We operate three different boat tours out of Side, and the first thing we tell guests at the office is this: they are not three versions of the same day. One is a lively classic cruise, one is a floating playground for children, and one is deliberately, blissfully quiet. Since all three are our own boats, we gain nothing by steering you onto the wrong deck: a mismatched guest is simply an unhappy guest. Here is the comparison we give in person, with the real prices we charge.
The three tours at a glance
- Side Boat Tour: the classic full-day cruise: €20 per adult, €14 per child, infants free, 7 hours.
- Side Pirate Boat Tour: a day built entirely around kids: €23 per adult, €16 per child, infants free, 6 hours.
- Side Relax Boat Tour: the quiet, grown-up alternative: €70 per adult, €49 per child, infants free, around 7 hours including transfers.
All three include round-trip hotel pickup in air-conditioned vehicles, lunch on board, swimming stops in clear bays, and insurance. As with everything we run, reservation is free, you pay on the tour day, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure. You can browse the full line-up on our boat tours collection page.
Side Boat Tour: the classic most people picture
This is the boat day you see on postcards: a full day cruising Side's turquoise coastline with live music on deck, several swimming and snorkeling stops in crystal-clear bays, a hearty lunch served on board, and a foam party in the afternoon. At €20 per adult it is also our most affordable way to spend a whole day at sea.
It suits first-time visitors, groups of friends, and anyone who wants the full sociable boat-day experience at the friendliest price. Families enjoy it too: the calm bays make easy swimming for children.
Be aware: drinks are not included, so budget a little for the bar, and this is a cheerful, musical boat carrying up to 40 guests. If the words "foam party" make you wince rather than smile, keep reading.
Side Pirate Boat Tour: the children run this ship
Our bestseller, and it earns the badge. The pirate ship casts off mid-morning and drifts down the river to the delta, the rare spot where the icy fresh water of the river meets the warm, salty Mediterranean: the whole family swims in two seas at once. On deck, an animation team takes charge: free face painting, a treasure hunt with a secret map, tug-of-war, and the crowd favourite, capturing the cheeky pirate Ferhat. Lunch is unapologetically kid-approved — spaghetti, chicken fingers and fish fingers — and a foam party rounds off the afternoon.
It suits families with children, full stop. At €23 per adult and €16 per child it sits close to the classic cruise in price, yet for kids it delivers a completely different day. Parents are warmly welcome to join the games and the swimming.
Be aware: this is a themed family boat, and it fills fast in peak season, book ahead. Couples looking for romance should read the next section instead.
Side Relax Boat Tour: pay more, get genuine quiet
The fair way to describe this one: it is not an expensive version of the classic cruise, it is a different product. There is no loud music and no party crowd. Every guest has a personal sunbed reserved in advance — no towel race at the gangway — and the route drifts past the point where the Manavgat River meets the sea, Dolphin Island, and the sheltered Caretta Caretta bays, with unhurried swim stops along the way.
At €70 per adult and €49 per child it is clearly our premium ticket, but compare like for like: the fresh open-buffet lunch comes with soft and alcoholic drinks included, so nothing lands on a bar bill at the end of the day, and the guaranteed sunbed means the deck is yours from the first minute.
It suits couples, honeymooners, solo travellers, and anyone whose ideal sea day sounds like water rather than speakers.
Be aware: children are welcome, but a child dreaming of pirate games will be happier — and the ticket cheaper — on the pirate ship.
How to decide in thirty seconds
- Travelling with kids? The Pirate Boat Tour, no contest.
- Couple, honeymoon, or simply exhausted? The Relax Boat Tour.
- First visit, group of friends, best value for a full day? The classic Side Boat Tour at €20.
- Thrill-seekers? Boat days here are about swimming and scenery, not adrenaline, pair one calm sea day with a faster excursion on land and your week is sorted.
Before you book
Every ticket works the same way with us: free reservation, payment on the tour day, free cancellation up to 24 hours before, and hotel pickup arranged for you: the exact time is confirmed personally the evening before. For the full cost picture, including what the ticket does and does not cover, see our boat tour prices guide; for everything else guests ask us, the boat tours FAQ. Choosing your week as much as your boat? Our seasonal guide covers when each tour shines, and our complete local guide to Side excursions helps you plan around it.