An Afternoon of Leaps and Splashes: the Dolphin Show near Side
The Experience
Some holiday memories need no filter, and a child's face when a dolphin rockets out of the water is one of them. This half-day excursion takes care of everything: after lunchtime a driver collects you at the main entrance of your hotel anywhere in the Side region — Kumköy, Evrenseki, Çolaklı, Sorgun, Titreyengöl, Gündoğdu, Kızılağaç and Kızılot included — for the ride of roughly forty minutes to a licensed dolphin park. Inside, take your place in the grandstand for the main event: a show of around one hour in which dolphins and sea lions leap, spin, dance and pull off tricks that keep the whole audience clapping. The youngest guests watch free of charge and older children pay a reduced rate, which makes this one of the easiest crowd-pleasers on the coast for mixed-age families. Want to get closer than the front row? Book the optional dolphin swim when you reserve. After the show, swimmers change and enter the pool in trainer-supervised sessions: you will feel a dolphin glide past your fingertips and pose for the kiss-and-handshake moments the park photographers love to capture. Places are strictly limited and sell out in high season, so secure the swim in advance rather than hoping on the day. Bring a towel and a change of clothes, and leave jewellery and watches behind — nothing shiny is allowed in the water. The park's own team handles photo and video sales separately. A few honest notes before you book. Swimming with dolphins in Türkiye happens only in licensed parks, and every session here is run by professional trainers whose instructions are part of the deal. The swim follows the park's age and health rules — the smallest children take part with adult or trainer assistance, and the water is off-limits to pregnant guests and to anyone with epilepsy or open wounds; the exact conditions for your date are confirmed with your booking. And if a young swimmer gets cold feet at the poolside, the swim is not refunded, so gauge your little one's enthusiasm honestly first. By late afternoon you are back at your hotel with sandy-free souvenirs: photos, stories and one very memorable handshake. Reserving costs nothing, you pay on the tour day, and you can cancel free up to 24 hours before the start — lock in your seats now and keep your plans flexible.
Highlights
- Around one hour of dolphins and sea lions leaping, spinning and playing to the crowd
- Optional pre-booked swim: meet a dolphin in the water with a trainer beside you
- Hotel pickup and drop-off across the whole Side region included
- Licensed dolphin park about a forty-minute drive from Side
- Youngest children watch the show free of charge; reduced child rate for older kids
- Free reservation, pay on the tour day, free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start
What's Included
- ✓Hotel pickup and drop-off throughout the Side region
- ✓Round-trip transfer to the dolphin park
- ✓Entrance and seating for the dolphin and sea lion show (about one hour)
Not Included
- ✕Dolphin swim (optional add-on, must be pre-booked)
- ✕Photos and videos (sold separately by the park)
- ✕Food, drinks and personal expenses
◆Pickup Areas
Hotel pickup & drop-off
Good to Know
- ℹThe excursion runs on selected days of the week; your date and pickup window are confirmed after booking
- ℹPickup is from the main entrance gate of your hotel, not the lobby
- ℹThe swim follows the park's age and safety rules; the smallest children swim with adult or trainer assistance
- ℹThe swim is not open to pregnant guests or anyone with epilepsy or open wounds
- ℹNo refund on the swim if a child decides not to enter the pool
- ℹA parent and child who want to swim together each need their own swim booking
What to Bring
- ▸Swimwear, towel and a change of clothes (swim participants)
- ▸A camera for the show — in-pool photos are handled by the park's photographers
- ▸Sunscreen and a hat
Where You'll Be
Everything on this page starts from Side. Hotel pickup across the resort area is arranged after you book, and the exact time is confirmed with you personally rather than printed here.
◆ SIDE · 36.77°N 31.39°E · ANTALYA RIVIERA
Tours in SideQuestions & Answers
Is the dolphin swim included in the ticket price?+
No. The base ticket covers hotel transfers and the dolphin and sea lion show. The swim is an optional per-person add-on with limited places, and it must be booked in advance — spots regularly sell out in high season.
How long is the dolphin show?+
The show itself lasts about one hour. With hotel pickups and the return drive, plan for a relaxed half-day afternoon out.
Do you pick up from my hotel?+
Yes — pickup and drop-off are included for hotels across the Side region, from Kızılot and Kızılağaç through Sorgun, Kumköy, Evrenseki, Çolaklı and Gündoğdu. Please wait at the main entrance gate of your hotel rather than the lobby.
Can children swim with the dolphins?+
Yes, within the park's age and safety rules. The smallest participants swim with adult or trainer assistance, and the exact conditions for your date are confirmed at booking. Note that a parent and child swimming together each need a swim booking, and the swim is not refunded if a child changes their mind at the pool.
Is swimming with dolphins allowed in Türkiye?+
Yes — it takes place only in licensed dolphin parks, and this excursion visits one. Every swim session is supervised by professional trainers whose instructions must be followed.
When do I pay, and can I cancel?+
Reservation is free and you pay on the tour day. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start.
Are photos of the swim included?+
No. The park's own photographers capture the show and swim moments and sell photos and videos separately on site. Personal jewellery and watches are not allowed in the water.
Guest Reviews
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