructure.

Sights of Side

Passing through the main gate of the city of Side, tourists find themselves on a large street that goes to the ancient Agora Square. Here, Kolonny Avenue starts from the theater, it has a length of two hundred and fifty meters and stretches across the entire peninsula, including through the historic ancient village of Selimiye. The avenue is so named due to the countless columns on both sides, which give it significance and grandeur. The street was laid out in huge blocks, and the pavement itself was decorated with elegant mosaics. Today, on both sides of the avenue there are oriental restaurants, souvenir shops, and this solemn street ends with the Temple of Artemis, standing on the seashore.

This Greek goddess of the hunt was the personification of the moon and the patroness of birth, marriage and death. A temple in her honor was built in Side in the second century from marble columns and Corinthian parapets. But today it is only the ancient ruins of five columns, however, tourists must visit this landmark of Side and take pictures with pleasure against its background.

A frequently photographed and visited tourist attraction of the Side resort is the snow-white marble Temple of Apollo, the god symbolizing the Sun and the patron of arts, science, medicine and travelers, more precisely, now only ancient ruins in the form of a high colonnade remain from the building.

This graceful temple was built on the seashore in the second century BC. Initially, it was decorated with six rows of nine-meter columns, each of which had eleven of them. A carved Corinthian parapet covered the top of the column. To date, only a few restored and restored columns have survived from the former majestic building, but this did not make tourists less interested in this most interesting ancient building in Side.

This huge, even in comparison with other similar structures, the amphitheater was built in Side in the Roman style in the second century AD and is designed to accommodate twenty thousand spectators. The theater was erected on a leveled platform, and its seats, ringing the structure in an inner circle, were installed on arches attached to the foundation of the building. The entrance was made through the galleries, then the visitors went to their seats up the stairs. The theatrical stage, as well as the vaults, were decorated with antique statues and elegant tiles. Of course, the decor has practically not been preserved since those times, now we can only see the remnants of its former grandeur and luxury: masks personifying Tragedy and Comedy, the heads of Medusa-Gorgon, which lie in a chaotic manner on the ancient stage. The Romans, who loved to attend fascinating spectacles, regularly went to this amphitheater to savor the bloody fights of gladiators with large predators, as well as to watch amazing sea battles, for the sake of imitation of which, the stage was filled with water. And to make the audience of the theater feel safe, the stage was surrounded by a one and a half meter wall. Since the fifth century, this ancient theater has become a Christian temple.

In ancient times, there were two agoras in the city of Side, that is, "market squares", but to this day only one has survived, the one near the theater. You can enter here through the main solemn entrance - "propylion". The agora is surrounded by granite columns with classical elements: "atik-ions" and "corinths". The agora has a wooden roof, and there are statues in the corners. At one corner, the agora merges with the theater stage, and behind it are beautifully decorated ancient toilets - "latriums" - the oldest premises of this type in Turkish Anatolia. This room had marble walls, mosaic floors, twenty-four seats, and under the seats, carved in stone, sewage flowed, which made it possible to maintain a good level of sanitation for those times. During its work, the agora was equipped with a pair of gates, behind which the spectators who were in the neighboring theater could take refuge here in the event of a sudden pirate attack, which was not so rare before. In the center of the market square of Side, tourists to this day can see the ruins of the temple of Tyche, the goddess who personified good luck, that used to stand here.

It is these gates that lead visitors to historical part the city of Side, and the road starting from them is the central street of the ancient settlement. The gate itself, six meters high, was built in the distant seventy-first year BC, in honor of the emperor Vespasian, who ruled here for seven decades. Although today they are dilapidated, it is not difficult to imagine how powerful and impressive the gates looked in those years. Towers stood on both sides of the gate, and from them came walls pierced with arched niches, where statues of important representatives of the city's nobility and the emperor himself at the head were installed.

This once-monumental water feature was built opposite the Great Arched Gate in the second century in honor of the Roman emperor Vespasian and his heir son Titus. The Nymphaeum Fountain towered over a huge pool, which was filled by an aqueduct from the waters of the Manavgat River. Previously, the fountain had three floors, but today tourists see it as two-story. It was a very monumental structure, five meters high and thirty-five meters wide, with numerous niches of marble through which water flowed, as well as columns, statues and frescoes. Of course, now it is difficult to imagine all the charm and scope of the ancient fountain, now this can be done only by using imagination and composing in your imagination from the parts and decor elements stored in the museum, the final version of the Nymphaeum.

All important archaeological finds ever made on the territory of the resort city of Side were sent to the city Museum of Ancient Art. Most of the exhibits presented here were collected between 1947 and 1967. Each museum hall is dedicated to a particular time period. There is a lot of interesting things here: ancient bas-reliefs, altars, sarcophagi, torsos, portraits, statues, however, they are almost all without heads, because this is how the Christians who came to the city did with the rich historical and cultural heritage, trying to overcome the idolatry of Rome.

This rich city mediterranean coast has long attracted pirates here - those who like to profit from good at someone else's expense. That is why in the second century BC, the city authorities surrounded the whole of Side with a huge fortress wall with observation and defensive towers. This wall is well preserved and now, however, it is a little worse from the sea, but still it is simply amazing for such ancient building not once disturbed by earthquakes. The wall went from the main city gates for six kilometers and covered the peninsula. In some places, the walls reach three meters in thickness, and ten meters in height. For more effective defense, they are equipped with many loopholes and towers.

Ancient baths were built near the port in the third century. The order for their construction was given by the city authorities, because there was a tradition in Side: all guests who arrived in the city by sea were first sent to the bathhouse to wash for the purpose of disinfection and only then they were allowed into the city. The old port baths are now preserved only in fragments in the form of ruins, but earlier it was a large building sixty by forty meters, with four halls and three small rooms decorated with marble and covered with mosaic floor tiles. The heating system was hidden under the floor. Years later, two halls were attached to the bathhouse, where it was possible to do gymnastic exercises. This landmark of Side has a great historical and archaeological value, which is why many tourists regularly visit these ruins.

This landmark of the resort town is a vivid example of Byzantine architecture and is the oldest building of its kind in Turkey. The basilica and palace date back to the sixth century BC. The basilica is a square building with an altar and seats for worshipers, as well as a baptismal room and marble pools in it. Next to the basilica stood the bishop's palace with vaulted roofs, and between them was a tomb - "martrion".

A small episcopal chapel adjoined the palace. This huge complex was once surrounded by a beautiful garden, an area of ​​almost ten thousand square meters. Of course, the years have done their job with this majestic architectural complex, and now it is practically reduced to ruins, however, connoisseurs of culture and art must visit this ancient attraction of the resort Side.

Walking around Side without a guide, it is very difficult to see behind the small fragments of the ruins the once large and majestic temple of Dionysus, built here in the third century BC in honor of the patron god of inspiration. Previously, the temple measured seven by seventeen meters, it was decorated with high columns resting on a granite base. This temple was adjacent to Kolonny Avenue and the amphitheater.

This interesting side citadel was built on mountain top in order to protect the settlement from enemy attacks from land and sea. And it was also a major transshipment base for merchants traveling along the Silk Road, which passed through the ancient city of Side. When trade ties weakened, the Alarakhan fortress lost strategic importance. Over time, it began to crumble. And today it is the hallmark of Side and its often photographed attraction. From here you can admire the views of the ancient settlement and the sea surface for miles.

And this attraction of Side is worth visiting for tourists who come on vacation with children. On the territory of the park you will meet forty mechanized dinosaurs that can growl, move, which looks quite natural. And there are terrariums, aquariums, an amusement park and a zoo. The amusement park has a cafe and souvenir shop.

This is another attractive attraction located near the ancient resort town of Side in the city of Belek, namely the Rixos Premium Belek Hotel. This one, one of the most famous, is famous for its authenticity and originality of design. It has been operating since 2005, and its main attraction is the Trojan Horse, which, according to the Turks, was filmed in the movie Troy.

Excursions in Side and neighboring areas

Tourists vacationing on the sea resort town Side, interesting excursions are offered both in the city itself and in more remote corners and cities of Turkey. Let's get acquainted with the most popular of them.

- . During this interesting bus tour, which is possible for both one and two days, tourists visit the famous "Cotton Castle" - geothermal springs, the water from which accumulates in snow-white travertines, where you can swim. In addition, you can swim in the ancient "Cleopatra Baths", famous for unique composition water, which is considered healing. And yet, you will get acquainted with the ruins of the ancient majestic city of Hierapolis with many buildings, which dates back to the second century BC, but was partially destroyed during a terrible earthquake.

- a one-day pilgrimage to the Church of St. Nicholas of Myra, as well as acquaintance with the Lycian rock tombs. The guides speak of a local belief that if an unmarried girl touches the tomb of St. Nicholas, whose relics were here until they were transported to Italian Bari, then by the end of the year she would certainly get married. It is very interesting to visit the city of Kekova sunken during the earthquake on a boat with a transparent bottom. There in the depths, under your feet is Big city with a variety of public buildings, private houses. But you can’t swim here, because this is a protected archaeological zone.

A two-day trip to various Turkish provinces of Asia Minor, which have long been united by the name, which means "Land of Beautiful Horses" in translation. The route takes a couple of days, but it's worth the time, because you have to see the mysterious - real lost worlds Derinkuyu and Kaymakli, which are under the protection of UNESCO, as well as visit the majestic Goreme Park, where there are unusual stone formations in the form of mushrooms. With the onset of twilight, a Turkish night feast awaits you with national treats, songs and dances.

- you can easily visit this route on your own, because the symbol of the country is located near Side. The water from the waterfall flows into the sea and you will have a great opportunity to plunge into its cool jets, beating from a two-meter height.

- the route will take you to ancient settlement in the Manavgat region, which was founded high on a mountain surrounded by forest thickets, by the inhabitants of ancient Side in the fourth century BC. This settlement was a place where they could hide from danger during the attack of pirates. For reliability, Seleucia was surrounded by powerful nine-meter walls. There was only one gate here, so that it was possible to send forces for defense to only one point. This ancient city is perfectly preserved to this day.

- this settlement is hidden twenty kilometers from Side among a pine forest. It originated in the year 300 BC, but scientists began to study and excavate here only in the seventies of the last century, and during this time they discovered a great many magnificent examples of ancient art, which are now in the Historical Museum. In the city itself, you can walk along the cobbled streets of Lirbe, well-preserved and cleared from under layers of sand and earth, look at the ruins of public buildings, squares and fragments of architectural decoration that once adorned them.