Side is a good base because it sits in the middle: Antalya is about 75 km to the west, Alanya about 65 km to the east, Manavgat is next door, and the Taurus mountains start twenty minutes inland. That also means every day trip is a choice of direction. Here is how the four compare, from years of driving guests to all of them.
West: Antalya, Perge and Aspendos
The drive to Antalya takes about an hour and a quarter. The classic day is the old town of Kaleiçi with its harbour and the Düden waterfalls, with free time in the bazaar. History lovers take the other western day instead: the Roman city of Perge and the theatre at Aspendos, with a stop at Kurşunlu waterfall. Both are full days; start early, because the sites are hot by noon.
East: Alanya
Alanya is about an hour along the coast. The day is the Seljuk castle on the peninsula, the Red Tower and harbour, Damlataş cave and, on some departures, the cable car. Sapadere Canyon, a boardwalk walk through a gorge to a swimming pool, is often combined with it. Alanya is the better choice if you want a city with a beach and a castle in one day.
Next door: Manavgat
Manavgat is the market town Side belongs to, ten minutes away. Its waterfall is low and wide rather than tall, and the riverside is a pleasant hour with tea and a boat. The Monday and Thursday markets are the real reason to go. Manavgat is a half-day, not a full one, and easy to reach by dolmuş.
North: the Taurus mountains
Inland is where the adventure days are. The Green Canyon reservoir behind the Oymapınar dam is forty minutes away, for the boat trip or the jeep safari. Köprülü Canyon, about an hour and a half, is the rafting river. Altınbeşik cave with its underground lake and the stone village of Ormana, and the Eagle Canyon and Selge day, are the quieter mountain options.
Which one, for whom
- Families with young children: the Green Canyon boat trip, then Manavgat. Save Köprülü rafting for children of about seven and up.
- First visit, one history day: Perge and Aspendos, and walk Side's own ancient city on another evening for free.
- City, shopping and a castle: Alanya, or Antalya if you prefer a bigger old town.
- Adventure: Köprülü rafting one day, a jeep or quad safari another. They are in different directions and do not fit in one day.
How many day trips fit a week
Two or three. The coast road and the summer heat add up, and Side itself deserves an evening or two. A good week is one mountain day, one history or city day, and one boat day, with beach days between them.
Booking notes
All of these run with hotel pickup from the Side hotel areas, and most can be booked the day before as long as the departure has seats and its booking cut-off has not passed. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the tour. See the full lists on our Side excursions, rafting, boat trips and jeep safari pages.
Frequently asked questions
Which is closer to Side, Antalya or Alanya?
Alanya, slightly: about 65 km and an hour, against Antalya's 75 km and an hour and a quarter. Traffic near Antalya can add time in high season.
Is Manavgat worth a day?
It is worth a half-day: the waterfall, the riverside and, on Monday or Thursday, the market. Combine it with a beach afternoon.
Can I do Köprülü rafting and the Green Canyon boat trip on the same day?
No. They are in different valleys, and each is a full day. Rafting is on a fast river; Green Canyon is a calm reservoir cruise. Book them on separate days.
Do day trips pick up from Kumköy, Evrenseki and Çolaklı?
Yes. Hotel pickup is included across the Side region; you choose your hotel when booking and receive the pickup time by WhatsApp.
