The City That Named Itself After a Pomegranate
The name "Side" means "pomegranate" in the ancient Luwian language — a reminder that this city predates Greece and Rome, once spoke its own tongue, minted its own coins, and worshipped its own gods. Today, that same narrow peninsula holds café tables between ancient columns, crowds photographing a sunset over the Temple of Apollo, and concert audiences sitting in a 2,000-year-old theatre. Side is one of the few places on earth where antiquity and everyday life have never really separated.
A History of Empire and Piracy
Side's history stretches back to the 8th century BC, when it was already the primary port city of the Pamphylian region. By the 1st century BC, the city had fallen under the grip of pirates from Pisidia and Cilicia; unable to resist them, the Sidetians were forced to open their harbour and markets to the raiders. Order was restored in 78 BC when the Roman consul Publius Servilius cleared the region, and Side was absorbed into the Roman Empire.
What followed was Side's golden age. The grand theatre, temples, and colonnaded streets that visitors walk today were largely built during this Roman flourishing.
What to See
The Temple of Apollo is Side's defining image — five Corinthian columns rising against the sea, turning gold at sunset. Built in the 2nd century AD alongside the adjacent Temple of Athena, this is arguably the most photographed ancient structure on the Turkish Mediterranean coast. Come in the late afternoon; the light is extraordinary.
The Ancient Theatre is an architectural rarity. Its unique plan makes it the only example of its kind in Anatolia, combining a Hellenistic semicircular layout with Roman construction techniques. With a capacity of 17,000 spectators, it sits at the narrowest point of the peninsula and still hosts cultural events in summer. Note that it may be closed during restoration periods — check before visiting.
The Side Museum occupies a beautifully restored Roman bathhouse in the heart of the ancient city. It was the first museum in Turkey to open in a village, and its collection of sculptures and archaeological finds from local excavations is well worth an hour.
The Colonnaded Main Street once ran from the Great Gate all the way to the temple square at the tip of the peninsula. Lined with Corinthian-capitalled porticos and shops on both sides, sections of this street have been restored and give a vivid sense of the city's Roman-era grandeur.
Glass Floor Walkways — in several parts of the town, glass panels set into the ground reveal ancient ruins directly beneath your feet. A small but genuinely striking detail.
A Living Ancient City
The modern village of Selimiye was founded by Cretan immigrants at the beginning of the 20th century, built directly on top of Side's ruins. This layered history means Side feels nothing like an open-air museum. Restaurants occupy restored old houses, bars open onto ancient walls, and the streets between ruins are full of people going about their day. It is exactly as chaotic and alive as it sounds — and entirely worth it.
Practical Information
- Location: Manavgat district, 75 km east of Antalya city centre.
- Getting there: By car via the D400 highway toward Manavgat, then follow signs for Side/Selimiye. By public transport: bus from Antalya to Manavgat, then dolmuş to Side.
- Parking: The historic town centre is closed to vehicles; car parks available at the entrance.
- Entrance: The ancient city is largely free to enter. The theatre and museum charge separate fees; MüzeKart accepted.
- Time needed: 3 hours for the main sites; a full day if you want to eat, explore, and catch the sunset.
- Best time to visit: April–May and September–October. Midsummer is hot and very crowded. For the sunset at the Temple of Apollo, arrive in late afternoon.
- Combine with: Manavgat Waterfall and Aspendos make a natural full-day circuit from the same base.
