Side is one of the few places on this coast where the ancient city and the holiday town are the same place. The peninsula the Romans built on is still the old town: the shops sit inside the colonnaded street, the harbour restaurants face the temple, and the theatre rises behind the bus stop. This walk takes about two hours at an easy pace and needs no ticket until you choose to go inside something.
Start: the Vespasian gate and the colonnaded street
Walk in from the main gate where the road from Manavgat ends. The monumental gate and the fountain beside it date from the first century AD, and the street behind them, once lined with columns, runs straight through the city to the harbour. The columns you see re-erected along it are original; the shops between them are not, but the plan of the street is exactly the Roman one.
The theatre
Halfway along, the theatre is the biggest structure in Side and one of the best-preserved Roman theatres in Türkiye. It was built free-standing on arches rather than into a hillside, which is why it looks so tall from the street. It is a ticketed site; allow half an hour to climb to the top row for the view over the town and the sea.
The agora and the museum
Opposite the theatre, the agora was the market square; its round temple foundation in the middle was dedicated to Tyche, the goddess of fortune. Across the road the Roman baths house the Side Museum, a small, well-presented collection of statues and sarcophagi found in the city. The museum is ticketed and air-conditioned, which matters in July.
The harbour and the Temple of Apollo
Follow the street to the harbour and turn left along the water. The five re-erected columns of the Temple of Apollo stand at the tip of the peninsula next to the foundations of its twin, the Temple of Athena. This is free to visit, open all the time, and the most photographed spot in Side. Come for the last hour before sunset: the light is on the columns and the day-trip groups have gone.
Practicalities
- Cost: the streets, gate, agora and Temple of Apollo are free. The theatre and the museum charge entry; a combined museum pass for the region covers both.
- Time: two hours for the walk, three if you go into the theatre and museum.
- Heat: in summer walk before 10:00 or after 17:00. There is little shade on the harbour side.
- Getting there: from Side centre it is on foot. From Kumköy, Evrenseki, Çolaklı or Titreyengöl take the dolmuş or a taxi to the Side gate; cars stop at the car park outside the old town.
- With a guide: the ancient city is included in several guided day trips from Side, listed on our Side excursions page.
Frequently asked questions
Is Side old town free to visit?
Yes. Walking the ancient streets, the gate, the agora and the Temple of Apollo costs nothing. Only the theatre and the museum have tickets.
How long does the walk take?
About two hours without entering the sites, around three with the theatre and the museum. The route is flat and paved.
When is the best time to see the Temple of Apollo?
The last hour before sunset. The columns catch the light, and the harbour restaurants behind you are just opening for dinner.
Can I combine the ancient city with a tour?
Yes. Side's ancient city is part of several guided day trips, and the Perge and Aspendos excursion pairs it with the two other great Roman sites of the region.
