Side is a beautiful, historic resort town situated on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, between Antalya and Alanya. It dates back to the 7th cen.B.C., when settlers came from Kyme, a city in Aeolia as Side had the largest port in ancient Pamphylia. The local language "Side tan" was taken up by the merchants. The word "Side" is Anatolian and means pomegranate, the fruit symbolizing abundance and fertility. Side prospered during the Roman Empire and much evidence of this period still remains with many more ruins being excavated. One of the most evident land marks is Side's beautiful, and well-preserved amphitheatre, dating back to the 2nd century, which is one of the largest in Asia Minor. It can seat about 17000 people, and is still used for concerts, and folklore, and opera performances during the summer months. There is also an annual music festival taking place during the month of September. A stroll down the main street of Side will bring you to the pretty harbour with many restaurants overlooking the bay. Adjacent to the harbour is the famous Apollo temple where it is said that Mark Anthony proposed to Cleopatra. Walk around the side streets and you will see many old original Turkish houses, some of which have been turned into small pensions. There are many activities on offer such as diving, quad biking, horse riding, white water rafting, parasailing, jet skiing, and banana boat, and jeep safari rides. In addition there are the Taurus mountains where you can ski during the winter months at Saklikent, just one and a half hours from Side. If you intend to buy an investment or holiday property in Turkey, you could not choose better than Side.
Side has a beautiful beachfront, with sandy beaches and lying on either side of the peninsula, they stretch as far as the eye can see. Although these beaches are connected by a short walk across the back of the old town they are unique. On the West Side of Antalya lie the larger hotels of this resort town. Although no part of the beach is privately owned, each hotel has 'claimed' its own section and unless you are resident of that particular hotel it's very likely that you will not be permitted to use the facilities of that part of the beach. Smaller enclaves of sun beds are scattered along the beach and for a nominal daily fee, the sun beds and parasols can be rented. The beach front however is open to all tourists and is very popular for early morning walkers and joggers. Even late in the evening this beach appears busy with people walking back from the Side town-center to their respective hotels located on the beach. For families this beach is the best choice as the sea is usually calm, clear, shallow, and safe The beach on the eastern side of the peninsula goes beyond the resort town of Alanya. This beach is slightly more difficult to reach and therefore less busy than the West beach. It can be reached either by walking from the old town following the coastline, a picturesque walk that takes you through many ruins on your way, or by taking the 'otogar' (bus). This is a good idea in the morning before its gets too hot, but not such a good one after about 11:00! Alternatively, a taxi will take you directly to the sea front. Keep in mind that the further you go away from the town centre, the less people you will find on the beach. A new beach service started last year around Side, with morning pickups at various restaurants and hotels, and drop-offs at certain beach bars. It is expected that you use their restaurant as a base for the day, and then at the end of the day you are dropped back at your pick-up point, free of charge. There are no hotels on this beach and it is therefore much more natural and pristine than the west beach. Backed by sand dunes, there is nothing to spoil the skyline behind the beach except for the odd view of an ancient monument or a Roman wall. Facilities on the beach are quite basic, most snack bars and restaurants are family owned and have a very relaxed feel. Be prepared to pay for hire of sun beds and umbrellas. Be aware that the seabed on this beach drops quite dramatically about 3 meters out and the breaking waves can be quite rough. You will find many water sports centres on both beaches, offering a good selection of activities, including para-gliding, water skiing, jet skis, banana boats and rings. You will soon find Side's beaches and surroundings very pleasant and relaxing. However, take care of yourselves; use of sunscreens and high factor sun creams, especially for children is a must. During the summer months the "poyraz" can hit Side. This is a warm wind off the Sahara and feels like a hot air blower, and can result in sunburns. We urge you to be especially careful if you are here during these times and protect yourselves it with sun block and limit the exposure to sun.
Side, located between the beautiful beachfront and the foothills of the Köprülü Canyon National Park is perfectly located to offer a great variety of sports. During the summer season the beaches offer all kinds of activities, such as volleyball, tennis, wind surfing, para-sailing, water skiing, jet skiing, and banana boat. Diving activities have recently become more popular with professional centres in the resort running PADI certification courses. Beach and river fishing have been popular sports for a long time. Several Horse riding Centers, which cater to the very young are located around the resort and in the local (5kms) scenic pine forest, picnic areas of Sorgun and Titreyen Gol. Jeep Safari Routes, available from Side to Beskonak take you on a twisting drive up into the beautiful 14km long Köprülü Canyon National Park where the view at every turn is more spectacular than the last. For the real Mountain Tracker and Climber, the Beydag mountain range has peaks from 600-3086 meters, offering a wide variety of climbing opportunities. Climbs to the important peaks of Tekedorugu, Bakirli Dag can be completed in one day. Quad Bike and Racing Safari is a new sport here, but catching on with professional centres set up in Manavgat and also in the National Park, Beskonak, (approx 50 Km away) Side offers great opportunities for rafting. An exciting, different day out, which gives you the opportunity to race the rapids whilst at the same time viewing the breathtaking cedar forests of the Köprülü Canyon national Park. Finally, only a 1-2 hr drive away you can find good skiing at Saklikent, meaning 'The Hidden City'. Only 50km behind Antalya there is the possibility of skiing in the morning and then swimming in the warm Med waters in the afternoons of the spring months. The resort, set at 2550m has a short season between December and April and, although not extensive, it offers two T-bar lifts and two ski runs. Accommodation in the resort is limited and often full at the weekends, but a midweek day trip will give you approximately 6hrs of skiing-depending on the road conditions.
A note about the local drinks of Turkey Expect to pay more if you drink at one of the more fashionable sea facing bars than in a small back street bar. If you eat at a typically Turkish locanta, where often there is no menu but a choice of home cooked dishes, there is normally no alcohol license and you cannot take your own! The local beer is called 'Efes' and is sold by the bottle, small or large. The Turkish national drink is ‘raki’, an aniseed flavored spirit compared to the french 'pastis' or the Greek 'ouzo'. It is usually drunk in a short glass with ice and water. The locals named it 'lions milk' and after three you will find out why! Turkish wine is unexpectedly very good and quite cheap. The best reds are Yakut. Antik and Buzba, the best whites being Cankaya and Kavak. A non alcoholic drink you may well be offered is ayran A thin, slightly sour, yoghurt drink-served chilled. It is very refreshing but takes some getting used to! Resort atmosphere and places to go The quaint resort of Side has always appealed to couples and families rather than the young who are looking for a lively holiday. There is not as much nightliife as in the modern, popular resort of Alanya only 70kms away, but there are more than enough bars and discos to entertain you throughout your stay. Countless bars within the old town centre are mixed with the archeological ruins facing the sea and each offers a different style of entertainment. The bars that border the harbour have a more relaxed feel and at sunset offer a view that I believe is one of the best in the world! On the other hand, if it’s a disco bar that interests you then head for bar street situated near the Apollo Temple. Here, there is a selection of bars, the Barracuda being the most popular, where you can dance or enjoy the magnificent view over the sea from the terrace garden from late until dawn. Often the bars don't close and if you are still sat in the garden you can enjoy the sunrise from behind the Taurus Mountains, a sight I used to enjoy but I don’t make it often these days! There are many small bars hidden away in and around the resort, all of which will offer you the typical Turkish hospitality. Expect not to pay for your drinks until you are about to leave. It is not usual to pay as you go. A popular nightclub in the town centre is the 'Lighthouse', named after its' position in the harbour immediately next to the lighthouse! Very popular for locals and tourists alike, the music is a mixture of European and Turkish and it is open until the early hours of the morning. During the summer months Lighthouse is also the host to concerts by many well known Turkish pop stars. Outside the town centre is an interestingly designed disco called 'Oxyd', inspired by a popular and historical church. It is again open air and its capacity is more than 3000. There are swimming pools to cool off if you get too hot and is a great place for having a good boogie! Oxyd is not open every night (check locally), and is busier at the end of the week and on Saturday nights. West of Side is the rapidly expanding holiday centre of Kumköy. A few years ago just a dirt track through a handful of hotels, the area has developed into a town in its own right. This side of Side is the home to the larger and more deluxe hotels and, although you would expect the prices to be more expensive than in the town centre, because the property rents are lower they are often cheaper. There are many bars and dance bars opening along this road, a new one every day it seems!
From here, you can get coaches to both cities as well as to Side. For the sports enthusiast, there is something in Belek for everyone - parasailing, horse riding, cycling, football, tennis, skiing within 1hour 30 minutes and of course golf…the sport that Belek is most well known for. Here in Belek, the “golf course” has created a natural environment for species of plants and birds with the golf clubs grouped in two parts seperated by a ten minute drive with most of the hotels in between. The golf courses here are some of the best in the world and are set amongst acres of pine forests, natural vegetation and miles of clean sandy beaches making Belek the golfing capital of the area and it is fast becoming the most popular golf resort in Europe. There are 5 PGA approved golf courses with 3 more in progress due for completion 2006/07, one of which is being designed by Nick Faldo. All of the courses offer views of the Mediterranean or the Taurus Mountains so you can endulge your passion for golf in stunning surroundings. The town has developed into an exclusive residential area with well built villas or luxurious apartments and when comparing the properties to those within a golf region in Spain, you can appreciate that the prices are three to four times less here in Belek. However, prices are steadily rising so maximise your investment by purchasing now and take advantage of the growing potential in your property. If you are looking for a home in the sun, future rental potential from golfers, easy access to Antalya airport, uncrowded beaches and a chance to play some of the best golf courses in the world, give your lifestyle a boost and confidently invest in a home and a future.
How to get there?
From Antalya Airport To Side:60 km(1 hour drive)
