The Temple of Apollo is the most photographed sight in Side — but almost everyone shoots it from the land, and almost everyone misses the better angle. From the water, those five honey-coloured columns rise straight out of the waterline at the tip of the peninsula, and you see them exactly as ancient sailors did when they steered into Side’s harbour two thousand years ago. It’s a small thing that turns an ordinary boat trip into a moment you actually remember.
A Roman temple at the edge of the sea
The Temple of Apollo was built around 150 AD, right at the tip of Side’s peninsula, dedicated to the god Apollo. Of its original colonnade, five columns with their capitals still stand today — re-erected between 1984 and 1990 after centuries lying fallen. They sit at the very edge of the land, where the peninsula meets the Mediterranean, which is precisely why the view from the water is so striking: there’s nothing behind them but sky and sea.
Why the sea view is the one that counts
From land you approach the temple through the old town, past cafes and crowds, and photograph it against a busy backdrop. From the sea, the columns stand alone, framed by open water. Side rose to greatness because of its harbour — “possessing a good harbour for small craft,” it became one of the region’s great trade centres — so the temple beside the quay was, for ancient sailors, the first sight of the city as they came in. On a boat you inherit that exact approach. It’s history you feel, not just read.
Golden hour makes it magic
Time it right and the columns glow. Side faces the sea in a way that catches warm light beautifully in the late afternoon and toward sunset, when the pale stone turns gold and the sea goes deep blue behind it. Sunset coastal trips are popular for exactly this reason. Even on a standard daytime cruise, ask your captain where the boat passes the temple point, and have your camera ready — the columns slide into view sooner than you expect.
What else you see from the water
The temple doesn’t stand alone. From the sea you also catch the neighbouring Temple of Athena and the line of the ancient city walls where the museum’s courtyard runs down to the sea. The whole tip of the peninsula reads as one continuous ancient waterfront from a boat — theatre, temples, walls — in a way it never quite does when you’re walking the streets between them. It’s the best single overview of ancient Side you can get.
Getting the shot
A few friendly tips. Shoot with the sun behind or to the side of you, not straight into it, unless you want a silhouette (which can be lovely at sunset). Steady yourself against the rail as the boat moves. And take a few frames as you pass — the angle changes constantly, and the best composition often comes a beat after you first spot the columns. Don’t spend the whole pass behind your phone, though; look with your own eyes at least once.
Pair it with your day
You’ll pass the temple point on a coastal boat trip from the old-town harbour, so it slots naturally into a day of swim stops and snorkelling. If a river cruise is your plan instead, you won’t get this particular view — the river route stays inland and at the river mouth — so choose a coastal trip if the temple-from-the-sea moment matters to you.
See which bays Side boats visit and how to get to Side harbour to plan your day.
Verified July 2026
FAQ
Can you see the Temple of Apollo from a boat in Side?
Yes, on a coastal boat trip from the old-town harbour. The temple stands at the very tip of the peninsula where the land meets the sea, so its five columns are clearly visible from the water — the same approach ancient sailors had entering Side's harbour. River cruises do not pass this point.
When is the best time to see the temple from the water?
Late afternoon toward sunset, when warm light turns the pale columns golden against a deep-blue sea. Sunset coastal trips are popular for exactly this. On a daytime cruise you still get a fine view; just ask the captain when the boat passes the temple point and have your camera ready.
How old is the Temple of Apollo in Side?
It is a Roman temple built around 150 AD at the tip of the peninsula, dedicated to Apollo. The five columns standing today were re-erected between 1984 and 1990 after lying fallen for centuries. Alongside it, the neighbouring Temple of Athena and the ancient sea walls are also visible from the water.
Do river cruises pass the Temple of Apollo?
No. The temple-from-the-sea view belongs to coastal trips leaving the old-town harbour, which cruise past the tip of the peninsula. River cruises depart from piers on the lower Manavgat and stay on the river and at the river mouth, so choose a coastal trip if this view matters to you.
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