Kurze Antwort
A family-first guide to boat trips in Side from the operator that runs them. Compare Little Pirates for young kids, calm freshwater Green Canyon for anyone prone to seasickness, and the lively pirate boat for older children — with an age-suitability table and honest prices.
For families in Side, the best boat trip depends on your children's ages. For toddlers and young kids we run the gentle Little Pirates boat trip from EUR20. If anyone gets seasick, the calm freshwater Green Canyon boat tour from EUR28 has no open-sea swell. For older kids who want music and foam, the lively Side pirate boat trip from EUR23 is the pick. Compare every option on our boat trips page.
How we choose a family boat trip
We run these boats ourselves, and the question we get most from parents is simple: which trip suits my children? Three things decide it — the age of the kids, whether anyone in the group is prone to seasickness, and how lively you want the day to be. A two-year-old and a twelve-year-old want very different trips, so we match the boat to your group rather than pushing one "best" tour on everyone.
Every trip below is one we actually operate. We won't invent a stop count, a menu or a review to sell a booking. Where a trip has swimming stops, the crew keeps a close watch, but you know your own children best, so bring what you'd normally bring for a pool day.
Little Pirates: the trip for young children
The Little Pirates boat trip from Side (from EUR20) is our gentle option built around families with young kids. It's the trip we point parents of toddlers and pre-schoolers toward first: a calmer pace, a fun pirate theme the little ones love, and a day that doesn't run so long they melt down before the end.
If your children are still at the "everything is an adventure" age, start here. Check the live times and price on the tour page, then book online and pay on the day.
Green Canyon: calm freshwater, no seasickness
The Green Canyon boat tour (from EUR28 out of Side) is our go-to for any family worried about seasickness. It cruises a calm freshwater lake rather than the open Mediterranean, so there's no sea swell to upset delicate stomachs. That also makes it a strong choice for grandparents joining the day and for non-swimmers, thanks to sheltered swimming stops in clear, flat water.
Green Canyon also runs from further afield, and the starting price is higher when it departs from the Antalya side, so if you're staying near Antalya rather than Side the price will differ. Compare departure points on our Antalya boat trips hub. Green Canyon is the trip we recommend when calm water matters more than anything else.
Side pirate boat: energy for older kids
Older children and mixed-age groups usually want more going on, and that's where the Side pirate boat trip (from EUR23) comes in. It's the lively, animated pirate boat with music and foam — a proper party atmosphere that keeps older kids entertained through the day. It's louder and busier than Little Pirates, so it suits families whose kids are past the toddler stage and up for the fun.
If you've got a spread of ages, this is often the happy middle: enough energy for the older ones, still a family sea trip at heart.
Other family-friendly sea trips
Beyond the three headline picks, we run a few more trips that work well for families:
- Side dolphin island boat tour (from EUR21) — a shorter sea cruise with an island stop and swimming. A good "first boat trip" if you want to test the water, literally, without committing to a full day.
- Side relax boat trip with waterfall — a quieter, more relaxed sea cruise for families who'd rather unwind than party.
- Side Suluada island boat trip (from EUR43) — a longer day out to the turquoise Suluada island, better suited to older kids and teens who can handle a full day on the water.
On the question of snorkelling and sunset trips specifically: we don't run a dedicated children's snorkelling boat or a family sunset cruise. What we do have are the sea trips above, which include swimming stops where kids can snorkel with their own gear, and the evening disco-yacht night tour (from EUR68), which is a party boat aimed at older groups rather than young families. We'd rather be straight with you than dress up a tour as something it isn't.
Family boat trips compared: age suitability
Here's how our main family options line up by age. Use it as a starting point, then read the individual tour page for live details.
| Tour | From (per person) | Best for age | Water | Vibe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Pirates | EUR20 | Toddlers & young kids | Sea | Gentle, themed |
| Green Canyon | EUR28 | All ages, non-swimmers | Calm freshwater lake | Relaxed, no seasickness |
| Side pirate boat | EUR23 | Older kids | Sea | Lively, music & foam |
| Dolphin island | EUR21 | All ages, short day | Sea | Shorter cruise, swimming |
| Side relax + waterfall | See tour page | All ages, calm day | Sea | Quiet, relaxed |
| Side Suluada island | EUR43 | Older kids & teens | Sea | Full day out |
Prices are approximate 2026 starting bands and vary by departure point and date — the live price is always on the tour page. Ready to line them up side by side? Compare every family boat trip on our tours page.
Prices and what to expect
Our family sea trips start in the EUR20-25 range per person, with the pirate boat from EUR23 and Green Canyon from EUR28 out of Side (higher from Antalya). Longer island days such as Suluada run EUR42-68. Private hire — a private VIP boat from Side or a private gulet charter — is priced per boat on request, which can work out well if you're a large family group and want the whole boat to yourselves.
Hotel transfer is arranged for you. Guests are picked up from their hotel in the morning; the exact time is confirmed the day before and varies from hotel to hotel. You book online and pay on the tour day, so there's nothing to sort out up front.
Which family boat trip should you book?
Quick version: young kids, book Little Pirates. Worried about seasickness or travelling with grandparents, book Green Canyon. Older kids who want a party on the water, book the Side pirate boat. Want a short taster, try the dolphin island cruise. And if you're a big group, ask us about a private boat.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best boat trip in Side for young children?
The Little Pirates boat trip is our gentle option built for toddlers and young kids, with a calmer pace and a pirate theme they enjoy. If seasickness is a concern at any age, we'd steer you to the freshwater Green Canyon tour instead. Both are on our tours page.
Which trip is best if my child gets seasick?
Green Canyon. It cruises a calm freshwater lake rather than the open sea, so there's no swell — the single biggest cause of seasickness on a boat day. It's also our recommendation for non-swimmers and older relatives who prefer flat, sheltered water.
Are the boat trips suitable for non-swimmers?
Yes. Green Canyon's swimming stops are in calm, sheltered freshwater, and our sea trips have supervised swimming stops. Bring buoyancy aids for younger children as you would for a pool, and keep little ones within arm's reach at the swimming stops.
How does hotel pickup work?
Transfer is arranged for you. Guests are picked up from their hotel in the morning; the exact time is confirmed the day before and varies from hotel to hotel, so we'll let you know your pickup once it's set.
Do I need to pay when I book?
No. You book online to secure your places and pay on the tour day. Live prices are shown on each tour page, so you always see the current per-person rate before you reserve. Browse and book on our boat trips page.
Ready to book?
Match the boat to your kids and you'll have a smooth family day on the water. Little Pirates for the small ones, Green Canyon for calm freshwater, the pirate boat for the older crew. Compare all of them, check today's live prices and reserve your family's places on our boat trips page — book online, pay on the day.