Side Museum
The Side Museum is an archaeological museum in the ancient Graeco-Roman city of Side on the Mediterranean coast of Antalya Province, Turkey. Installed in a beautifully preserved fifth-century Roman bath complex, it displays sculpture, reliefs, sarcophagi, and small finds excavated from Side and its surrounding territory, offering one of the most atmospheric exhibition settings in the country. The museum’s location within a working ancient building — where barrel-vaulted halls frame marble statuary — is itself an experience of layered heritage.
At a glance
- Type
- State archaeological museum
- Period
- Collections spanning 7th century BCE – 6th century CE; museum building is a 5th-century CE Roman bath
- Style
- Roman imperial bath architecture repurposed as museum galleries
- Location
- Liman Caddesi, Side, Manavgat, Antalya Province, Turkey
- Coordinates
- 36.7688° N, 31.3886° E
Overview
Side was one of the most important harbour cities of ancient Pamphylia, prospering under Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine rule before its decline in the seventh century CE. The museum, established in the 1960s within the city’s well-preserved bath building, presents finds that illuminate the city’s commercial wealth, religious life, and artistic culture. It is operated by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism and forms part of the broader Side Archaeological Site, a UNESCO tentative-list location.
History
Side was founded, according to ancient sources, by colonists from Cyme in Aeolis and grew to prominence as a major trading port in the Pamphylian plain. The bath complex that now houses the museum was constructed in the fifth century CE and later converted to a basilica in the Byzantine period. Modern archaeological excavations began in earnest in the 1940s and 1950s under Turkish and German teams, with finds gradually transferred to the bath building when it was restored and opened as a museum in the 1960s.
What you see
The permanent collection is displayed across the former caldarium, tepidarium, and frigidarium halls, which retain their vaulted ceilings and carved stone decoration. Star exhibits include a second-century CE statue of the Three Graces, numerous portraits of emperors and local dignitaries, and an exceptional group of sarcophagi with garland and mythological reliefs. The lapidarium courtyard holds architectural fragments, altars, and inscriptions from temples dedicated to Apollo, Athena, and Men. Small finds — coins, bronze statuettes, terracotta figurines, and jewellery — are displayed in cases within the inner rooms.
Cultural significance
The Side Museum is of exceptional value for understanding the cultural and economic life of the Pamphylian coast in antiquity, bridging Hellenistic artistic traditions with Roman imperial production. Its setting inside a working ancient monument gives it a rare experiential quality that distinguishes it from conventional museum architecture. The collections document Side’s role as a cosmopolitan harbour where Greek, Roman, and Anatolian cultures blended over many centuries.
Practical information
The museum is open daily except Mondays. Entry fees apply; combination tickets with the Side Archaeological Site are sometimes available. The museum is located in the centre of the ancient city, easily walkable from the harbour and the Temple of Apollo. Check the official Turkish Ministry of Culture website for current hours and ticket prices.
Getting there
Side is located approximately 78 km east of Antalya city. From Antalya, regular minibus (dolmuş) services run to Manavgat, from where local buses and taxis continue to Side. By car, take the D400 coastal road east and follow signs to Side/Manavgat. The museum is in the pedestrianised ancient city centre; parking is available at the entrance to the old town.