Side-Turkey.

Side is one of those rare places where you don't go looking for history — it's simply all around you, between the cafes and the sea. For travellers who care about the story behind the stones, two stops stand out above the rest: the Side Museum, set inside a Roman bath, and the great Roman theatre that anchors the peninsula. This guide walks you through both the way a local would, with the context that makes the marble come alive.

The Side Museum: a Roman bath full of treasure

The museum itself is part of the exhibit. It occupies the old Agora Bath, a Roman bath building that was restored and opened to visitors in 1962. Walking through it, you move from the cold room to the warm rooms and the hot room — the original bath layout is still legible in the architecture, so you are experiencing Roman engineering while you look at Roman art.

Inside you'll find statues of gods and goddesses, sarcophagi carved with Eros and mythological scenes, friezes, inscriptions, terracotta figurines, bronzes, coins and everyday objects. Much of it was unearthed during the long excavations of the ancient city that began in the 1940s under archaeologist Arif Müfid Mansel and Jale İnan. The collection spans from early settlement phases through the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods — a compact but rich snapshot of a port city that thrived for centuries.

A tip before you go in

The museum sits right opposite the colonnaded agora, the ancient marketplace. Walk the agora first: once you've pictured where these statues originally stood — in public buildings, halls and porticoes — the figures inside the museum read very differently. Context turns a row of marble into a living town.

The Roman theatre: the heart of the peninsula

A short walk away stands one of the largest and best-preserved theatres in the region. It follows the semicircular Hellenistic tradition but was built with Roman construction techniques, which is part of what makes it special in Anatolia. It rises right in the narrow neck of the peninsula, so the surrounding ruins, gates and walls frame it on every side.

Stand on the upper rows and look out: you can take in the agora, the city gate and the line of the old streets in a single sweep. This is the spot where the scale of ancient Side finally clicks — a working Roman city, not a scattering of fragments.

Making a day of it: museum, theatre and the Temple of Apollo

The museum and theatre pair naturally with Side's most photographed monument, the Temple of Apollo, whose white marble columns stand at the very edge of the sea. History lovers often do the ruins by day and return to the temple for sunset, when the columns glow gold against the water. Because everything sits inside the modern town, you can move from ancient stone to a seafront table in minutes.

Quick Facts

• Duration: Side Ancient City, museum and theatre walking visit; exact duration confirmed at booking.
• Pick-up: Hotel pick-up from Side, Manavgat & nearby resorts; time confirmed at booking.
• Includes: Local guide, route planning across the ancient city, theatre and museum area.
• Excludes: Site/museum entrance fees and personal spending (check official site / confirmed at booking).
• Family Friendly: Yes — engaging for children who like ruins, mostly open-air walking.
• Best Season: Spring and autumn for comfortable walking; early morning or late afternoon in summer.
• Difficulty: Easy to moderate — flat town walking with some uneven ancient paving.

Related Excursions

• Side tours & excursions
• Antalya tours & excursions
• Alanya tours & excursions
• Belek tours & excursions
• Kemer tours & excursions
• More travel guides on our blog

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Side Museum?

It's in the town of Side, in the Manavgat district of Antalya, right next to the ancient theatre and opposite the agora — all within easy walking distance of each other.

Was the museum really a Roman bath?

Yes. It occupies the old Agora Bath, a Roman bath building that was restored and opened as a museum in 1962. You can still read the original bath halls in the layout.

What can I see inside?

Statues of gods and goddesses, sarcophagi, friezes, inscriptions, terracotta, bronzes and coins from the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods, much of it excavated in Side itself.

Is the Roman theatre worth visiting too?

Absolutely. It's one of the largest and best-preserved theatres in the region, built in the Hellenistic semicircular plan with Roman techniques, and it gives you the best overview of the ancient city.

How much are the entrance fees?

Site and museum fees can change, so please check the official site or have them confirmed at booking rather than relying on an old figure.

Can I combine this with the Temple of Apollo at sunset?

Yes, and many history lovers do. The temple is a short walk away and is most beautiful as the sun sets over the sea.

Is it suitable for children?

It is. It's mostly open-air walking among ruins, and the theatre and museum hold children's attention well.

Why book direct with you?

Booking DIRECT with our local Murat Atalay team cuts out agency and OTA commission, so you deal with the operator on the ground and get our best-price guarantee.

Ready to walk through ancient Side with people who know it street by street? Book DIRECT with the Murat Atalay team via WhatsApp or info@side-turkey.com — no middlemen, no agency commission, and our best-price guarantee. We'll help you plan museum, theatre and a Temple of Apollo sunset into one unforgettable day.