Travel Eye on Side (Turkey)

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Overview:

Situated on a peninsula and flanked by two stretches of golden beach, the pretty resort town of Side is a jumble of old and new, with an extensive range of tourist accommodation, shops, late-night bars and restaurants mixed in among the ruins of the ancient city.

Mostly characterised by bleak, dusty roads and typically large modern discordant architecture which may satisfy holiday needs but does not necessarily please the eye. An expanding mass of smaller, more sensitively designed properties sweeps inland behind the established giants.

Once the secret rendezvous of Anthony and Cleopatra, Side stands on a promontory flanked by two excellent beaches of golden sand - Kümkoy to the west and Titreyengöl to the east. Most of the tourist accommodation is situated in these areas, which have easy access to the resort centre by dolmus. If you don't feel like venturing too far, they have a range of bars, shops and restaurants.

The two most popular beaches are a short distance from the centre - but if you prefer some peace and quiet, walk a little further and the crowds thin out.

The old part of town, dominated by a Greco-Roman amphitheatre, has been occupied on and off for well over 2,000 years. Each new cultural phase utilised or built over the ruins of its predecessor and the thriving present-day town incorporates many ancient walls, columns and buildings among more modern structures.

A good place for both archaeology and beach buffs, though the tourist hordes tend to rob the ancient sites of their remaining dignity. The combination of attractions brings in substantial numbers of package tourists in every category.

Accommodation is all grades are represented. 95 per cent of the budget, character and smaller premises can be found in and increasingly behind the old town.

Locality:

Side is situated on the S coast, 52 mls E of Antalya airport by good, fairly fast road. The old town is on a low headland, modern hotel developments stretch along the coast on either side. Pine woods and sand dunes predominate particularly to the E. Undulating agricultural land and forests surround the area which is backed by mountains farther inland.

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to do:

There are numerous restaurants near the marina where you can enjoy fish straight from the boat. One of these is Orfoz, which serves both Turkish and international cuisine; another is Soundwaves Restaurant. You can sample kebabs, pizzas and various international dishes at Yakamoz in Titreyengöl before dancing it all off at their disco. Another restaurant with a dance floor is Bill Cosby in Kumkoy, a lively Turkish restaurant serving traditional food.

An excursion to Kursunlu waterfalls makes a refreshing change from the heat of the beach, and the Manavgat waterfalls and river are close by and well worth a visit.

The beaches are long and wide, which extend for mls either side of the old town, dipping gently down to a shallow sea, making it very suitable for children. Coastguard stations are positioned at fairly regular intervals along the beach.

Shopping in the old town, it's "open all hours" for carpets, jewellery, leather, brassware and all kinds of trinkets. As usual, browsing is near impossible on account of the constant hard-selling techniques of the hawkers. You will see why the Turkish are known as a society os shopkeepers.

The daytime boasts a well-preserved 2nd-century amphitheatre, with a capacity of 15,000, the Temple of Dionysos, the Palace of the Emperor and the Temples of Athena and Apollo. Also some historic Museums.

The nightlife is scattered far and wide through the resort hotels, but liveliest in the old town where there are several nightclubs and music bars.