Side is one of the best bases on the Turkish Riviera for day trips — you’re sitting right between the Taurus Mountains, the Manavgat River and some of the finest Roman ruins in the Mediterranean. As locals from Antalya, we’ve put together the excursions from Side that are genuinely worth your money in 2026, with honest notes on each one. All tours below include hotel pickup from Side and Manavgat unless we say otherwise.
Disclosure: This guide contains affiliate links. If you book through them, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you — it’s how we keep this site running. Prices below were checked in June 2026 and may change with season and group size.
Quick Comparison: Best Excursions From Side (2026)
| Excursion | Duration | From | Rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green Canyon Jeep & Boat Tour | 8 hours | $29 | ★ 4.9 | Everyone — top pick |
| Pamukkale & Hierapolis Day Tour | 12–13 hours | $60 | ★ 4.4 | Bucket-list sights |
| Rafting + Quad + Zipline Combo | 10 hours | $14 | ★ 4.5 | Adrenaline on a budget |
| Dolphin Island Boat Trip | 6–7 hours | $25 | ★ 4.2 | Relaxed sea day |
| Perge, Aspendos & Kurşunlu Tour | 5–7 hours | $35 | ★ 4.9 | History lovers |
| Green Canyon Cabrio Bus Tour | 7 hours | $32 | ★ 4.6 | Families |
| Altınbeşik Cave & Ormana Village | 6–7 hours | $48 | ★ 4.4 | Hidden gem |
| Turkish Bath & Massage | 2 hours | $20 | ★ 4.7 | First or last day |
| Horse Riding — Forest & Beach | 1.5 hours | $55 | ★ 4.8 | Couples & photos |
| Land of Legends Night Show | 4–5 hours | $25 | ★ 3.7 | Evening with kids |
1. Green Canyon Jeep & Boat Tour — The One We’d Book First
If you only take one excursion from Side, make it this one. Green Canyon is the emerald-coloured reservoir behind Oymapınar Dam in the Taurus foothills above Manavgat — about 30–40 minutes from Side — and the water colour genuinely looks edited even when you’re standing in front of it. This combo packs an off-road jeep ride through mountain villages, a stop at Manavgat Waterfall, a boat cruise on the lake with swim breaks, and a lakeside lunch into one day.
Local tip: bring water shoes — the lake is fed by cold mountain springs, so the first jump in wakes you up fast, even in August. The 4.9 rating from nearly 300 travellers is not an accident; this is the most consistently loved tour in the Side region.
Check Price & Availability — from $29 →
2. Pamukkale & Hierapolis Day Tour From Side
Yes, it’s a long day — Pamukkale is roughly a 3.5–4 hour drive from Side, so expect a 12–13 hour round trip. Is it worth it? If this is your only trip to Turkey, absolutely. You’ll walk barefoot on the white travertine terraces, explore the Roman spa city of Hierapolis (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), and have the option to swim among sunken ancient columns in Cleopatra’s Pool. Lunch and entrance fees are included on this small-group tour.
Honest note: if long coach days aren’t your thing, skip it and do Green Canyon plus the Perge–Aspendos tour instead — you’ll see more with less driving. For a deeper look at what the day involves, see our full Pamukkale day trip guide.
Check Price & Availability — from $60 →
3. Rafting, Quad & Zipline Combo in Köprülü Canyon
Köprülü Canyon National Park, about an hour from Side, is the adventure capital of the entire Antalya coast — and this 3-in-1 combo is ridiculous value at around $14. You’ll raft the cold, clear rapids of the Köprüçay River, fly down a zipline over the canyon, and tear through forest tracks on a quad or buggy. Lunch, safety gear and hotel pickup are included.
Local tip: the river water stays around 10–12°C even in summer — that’s the point. It’s the best natural air-conditioning in Antalya in July and August. More detail on the river itself in our Köprülü Canyon rafting guide.
Check Price & Availability — from $14 →
4. Dolphin Island Boat Trip With Lunch
The classic Side sea day. The boat sails the coastline with several swim stops in clear Mediterranean water, lunch and soft drinks on board, and — if you’re lucky — wild dolphins along the way (no guarantees; these are wild animals, and we’d be suspicious of anyone who promises sightings). There’s onboard entertainment and a foam party, so it leans fun rather than quiet.
Who it’s for: families and groups who want an easy, social day at sea. Couples looking for something calmer should consider the horse riding below or a quieter gulet cruise instead.
Check Price & Availability — from $25 →
5. Perge, Aspendos & Kurşunlu Waterfall Guided Tour
Three of the region’s heavyweights in one guided day: Perge, the sprawling Roman city with its colonnaded streets and stadium; Aspendos, home to what is widely considered the best-preserved Roman theatre in the world (still hosting performances today); and the shaded Kurşunlu Waterfall nature park to cool down at the end. A professional guide makes a real difference at these sites — the stones don’t explain themselves.
Pair it with: Side’s own ancient theatre and Temple of Apollo, which you can do on foot from town — see our Side ancient city guide and our deep dive on the Aspendos Theatre.
Check Price & Availability — from $35 →
6. Green Canyon, Manavgat Waterfall & Cabrio Bus Tour
The gentler, family-shaped version of the Green Canyon day. Instead of jeeps, you ride an open-top cabrio bus through the countryside, stop at Manavgat’s grand mosque and a Roman aqueduct, visit orange groves, take photos at Manavgat Waterfall, and finish with the boat cruise and lakeside lunch on the canyon. There’s also a short animal park stop that younger kids tend to love. A current best seller on Viator for the Side region.
Check Price & Availability — from $32 →
7. Altınbeşik Cave & Ormana Village — The Hidden Gem
This is the one most visitors to Side have never heard of, and that’s exactly why we love it. Altınbeşik Cave, up in the İbradı district of the Taurus Mountains, hides one of the largest underground lakes in Europe — you actually take a small boat ride inside the cave. The tour pairs it with Ormana, a beautifully preserved mountain village famous for its traditional “button houses” (düğmeli evler) built from timber and stone, where you’ll meet locals and see a much slower side of Antalya province.
Local tip: bring a light jacket even in summer — the cave stays cool year-round.
Check Price & Availability — from $48 →
8. Turkish Bath (Hamam) With Massage & Spa
Not technically a “trip”, but it’s the best two hours you’ll spend in Side off the beach. Steam room, full-body scrub (kese), foam massage and spa time — the traditional Ottoman ritual, done properly. Do it on your first or second day: your skin will thank you for the rest of the holiday, and the scrub takes off every bit of sunscreen and dead skin before you build your tan.
Check Price & Availability — from $20 →
9. Horse Riding Through Forest & Beach
A 1.5-hour ride through pine forest and along the sand near Manavgat — suitable for complete beginners, with guides leading throughout. It’s short, it’s beautiful, and it produces the single best photo opportunity of your entire holiday. Sunset slots book out first in summer; reserve those early.
Check Price & Availability — from $55 →
10. Land of Legends Night Show With Boat Parade
Turkey’s biggest theme park complex sits in Belek, about 35–45 minutes from Side, and in the evening it turns into a spectacle: illuminated boat parade, water and light shows, fireworks and a shopping avenue. This package covers transfer from Side hotels plus the evening experience. Honest note: reviews on this transfer package are mixed (3.7★), mostly about waiting times around pickup — the show itself rarely disappoints. If you’d rather go independently or spend a full day at the waterpark, read our complete Land of Legends guide first.
Check Price & Availability — from $25 →
Bonus: 2-Day Cappadocia Tour From Side
Cappadocia is doable from Side, but only as a two-day trip — it’s a long drive each way, and the whole point (the sunrise hot air balloons) happens at dawn. Two-day tours typically include a cave-style hotel night, the Göreme Open-Air Museum, fairy chimney valleys and an optional balloon flight on the second morning. If your holiday is 10+ days, it’s a worthy splurge; on a one-week trip, we’d honestly stick to the Antalya region.
Check 2-Day Cappadocia Tours From Side →
FAQ: Excursions From Side
How much do excursions from Side cost?
As of June 2026, most group excursions from Side run between $14 and $60 per person, including hotel pickup and lunch. Adventure combos (rafting + quad + zipline) are the best value, while long-distance trips like Pamukkale sit at the higher end. Private tours cost significantly more.
Do tours pick up from hotels in Side?
Yes — virtually all group tours in this guide include free pickup and drop-off from hotels across Side, Kumköy, Çolaklı, Evrenseki, Kızılağaç and Manavgat. Your exact pickup time is confirmed the evening before, usually via WhatsApp.
Is Pamukkale too far from Side for a day trip?
It’s far — about 3.5–4 hours each way — but thousands of people do it every week. Expect a 12–13 hour day. If long drives drain you, choose closer excursions like Green Canyon or Perge–Aspendos and save Pamukkale for a future trip based in Antalya or Denizli.
Which excursion from Side is best for families with kids?
The Green Canyon cabrio bus tour is the easiest all-rounder for families — short drive, boat ride, waterfall, animal park stop. The Dolphin Island boat trip also works well for kids who love swimming. For teens, the rafting combo is the clear winner.
Should I book online or from a street agency in Side?
Street agencies can be fine, but booking online through Viator gives you free cancellation (usually up to 24 hours before), verified reviews and a record of exactly what’s included — which matters when comparing two “identical” tours with very different inclusions. Prices are typically the same or lower online.
Staying in Side? You might also like our guides to the Antalya Airport to Side transfer, the ancient city of Side, and the best excursions across the Antalya region.