Side has many advantages - sandy beaches, a wide coastal strip, beautiful nature and ancient ruins. Find out from the reviews if everyone likes their vacation in Side, what are the prices for food and excursions, and whether it is worth going to the resort in 2021.
Resort experience
Side is located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, 75 km from Antalya. Tourists are delighted with the southern nature and bright colors. There are many palms, olive trees, pomegranates and persimmons on the streets and in the vicinity of Side. Modern architecture blends harmoniously with ancient ruins and old buildings. The resort is famous for its clean air, mild climate and beautiful sandy beaches. Side has very nice promenades by the sea!
Moreta: "The city is very beautiful, cozy and clean. There are excellent roads, many hotels, cafes and shops. Luxurious vegetation - many beautiful flowers and trees. It's nice to just walk without a goal."
Elizaveta: "My big disappointment is the tourist street with retail outlets. Each seller from his department screams, beckons. I have not met such an obsession in Turkey and can only be compared with Egypt. There are too many shops, and goods are far from the most basic. to see bags, clothes, jewelry, tea and coffee, Turkish delight, fresh juices, swimwear. Personally, I would definitely not buy anything. "
The best hotels
One of the advantages of a Turkish resort is a large selection of hotels. Most of them are located in the city center. This is convenient for those who like to stroll along the promenade in the evenings and relax in local bars. In the summer of 2021, prices for a double room with breakfast in 3 * hotels start at $ 55. Look for tours in Side on Travelate and hotels on Hotelluk.
All inclusive offers can be found in hotels 3-5 *. In terms of price and quality, 4 * hotels are considered the best in Side. The hotels on the first line have their own beaches. Connoisseurs of beach entertainment like to stay in club hotels on the very shore, and nature lovers like to stay in the valley of the Manavgat River.
We have selected the best all inclusive and ultra all inclusive hotels in Side on the 1st line:
- Acanthus & Cennet Barut Collection 5 * is a completely renovated hotel with a sandy beach without stones, for 5 plus.
- Melas Resort Hotel 5 * is an excellent wellness hotel with a good beach for the whole family.
- Voyage Sorgun Hotel 5 * is a family hotel surrounded by pine forest in Sorgun.
- Can Garden Beach Hotel 4 * - good inexpensive bungalows with a private beach.
- Ozlem Garden Hotel 3 * is a green hotel with a patio and its own beach by the sea.
Side beaches
Side has about a dozen well-equipped sandy beaches, many of which have been awarded the honorary Blue Flag for their cleanliness and safety. There are two main beaches near the Old Town - west and east.
On the shore the sand is golden and fine, and at the bottom of the sea it is coarser and heavier. Because of this, the sea water in Side is extremely clean. The entrance to the sea is shallow, without stones. Excellent bathing conditions for babies! According to tourists' reviews for 2021, the best beaches in the resort area of Side are located in Colakli, Kumkoy, Titreyengol and Sorgun.
Learn about the best beaches in Side.
panavalentina13: "Why do I love this area? For the best sandy beaches with a wide coastal strip, where there are no natural slabs, like in Alanya, for long promenades along the sea. My favorite is the beach in the Colakli area. Great for families with little ones. children and those who do not swim well. Fine yellow sand, the sea with almost no waves, cleanliness and comfort for vacationers. "
Food prices
According to tourists' reviews, food prices in Side depend on where the cafe or restaurant is located. In establishments on the embankment, dorada or sea bass costs $ 5, lamb chops - $ 5.7, and desserts - from $ 1.4. Lunch at a restaurant for two - two steaks with a side dish of fries plus two glasses of wine - will cost $ 30-35. If you move away from the beaches, food will cost 20-30% less.
Find out how much food costs in Turkey.
Anastasia 130588: “We bought strawberries at the bazaar, it came out $ 3 per kilogram. But the prices are different everywhere, depending on the location of the market. Small products were bought in the Migros store, the prices were identical to ours in Magnet.
Yula: "We bought alcoholic cocktails after 23.00 - $ 5 per one. In the afternoon, kids' awesome cocktails - $ 2 each."
Excursions
The excavations of ancient Side are a real archaeological pearl of Turkey. We recommend visiting the ruins of ancient temples and the amphitheater with a guide. Such an excursion costs $ 15-20. According to tourists, in 2021 excursions to the Manavgat waterfall are popular from Side - $ 18, to Alanya - $ 28, Altynbeshik cave - $ 33, Green Canyon - $ 40, Demre, Miru and Kekeva - $ 50, Cappadocia - $ 65, to Lake Salda and in Pamukkale - $ 60.
Find out about the best excursions from Side.
Vladimir Zaruikin: "I recommend to visit the theater in Side! Despite its age, and the theater is already 2 thousand years old, it still evokes a feeling of admiration! The entrance fee ranges from 15 to 40 Turkish liras."
Vacation with children
Families with children choose Side for its sandy beaches, clear sea water, warm climate and all-inclusive hotels. In addition to swimming in the sea and walking, there is not a lot of entertainment. The nearest water parks are located in the village of Titreyengol, in Belek and Alanya. With older children, we advise you to visit the excavations of ancient Side, take a boat trip and get a shot of adrenaline while rafting on a mountain river!
Find out about holidays with children in Side.
Anetta-Mrs: "The beaches in the city of Side are wonderful. They are all sandy. For families with children, what you need! The old town really liked it. Small houses, shrouded in thickets of different blooms, each house has its own unique architecture, narrow streets, old paving stones ".
When is the best time to go
Vacationers who like to swim and sunbathe come to Side from May to October. Families with small children and aged tourists come to the resort in June or in the second half of September, when it is not so hot.
The high season is in July, August and the first half of September - an active holiday season. At this time, the air temperature in Side is +30 ... + 35 ° С, and the sea water warms up to a comfortable +24 ... + 27 ° С. In shallow waters, the sea is even warmer + 28 ... + 29 ° С!
Due to the mild Mediterranean climate, autumn in Side comes late. The pleasant and dry velvet season lasts until early November.
nadiy07: "The weather in October 2019 was superb. The sun was no longer so hot, we could be outdoors at lunchtime. The sea is warm, clean. Friends call us to rest in May, but I will go only in the fall, to please myself with the last sun before our long Ural winter ".
Vitaliy: "We had a rest in Side since April 24. The weather is quite satisfactory: in the morning + 15 ° C and in the afternoon + 20 ° C in the shade. Sunbathing on a lounger was comfortable and warm enough. It was problematic to enter the sea, it is still quite cold, but some the daredevils did refresh themselves. "
Conclusions: is it worth going
According to tourist reviews for 2020, there are few resorts in Turkey that have such a good infrastructure for relaxing by the sea. If a good sandy beach is important to you, choose Side! The city is located 40 km from the international airport - the transfer to the hotel will take about an hour.
In addition to beach activities, Side is good for families with children and fans of excursions. For shopping and diving, it is better to choose other Turkish cities. Keep in mind that tours in Side are more expensive than many other resorts in Turkey. Local residents live off tourists, so there are plenty of annoying barkers on the beaches and shopping streets of Side.
