Side and Belek are two of the most popular resort destinations on Turkey’s Antalya coast, separated by about 30km of highway. Side is one of the most unusual beach destinations in the country — a Hellenistic and Roman city whose ruins stand directly on a sandy beach promontory, with a working (if tourist-oriented) town around them. Belek is the opposite: a purpose-built resort zone in a pine forest, home to over 20 international-standard golf courses and a concentration of large all-inclusive hotels that makes it the undisputed golf holiday capital of Europe. If you play golf, the comparison largely resolves itself. If you don’t, the choice comes down to whether you want history integrated into your beach holiday or a fully self-contained resort experience.
Quick Verdict
| Category | Side | Belek |
|---|---|---|
| Roman ruins | On-site (Temple of Apollo, theatre) | None |
| Golf | None | 20+ world-class courses |
| Beach | Wide sandy beaches east and west | Sandy resort beaches |
| All-inclusive | Available | Core product |
| Town life | Genuine (if touristy) | Resort strip only |
| Nightlife | Bar and restaurant scene | In-hotel entertainment |
| Day trips | Aspendos, Perge, Alanya | Perge, Aspendos, Side |
| Best For | Culture and beach combination | Golf, resort families, luxury |
Side: Ruins on the Beach
Side’s uniqueness lies in the physical overlap of ancient ruins and functioning beach resort. The Temple of Apollo stands on the western beach — two columns and a lintel framing a sunset view that has appeared in every Turkey travel campaign for forty years. The Apollo Temple is free to walk past at all hours; the preserved ruins of the Nymphaeum, the main street (Liman Caddesi), and the state agora are integrated into the town layout. The Side Museum, housed in a Roman bath, is small but well-curated with Hellenistic and Roman sculpture finds from the site (entry approximately ₺200 as of 2026).
The most significant ruin is the Side theatre — one of the largest in Turkey, with a 25,000-seat capacity, built into the hillside on the landward side of the promontory (entry included with the general site ticket, approximately ₺300 as of 2026). The stage building and some seating tiers are well preserved. Visiting in the late afternoon, when light is soft and day-trippers have thinned out, is the recommended approach.
Side’s two sandy beaches extend east and west of the promontory tip — both free to use, with sunbed hire at the beach clubs (approximately ₺100–200/day). The sand quality is good by Turkish standards. The western beach is shorter and fronts the old town; the eastern beach (Sorgun Beach) extends for several kilometres and is fringed by a pine and eucalyptus forest that provides shade unusually close to the water.
Belek: Golf and All-Inclusive Resort Living
Belek operates on a fundamentally different premise. The resort zone runs for approximately 20km along a sandy coastline behind a pine forest, and it was developed from scratch in the 1990s specifically as a golf and premium resort destination. The investment has been substantial: courses designed by Nick Faldo, Montgomerie, Gary Player, and others; hotels built to international five-star standards with full spa, entertainment, water park, and beach facility packages.
Green fees at Belek courses run approximately ₺3,000–₺6,000/round as of 2026, depending on the course and season. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are the peak golf seasons — summer is possible but hot, and winter attracts northern European golfers seeking warm-weather play. Most large hotels in Belek offer golf packages combining accommodation, green fees, and transfers.
For non-golfers staying in Belek all-inclusives, the beach and pool facilities are the draw. The sandy beach at Belek is arguably the best on the Antalya coast — wider and better quality than Side’s, though less dramatically sited.
Accommodation
Side: Beach Club Hotel Side is a 4-star property directly on the beach from approximately ₺3,000/night. Hotel Side Prenses is a well-regarded 3-star in the old town from approximately ₺1,500/night. Kaya Side is a 5-star in the Kumköy area north of Side with excellent pool and beach facilities from approximately ₺4,000/night. See our Side best hotels guide.
Belek all-inclusive hotels are the dominant format. Rixos Premium Belek, Gloria Golf Resort, Cornelia Diamond Golf Resort & Spa, and Maxx Royal Belek Resort represent the premium tier — each has its own golf course tie-ups, aqua parks, and beach access. In-season all-inclusive rates for two from approximately ₺8,000–₺25,000/night depending on the property. Most visitors book Belek through specialist golf or resort package operators rather than independently. Search current Belek hotel availability on Booking.com for independent comparison across the full range of properties.
Day Trips
From Side: Aspendos Roman theatre (30km west, entry approximately ₺250 — Turkey’s best-preserved Roman theatre) is the obvious first day trip and takes no more than a half-day. Perge ruins (60km west, entry approximately ₺200) are another solid half-day. Alanya (65km east) offers the Seljuk hilltop castle, the Damlataş cave, and the Red Tower fort for a full day. The Manavgat Waterfall and River are just 10km east — an easy half-hour excursion that most Side visitors add on. Combined Aspendos and Perge tours depart from Side hotels daily and cost approximately ₺500–800/person including transport, guide, and lunch.
From Belek: Perge is the closest ancient site (20km west, entry approximately ₺200) and easily combined with a morning golf round. Aspendos Roman theatre is 35km away — just over 30 minutes — and makes an easy afternoon excursion. Side itself (30km east) is the most popular day trip for non-golfers in Belek: the Temple of Apollo, the Roman theatre, and the harbour take a full morning. Antalya city (35km west) adds the Antalya Museum and Kaleiçi old town — worth a full day for those interested in the regional archaeology. Most Belek resort hotels run organised day tours to all of these, typically at approximately ₺500–700/person.
Day trip verdict: Side has a larger variety of options in different directions. Belek’s day trips are better organised through resort hotel packages, making them slightly more convenient for non-independent travellers.
Tours and Activities
From Side
Side’s ruins and the surrounding coast generate a strong activity market. The most popular bookings from Side:
Aspendos and Perge day tour: Guides collect from Side hotels and cover both major Roman sites in a single day — Aspendos theatre (Turkey’s best-preserved, entry approximately ₺250) and Perge (well-preserved colonnaded streets, entry approximately ₺200). Half-day Aspendos-only trips also run from Side’s main tour operators. Cost for guided group tours: approximately ₺500–800/person including transport, guide, and lunch.
Side boat trips: Island-hopping and cave tours depart from Side harbour daily in season. Standard 12-island circuit covers the Manavgat delta, the river mouth, and several swimming bays — approximately ₺400–700/person including lunch. The Manavgat River boat trip (up the river to the waterfall) is a shorter, cheaper add-on at approximately ₺200–350/person.
Guided Side ruins tours: The Temple of Apollo, the theatre, and the Side Museum are more rewarding with a specialist guide — context on the Hellenistic-Roman transition and the significance of Side’s role as a slave market adds depth to the visible ruins. Private guided tours of Side start from approximately ₺600–1,000 for 2 hours.
Browse tours and activities in Side for current departure times, group sizes, and cancellation policies across all operators. Most Side tours include free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.
From Belek
Belek is designed primarily as a golf resort destination, and its activity offer reflects that.
Golf: Belek has 20+ courses and is the most serious golf destination in Turkey — used regularly for European Tour events. Notable courses include the Nick Faldo-designed Belek Golf Club, the Montgomerie Belek, the PGA Sultan course, and the National Golf Club. Green fees run approximately ₺3,000–6,000/round depending on the course and season; most hotels bundle accommodation with pre-booked rounds. Equipment hire is available at all courses (approximately ₺500–800 per set). Golfers looking to book tee times in advance should use official course websites or GYG for availability.
Beach clubs: Belek’s large resort hotels each have well-equipped private beach areas. Non-hotel guests can access some Belek beach clubs for a day fee (typically ₺300–600/person including sunbed and umbrella). The beach itself — wide, flat, pine-backed sand — is one of the better stretches on the Antalya coast.
Day trips for non-golfers: Phaselis Lycian harbour ruins (15km south, entry approximately ₺250, three swimming bays) is the closest historical site and makes a half-day trip. Side (30km east) is commonly visited as a full-day excursion — the Temple of Apollo, the Roman theatre, and the harbour are the main draws. Antalya Kaleiçi (35km west) offers the Antalya Museum and old town. Browse Belek and Antalya area activities for current operator listings.
Getting Around
Both Side and Belek are served by Antalya Airport (AYT). Side is approximately 75km east — about 60–75 minutes by transfer. Belek is approximately 35km east — about 30–40 minutes. Belek is considerably more convenient for airport transfers, which is a meaningful advantage for families travelling with luggage.
The highway connecting Antalya, Belek, and Side runs directly; dolmuş connect the towns, though for day trip flexibility a rental car is recommended for either base.
Getting from Side to Belek (or Belek to Side)
Side and Belek are approximately 30km apart by road — about 30–35 minutes by car on the D400 coastal highway.
By dolmuş: Dolmuş run along the coastal highway between Side and Manavgat, and separately between Antalya and Belek. A direct Side–Belek service requires a change at Serik or the Belek junction. The full journey by dolmuş takes approximately 45–60 minutes and costs approximately ₺35–60 each way as of 2026. Less convenient than a car but very inexpensive.
By taxi: A direct taxi from Side to Belek costs approximately ₺400–600 depending on which resort and the season. The most practical option for a single day trip — ask your hotel to book it or flag a meter taxi from Side town centre.
By rental car: The easiest and most flexible option. The drive is straightforward: head west on the D400 toward Antalya, exit at Belek (signposted). 25–30 minutes. Most Belek resort hotels have visitor parking.
Day trips between the two: Side-from-Belek is the most common day trip for Belek resort guests — tour operators collect from hotels for guided Side + Aspendos combinations (approximately ₺500–800/person including transport, guide, and lunch). Belek-from-Side is easier independently given the car or taxi access.
Which to Choose
Choose Side if:
- The Temple of Apollo, the Roman theatre, and walking among ruins matters
- You want a beach holiday with genuine historical content
- Independent town life — restaurants, market stalls, local commerce — is part of the appeal
- You’re travelling with older children or teenagers who can engage with the history
- You don’t play golf and don’t want a fully self-contained resort
Choose Belek if:
- Golf is the primary purpose of the trip
- A luxury all-inclusive resort with no logistics required is the plan
- The best sandy beach on the Antalya coast is a priority
- You are travelling with a group where some play golf and others want pool and beach
- Fast airport transfer time is a practical consideration
Essential extras: An eSIM for Turkey keeps you connected from Antalya Airport. Travel insurance for Turkey should include golf equipment cover if applicable.
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