Southern Turkey and Side in particular offers many local attractions that will keep you interested for hours. Side has lovely golden beaches, excellent historical land marks and many local markets.

Side Theatre
One of the largest attractions in Side is the theatre, pictured opposite. This theater was built in the 2nd Century A.D. on the same spot where a Hellenistic theater used to be. It has the capacity to seat 15,000 people and the stage building is decorated with marble friezes. The orchestras separated from the spectators by parapets to make it possible for gladiator fights. The public toilets on the North West Wing are very interesting.

City Gate
The first attraction you will see when entering Side is the main City Gate, pictured bottom left. This city gate was built in the second half of the 2nd Century A.D. The walls are beautifully decorated with carvings of past warriors in armour and are believed to show the spoils of war against Pergamon in the Second Century B.C.

The Colonnaded Streets
After entering the main gate you will be faced with two main streets one of which is still to be fully excavated. These are beautiful with giant stone columns which leads towards Side Theater. The streets originally had stoas on both sides but due to their age one side has now collapsed. Originally these side walks would have been very extravagant with cut stone and mosaics.

For the young Side is full of local bars offering endless supplies of fine bears and wine. The food is also out of this world. Side is full of shops and there is also an aqua park close by, see the excursions page for more details.

These are just a few of the attractions Side has to offer there are many more but the best way to find out about them is to see them for yourself.