Side (pronounced See-day) is a small resort town located on the southern coast of Turkey next to the Mediterranean Sea. Steeped in rich Greek and Roman history with two beautiful sandy beaches, Side has become a popular tourist destination.
Side has a mixture of archaeological sites with modern tourist facilities. If you are into sightseeing and history the Temple of Apollo, Greek Amphitheatre and Aspendos Bridge are all worth a visit. Amazingly they are still well intact today from years of careful preservation. But if you are more into sports and adventurous activities there is an extensive range of water sports on Side's two beaches from parasailing to banana boats and jeep safaris over the Taurus Mountains.
This coastal resort is also close to some of the best golf courses in the whole of Turkey which play host to Championship tournaments. Golf enthusiasts from all over the world are starting to migrate here during the winter months to play on these world class golf courses.
Natural attractions
If you want to take in some of the natural surroundings Turkey has to offer there are plenty of locations in and around Side to pick from.
Pamukkale (Turkish for "cotton castle") Hot Springs is a protected UNESCO site due its extraordinary natural beauty. Here the mineral-rich water rises from the earth at a temperature of 35C to form natural pools which can be used as soothing baths. White coloured stalactites form over the edge of these pools due to the high carbonate minerals that gather up as the water flows over.
Just a short drive away from Side is Manavgat Waterfalls. This is a great place to escape from the heat for a while and enjoy a Turkish ice-cream. You can also travel here onboard one of the tour boats which depart from Side's beaches.
A visit to the Taurus Mountains is also a great way to discover some of the natural beauty Turkey has to offer. There are many bike, horse riding and walking tours which can take you through this stunning mountain range. If you also venture further into the mountains, ruins of a Byzantine monastery can be found in a deep valley cave.
Horse riding
Even though it is prohibited to ride along Side Beach there are plenty of other places to ride along near the resort such as the Tauras Mountains or Sorgun Forest.
Horse riding tours can usually be booked from most hotels in Side, but the Sorgun Ranch provides riding lessons and daily tours around some of the most scenic routes in Turkey. The ranch rides Western style using well trained Haflingers, Arabs and European bred horses perfect for all abilities.
Golf
Turkey is quickly transforming into one of the world's best golfing destinations. Many of the courses have been designed by leading architects to make them both challenging and visually stunning. The area around Antalya and Belek, not far from Side hosts some of the most prestigious courses in Europe, so they are definitely worth a try.
Between the Tauras Mountains and Southern Mediterranean Sea lies the LykiaLinks Antalya Golf Course voted as one of the top 100 golf course in Europe. This 18-hole professional course includes a well equipped Proshop with an excellent restaurant and bar.
Gloria Golf Club is about an hours drive from Side but it is certainly worth the journey. This is the largest golf resort in Turkey compromising of 45-holes, designed by the well known French architect Michel Gayon. Another stunning course to tee off from is National Golf Course Antalya designed by Ryder Cup player David Feherty. This renowned 18-hole course has also played host to international tournaments in the past.
Golf enthusiasts will adore Antalya Golf Club made up of two courses; PGA Sultan and The Pasha. In 2012 some of the world's finest golf professionals including Tiger Woods, Lee Westwood and Rory Mcilroy played on PGA Sultan making it even more popular for tourists. Both of these courses are recommended as two of the best in the whole of the country so there is no reason to miss out.
Cycling, mountain and quad biking
Side has a perfect terrain for cycling and mountain biking from pedalling along the Mediterranean coast to taking a more adventurous route through the Taurus Mountains.
Bike in Turkey offers quality off road bikes for hire or guided tours along some of the most scenic routes in the area, such as along the Manavgat Lake or through the ancient ruins in Side. But you must be aware that some of these routes can be more taxing for beginner cyclists, so it is best to check beforehand the level of the tour you choose to go on.
Jeep safari
The rocky terrains of the nearby Taurus Mountains provide a perfect playground for jeep and buggy safaris.
If you fancy an adventurous day out VIGOTOUR offers a day long jeep safari through the Tauras Mountains and countryside of Side. You will race through picturesque pine forests, Rocky Mountains and water streams. The same tour operator also provides an off road two-seater Buggy Safari out of Side into the nearby mountains passing through traditional Turkish villages and woodlands.
Historical sites
There are many Roman ruins and other sites of historical interest dotted around Side or if you don't mind travelling out of the resort you could visit Aspendos which houses one of the best preserved Amphitheatres outside of Italy.
Legend has it the Temple of Apollo was given as a gift to Cleopatra by her lover Mark Antony. This well preserved temple is over 2,000 years old and is located by the harbour of Side. A short walk away is the Greek Amphitheatre which overlooks Side Beach. In the summer months this theatre is open for opera performances and Turkish culture folklore shows. At only 10 lira this is well worth a visit.
Within walking distance from most restaurants and bars in Side is the harbour. This ancient port was founded by the Greeks and became a place for slave markets and pirates until the arrival of tourism in Turkey.
The Aspendos Roman Amphitheatre is one of the best preserved Roman theatres in the world. This impressive theatre was constructed in the 2nd Century AD and can accommodate up to 12,000 spectators. In the height of the tourist season a ballet and opera festival is held, you will also find actors dressed as gladiators, so you better have your camera ready.
However, if you want to escape from the overcrowded tourist attractions visit the Eurymedon (Aspendos) Bridge which was built in the Roman era over the Köprüçay River. This extremely well preserved bridge sits in the picturesque part of town near the Aspendos ruins.
World Heritage Site Cappadocia may be miles away from Side in the middle of Turkey, but its stunning beauty is not to be missed. This magical region was carved out from ancient volcanic eruptions to create a honeycomb like landscape into the rock face. There are many tours that go to this underground city offering a wide variety of services from hot air balloons to walking tours. Antalya Tours, Magic Valley Private Tours and VIGOTOUR are some of the main tour providers setting off from Side, Antalya, Sorgun, Istanbul and other major cities in Turkey. But be warned it is at least a six-hour coach journey to get to Cappadocia from Side.
Museums
There is one main museum in Side and a few in the city of Antalya, around 75km away, where you can learn more about the rich history of the area.
The Side Museum was originally a Roman bath but today it has been transformed into a small museum holding ancient artefacts from the Roman and Byzantine era. Marvel at the beautifully sculpted statues, skeletons, portraits and tombs for only ten lira.
If you don't mind venturing out further the Antalya Museum located in the city of Antalya on the south-western coast of Turkey houses approximately 30,000 artefacts based on ancient history. There are 13 exhibition halls here which cover anything from the Roman emperors to elaborate ceramic works.
Water-based fun
There are many water sport activities located in Side, many of the hotels also provide their own facilities on the beach front.
If you want to explore what's under the Mediterranean Sea Silver Diving Centre offers a variety of diving courses for all abilities located on the harbours edge. Their experienced instructors not only run some of the best diving courses in the region but they also work hard to maintain the depths of the ocean.
For those in search of adrenaline packed water sports Traum Water Sport provides unforgettable parasailing trips off the shores of Side. They also rent out banana boats, jet skis and water skiing for endless water-based fun. Whilst if you don't mind taking a short trip out of Side for the day Alpine rafting offers heart stopping white-water rafting on the Koprulu River running out of the nearby Taurus Mountains.
You can also enjoy a relaxing boat trip along the coast of Side and around the beautiful Dolphins Island on The Dolphin Island Boat Cruise. You may even be lucky enough to see dolphins and turtles swimming alongside the boat.