Side Beach

Side was once a little fishing village with a rich and ancient heritage. Pronounced “sea-day”, which incidentally translates as pomegranate, Side exists on the site of what was an ancient Pamphylian city. The old town is set on a headland with ancient walls; beaches stretch out in both directions and the area is home to a wealth of archealogical treasures.

Things have moved on a little since the halcyon days of the 1950s when Side first began to attract visitors. Primarily attracted for the abundance of ancient sites the expanses of beautiful empty beaches did not go unnoticed. Over the ensuing years many hotels popped up along the beach front and the old town became the tourist centre with shops, cafes, and restaurants.

There are two sndy beaches at Side; one to the west of the beach which is a long stretch backed by hotels and resorts. The east beach is very different. East Side Beach is still largely in its natural state, backed by sand dunes it has escaped the developers shovels owing to the ruins of an Apollonian temple right behind the beach.

The main Side beach with its long crescent of sand is a place for both relaxing and enjoying yourself. The water is warm and calm making it perfect for taking a dip or something a little more active. You can rent a boat, go diving, or enjoy parasailing. This is also a great place to watch the sunset.

When you go to downtown Side, you will find the modern conveniences or bars, restaurants, and a nightclub among the ruins. If you want to take a day trip, you the Manavgat waterfalls are well worth visiting. For history buffs there are three other ancient cities in the vicinity: Perge, Selge, and Aspendos.