Side Where to Stay: Old Town, Kumköy, Çolaklı or Sorgun?

“Side” on a booking page can mean several different places along roughly twenty kilometres of coast. Before you pick a hotel, check which village it is actually in:

• Side old town – the peninsula with the ancient ruins, harbour and pedestrian lanes. Best if you want to walk everywhere in the evening.
• Kumköy, Çolaklı, Evrenseki – west of Side, a long sandy beach lined with large resorts. Best for beach-and-pool holidays, especially with children.
• Sorgun and Titreyengöl – east of Side, pine woods near the mouth of the Manavgat river. Best for a greener, calmer setting.
• Manavgat town – a working town on the river, with shops and a market. Practical rather than a beach base.
• Kızılağaç and Kızılot – further east, quieter resort villages on the way towards Alanya.

The drive times below are typical figures from Antalya Airport (AYT); high-season traffic can add time.

The old town sits on a small peninsula. The ancient theatre stands at its entrance, the columns of the Temple of Apollo rise at the tip by the sea, and in between you find the harbour, restaurants and shops along pedestrian lanes. Staying here, or in the hotels just outside the ancient walls, means you can stroll to dinner and back without needing a car.

What to keep in mind:

• Accommodation in and right next to the old town tends to be smaller hotels and guest houses rather than large resorts.
• Because the lanes are pedestrian, a car cannot always stop at the door. Ask your hotel where the nearest drop-off point is and expect a short walk with luggage.
• Evenings are lively in summer; light sleepers may prefer a hotel on the edge of town.

Drive from the airport: ≈ 65 km / 75 min. For the history of the site, read our Side ancient city guide.

Coming from Antalya, you reach this stretch before Side itself. It is one long sandy beach backed by large resort hotels, with Kumköy the part closest to the old town and Çolaklı and Evrenseki further west.

• Kumköy (≈ 62 km / 72 min) – the most convenient for combining a beach resort with trips into the old town; the old town is a short taxi or minibus ride away, and some hotels are within a long walk.
• Çolaklı (≈ 61 km / 71 min) – resort strip with a wide beach; you will rely more on the hotel for meals and entertainment. That suits a holiday where you rarely leave the resort.
• Evrenseki (≈ 60 km / 70 min) – similar resort character and one of the shorter drives from the airport in the Side area.

These villages suit families with small children and anyone who wants a self-contained beach holiday. The trade-off: the old town is not on your doorstep, so plan a taxi or transfer for evenings there. Route details: Antalya Airport to Kumköy, to Çolaklı and to Evrenseki.

East of the old town the scenery changes. Sorgun (≈ 74 km / 84 min) is known for its pine woods behind the beach, and Titreyengöl (≈ 71 km / 82 min) takes its name from a small lake near the coast. Both lie close to where the Manavgat river meets the sea, so river boat trips and the town of Manavgat are near.

• Good for couples and walkers who like shade, greenery and a calmer atmosphere.
• The old town is a short ride away, not a walk.
• The drive from the airport is a little longer than to the western villages.

Manavgat town itself is a lively market town on the river rather than a beach resort. It is a useful base for independent travellers or long stays, and the Manavgat waterfall lies a short drive north. See our Manavgat waterfall and Green Canyon guide for day-trip ideas.

Past Manavgat the coast continues towards Alanya with the quieter resort villages of Kızılağaç (≈ 82 km / 92 min) and Kızılot (≈ 85 km / 94 min). They are a sensible choice if you want a resort holiday with less going on around you, or if you plan to split your time between Side and Alanya. Bear in mind that the airport drive is longer and that Side old town is no longer a quick hop.

• Families with small children: Kumköy, Çolaklı or Evrenseki. Sandy beaches, large resorts, and the shortest drives in the area, which matters after a flight with tired children.
• Couples who want restaurants and evening walks: the old town or a hotel within walking distance of it.
• Nature and quiet: Sorgun or Titreyengöl, with pine woods and the river nearby.
• Sightseeing fans: the old town or Kumköy, so you can walk to the ruins and still reach Aspendos and Manavgat easily.
• Combining Side and Alanya: Kızılağaç or Kızılot sit between the two.

Still comparing regions? Our Belek vs Side comparison covers the next resort area west.

All these areas are reached along the coast road east of Antalya. With a private transfer the driver waits in AYT arrivals with a name sign, tracks your flight and waits free of charge if it is delayed, then drives you straight to your hotel without stops for other passengers.

• Fixed price per vehicle, not per person, agreed before the trip – no night surcharge and no luggage fee.
• Minivan (1–6), VIP Mercedes-Benz Vito (1–7) or Mercedes Sprinter (8–16).
• Free child seats on request; book the return transfer at the same time.
• No prepayment: pay in the vehicle; free cancellation.

Send your hotel name via WhatsApp or the booking form and you get a fixed-price quote within a minute. Live prices are on the route page: Antalya Airport to Side.