The popular Turkish resort of Side is located between Antalya and Alanya on the picturesque green peninsula of the Antalya coast, washed by the emerald waters of the Mediterranean Sea. The landscape of the region is a vast fertile plain stretching at the foot of the Taurus Mountains and smoothly turning into a golden sandy coastal strip. The territory of the resort is abundantly covered with forests. Holidays with children in Side guarantees tourists a lot of pleasant experiences.
About the resort
Information about the first settlements dates back to the 7th century BC. Throughout its centuries-old history, the city experienced periods of prosperity and oblivion. It has turned from a Greek colony, a pirate haven and a fishing port into a prestigious resort with a developed tourist infrastructure.
The small colorful town is famous for its well-groomed beaches, comfortable hotel complexes and historical sights. A considerable number of ancient architectural monuments have survived: an amphitheater, colonnades, ruins of ancient temples and palaces, Roman baths and fragments of walls of structures with decorative designs.
Staying in this region will appeal to those travelers who wish to combine beach holidays with walks and rich excursion programs. Calm and measured atmosphere, shallow crystal clear turquoise sea, coast with golden velvet sand, as well as excellent service in hotels - all this contributes to a comfortable family pastime.
Peculiarities
Resort tours are ideal for those tourists who prefer a serene getaway. The city harmoniously combines a relaxed resort idyll with historically significant ancient sites that belonged to different civilizations. Hotels, cafes, restaurants and nightlife are lined along the coast. The landscaped beaches are full of water attractions. Hotel complexes provide vacationers with a varied entertainment program.
The resort area consists of several villages, each of which has its own characteristics. The settlements of Sorgun, Titreyengel and Kyzylagach attract the attention of vacationers with amazing palm, coniferous and orange groves. In a secluded bay, where there are no winds, there is a corner of Kumkoy. The Colakli area is not distinguished by an abundance of green spaces, but this deficiency is compensated by the presence of a developed hotel base.
Which hotel to choose
A wide selection of modern hotels of different star categories is one of the advantages of the resort. Guests can choose for themselves a fashionable hotel for every taste and budget. Tourists are provided with first-class leisure facilities that can satisfy a wide variety of needs.
Hotel complexes have their own well-developed infrastructure. Many of them are focused on accommodating family vacationers. This is evidenced by the presence of playgrounds, swimming pools, small water parks and park areas for pleasant walks.
Otium Family Stone Palace 5 *
Located in Colakli area. The complex consists of seven 5-storey buildings surrounded by magnificent gardens and tall trees with lush crowns. On the vast territory you can find pools with water slides, children's carousels, swings and trampolines, sports grounds, a wellness center, bars and restaurants.
A tiled path leads to the hotel's own private beach among flowering shrubs and palm alleys. The coastal strip with golden sand is equipped with sun loungers, umbrellas and changing rooms. There is a water entertainment center on the beach: banana rides, hydro scooters, boat trips and parachute flights.
Port River Hotel Spa 5 *
Perfect for families. Located seven kilometers from the city center. The building is built in the form of a multi-storey cruise ship. Deservedly has a five-star category. It offers a spa, gym, playgrounds, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, water slides, hammam and restaurants. The spacious, bright rooms are equipped with air conditioning, private bathrooms, TVs and balconies.
A professional animation team holds exciting performances and music concerts for guests every evening. A sand and pebble beach is 300 meters away. You can get to the coast on foot through a pine alley or by electric car. There is a bar right next to the beach. The coastal strip is occupied by comfortable sun loungers, sun umbrellas, showers and changing rooms.
Lake & River Side Hotel & Spa 5 *
Located between the Manavgat River and Lake Titreyengol. Consists of four buildings. They were built in the style of Ottoman architecture, as evidenced by the strict lines of the facades. The interior decoration reflects the centuries-old Mediterranean wealth of Anatolian civilization.
The small area is planted with flowering shrubs and palm alleys. At the disposal of vacationers are adults and children's pools with slides, as well as a spa, hammam, children's room, fitness center, restaurants and bars. The impeccable service ensures a first-class holiday. The en suite rooms are furnished with standard furnishings: beds, tables, armchairs and wardrobes.
Guests will not be bored with various show programs, discos, performances by artists and quizzes. The sandy beach is 750 meters away. Tourists can take a regular bus service to the coast, or go to the beach on foot along a wooded path along the lake. The sandy and pebble coastal strip is equipped with all the necessary resort attributes.
Dream World Hill 5 *
It is a seven-story building with a characteristic blue facade. The complex was erected five kilometers from the historic center. There are several swimming pools, water attractions, restaurants and bars on the territory. The interiors of the spacious rooms correspond to the high level of five stars.
The rooms have everything you need for a comfortable stay: a bed with a soft mattress, a spacious wardrobe, a desk, side tables, TV, safe, air conditioning, refrigerator, bathroom with shower. Tourists are offered their services in a gym, spa and sauna. Young vacationers will love a visit to the children's room, filled with all kinds of toys.
Evening discos and lively performances are held by professional animators. Its own sandy beach is 400 meters away. The coastline is filled with sun loungers and umbrellas. The beach has showers, changing rooms, and a bar with a variety of soft drinks and snacks.
Royal Atlantis Spa & Resort 5 *
Located in the village of Colakli on the first coastline. Represents four six-storey buildings. The spacious rooms are decorated in light colors. The landscaped area is planted with flowers, conifers and palm trees.
Pools and water slides, an amphitheater and a cinema, restaurants and bars, sports and playgrounds, a spa and a hammam - the developed infrastructure creates wonderful conditions for a memorable family vacation. A kids' club with entertainment programs prepared by animators awaits young vacationers.
Acrobats, gymnasts, dancers and musicians provide entertaining evening performances. The hotel's long beach is covered with velvet soft golden sand. In free access for vacationers there are sun loungers and sun umbrellas. The entrance to the emerald bay is rather shallow.
FUN & SUN FAMILY Serra Palace 5 *
The magnificent complex guarantees a lot of pleasant impressions for family vacationers.Consists of a three-storey and five-storey building, as well as 21 bungalow-type buildings. The structures were erected in the immediate vicinity of the sea coast. Rooms are equipped with TVs, air conditioning, safes and minibars. The spacious apartments are comfortably furnished.
Offers tourists a wide range of services. A variety of entertainment options for adults and children makes your vacation unforgettable. On a well-groomed landscaped green area, there are two water parks, several swimming pools, a playground with attractions, sports grounds, a gym, an amphitheater, a spa and a sauna. The animation team organizes various sports, competitions and concert programs. The private beach is 150 meters long.
Crystal Admiral Resort Suite & Spa 5 *
Ideal for active family holidays. It is located on the picturesque Mediterranean coast. The complex consists of one majestic six-story building, erected in a semicircle. The interior of the hotel looks interesting. Stairs, panoramic elevators, glass partitions, long corridors, transparent vaults in the form of domes, spacious seating areas - all these interior details create a cozy and luxurious atmosphere.
Each furnished room is equipped with a TV, air conditioning and a safety deposit box. The territory is decorated with neat green lawns with palm and flower alleys, as well as coniferous bushes. The guests have at their disposal five swimming pools, a water park, a gym, sports grounds, a Turkish bath, and a spa.
Water attractions, games in the pool, aqua aerobics and entertainment show programs will give tourists a lot of joyful impressions. Bars and restaurants will fill guests with mouth-watering dishes and refreshing drinks. Play clubs and playgrounds are provided for children. Its own sandy-pebble beach is 50 meters away from the hotel. All resort amenities are available on the coast - sun loungers, umbrellas, showers, changing rooms, wooden flooring.
Club Hotel Turan Prince World 5 *
The complex consists of one main building with four floors and numerous two-story villas. Family tourists are invited to spend a wonderful vacation in a comfortable environment. The territory is literally buried in thickets of exotic plants. It is planted with citrus trees, palms and shrubs.
Guests will find an abundance of all kinds of entertainment for every taste - swimming pools, a water park, an amusement park, a spa, a mini-zoo and many other advantages of a developed infrastructure. Sports fans can play football, tennis, volleyball and basketball. Playgrounds and play areas are open for young tourists.
A team of professional animators conducts daytime and evening entertainment: discos, aerobics, competitions, sports competitions, theatrical performances, as well as performances by dancers, clowns and gymnasts. Rooms are equipped with air conditioning, TVs, refrigerators and comfortable furniture. The wide sandy beach is 100 meters away. The coastal strip is filled with sun loungers and umbrellas.
Bosphorus Sorgun Hotel 5 *
A modern eight-storey building rises between the sea coast and the Manavgat River. Its expressive façade is adorned with original decorative elements that have a visual resemblance to a honeycomb. The hotel guests are offered a high level of service and a wide range of entertainment. To services of tourists there is a cinema, a gym, children's play areas, a spa center, restaurants and bars.
Spacious rooms are equipped with air conditioning, TVs, minibars. Panoramic windows allow you to admire the picturesque landscapes.
It offers tourists an original form of an outdoor swimming pool with an area of 1200 m2... The assortment of delicious dishes served in the restaurants according to the "buffet" system impresses with its variety. There is a sandy beach 100 meters from the hotel, equipped with sun loungers and shade awnings. Throughout the day, adults and children are entertained by a team of animators.
Bosphorus Sorgun Hotel
Facilities include an indoor pool, fitness center
Vonresort Golden Coast 5 *
Located in the village of Colakli, which is near the resort center of the city. The complex is a main six-storey building and two four-storey buildings. The infrastructure is so diverse that adults and children will retain pleasant memories for years to come.
The ennobled area is framed by lawns, palm alleys and flowering shrubs. Tourists can use the outdoor and indoor swimming pool, water park, fitness center, spa, sports grounds, games salon, kids club, bars and restaurants. The animators hold various contests, competitions, games around the clock, and also demonstrate incendiary evening performances with excellent choreography.
There is a wide sandy beach nearby. There are rows of sun loungers with umbrellas on display. The entry into the sea is shallow. There are also changing rooms and showers. All kinds of water activities are available to vacationers on the beach: banana and jet ski riding, parachute flights, diving, boat trips.
Vonresort Golden Coast
Side
It offers a variety of games and pools for children and babies
Which beach to choose
Side harmoniously combines historical landmarks with stunning coastal strips. Due to the shallow waters and crystal clear purity of the sea gulf, the Turkish town is especially popular with family tourists with children. The coast is divided into western and eastern beaches, separated by a headland. The sandy strip of the western part of the coast stretches for several kilometers.
The gentle entrance to the emerald waters of the Mediterranean Sea is perfect for the safe bathing of children. There are areas where, a hundred meters from the coast, the depth does not exceed 50 centimeters. The resort area has a well-developed infrastructure. It offers vacationers a wide range of entertainment for every taste and age. These are various water attractions, restaurants, clubs, shops and discos. The beach area is densely packed with sun loungers and umbrellas. There are changing rooms and showers.
Connoisseurs of a secluded and relaxing holiday are recommended to go to the east coast. Orange groves and cotton fields adjoin the beach strip, covered with golden coarse sand. Here the sea bay is deeper than in the western part of the resort. There are no bars, nightclubs or shops along the coast. The beaches are equipped with sun loungers and umbrellas, showers and changing rooms.
The resort encompasses several cozy villages where tourists can enjoy a serene family holiday by the sea. One of these picturesque corners is the Sorgun beach. It is a landscaped amazing sandy strip surrounded by a coniferous forest, palm groves and citrus orchards. All entertainment is concentrated on the territories of hotel complexes.
Tours
The wonderful resort invites tourists to go on informative and exciting excursions that will significantly diversify the cultural program of recreation. Organized tours are conducted by professional connoisseurs of Turkish attractions.
Informative excursion programs include visits to natural sites (caves, waterfalls, canyons, national reserves, mountain valleys and lakes), viewing unique ancient architectural monuments, rafting on a mountain river, yacht trips along the coast, trips to popular cities in Turkey.
An unforgettable experience is guaranteed by acquaintance with the underwater world of the Mediterranean Sea. Along the coast of Side there is an amazing underwater world where you can go diving.Depending on the depth of the dive, you can find exotic representatives of the marine fauna. Organized tours to Antalya, Alanya, Cappadocia, Istanbul and other famous cities. You can take a trip to the thermal springs of Pamukkale to see cascades of terraced baths decorated with white calcium deposits.
Best time to travel
The tourist season runs from April to November. The ideal time for swimming is in June, when the waters of the Mediterranean Sea are warm enough. In the first month of summer, tourists with children can have a wonderful time in peace and quiet. By the beginning of the season, a small number of tourists come together.
From July to August, a subtropical heat without precipitation sets in. The air temperature exceeds + 30 ° С. In addition to the incredible heat at the resort, there is a massive influx of people, which significantly affects the rise in prices.
The velvet season is the perfect time for a family trip. In September, the heat gradually begins to subside. At the same time, sea water retains its summer temperature. Tourists can combine the perfect beach holiday with sightseeing trips.
What to take with you
When packing up before the trip, tourists should take some things with them so that the long-awaited family vacation will leave extremely pleasant memories. The first step is to collect a package of documents: passports, birth certificates of children, vouchers confirming hotel reservations, vouchers, medical insurance for all family members, air tickets.
Clothing items are an integral part of luggage. In addition to the beach wardrobe, tourists are advised to take with them light, light-colored clothing made from natural fabrics. This will make you feel comfortable on a hot day. In case of evening coolness or hiking in the mountainous regions of the country, a few warm clothes will come in handy. The hotels offer fitness facilities, so sportswear and footwear can complement the spa wardrobe.
You should definitely take your camera or camcorder with you. The resort and its surroundings have amazing picturesque natural areas. The main thing is to take care of additional batteries and chargers.
It's important to remember to pack your sunscreen, hats, comfortable shoes, and hygiene products. A travel kit should include antipyretic and anti-inflammatory drugs, antiseptics, ointments to relieve itching, and medicine for indigestion.
Entertainment
The thriving resort offers ample leisure options for active and fun lovers. Despite the absence of large separate water parks and dolphinariums in the city, here adults and children can find entertainment for every taste. Most of the upscale hotel complexes are focused on families with children. The vast green areas of the hotels have swimming pools, small water parks, playgrounds and sports grounds.
On the beaches, vacationers have access to water activities - riding bananas, catamarans, cheesecakes and jet skis, diving, parasailing along the coast, sea trips on a luxury yacht. It will give all family members a lot of pleasant impressions of a jeep safari in the picturesque surroundings. During exciting trips, you can admire the diversity of the local flora and fauna.
A visit to the city of Manavgat deserves attention. It is located 40 kilometers from Side in a green valley, which is cut by the Taurus Mountains. Manavgat is famous for its mesmerizing natural landscapes. The highlight of the edge is the enormous size of the waterfall. The rapid flow of a mountain river falls from a two-meter rapids 40 meters wide.
The entertainment program should include a visit to the "Discovery" park complex. The well-groomed green area houses a terrarium, an aquarium, a zoo and an area with moving growth figures of dinosaurs.
Sights
The resort is famous for its preserved unique architectural monuments. On its modern territory there is an ancient city, remote from residential quarters by a moat and small fortress walls. It is literally an open-air museum.
Here you can see the ruins of various structures, triumphal arches, wall fragments, marble sarcophagi, skillfully worked stone blocks, a market square with the remains of the foundations of shopping malls, colonnaded streets, Roman baths and many other historical ruins. One of the impressive sights of the ancient city is the amphitheater, erected in the 2nd century BC.
This invaluable heritage of Roman culture is striking in its impressive size. The structure served as an arena for gladiatorial battles. The theater is a semicircular stage and stone spectator stands with stairways directed upwards. The building could accommodate more than 16 thousand people who passed to their seats through a covered gallery.
Of interest is the visiting card and symbol of the ancient Side - the Temple of Apollo. Only five columns have survived from the former majestic shrine. Their height reaches about nine meters. At the top of the colonnades, there is a parapet decorated with bas-reliefs and floral ornaments.
Among the antique attractions of the resort, the Nymphaeum Fountain deserves attention. It was a monumental architectural object. It was a three-story building. The remaining façade, divided into sections and arched niches with columns of the Corinthian order, will appear in all its glory.