Side-Turkey.

For families with children roughly aged 3 to 12, yes, the Side pirate boat trip is worth it. At EUR 23 with a kid-friendly lunch, hotel transfer, insurance, face painting and a foam party, our Side Pirates Boat Tour earns its price over six hours aimed at young children. Couples wanting quiet, teenagers, and seasickness-prone guests should skip it.

The short verdict

I run boats out of Side, and I will not sell you a day that does not suit your group. The pirate boat is a family day out built around children: costumed crew, interactive animations, a foam party on the deck, music, and a lunch that fussy young eaters will actually touch. If you are travelling with kids in that primary-school age band, the answer is yes. If you are not, keep reading, because I would rather point you at a better day than take your money for the wrong one.

What EUR 23 actually gets you

The detail that surprises people is the price. On the Side Pirates Boat Tour, the adult ticket is EUR 23 and the child ticket is also EUR 23. That looks odd next to most of our tours, where children pay less. Here is the honest explanation: this is a fixed per-seat family boat, not a per-age tour. You are buying a seat on a vessel running its animation programme, foam party and full crew for everyone aboard, so the cost per head is flat. It is not a discount trick and it is not a mistake.

The six-hour day includes a fair amount for that flat fare:

• Round-trip hotel transfer in our own Atalay Transfer vehicles. You are picked up from your hotel in the morning; the exact time is confirmed the day before.
• Full travel insurance for the excursion.
• Professional guiding plus interactive animations through the day.
• Complimentary face painting for children.
• A kid-friendly lunch onboard.
• Foam party, music and entertainment on the deck.

What is not included is worth knowing before you board: all drinks are extra and sold at the onboard bar, professional photo and video packages cost more, and any personal expenses or extra snacks are on you. Bring a little cash for drinks and you will not be caught out.

Who this trip is genuinely for

Families with children roughly aged 3 to 12. At that age, the costumed crew, the treasure-hunt energy, the face painting and the foam party do their job. The lunch is built for young palates rather than adventurous ones, which parents of picky eaters will appreciate. Six hours is a long day for very small children, but there are swim stops to break it up and the animation team keeps things moving so nobody sits bored on the water. This is a boisterous, animation-led day rather than a scenic cruise, and that is exactly why it works for this age group.

Who should honestly skip it

I would rather you booked the right day than a disappointing one, so here is the plain list:

• Couples wanting a quiet day. This is a loud, busy, child-focused boat. If you want calm water and space to relax, this is not it, and you should look at our quieter boat and relax options instead.
• Guests prone to seasickness. This is an open-sea tour with swim stops. If open water turns your stomach, choose a sheltered river day on the Manavgat river or up at Green Canyon where the water is flat, and consider the Little Pirates boat tour for younger kids only if the ages fit.
• Teenagers. Be honest with yourself here. The pirate animations, the costumes and the foam party are pitched at younger children. A teenager will most likely find the whole thing childish and spend the day on their phone.

Side Pirates or Little Pirates? A straight comparison

We run more than one pirate boat from Side, and they are not the same product. The two you will weigh up are the Side Pirates day and the Little Pirates day. Here is the honest breakdown.

The Little Pirates boat tour for younger kids is EUR 20 and runs longer at eight hours, built around costumes, a treasure hunt and games. If your children are on the younger end and enjoy dressing up and structured play, Little Pirates is the better fit for three euros less. If you want the foam party and the shorter six-hour day, Side Pirates is your pick. Neither is a wrong choice; it comes down to your children's ages and how long a day they can handle.

The other pirate boats along the coast

If you are staying further along the coast, you do not have to travel to Side. There are two more pirate boats worth naming honestly.

The Alanya pirate boat tour matches the Side format at EUR 20 per seat over six hours and makes sense if you are based around Alanya rather than near Side. The Alibaba pirate boat from Belek is the pricier option at EUR 43 for adults and EUR 28 for children, running a full eight hours with a barbecue lunch. It costs more, but you get a longer day and a proper barbecue rather than a kids' plate, so it can suit families with slightly older children or parents who want a better lunch. If you are staying near Belek, it saves you the drive to Side.

Is the value real?

For the target family, yes. Twenty-three euros a seat covering the return transfer in our own vehicles, insurance, a full day of professional animation, face painting, lunch and a foam party is fair for what is on the boat. The bar drinks and photo package are where the boat makes its margin, and that is normal, so go in expecting to spend a little on top. What you should not do is book it for the wrong group and then feel let down. The value is genuine only when the day matches who you are travelling with, so match it to your kids first. If it does not fit, book a calmer day on the Manavgat river or at Green Canyon instead.

How to book

You can reserve without prepayment and pay on the day, so there is no risk in holding your seats early in the season when the family boats fill up. Every ticket includes free round-trip hotel pickup in our own Atalay Transfer vehicles, so there is nothing extra to arrange for getting to the harbour. To lock in your date, book the Side Pirates Boat Tour directly with us and confirm your pickup time the day before.

Frequently asked questions

Why do children pay the same EUR 23 as adults?

Because this is a fixed per-seat family boat, not a per-age tour. The animation programme, foam party and full crew run for everyone aboard, so the cost is flat at EUR 23 per seat regardless of age. It is not an error and not an upsell.

Is the pirate boat suitable for guests who get seasick?

It is an open-sea tour with swim stops, so it is not the calm choice for guests prone to seasickness. If open water bothers you, pick a sheltered day on the Manavgat river or at Green Canyon where the water is flat, and consider the Little Pirates day only if the ages fit.

Should I book Side Pirates or Little Pirates?

Side Pirates is EUR 23 over six hours with a foam party and face painting. The Little Pirates boat tour for younger kids is EUR 20 over eight hours with costumes, a treasure hunt and games. Younger children who like dressing up suit Little Pirates; families wanting the foam party and a shorter day suit Side Pirates.

What is not included in the EUR 23?

All drinks are extra and sold at the onboard bar, professional photo and video packages cost more, and any personal expenses or extra snacks are your own. Bring a little cash for drinks and you will be fine.

Do you pick us up from our hotel?

Yes. Round-trip hotel transfer in our own Atalay Transfer vehicles is included. You are picked up from your hotel in the morning, and the exact time is confirmed the day before.