Manavgat-Side Ancient City and Nature Route

The Route and Why This Order

This route combines Manavgat's natural and historic sites with ancient Side on the coast and Köprülü Canyon inland; given the distances, a car is recommended. It starts near the district center at Manavgat Waterfall — a short nature stop that makes for a relaxed opening before the ancient-city walking ahead. From there the route heads to the coastal town of Side; the Side Ancient Theatre, Temple of Apollo and Side Museum are all within walking distance of each other, so they're grouped together — moving from theatre to temple to museum lets visitors follow the different layers (spectacle, religion, daily life) of this 2nd-century AD Roman city in one continuous thread. The day's final stop is inland, at Köprülü Canyon National Park — deliberately saved for last so the day closes with open-air time along the Köprüçay River after the dense morning of ancient-city sightseeing.

Duration, Distance and Getting Around

The total driving distance between stops is about 77 km, filling a full day of roughly 6-7 hours. The three stops within Side can be covered on foot, but a car is needed to reach Manavgat Waterfall and Köprülü Canyon.

Best Time to Go

Visiting Side's ancient sites before noon helps avoid the heat and the busiest hours on the stone surfaces. Saving Köprülü Canyon for the second half of the day makes the most of its shaded, cooler valley during the hottest hours.

A Local Tip

The Temple of Apollo is especially striking near sunset, its five columns silhouetted against the sea — travelers who prefer that view can simply run this route in reverse and end at the temple instead.