Topkapı Palace
The sultans’ palace on Sarayburnu: courtyards, the Imperial Council, the treasury and the terraces over the water. Dated entry, sold online on its own site.
Side Theatre
The heart of ancient Side: a theatre with a Hellenistic plan and Roman construction, a rare design in Anatolia, with an audio guide and evening opening.
About the museum
Ask which jewel of ancient Side is the most precious and the answer is the theatre at its centre. It stands where the peninsula narrows, and its architecture is considered unique in Anatolia.
The plan follows Hellenistic tradition, extending beyond a semicircle, but the construction is Roman. Rather than resting entirely on a hillside, the upper part of the seating relies on vaults, including sloping ones, to carry the tiers. The stage building, or scaenae frons, rises in three storeys. This mixture of traditions makes the theatre one of the most original structures in the region.
Its decoration includes reliefs and ornamental carving, and from the upper rows you can look over the ancient town and the sea, which is much of the reason to climb to the top.
Tips
- An audio guide is available on site.
- The site can open in the evening, so late visits are possible; check the official page for current arrangements.
Questions
When is Side Theatre open?
According to the Ministry’s listing it opens at 08:00 and closes at 18:45. Open every day.
Can I buy tickets for Side Theatre on this site?
No. This site sells no tickets. Topkapı Palace, the Basilica Cistern, Hagia Sophia and Dolmabahçe Palace are sold on our sister sites; for Side Theatre, buy at the ticket office or on the Ministry’s official e-ticket system.
Where is Side Theatre?
Side Theatre is in Antalya, Türkiye — Side Mahallesi Liman Caddesi No:2 Manavgat / Antalya.
Nearby
Antalya
Olympos Archaeological Site
A Lycian coast city hidden in a wooded valley beside a beach, once a pirates' haven, with a theatre, a Byzantine church and the eternal flames of Chimaera nearby.
Antalya
Perge Archaeological Site
One of Turkey's best-preserved Roman cities, on a plain east of Antalya, with a Hellenistic gate, colonnaded streets, theatre and stadium.
Antalya
St. Nicholas Monument Museum
The church at Demre (ancient Myra) built over the tomb of St. Nicholas, the bishop who became the model for Santa Claus, with frescoes and an audio guide.
Antalya
Phaselis Archaeological Site
A trading city on a pine-covered peninsula with three harbours, visited by Emperor Hadrian and Alexander the Great, and known for its water-supply engineering.
Istanbul tickets online
Four Istanbul landmarks, each sold on its own site by the agency behind this guide — dated entry and free cancellation up to 24 hours.
Basilica Cistern
Justinian’s great underground reservoir: 336 columns in still water and the two Medusa heads. Fast-track entry with a digital audio guide.
Hagia Sophia
Justinian’s cathedral, the sultans’ mosque and a working mosque again today. The ticket admits you to the upper visitor gallery.
Dolmabahçe Palace
A nineteenth-century palace on the water’s edge: the Selamlık, the Ceremonial Hall under its chandelier, the crystal staircase and the Harem.