Side-Turkey.

In Side's own ancient streets, as the columns of the Temple of Apollo lean into the sunset, something whispers: Anatolia still keeps its thousand-year secrets. With our culture and ancient city tours from Side, we carry you into the heart of those secrets — chasing not the stones, but the stories.

Each of the routes below is organised with Murat Atalay quality, accompanied by expert guides. Let's open the doors of time together.

Demre, Myra and Kekova: The Secret of the Sunken City and the Land of Santa Claus

Myra, Lycia's capital carved into the rock, buried its dead high on steep cliffs to bring them closer to the sky; today those rock-cut tombs and the grand Roman theatre still enchant visitors. On this same soil, Saint Nicholas (Santa Claus), who lived in the 4th century AD, was the Bishop of Myra; the legend of his generosity spread across the world over the centuries, and his church is visited in awe today.

When we set sail, time dives beneath the water: the sunken city of Kekova. Staircases, sarcophagi and walls of Lycian buildings, swallowed by earthquakes, rise like ghosts beneath the crystal water. Before us, the castle of Simena (Kaleköy) stands like a crown sprung from the sea. This is, quite literally, a once-in-a-lifetime route.

Perge and Aspendos: In the Footsteps of Gladiators, in the Heart of Flawless Acoustics

Perge was a magnificent Pamphylian city; with its long colonnaded street, monumental Hellenistic gates and vast stadium, it once held the lives of thousands. Walking its marble streets, you feel your footsteps blend with steps taken 2,000 years ago.

Then Aspendos: the best-preserved Roman theatre in the world. Built in the 2nd century AD by the architect Zenon, it has acoustics so flawless that a whisper on stage is heard clearly even from the top row. Still hosting concerts and shows today, the theatre is proof of engineering genius carved into stone.

Cappadocia: Land of Fairy Chimneys and Sunrise Balloons

Born millions of years ago as volcanic ash compacted and eroded, the fairy chimneys offer a surreal landscape. Early Christians carved these soft rocks into underground cities (Derinkuyu, Kaymaklı) and frescoed rock churches (Göreme); in times of danger, thousands sheltered in these labyrinths.

But Cappadocia's soul awakens at sunrise: when hundreds of hot-air balloons rise silently and drown the valleys in pink-gold light, you'd swear time had stopped. With our 2-day, 1-night programme from Side, you live this magic in the greatest comfort.

Sagalassos and Termessos: Untouched Cities Above the Clouds (Our Special Tours)

On the Taurus peaks above 1,500 metres, Sagalassos stands like a mountain eagle. Watching water flow again from the restored, magnificent Antonine Fountain is like being teleported 1,800 years back; its theatre lays the whole valley at your feet.

Termessos is a legend: on the sheer slopes of Mount Solymos, almost an eagle's nest. Such that even Alexander the Great could not take this city — he withdrew before the power of its walls and nature. Today, with monumental tombs scattered through the pine forest and a theatre on the edge of a gorge, it is the hidden treasure of those who love VIP and private tours.

Alanya Castle and Silifke: The Pirate Tales of the Mediterranean

Alanya Castle was crowned in the 13th century by the Seljuk Sultan Alaeddin Keykubad; with walls embracing the peninsula, its iconic Red Tower and its historic seaside shipyard, it is one of the Mediterranean's most magnificent fortresses. Walking its ramparts, the turquoise coves stretching below take your breath away.

Further west, Silifke (ancient Seleucia) and its surroundings were shaped for centuries by the legends of the Cilician pirates. The cool of the Göksu River, the ramparts of Silifke Castle and the Maiden's Castle rising from the middle of the sea offer a deep, mysterious tapestry of history. These special routes are for true explorers, far from the crowds.

Ready to Live History Yourself?

These stories aren't waiting on the pages of a book, but right here on this land. All these tours are organised from Side with Murat Atalay quality and expert guides. For 2026 season bookings and current offers, click through to the relevant tour page.

The doors of time have opened — you take the step inside. The journey of your life is one click away!