Quick answer
An honest ranking of the best excursions in Side, from the boat-operator side. We place our real boat trips against land excursions, show which trip suits which traveller, and point you to the right water tour — with a clear comparison table and FAQs.
The best excursions in Side split into two camps: on the water and on land. If you want swimming, sea air and scenery, our boat trips in Side are the strongest choice — a calm Green Canyon lake cruise for families, a lively pirate boat for mixed groups, or a full day out to Suluada island. If you'd rather see ruins, waterfalls or mountains up close, a land excursion suits better. Here's how we rank them, honestly.
How we rank Side excursions
We run boats for a living, so we know the water side inside out — but we'll tell you plainly when a land trip is the better call. Our ranking is built on who the trip actually suits: families with young children, couples, party groups, non-swimmers, and travellers chasing scenery. Price matters too, so we've given approximate 2026 starting bands. The live price always sits on each tour page.
One thing that applies to every boat trip we run: 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 nothing is locked in until you're happy.
The excursion types in Side, compared
Here's the quick view. This table pairs each excursion type with the traveller it suits best, so you can scan and pick before reading further.
| Excursion type | Best for | On water or land |
|---|---|---|
| Freshwater canyon cruise | Families, non-swimmers, calm-water lovers | Water |
| Pirate boat trip | Mixed groups, teens, fun-first days | Water |
| Gentle kids' boat trip | Families with very young children | Water |
| Island day trip (Suluada) | Scenery seekers, full-day adventurers | Water |
| Disco-yacht night tour | Party groups, adults, evening plans | Water |
| Private boat or yacht charter | Couples, celebrations, groups wanting privacy | Water |
| Fishing trip | Anglers, quiet-day seekers | Water |
| Ruins, waterfalls and mountain tours | History and landscape lovers | Land |
Best boat trips in Side (our top water picks)
These are the water excursions we actually run. We've grouped them by who they suit, so you can go straight to the one that fits your group.
Best for families and non-swimmers: Green Canyon
Our Green Canyon boat tour is the one we point families to first. It's a calm freshwater lake cruise with swimming stops, so nervous swimmers and children feel settled rather than tossed about by open sea. It starts from EUR28 out of Side, with the Antalya departure priced higher. If you want a low-stress day on the water, this is the pick.
Best for lively mixed groups: the pirate boats
The Side pirate boat trip is our fun-first option — an animated pirate boat with music and foam, from EUR23. It suits mixed groups and teens who want energy rather than quiet. For families with very young children who'd find the big pirate boat too much, we run the gentler Little Pirates boat trip from EUR20, built around small kids.
Best short sea trip: Dolphin Island
If you want the sea without committing to a full day, the Side dolphin island boat tour from EUR21 is a shorter cruise with an island stop and swimming. It's a good first boat trip and an easy one to slot into a busy holiday.
Best scenery day: Suluada island
For the standout scenery day, we run trips to the turquoise waters of Suluada. The Antalya Suluada island boat tour is a full day from EUR68, and there's a Side Suluada island boat trip from EUR43 if you'd rather leave from closer to Side. This is the trip to book when the water itself is the point.
Best evening plan: the disco-yacht
When the excursion you want is a night out, the Side disco-yacht night tour from EUR68 is an evening party boat with music and dancing — better suited to adults and party groups than to families.
Best quiet day on the water: relax cruise and fishing
Not every good boat day is a busy one. The Side relax boat trip with waterfall is a quieter sea cruise, and for anglers we run a fishing trip from Side, plus an Alanya fishing tour if you're based further along the coast.
Best private and VIP boat options
If you'd rather not share, we run private boats across the region. The private VIP boat from Side suits couples and celebrations, the private yacht from Kumkoy works for groups, and there's a classic wooden gulet charter and a premium luxury motor yacht full day at the top end. Private boats are priced per boat on request, so tell us your group size and date and we'll quote you.
Ready to compare every option in one place? Our full tours page lists the boat trips side by side with live prices.
Snorkelling, sunset and when land beats a boat
We'll be straight with you: we don't sell a single dedicated "snorkelling excursion" or a standalone "sunset cruise" as separate products. What we do run is sea trips that include swimming and snorkelling stops — the Dolphin Island and Suluada trips are the obvious ones for clear water. If sunset is the goal, the disco-yacht night tour puts you on the water into the evening. For anything beyond that, check the individual tour page and it'll show you exactly what's included.
We're a boat company, but we won't pretend the water is always the answer. Side sits among ancient ruins, and inland you'll find waterfalls and mountain scenery. If your holiday wish-list is history, culture or landscape rather than swimming, a land excursion will serve you better than any boat — and you'll enjoy the boat trip more on a day you actually want the sea. Many guests do one of each across a week, which is what we'd suggest if you have the time.
Which departure point suits you?
We don't only leave from Side. Depending on where you're staying, it can be quicker to join a boat from another hub — you can browse trips leaving from Antalya, or check the Alanya and Belek departures. The Suluada and fishing options in particular run from more than one point, so pick the one nearest your hotel and the transfer is shorter.
Price guide at a glance
These are approximate 2026 per-person starting bands to help you budget. The exact, current figure is always on the tour page.
- Short sea trips: from around EUR20–25
- Pirate boat: from EUR23
- Green Canyon: from EUR28 (Side), higher from Antalya
- Suluada island: around EUR42–68 depending on departure
- Disco-yacht night tour: around EUR48–68
- Private boats and yachts: priced per boat on request
Frequently asked questions
What is the best excursion in Side overall?
There's no single winner — it depends on your group. For families and non-swimmers we'd rank the Green Canyon boat tour first; for scenery, the Suluada island trips; for a fun day with a mixed group, the pirate boat. If history is your priority, a land excursion may beat all of them. Compare them on our tours page and pick by who's coming.
Which Side boat trip is best for young children?
The Little Pirates boat trip is built for young kids and families, and the Green Canyon cruise is calm freshwater, so both suit small children well. The big pirate boat is livelier and better for slightly older kids and mixed groups.
How much do boat trips in Side cost?
Short sea trips start from around EUR20–25, the pirate boat from EUR23, and Green Canyon from EUR28. Full-day island trips to Suluada run higher, roughly EUR42–68 depending on where you leave from. Private boats are priced per boat. These are starting bands only — the live price is on each tour page.
How does hotel pickup work?
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 in advance beyond your reservation.
Should I do a boat trip or a land excursion in Side?
Do a boat trip if you want swimming, sea scenery or a day on the water. Choose a land excursion if you're after ruins, waterfalls or mountains. If you have a few days, do one of each — you'll get more out of the boat when it's the day you genuinely want the sea.
Ready to pick your trip?
That's our honest ranking of the best excursions in Side, and where our boats fit within them. When you're ready to compare the water options side by side and see live prices, head to our boat trips in Side and book the one that suits your group — you'll pay on the day, not before.