Side or Alanya? Which Resort to Choose for Your Holiday

Side and Alanya are both on the coast east of Antalya, about an hour apart, but they feel very different. In short:

• Side – a small ancient city on a peninsula, surrounded by resort villages with long sandy beaches and many all-inclusive hotels. Calm, beach-focused, good for families.
• Alanya – a real town with its own rhythm: a castle on a huge rock, a busy harbour, a town beach, shops, restaurants and bars. More lively, more choice in the evening.

The airport transfer is also a factor: Side is closer to Antalya Airport (AYT), while Alanya is a longer drive from AYT but close to the smaller Gazipaşa-Alanya Airport (GZP).

The heart of Side is the old town on a small peninsula. You walk past ancient remains to the columns of the Temple of Apollo right by the sea – one of the most photographed spots on the Turkish Riviera, especially at sunset. Around the old town there are restaurants, shops and a small harbour.

Most holidaymakers, however, stay in the resort villages on either side of the town, each with long, sandy beaches that slope gently into the water:

• West of Side: Evrenseki, Çolaklı and Kumköy – long rows of beach hotels, quiet in the evening.
• East of Side: Sorgun and Titreyengöl – greener areas close to the old town, with Manavgat just inland.

If you mainly want sun, sand and a relaxed hotel holiday, Side and its villages make that easy. If you are also weighing up Belek, read our comparison Belek vs Side.

Alanya is built around a rocky peninsula topped by Alanya Castle, whose old walls wind up the hill above the sea. On the west side of the rock lies Cleopatra Beach, a long sandy town beach, and near it the Damlataş cave. On the east side is the harbour, the starting point for boat trips and the centre of Alanya's evening life.

Around the town there are resort areas with a calmer feel:

• West of Alanya: Konaklı, Avsallar and Okurcalar – hotels along the coast, a little closer to Antalya.
• East of Alanya: Mahmutlar – a large residential and holiday area with many apartments.

Alanya suits travellers who like to walk out of the hotel into a town: cafés, shops, a promenade and plenty of things to do without planning a day trip.

Beaches. Both have sandy beaches. Side's resort villages are known for very long stretches of sand in front of the hotels, which is convenient if you want to go straight from the room to the sea. In Alanya, Cleopatra Beach is right in town, and the coast west and east of the centre is lined with hotels as well.

Evenings. Side's old town is pleasant for an evening stroll and dinner, but the villages around it are mostly quiet. Alanya has much more going on after dark, especially around the harbour.

Sightseeing. In Side, history is all around you in the old town. In Alanya, the castle, the cave and boat trips along the rocky coast are the classics. From both places, day trips to the wider region are possible.

Typical road distances and drive times from Antalya Airport (AYT):

• Evrenseki ≈ 60 km / 70 min, Çolaklı ≈ 61 km / 71 min, Kumköy ≈ 62 km / 72 min
• Side ≈ 65 km / 75 min, Manavgat ≈ 70 km / 80 min
• Titreyengöl ≈ 71 km / 82 min, Sorgun ≈ 74 km / 84 min
• Okurcalar ≈ 93 km / 99 min, Avsallar ≈ 101 km / 108 min, Konaklı ≈ 117 km / 120 min
• Alanya ≈ 125 km / ≈ 2 h, Mahmutlar ≈ 137 km / 132 min

From Gazipaşa-Alanya Airport (GZP), Alanya centre is only ≈ 40 km / 40 min away – so if there is a suitable flight to Gazipaşa, it is the closer airport for Alanya and the areas east of it, such as Mahmutlar. Details are in our Gazipaşa to Alanya transfer guide.

Times are typical; high-season traffic and town traffic can add time.

Choose Side if…

• you travel with small children and want the shortest possible transfer after the flight;
• you prefer a beach-focused holiday in a large hotel with sand right in front;
• you like history and want ancient ruins within walking distance or a short ride.

Choose Alanya if…

• you want town life, bars and restaurants close to your hotel;
• you enjoy walking around, shopping and boat trips;
• you can fly to Gazipaşa, or you don't mind a longer transfer from Antalya.

Couples and friends looking for a mix of beach and nightlife often lean towards Alanya; families with toddlers and guests who want quiet evenings often lean towards Side.

Whichever you choose, we drive you privately from the arrivals hall to your hotel door – no shared shuttle and no stops at other hotels. The driver meets you with a name sign, we track your flight and wait for free if it is delayed, and child seats are free on request.

The price is fixed per vehicle and agreed before the trip, with no night surcharge and no luggage fee. You can see live prices on the route pages Antalya Airport to Side and Antalya Airport to Alanya. The return transfer can be booked at the same time.