Resort Guides › Turkey › Turquoise Coast
Genuine ancient Roman ruins built right into a working beach resort.
Overview
Side is unusual among Mediterranean beach resorts for having a genuine, extensive ancient Roman site — including a large amphitheatre and temple ruins — woven directly into the modern town, alongside sandy beaches either side of the old peninsula.
Families & toddlers
The main beaches are sandy and well equipped, and the ruins themselves (freely explorable in the old town) make for an easy, memorable family history stop that most beach resorts simply don’t have.
Couples, teens & nightlife
A pleasant range of harbourside restaurants and bars in the old town, livelier in peak season without being a major nightlife destination — a good match for couples wanting some culture with their evenings out.
Seniors & accessibility
The old town has some uneven ancient paving, but is compact and rewarding; the newer beachfront areas are flatter and easier going.
Best time to visit
May to October for the beach; the ruins are worth visiting for much of the year given they’re not weather-dependent in the way swimming is.