It is worth half a day, or a stop on a longer day, but not a full day on its own. The Manavgat waterfall is a broad, low cascade on the Manavgat river, about 8 km and a 15 to 20 minute drive from Side: pleasant with tea by the water, and worth 45 to 90 minutes. It works best combined, with the town market on Mondays and Thursdays, or with a day that continues inland to the Oymapınar dam and Green Lake.
What you actually see
The river spreads across a wide rock ledge and drops a few metres into a pool, with paths, cafés and souvenir stalls around it. There is an entrance fee to the waterfall area. It is a short, easy visit that suits families and older travellers, not a walk or a swim.
The river boats
From Manavgat town, boats also cruise down the river towards the sea as a relaxed half-day, and on market days many combine the cruise with time in the bazaar. If you only have room for one day on the water, the trips inland to Green Lake and Green Canyon have more striking scenery.
The easiest way to combine it
Our guided day with an electric catamaran cruise starts at the Manavgat waterfall, continues to an orange grove and a village house for fresh gözleme, stops at the Oymapınar dam, and reaches Green Lake for lunch at a lakeside restaurant and a catamaran cruise, with a visit to the Külliye mosque in Manavgat on the way back. It takes about seven hours with hotel pickup and costs €25 per adult and €15 per child aged 3 to 11. In 2026 it runs from 29 September to 15 November. On other dates, the Green Lake boat and cabrio bus day (8 hours, €20 per adult, €15 per child) also stops at the waterfall for about 30 minutes. The waterfall entrance is optional and not included on either tour. Dates and live prices are on the tour page.
When to choose a bigger waterfall instead
If waterfalls are the point of your day, the Kurşunlu waterfall is taller and more dramatic than Manavgat. It is the first stop on our Antalya old town day and the last stop on the Perge and Aspendos day, which runs from March 2027; its entrance fee is not included on either tour. Both are on our Side excursions page, and our guide to day trips from Side compares the directions.
Frequently asked questions
How far is the Manavgat waterfall from Side?
About 8 km, or 15 to 20 minutes by car, just north of Manavgat town.
Is there an entrance fee for the Manavgat waterfall?
Yes, an entrance fee is charged at the waterfall area. On our tours it is optional and not included in the price.
When is the Manavgat market?
On Mondays and Thursdays in Manavgat town.
Is the Manavgat river boat trip worth it?
For a relaxed half-day with children or older travellers, yes. If you have time for only one day on the water, Green Lake or Green Canyon inland has more striking scenery.
What happens if it rains?
The guided day with the electric catamaran cruise and the Green Lake boat and cabrio bus day both go ahead in the rain. We call a tour off only for a storm or when it is unsafe, and whenever we cancel, you get back everything you paid.
If I don't want to go, do I get my money back?
Yes, if you cancel in time: cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the tour starts, with a full refund of what you paid. For later cancellations and no-shows, see our cancellation and refund page.
Which months are the busiest?
Across all our tours, August had the most guests on our 2026 bookings, followed by July and October. The electric catamaran and cabrio bus days have too few bookings to rank months on their own.
Can my 2-year-old come, and is it suitable for someone with walking difficulties?
No, children under 3 cannot join either tour; children aged 3 to 11 pay €15 in 2026, and from 12 the adult price applies. The electric catamaran day is not suitable for people with mobility impairments, and the cabrio bus day is not recommended for people with walking disabilities.
Can we swim, and can non-swimmers come?
On the Green Lake boat and cabrio bus day you can swim during the boat trip on Green Lake, and swimwear is on the packing list for both tours. Swimming is optional, so non-swimmers can join and stay on board.
Do you pick us up from our hotel, and at what time?
Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included on both tours, from hotels in Side, Sorgun, Titreyengöl, Kumköy, Evrenseki, Gündoğdu and Çolaklı. Choose your hotel under "Check your pickup area" on the tour page to see whether it is covered and its pickup time. On the electric catamaran day, hotels in Side old town use the "Side Anadolu Türkü Evi" meeting point, and we send its Google Maps link the day before.
Is lunch included, and what should I bring?
Lunch is included on both tours (on the electric catamaran day at the Gölbaşı Restaurant on Green Lake), but drinks are not. Bring swimwear, sunscreen, a sun hat, sunglasses and a camera, and wear comfortable clothes on the cabrio bus day.
