The week at a glance
Planning a week in Side is mostly a question of knowing which excursion runs on which day — and that is exactly what this page is: our own weekly operating timetable for the eight pickup zones of the Side–Manavgat corridor, from Kızılot to Gündoğdu, written out day by day. One fact unlocks the whole week: Antalya-direction days (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday) and Alanya-direction days (Wednesday, Friday, Sunday) never clash. A single week fits both cities without one conflict.
Every time below is a zone's first pickup — the earliest collection in that zone. Your own hotel's slot is confirmed after booking; we never promise a clock time for a specific hotel.
Monday — mountains and the island
Monday belongs to the inland and the open sea. The Altınbeşik Cave and Ormana village day (€40 adult, €32 child) crosses the underground lake of Turkey's largest underwater cave by boat, then wanders Ormana's mortarless Seljuk-era button houses before a traditional village lunch. Monday is also a sailing day for Suluada, the island they call the Turkish Maldives (€40 adult, €30 child): a ten-hour day with mezes and grilled fish or chicken served on board. Suluada starts early — first pickups run from 05:35 in Kızılot to 06:30 in Gündoğdu — because the island is genuinely far, and genuinely worth it.
Tuesday — Antalya day, big show at night
Tuesday looks west. The Antalya city tour (€43 adult, €31 child) covers both Düden waterfalls, free time in Kaleiçi old town and a one-hour harbour boat trip, with lunch and the Düden entrance included — first pickups from 07:50 in Kızılot to 09:15 in Gündoğdu. Prefer a half day? The Antalya Aquarium package (€73 adult, €60 child) also runs today, first pickups 08:30 to 09:45. And Tuesday evening is one of only two chances each week to see Fire of Anatolia at the Aspendos ancient theatre (€65), first pickups 18:40 to 19:55.
Wednesday — Alanya day
Wednesday looks east. The Alanya city tour (€43 adult, €25 child) climbs to the 13th-century castle, rides the cable car down towards Damlataş, circles the peninsula on a one-hour boat trip and sits down to lunch at a riverside restaurant on the Dim River. Boarding is reversed on Alanya days — Gündoğdu first at 08:20, Kızılot last at 09:50 — because the coach sweeps west to east, so nobody rides backwards past their own hotel. Sapadere Canyon (€35 adult, €23 child) runs in the same direction today, and Wednesday is also the week's second Suluada sailing.
Thursday — Antalya again, or the cave
Thursday repeats the Antalya city tour (first pickups 07:50 to 09:15) and the Altınbeşik and Ormana day. There is no Aspendos performance tonight, which makes Thursday a natural evening for the Land of Legends night show if you have not used it yet — it runs every night (see below).
Friday — Alanya, the aquarium and Fire of Anatolia
Friday is the fullest single day of the timetable: the Alanya city tour (reversed boarding, 08:20 to 09:50), the Antalya Aquarium half day (08:30 to 09:45), and the week's second Fire of Anatolia performance in the evening (first pickups 18:40 to 19:55).
Saturday — Antalya, the mountains or the island
Saturday offers the widest daytime choice of the week: the Antalya city tour, the Altınbeşik and Ormana day, and the week's third Suluada sailing (first pickups 05:35 to 06:30). If Saturday is your arrival day, this is the page to bookmark for the week ahead.
Sunday — Alanya direction and the aquarium
Sunday closes the loop east: the Alanya city tour (08:20 to 09:50), Sapadere Canyon's second run of the week, and the aquarium's third (08:30 to 09:45).
What runs every single day
Four things never take a day off in the corridor:
- The Land of Legends theme park day (€85 adult, €70 child, ticket and return transfer included) — first pickups 07:50 in Kızılot to 09:15 in Gündoğdu.
- The Land of Legends night show (€19 adult, €13 child) — first pickups 17:40 to 19:15.
- The dolphin show (€40 adult, €35 child) — midday first pickups, 11:35 to 13:00, so the beach morning survives.
- Quad safari (from €25) and buggy safari (from €30) — three sessions daily at 07:45, 09:45 and 12:45.
A sample week that actually works
Say you land on a Saturday. Sunday: beach, then the Land of Legends night show to open the week gently. Monday: the early alarm for Suluada while your legs are still fresh. Tuesday: beach by day, Fire of Anatolia by night. Wednesday: the Alanya day — castle, cable car, boat and the Dim River lunch. Thursday: beach morning, dolphin show at midday, evening free. Friday: a recovery beach day, or the aquarium half day if clouds roll in. Saturday: the Antalya city day as the finale — waterfalls, old town and the harbour cruise. Two full beach days survive, both cities get their day, and nothing on the list collides with anything else — because that is how the timetable is built.
Who this rhythm does not cover
This timetable is the Side–Manavgat corridor only: Kızılot, Kızılağaç, Titreyengöl, Side, Kumköy, Evrenseki, Çolaklı and Gündoğdu. If you are staying in Belek, Kemer, Alanya town or the Antalya resorts, the products exist but the days and pickup windows on this page are not yours — check the individual tour pages for your area. And if you need a guaranteed clock time at your hotel door before you book, no honest operator can print one: pickup slots depend on the day's route and are confirmed after booking.
Undecided between the two city days? Alanya or Antalya from Side settles it. Torn between giving up a day or just an evening for the attractions, read attraction day or show evening. And for the full catalogue weighed option by option, the complete local guide to Side excursions goes deeper than any list.