Side: An ancient city on the Mediterranean coast

Side lies on the Mediterranean coast. If you are looking for hotels in Side, the theater, temples, Side Museum, and historic streets can help you decide what to focus on during your stay. The destination combines an ancient urban landscape with its Mediterranean setting.

Ancient City and Peninsula

The ancient city of Side was founded on a peninsula 350 to 400 meters wide; Manavgat lies seven kilometers to the southwest. The monumental main street began at the Great Gate and led to a large square near the temples. This sequence of gate, street, and square gives a concrete impression of how the ancient urban landscape was laid out: the street connected the entrance with a square near the temples.

Theater and Temples

The ancient theater stands out for the distinctive design of its stage building and seating rows. The stage building has three stories. Some of the seating rows are set into an artificial slope formed by arches and vaults. Architecturally, this construction is considered unique in Anatolia. Thus, the theater’s architecture is shaped not only by its size but also by the way its seating areas are arranged. When visiting the Temple of Apollo, it is worth experiencing the sunset if possible.

Side Museum in the Ancient Bathhouse

Side Museum is located in the Agora Bathhouse. Its first construction phase dates to the 2nd century AD; the bathhouse was modified in the 5th and 6th centuries AD. The covered exhibition areas extend across preserved original rooms of the ancient bathhouse: the Laconicum, or Sudatorium, the Caldarium, and the Tepidarium. The building’s architecture is therefore also part of the exhibition setting. Most of the objects on display in the museum were recovered during excavations in the ancient city of Side beginning in 1947. During the museum’s renovation in 2024, newly recovered excavation finds were added to the collection and displayed for the first time in themed display cases. The building’s history, spatial layout, and the provenance of the objects thus bring together several aspects of Side’s history.

Street Life, Performances, and the Mediterranean

In Side, you can walk through the lively streets by day and night and visit shops where ancient remains are preserved beneath glass floors. Ancient traces can therefore be found not only at individual buildings but also in the city’s streets and shops. The Roman theater is still used for performances today. If you would like to plan your trip around a performance, check the schedule in advance. In the area around Side, swimming in the Mediterranean is described as an option to combine with a visit to the ancient city.

More destinations: Karaöz, Kaleücagız, Okurcalar, Çıralı, Kızılağaç Köyü, Ulucak Köyü, Serik, Muratpasa.

For the regional travel overview: Antalya.