Side Travel Guide: Roman Ruins, Beaches & Antalya Airport Transfers

Side is the resort that lets you have it both ways. On one side of the peninsula, the Temple of Apollo stands right on the water, its white columns glowing at sunset; behind it lie a Roman amphitheatre, colonnaded streets and a museum in a former bath-house. On the other side, modern Side is a long sweep of sandy beach, easy restaurants and all-inclusive hotels. You can walk among 2,000-year-old ruins in the morning and be back on a sunbed by lunch — which is exactly why families and couples keep coming back.

The pull of Side is history you can actually touch. Unlike a museum, the old town is lived-in: cafés and shops thread between the ancient walls, and the Temple of Apollo is free to wander. It gives a beach holiday a sense of place that pure resort strips lack.

The beaches do the rest. West Beach is long, sandy and gently shelving — ideal for children — while the eastern side near Sorgun is quieter and backed by pine. The water is warm from June well into October. Around Side, the resorts range from big family all-inclusives to smaller boutique places in the old town.

Just inland, Manavgat adds a waterfall, a river boat trip and a lively market; the Köprülü Canyon (rafting) and the ancient site of Aspendos with its astonishing intact theatre are both short drives. Side rewards the curious without ever being far from the beach.

Side is roughly 65 km east of Antalya Airport (AYT), about a 70-minute drive down the D-400. It is a simple coastal route, but long enough that comfort matters — this is not a 15-minute hop.

That length is also why the transport choice counts. A taxi meter on a 70-minute run gets expensive, and a shared shuttle stopping at other resorts can stretch the journey past two hours. A private transfer keeps it direct and fixed: from €45 per vehicle with WeCare, met inside arrivals, flight tracked, child seats free, paid on the day. Book the Antalya Airport → Side transfer here.

Your driver meets you in the AYT arrivals hall with a name board, helps with the luggage, and takes the coastal highway straight to your Side or Sorgun hotel. With young children and beach gear, having one vehicle to yourselves — air-conditioned, with a comfort stop on request — makes the 70 minutes pass easily. You arrive at the door, not a drop-off point on the main road.

• Old town vs Sorgun: stay in or near the old town if you want to walk to the ruins and restaurants; choose Sorgun or Kumköy for quieter, pine-backed beaches.
• Sunset at the Temple of Apollo is the photo everyone takes — arrive 30 minutes before.
• Half-day trips: Manavgat waterfall and market, Aspendos theatre, and Green Canyon boat tours are all close. A private driver for the day beats juggling dolmuş minibuses.
• Best time: late May–June and September are ideal; midsummer is hot and busy.

How far is Side from Antalya Airport? About 65 km, a 70-minute drive on the D-400.

How much is a transfer to Side? From €45 per vehicle with a private WeCare transfer, fixed at booking — shared between your whole party.

Can I see the Roman ruins easily? Yes — the Temple of Apollo and old town are free to walk, right in the resort; the amphitheatre is a few minutes away.

Is Side good for families? Very — long gentle beaches plus enough history and day trips to keep everyone happy.

Should I pre-book the transfer? For a 70-minute route, yes — a fixed price and a waiting driver are well worth it. Reserve here.