Antalya Airport to Side private transfer

Side (pronounced "See-day") is an ancient harbour town in Antalya's Manavgat district, built on the tip of a narrow peninsula where Roman columns stand a few steps from beach bars and ice-cream stands. We're Antalya Transfer, a small, family-run airport transfer company based in Antalya, and we've been driving guests from Antalya Airport down to Side for years — this guide is written by people who actually know the road, not just to sell you a ride.

Most people picture Side the moment they see the Temple of Apollo's columns standing against the sea at the very tip of the peninsula — it's one of the most photographed sunset spots on the Turkish Riviera. Walk a few minutes inland and you're in the old town proper, with its Roman agora, the restored Roman baths that now house the Side Museum, and one of Anatolia's best-preserved ancient theatres, a 15,000-seat amphitheatre still used for summer performances. Cars aren't allowed into the old town's narrow lanes of shops, fish restaurants and glassware stalls, so taxis drop off at the edge — our drivers know exactly where, and will carry your bags from there if needed.

Side has two beaches either side of the peninsula: the West Beach, quieter and better for sunset, and the longer East Beach that most of the bigger hotels sit along. A short drive east brings you to Titreyengöl, a pine-shaded area named after its small lagoon lake, popular with guests who want a calmer base outside the old town buzz. A few kilometres north, the Manavgat River has a string of riverside restaurants and hosts the town's well-known Friday market — an easy half-day taxi trip.

Side's real advantage is how close it sits to the region's headline sights. Aspendos, one of the best-preserved Roman theatres anywhere in the world and still the venue for the annual Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival, is about 25-30 minutes away by taxi. Manavgat Waterfall, with its boat-trip jetty right alongside, is another short ride. Further on, boat tours run through the Green Canyon formed by the Oymapınar Dam, and rafting groups heading to Köprülü Canyon National Park usually set off early by taxi from their Side hotel. We regularly arrange return or full-day taxi hire for exactly these trips — the driver waits while you explore.

The Side hotel belt stretches from the old town itself out towards Çolaklı and Titreyengöl, and drop-off points vary a lot between properties. We regularly transfer guests to TUI BLUE Barut Andiz, a large beachfront resort where the actual drop-off can be a short way from the main gate — our drivers know the layout. We also run frequent transfers to Acanthus and the upgraded Cennet Barut Collection next door, two hotels close enough together that guests sometimes confuse them, so having your exact hotel name and booking reference ready helps us get it right. Closer to the old town, Bellissima Hotel is another address we serve often, and its location means guests can walk into Side's historic centre. Whichever hotel you've booked, send us the address and room or booking details in advance and your driver will be waiting right at the entrance.

Evenings in Side tend to centre on the old harbour, where fish restaurants line the water next to the illuminated Temple of Apollo, and the main street has a relaxed, family-friendly bar scene rather than the big club nights you'd find in Antalya's livelier resorts. Arriving after a long flight and wanting dinner by the water on your first night is entirely realistic — it's a short walk from most old-town hotels.

Antalya Airport sits roughly 65 km from Side, a straightforward drive down the D-400 highway that usually takes 55 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes depending on traffic. Once you send us your flight number, our meet-and-greet kicks in automatically: if your flight is delayed, your driver waits at arrivals with a name board, helps with your luggage, and drives you straight to your hotel door. There's no surcharge for landing at midnight or at 5am — waiting time is already built into the price. Our fixed-price transfer from Antalya Airport to Side starts at a fixed fare confirmed at booking, varying by vehicle type and group size; you'll see the exact fare when you book, with no surprise extras on arrival.