Side vs Alanya | The Türkiye Guide

Side and Alanya sit 65km apart on the Turkish Riviera, east of Antalya, and they’re among the most-visited resort towns on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast. Side is the quieter, more culturally layered option — an ancient Greco-Roman city where the ruins literally grow out of the beach. Alanya is larger, louder, and much more focused on package-holiday entertainment. Knowing the difference saves you from arriving somewhere that doesn’t match your expectations.

Quick Verdict

Category	Side	Alanya
Beaches	Long, sandy, excellent	Long, sandy, very popular
Ancient Ruins	Outstanding	Limited (Alanya Castle)
Nightlife	Quiet to moderate	Very lively
All-inclusive	Present	Dominant
Cost	Moderate	Moderate, similar
Family-Friendly	Excellent	Excellent
Pace	Relaxed	Busy
Best For	Culture + beach mix	Pure beach holiday

Beaches

Both towns have excellent beaches — long, sandy stretches of Mediterranean coast that are among the finest on the Riviera.

Side has two main beaches: East Beach (longer, extends toward Sorgun forest) and West Beach (closer to the ruins and old town). East Beach in particular is beautiful — pale sand stretching several kilometres toward a pine forest, with the ruined columns of ancient Side visible at the end of the peninsula. Water quality is consistently good.

Alanya beaches extend on both sides of the rocky Alanya peninsula. Cleopatra Beach (Kleopatra Plajı) to the west is one of Turkey’s most famous beaches — golden sand, 2.2km long, relatively clean water. Keykubat Beach to the east is longer and less crowded. Damlataş Beach near the famous cave is popular with families. The Alanya city hub has multiple beach access points along its coastline.

Both towns have water sports operators offering jet skis, parasailing, and banana boats at broadly similar prices (jet ski 30 minutes approximately ₺600–900 as of 2026).

Ancient Ruins and Culture

Side is exceptional here — and this is what makes it categorically different from most Turkish Riviera resorts. The ancient city of Side was a major Greco-Roman port. Walking through the old town, you pass two ancient theatres (the Large Theatre holds 15,000 people), the Temple of Apollo (free to enter the grounds — the standing columns are iconic), the Temple of Athena, the nymphaeum, and Roman baths that now house the Side Museum (entry approximately ₺150 as of 2026). These ruins are not fenced off from daily life in the town — restaurants and pensions sit within ancient walls. It’s an extraordinary experience that few resort towns anywhere can match.

Alanya has Alanya Castle — a 13th-century Seljuk fortress on the 250-metre rock that dominates the town (entry approximately ₺180 as of 2026). The views from the castle walls over the coastline are exceptional. Inside: the Red Tower (Kızıl Kule), the Alanya shipyard (one of the best-preserved Seljuk dockyard complexes in the world), and a small history museum. It’s worth half a day, but it doesn’t compare to Side’s density of ancient remains.

Nightlife

Alanya has the more developed and livelier nightlife scene — this is one of its defining characteristics. Bar Street (Harbour area and Gazipaşa Caddesi) fills nightly in summer with clubs, bars, and live entertainment. Daytime beach clubs transition into evening venues. Alanya attracts a large northern European charter crowd (particularly German, Scandinavian, and Russian), and the nightlife reflects this.

Side is quieter. The old town has restaurant terraces and a handful of bars that do reasonable evening business, but Side does not have a club scene. Those wanting nights out regularly are better served by Alanya. Side suits couples, older travellers, and families who want an early evening meal and an early night.

All-Inclusive Resorts

Both areas have all-inclusive resort clusters, but Alanya’s is significantly larger.

Side/Manavgat corridor holds resort complexes including Asteria Kemer Resort (approximately ₺5,000–10,000/night), Crystal Waterworld Resort (₺6,000–12,000), and the Cullinan Belek hotels — all-inclusive monsters with multiple pools, aquaparks, and kids’ clubs within the resort.

Alanya has its own sprawl of all-inclusive properties including the Aska Lara Resort (approximately ₺5,500–11,000/night), MC Arancia Resort (₺4,500–9,000), and Granada Luxury Belek (₺6,000–13,000). The Turkey all-inclusive resorts guide covers the full Riviera spectrum.

Accommodation Outside Resorts

Side old town has some beautiful boutique options built into the ancient fabric: Beach House Hotel Side (approximately ₺2,500–5,000/night), Villa Rifat (₺1,800–3,500/night), and several pensions in converted stone houses for ₺900–1,800/night. Staying in the old town itself is uniquely rewarding — wake up surrounded by Roman walls.

Alanya has a wider range of independent hotels. Alanya’s city hotels include Kleopatra Ada Beach Hotel (approximately ₺2,800–5,500/night), Hotel Bayhan Alanya (₺1,500–2,800/night), and numerous budget properties in the tourist strip from ₺800–1,500/night.

Food

Side old town restaurants sit in beautiful settings among the ruins — but beautiful settings sometimes come with tourist pricing. Best value is in the local restaurants one or two streets back from the harbour. Fresh fish runs ₺200–350 per plate; köfte and pide at market restaurants ₺80–150. The Sorgun district has newer, better-value options.

Alanya has more restaurant variety. The harbour area is tourist-priced; the local market area (Pazartesi Çarşısı) and streets around Kale quarter offer far better value. Kebab and pide from local restaurants run ₺80–140. Alanya’s weekly market (Friday) is an excellent source of fresh produce, olives, and regional honey.

Getting Around

Side is compact enough to walk. The ancient old town is pedestrianised (vehicles banned in the centre). Horse-drawn carriages (faytons) offer trips within the town. From Manavgat (7km away) dolmuş connections run to Antalya (75km, approximately ₺80–120 one way) and the surrounding area. Car hire is the best option for exploring the wider coast — Aspendos, Perge, and Alanya are all within 90 minutes.

Alanya is larger and requires dolmuş (local minibus) or taxi to move between the beach areas, castle, and marina. Dolmuş to Antalya (130km west) run hourly and cost approximately ₺80–120. Alanya has its own small airport (Gazipasa-Alanya, GZP) receiving seasonal charter flights from northern Europe.

Costs

Expense	Side	Alanya
Budget hotel	₺900–1,800/night	₺800–1,500/night
Midrange hotel	₺2,500–5,000/night	₺2,800–5,500/night
Restaurant meal	₺100–250/person	₺100–250/person
Day trip to Antalya	₺80–120 dolmuş	₺80–120 dolmuş

Prices approximate as of 2026. See our Turkey travel costs guide.

Costs are broadly similar between the two towns. Side boutique hotels within the ruins area command a small premium for the setting.

When to Visit

Season	Side	Alanya
Spring (Apr–May)	Warm (22–28°C), quiet, ruins uncrowded	Warm, similar, quieter
Summer (Jun–Aug)	32–38°C, hot, busy beaches	32–38°C, peak season
Autumn (Sep–Oct)	Warm, sea 26–28°C, ideal	Warm, still busy into October
Winter (Nov–Mar)	Quiet, mild, most resorts closed	Quieter, some town activity

May, June, September, and October are the optimal months for both destinations. August in Side and Alanya is extremely hot and very crowded. See our best time to visit Turkey guide.

Which to Choose

Choose Side if:

Ancient ruins alongside the beach appeals
You want a quieter, more intimate resort atmosphere
Culture and history matter alongside sun and sea
You’re a couple or travelling without children who want atmosphere over entertainment

Choose Alanya if:

Nightlife and entertainment are priorities
You want the full all-inclusive package-holiday experience
You prefer a larger town with more restaurants and shopping
You’re travelling with teenagers who want more activity options

Do both: Side and Alanya are just 65km apart — a day trip in either direction is easy and worthwhile. Many travellers base themselves in Side for the setting and do Alanya as a day trip to see the castle and Cleopatra Beach.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for a first visit to the Turkish Riviera, Side or Alanya? Side offers a more memorable and distinctive experience — the combination of ancient ruins and beach is genuinely rare in global resort terms. If you’re visiting the Turkish Riviera once and want to come away with something beyond a standard beach holiday, Side edges ahead. If you specifically want all-inclusive convenience and lively resort entertainment, Alanya is the stronger choice.

Are the ruins in Side free to visit? You can walk through most of the ruins in Side’s old town without paying any admission — the streets pass through ancient walls, columns, and building remains freely. The Temple of Apollo grounds are accessible at no charge. The Side Museum (housed in restored Roman baths) charges approximately ₺150 as of 2026. The Large Theatre charges a small entry fee in peak season.

How far is Side from Antalya airport? Side is approximately 75km from Antalya Airport (AYT), roughly 60–90 minutes by road depending on traffic. Transfer shuttles cost approximately ₺250–450 per person each way through resort operators; private transfers run approximately ₺800–1,400. Alanya is 135km from Antalya Airport (approximately 2 hours by road) but has its own smaller airport at Gazipaşa (GZP), which receives seasonal charter flights from northern Europe.

Essential extras: An eSIM for Turkey from Airalo gives you mobile data from the moment you land — no airport SIM queue, no physical card. Travel insurance for Turkey should cover medical costs; Turkish private hospitals charge full rates for uninsured visitors.

Side vs Alanya: Which Turkish Riviera Resort is Right for You?