Antalya Airport to Side is officially 65 km, the drive takes roughly 60–70 minutes along the D400 coastal road, and a private transfer costs a fixed 50€ for up to six passengers. This is the complete arrival-day guide — from the baggage belt to the edge of Side's ancient peninsula.
Verified July 2026
The private-transfer sales pitch for this route is covered elsewhere; this guide is about what actually happens on the day you land: the road, the timing, the pickup, and the old-town quirk that surprises almost everyone.
The route: 65 km down the D400
The State Airports Authority (DHMİ) lists Manavgat — the district Side belongs to — at 65 km from Antalya Airport. Practically the whole journey runs on the D400, Türkiye's longest east–west state road: 1,976 km from Datça on the Aegean to the Esendere border gate in the far southeast.
The sequence is simple. Leaving the terminal, the vehicle joins the D400 eastbound at Aksu, passes Serik — where the Belek traffic peels off — continues past Manavgat's farmland and river bridges to the Side turn-off, then heads south for the final few kilometres to the coast. There is no motorway alternative on this corridor today.
How long it really takes
Sixty to seventy minutes is a realistic driving window in normal conditions. Summer evenings can add ten or fifteen minutes around Aksu and Serik, and no honest operator will promise you a fixed fifty-five. The bigger variable is the airport itself: passport queues and baggage delivery swing widely with the hour and season. Allow roughly one and a half to two hours from wheels-down to hotel reception, and treat anything faster as a bonus.
Pickup: what actually happens when you land
Your driver is scheduled against the flight's actual arrival time, not just the timetable, so a late departure does not strand you. After passport control and baggage claim you walk out into arrivals, meet your driver, get a hand with the luggage, and go straight to the vehicle. Because the price was fixed per vehicle when you booked, there is no meter, no negotiation and no currency mathematics at midnight. If it is your first time at AYT, our arrivals guide for Antalya Airport walks through the terminal step by step.
Arriving in Side: the old-town factor
Side is not a normal drop-off. The historic centre sits on a narrow ancient peninsula, and vehicle access into the old town is restricted. If your hotel is inside the historic core, your driver will bring you as close as the access rules allow; the last stretch may be a short walk or handled by your hotel's own arrangements — it is worth asking the hotel in advance how they receive arriving guests. Hotels in Kumköy, Evrenseki, Çolaklı, Sorgun, Titreyengöl or along Side's main approach roads have ordinary door-to-door drop-off.
What the transfer costs (July 2026)
| Vehicle | Capacity | AYT → Side, one-way |
|---|---|---|
| Mercedes Vito (Luxury) | max 6 | 50€ (1–6) |
| Mercedes Maybach | max 6 | 60€ (1–4) · 70€ (5–6) |
| Mercedes Sprinter | max 16 | 75€ (1–10, +5€/pp) · 90€ (11–16) |
All prices are per vehicle, one-way, from our live booking system. A child seat costs a fixed 15€ per booking; an infant seat for ages 0–2 is free. A round trip is exactly twice the one-way fare — we currently run no round-trip discount, and we say so rather than hint otherwise. Every other resort is covered in our 2026 transfer price table.
Flying into Gazipaşa instead?
Side is also reachable from Gazipaşa-Alanya Airport (GZP): 75 km, around 70 minutes, with a Vito at 60€ (1–4 passengers) or a Sprinter at 90€ (1–10, +5€/pp). This only matters if your airline actually serves GZP — for most European arrivals, AYT remains the gateway to Side.
The alternatives, honestly
There is no direct public transport from Antalya Airport to Side. DHMİ's official transport page lists municipal buses and the tram, the airport taxi, HAVAŞ coaches and car rental — all of which point you towards Antalya city, not east along the coast. The public chain to Side looks like this: municipal bus 600 from the airport to the Otogar (the intercity bus terminal), an intercity coach towards Manavgat, then a local minibus or taxi into Side. It works and it is cheap, but with luggage and children it can easily consume half a day. For a metered street taxi, one competitor's July 2026 estimate put AYT–Side at roughly 2,100–2,300 TL (about €65–70) — in the same range as a fixed private transfer, without the fixed part.
Planning the return leg
For Side hotels we schedule the return pickup about 3.5 hours before departure — the drive plus check-in with a sane margin. To fine-tune that maths yourself, see what time to leave your hotel for an Antalya flight.
FAQ
How far is Antalya Airport from Side?
The official DHMİ figure for Manavgat, Side's district, is 65 km from Antalya Airport. The route runs almost entirely along the D400 coastal state road, and realistic driving time is 60–70 minutes — slightly more on busy summer evenings around Aksu and Serik.
How much does a private transfer from Antalya Airport to Side cost?
A fixed 50€ per vehicle for one to six passengers in a Mercedes Vito. The Maybach costs 60€ for up to four, 70€ for five or six; the Sprinter starts at 75€ for up to ten. A child seat adds a flat 15€; infant seats are free.
Can the transfer drive right up to a hotel in Side old town?
Not always. The old town occupies an ancient peninsula with restricted vehicle access, so your driver will take you as close as the rules allow. For hotels in the historic core, ask the hotel in advance how they handle arriving guests — the final stretch may be a short walk.
Is there a bus from Antalya Airport to Side?
Not a direct one. Public transport requires a chain: bus 600 to Antalya's Otogar, an intercity coach towards Manavgat, then a local minibus or taxi into Side. It is the cheapest route but slow with luggage — plan on it consuming a good part of your arrival day.